Page 29 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“Yes, well, enough about that.”

Luckily they reached the hotel then, calling a halt to that line of conversation. It was a new, three-story building, part of a national chain with well-lit, landscaped grounds.

“Our rooms are the penthouse suite.”

She laughed. “The penthouse suite on the third floor.”

“Actually, there is a small fourth floor and they do call it the penthouse suite. As I said, you have your own room—in our penthouse suite.”

“So we share the suite, but I have my own room. I can live with that.”

He wiped his brow in an exaggerated gesture. “That was easier than I thought it would be. Maybe I should have tried sharing a room tonight.”

“That wouldn’t have worked,” she told him, wagging a finger.

He laughed. “It was a thought.”

She waited while he checked in and then he took her arm and they went to their suite. When she walked inside, he closed the door, shed the backpack, just as she had. He tossed his hat on the sofa and crossed the room to her. She turned around to say something to him and forgot what she intended to say when she looked into his eyes. She couldn’t get her breath. She was torn between what she should do, what she wanted to do and what he could coax her into doing. Was she going to blow all her resolutions the first night out with him?

Six

He slipped his arms around her and pulled her to him as he leaned down. “I’ve been waiting to do this all evening long,” he said and kissed her.

The minute his mouth covered hers, her heart slammed against her ribs and she was breathless. She couldn’t say no or step away. They had constantly touched while dancing, constantly been with each other. But this was different. She was in his arms and she wanted his kisses.

She clung to him tightly as he held her close and leaned over her, kissing her hard and making her pulse race.

His hand ran down her back and over her bottom, and she moaned softly. She thrust her hips against him. There was no denying she wanted him now. How was she going to resist his kisses? Did she really want to resist?

One night with her husband—would that be a disaster?

She wound her fingers in his thick hair, feeling the short locks curl around her fingers. When his hand slipped beneath her shirt to caress her breast, she gasped with pleasure.

“Marc,” she whispered, knowing she should stop him, yet wanting his hands and his mouth on her. She wanted to hold and kiss him and wanted him to touch and kiss her. Temptation and desire had built all evening, if she was honest. Sure, she’d had fun, an exciting time, and his appeal had increased with each hour of dancing and touching each other and laughing together. When had she had that much fun with a man? Not ever. Marc was more fun than any other man she had known. That thought scared her. She didn’t want to find Marc anything more than any other man. He would go out of her life later, so she needed to show some restraint.

He kissed her again and then all thought was gone. She was consumed by him. Marc’s passionate kisses shut the world away and all she could think about was holding him and kissing him. He ran his thumb lightly over her nipple, tightening it into a taut peak. She loved the feel of it, but it wasn’t enough for him, because in seconds he tugged her blouse out of her jeans and twisted free the buttons, opening her blouse while never removing his lips from hers. Each caress, each touch built her need, until longing had her trembling.

Moaning softly, she slid her hands across his broad shoulders. She could feel his erection pressing against her. She knew she should stop. She had promised herself she would use restraint and do what she could to avoid seduction. She hadn’t been here a week yet, and she was in his arms, letting him fondle her breast. This wasn’t the way to guard against heartbreak. The warning was dim, a whisper to her conscience, and she ignored it momentarily. She wanted just a few minutes more in his arms. All evening she had wanted his kiss, wanted to be in his arms. She couldn’t stop this yet.

She leaned away to pull his shirt free of his jeans, just as he had done her blouse. In minutes she had his shirt unbuttoned and she ran her hand over his bare chest while they continued to kiss. His hard muscles did not surprise her because she knew he went to the gym every lunch hour he was in the office. Her fingers tangled in the fine curls before they slid to his flat belly and lower. Her foray was stopped when he pushed aside her bra and leaned down to take her nipple into his mouth, his tongue stroking her, hot and wet, a torment that made her want more.

She gasped with pleasure while she clutched his shoulders. Her eyes were closed and she was captured by sensation, captivated by his mouth and his hands moving so lightly on her, yet setting her ablaze with longing.

“Marc,” she whispered. She knew she should stop, knew every kiss, every touch was bringing trouble, heading her toward seduction.

He shoved her blouse off her shoulders and unfastened her bra, pushing it aside so he could cup her breasts and kiss her. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “So beautiful.” His hungry gaze made her tremble and want his hands and mouth all over her.

She gasped when he bent to pick her up and carry her to a bedroom.

When he set her on her feet, she caught his arms to steady herself. Then she looked up at him. “You’re going too fast for me.”

“We’re married, Lara,” he whispered. “And I want you.”

“It’s still too fast, Marc. We’re married in a marriage of convenience. There isn’t a shred of love and that’s a gigantic difference for me. This is pure sex without any love. I need to slow down. We talked about each of us wanting to avoid falling in love. Well, I’m sure you’re impervious and could sleep all year with me and still walk away at the end of the year. But going to bed and making love with someone is emotional for me. I can’t do that all year and then walk away. I’ll be in love,” she said, emphasizing in love and hoped that would cool him. “We’ve kissed and we’ve had a fun evening. Let’s call it a night.”

He stroked locks of hair away from her face, and she saw the battle play out in his eyes, desire at war with common sense. Then, finally, he brushed a kiss on her cheek and let her go. “Okay. It’s a deal,” he said. “It still was the best evening I’ve had in a long, long time.”

She smiled at him. “That’s the best possible thing you could say. I’m so glad. It was a fantastic evening for me and I had a wonderful time, you sexy man. I couldn’t wait to come back and kiss you. You’re very exciting, my convenient husband.”

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