Page 72 of Leo

“That you are.” Slipping the dress off her shoulders, he unhooked her bra and felt his body stirring at the wide nipples.

“And fat.”

“Which comes with the pregnancy. I do not have to tell you that you are the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“You’re just saying that because you have to,” she pouted.

“I am saying that because it’s the truth.” He cupped her breasts and started to massage the flesh. “How can you doubt that I would ever desire anyone else?”

“Women chase after you and they are not very subtle. Last week when we were having dinner at Le Cirque, one came up to you and pretended I was not even there.”

“A business associate and I set her straight.”

She shrugged and looked away. “I am insecure, after…”

“No.” Lifting a hand, he got a tight grip on her chin, forcing her to face him. “We are not doing that again.” His eyes were dark, his expression ominous. “I am not him, goddammit! How many times do I have to prove that I am never going to cheat on you?

I am irrevocably, head over heels, impossibly in love with you. Every breath I take, I taste you, feel you. Damn you, Sherrian.” Capping the bottle, he shoved to his feet.

“I’m sorry…”

“To hell with that!” His anger exploded. “We have been going through this very same damn dance for the past few months. You keep comparing me to that- that bastard. He is dead but still standing between us. Without trust, what the hell is the point of us being together?”

“You don’t know how I feel!” Her chest burned with fear and yes, jealousy and insecurity. He was a very attractive man in moreways than one. He was important and because of his status and money was treated like royalty.

Women stared at him everywhere they went and if she was being honest with herself, she attended these functions because she feared that he was going to take one of them up on their invitations, which at times were not subtle, and go home with them.

Their sex life had slowed down because of some health issues she was having. Their love life was tumultuous, and she knew before now, he could not keep his hands off her. Now, aside from rubbing cream on her belly and breasts, he was careful to avoid touching her.

“You think I am having sexual fantasies for other women. That I am going to leave my pregnant wife and go to someone else. It does not matter that I am here every goddamn night. And that I have showed you over and over how much you mean to me.”

He started to drag his fingers through his hair when he remembered he had cream on them. As he was about to turn away to go to the bathroom, she cried out.

“You don’t touch me. It has been a week now and you have not touched me.”

He turned to around and felt his heart shifting at the shattered look on her beautiful face.

“I have not touched you because you have been in pain. I have spent the last seven days in torment, wanting you, craving you and unable to do anything about it. It is you.’

His voice turned weary. “It always has and always will be you. The fact that you have to question how I feel…”

“It’s me.” She whispered, closing her eyes briefly. “God! I hate that I am like this. I cannot believe that a man can love a woman like me. You can have anyone…”

“I want you.” He came and sat on the edge of the bed. “I only want you. I cannot look at another woman. I only see you.” She was still naked from the top down. Spanning her wide girth, he shuddered when he felt his son moving.

“I need you more than the air I breathe and not having you is…,” he took in a deep breath. “It is killing me, but I am trying to convince myself that I am not a monster.

“I need you.” She placed her hands over his. “I need to feel you deep inside me. The issues will always be there, and we can work around them. Right now, I need my husband.”

His eyes darkened and the emotions stormed through him like a tidal wave.

“Baby…”

“Please.” She clutched his hands. “I feel like I am about to die if you’re not deep inside me.”

That did it. His control, which was teetering at best, simply broke. Dragging his hands from hers, he practically tore at his clothing. Sliding in next to her, he turned her around, so that he could spoon her. His hands were trembling, and it took several tries for him to guide himself into her wet tightness.

“Baby, my sweet.” He bent his head to nuzzle her neck. “My life,” his voice broke as she pushed her bottom up against him. He went deep and wanted to go deeper still, to touch her soul, to forge himself to her so that they would become one. It would never be enough.

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