He lowered his mouth to hers once more. This time, his lips gently coaxed hers open, allowing their tongues to explore each other. He was careful not to put his full weight on her. She felt so fragile under him that once again doubt crept into his mind. He shifted again, hoping it took more of his weight off her.

Jenny pulled her face away, breaking their kiss. “What are you doing?” Her voice was breathy and playful.

“I, um, I don’t want to hurt you.” David tucked his chin.

“Oh, that.” Jenny let out a light laugh. “I know all about that. I’m ready.”

David’s cheeks reddened.

Good God, am I blushing?

“No. I mean, I’m a great deal bigger than you. I don’t want to crush you on my sofa.”

Jenny rolled her eyes. “I won’t break, David. I promise.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. He knew that look—she was thinking.

“Here. Let me prove it.”

Without warning, she wiggled out from underneath him, pushed him to a seated position, and climbed into his lap, straddling him.

“Miss Bennett, this is very forward of you,” David said cheekily.

Jenny flashed him a bright smile. “I was told I’m a quick learner, and I had the most excellent teacher when it comes to learning what the opposite sex likes in certain situations.”

It was at that moment, looking up at this beautiful creature who had met his challenges day after day, that David realized thatno matter who she claimed to belong to after tonight, she would always be his. Even if it meant he never saw her again.

That deuced Dovegrove didn’t know how lucky he was. Jenny was more than a wife, or a mother. She was the very essence of a woman. She was graceful and wickedly intelligent. She had a beauty that could steal a man’s breath and could give someone life with one look. She waseverything. And if she was his for only one night, then he would do his damnedest to show her that.

He reached up and cupped her cheek in one hand. She nuzzled it, her eyes becoming heavy-lidded with lust.

David sat up and pulled her down, bringing their mouths together. The shift in her weight had her sitting in the perfect position, coaxing a growl from him and a gasp from her.

He pushed up into her body, and her gasp turned into a moan. He opened his eyes just in time to see the most beautiful pink color on her cheeks. He watched in awe as she discovered what movements she liked.

She started out slow, gently rocking her hips back and forth. David grabbed her hips and fought the incessant need to control her movements and give them both what they wanted.

But this was about her. It had always been about her. He watched as her eyebrows rose and fell with each new sensation. His need grew when her lips formed the shape of a perfect little ‘o’ when she found the spot that brought her more pleasure.

She opened her eyes to find him watching her, and the pink in her cheeks darkened to red.

“I’m sorry. I’m getting carried away.” She shifted her weight, but David held her still on his lap.

“Never apologize for finding your pleasure, Jenny.”

She looked down at him with a warm smile. “You always make it so easy to be myself.”

David played with a curl that brushed her shoulder. “There is no one else I would want you to be.”

Mine. I want you to be mine.

His heart settled with that thought. Knowing that could never be, he could at least give both of them tonight.

Yours. I want to be yours. And if that is not me, then I want to be whomever it is.

Jenny chewed on her lower lip, debating whether or not to voice her thoughts.

“And all I want for you is to be happy, Jane.”