Page 57 of About Last Night

He realized her breathing had returned to normal and, eyes closed, she looked like a resting child. Her beauty seemed boundless. The more time he spent with her, the more expressions and mannerisms she revealed, each uniquely Janine, and each riveting. The woman was incredible, and he hoped Steve was smart enough to fight for her love. He hatedhimself for submitting to his desire for her, for taking advantage of her vulnerability during prewedding jitters. In doing so, he prayed he hadn't jeopardized her chance for happiness.

He started to withdraw his hand, but Janine's fingers closed around his, and her eyes fluttered open. "Stay with me."

Even though everything logical in him shouted not to, he stretched out beside her, careful to leave a few inches between them. Janine turned on her side away from him, then scooted back until they were touching from shoulder to knee. Instinctively, he rolled to his side and spooned her small body against his. A foreign, not completely uncomfortable heat filled his chest, and he suddenly couldn't pull her close enough. She wore a short T-shirt rucked up to her waist, revealing plain white cotton panties. His body responded immediately.

No matter, he thought. She was breathing deeply, probably already asleep and oblivious to his state. He reached up and smoothed the hair back from her face, studying her profile, wishing he knew what made her tick. Unexpectedly, she pressed her rump back against his arousal, and he bit back a groan. Was she merely moving in her sleep, or urging him to intimacy? Janine reached her hand back to hook around his thigh and pulled him so that his sex nestled against hers, settling the question.

Derek buried his face in her hair, then kissed her neck while sliding his hand beneath her shirt to caress her stomach and tuck her body even closer to his. By spreading his fingers, he stroked her breasts, gently tweaking each nipple. He cupped a handful of her firm flesh, rasping his desire for her in her ear. She responded by sliding her hand back and tugging on the waistband of his boxers. He lifted himself just enough to skim the underwear down his legs, then kicked them away. Freed, his erection sought the heat between her thighs, straining against the firm cheeks of her buttocks.

She had shed her T-shirt. With a slide of her hand and a teeth-grating wiggle, the thin panties were pushed down to her knees. Derek throbbed to be inside her but rolled away long enough to secure a condom. Spooning her close to him again, he reached around to delve into the curls at the apex of her thighs, which were already wet. With great restraint, he inserted only the tip of his bulging erection into her slick channel from behind and plied her nub of pleasure until she writhed in his arms, moaning his name. On the verge of climax himself, he slid into her fully, thrilling in the extra pressure of their position. Sheer concentration helped him maintain control for several long, slow strokes, then the life fluid burst from him with a force equal to that of a man who might never get to indulge in such sweetness again.

Indeed, Derek thought as his breathing returned to normal, he would never again make love to Janine. He would go back to Kentucky, immerse himself in his work and leave Janine and Steve to work through their problems. Once Steve had singled out a woman to make her his wife, Derek knew he wouldn't easily let her go. The panicky thought sprang to his mind that Janine might be using him to get back at Steve in some way. His stomach twisted. He suspected that Steve was unfaithful to Janine—did she as well?

She sighed and settled back against his chest. With his head full of troubled thoughts and his lungs full of the scent of her hair, he drifted off to sleep.

* * *

SATURDAY 7AM

JANINE STARTEDawake, disoriented, but was disturbingly relieved to see Derek's face in the morning light.

"Janine," he whispered, his tone urgent. "Wake up."

"What's wrong?" she asked, looping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

"Shh." He pulled away her hands and flung back the covers, sending a chill over her naked body. "Janine, sweetheart, you have to get up.Now."

"Why?" she asked, sitting up grudgingly, wincing at her sore muscles.

An impatient knock sounded at the door, apparently not the first.

"Because," he said, pulling on his underwear, his lowered voice tinged with warning. "Steve's here."

Chapter 16

JANINE SWAYEDand Derek grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her. "Steve's here?" she parroted, dazed.

"Yes," he whispered. "Keep your voice down."

Her heart threatened to burst from her chest, and her brain seemed mired in goo. "B-but what's he doing here? How?"

"I don't know." He fished her panties and T-shirt from the covers. "The point is, he can't findyouhere."

Steve banged on the door. "Derek, man, are you awake? I lost my key."

At the sound of Steve's voice, her knees weakened. She bit down hard on her knuckle, terrified at what might transpire between the men if Steve found out what had happened last night.

Twice.

"Give me a minute, Steve," Derek called, pivoting to scan the room. His darting eyes came full circle to rest on the bed. "Get underneath," he said, shoving her clothes into her hands.

"But I—"

"Now, Janine, under the bed!"

She dreaded the thought of being confined in such a tight space, but quickly recognizing the lesser of two evils. She shimmied the T-shirt over her head and practically vaulted into her panties. The clothes brought back a flood of erotic memories, and she felt compelled to at least acknowledge their lovemaking.

"Derek, about last night—"

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