Page 30 of Pregnant After One Forbidden Night

“Another room?”

“One of my favorites,” he said.

Reflecting on the glorious rooms he’d just shown her, she was skeptical that it would outdo them. “It’s got a lot to live up to.”

He replied mysteriously, “I think you’ll find it as arresting as I do.”

When he opened the door, she sucked in a breath, her cheeks flaming at the same time.

Inside was a library.

Smaller than the one that was now burned into her memory, Sebastian’s library was a cozy, plush and private sanctuary. Each and every book boasted a cracked spine and a siren allure, enticing, calling to its reader. Scanning the titles proved that though new, the collection was as eclectic and broad as any discerning reader might desire.

Whereas the d’Tierrza library had emphasized many reading nooks, this cozy room was centered around a decadent central space, arranged as if intended for a group of readers to gather and quietly read together. A sofa, two large cushioned armchairs, and two large floor cushions encircled a luxurious Turkish rug, each seating area equipped with a small table beside it and a bevy of pillows and cushions. Whatever position a person might desire to take, they could achieve it with the plethora of options, each one designed to accommodate the pleasure of reading.

Or making love, she added to her mental observations, her body near combustion with sensual overload and determined to once again break down her common sense.

If the d’Tierrza library had been built for show, the Redcliff library had been built to be used and enjoyed, and not just by anyone, but Sebastian—and, she realized with a start, her eyes landing on the one bay of shelves filled with new books, their spines unbroken, her.

He’d been awfully confident she would come with him.

The assumption that the new books were for her trickled into certainty as the titles in the collection began to sink in. They covered subjects she had excelled in at the academy, as well as those she had not done as well in, but maintained an interest in. He’d included popular fiction titles she’d been meaning to check out by authors she’d bought before. She was impressed by his selection. He might have access to the best intel in the country, but it was another thing entirely to pick out a book for someone.

But of greater interest to her than even the excellent books he’d selected for her were the ones he had chosen for himself through the years.

Those were fascinating for a whole different reason—for what they revealed about him.

He watched her silently as she walked along the shelves reading titles, running her fingers along shelves and up and down spines.

Language, foreign policy, world history, politics and—of course—architecture, dominated.

Was it any wonder he was interested in espionage?

Though it made sense that it would take quite a lot of study to know so much that he had no business knowing, she was impressed by the amount of time he spent continuing to learn.

It was an admirable thing to do, far more so than many of the other things she’d witnessed wealthy people do with their free time.

In front of the reading area, a massive fireplace, already set with logs for a fire, sat quietly.

He had outdone himself with the house, but it was this secret inner garden that slipped past the defenses she had erected around her heart.

He had created space out of time, and welcomed her into it—and this time, there was a lock on the door.

Whatever they got up to in this oasis, there was no chance they would be interrupted.

In the face of all the emotion, all she could say was, “Very bold of you.”

He smiled with one side of his mouth. “I think we’ve established that.”

She did her best to remember to be professional, to recall that she didn’t need to want this man. She needed to get to know him, she needed to work together with him to plan a future for her child. This wasn’t about them.

It wasn’t about the memories and sensations flooding her mind and body, returning her to a different library.

She wanted him even more now.

He wanted her even more now.

Their shared desire was as unspoken as their agreement to resist it. She sensed that though they came to the decision for individual reasons, they were at least as in sync about this consensus as they were physically.

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