“I loved it.”
Finally, the first words were forced from her. The next line was at the tip of her tongue, but he stopped her.
“What?” His eyes widened in pure disbelief, his mouth falling open.
“I did.” She touched him again. A soft sweep of her palm across his shoulder and to the center of his chest. “Believe me. The sex had nothing to do with almost losing the baby.”
“You don’t—”
“I talked with the doctor before I left the hospital,” she confessed, her heart heavy and guilty because she hadn’t thought to tell him the news. “He told me it wasn’t the sex we’d had.”
His lips went slack and his expression went dark. “He told you?”
“I was being stubborn and stupid.” She met his fierce frown with all the sincerity in her soul. “I was driving myself into the ground. That is the only reason why it happened.”
Her hand drifted over him in a soothing gesture. His breath lurched and the heat of his skin suddenly burned. Her gaze followed her movement, watching her fingers weave into the dark curls of his chest hair. She watched as they slipped to his tightening nipples.
“Mia dolce.” His deep rasp brought her gaze to meet his. His eyes blazed with fiery need. Still, the guilt lingered. “I can’t—”
“You can.” She leaned over and nipped at his mouth before he could object. “And you will.”
“No.” He twisted from her kiss, grimacing. “I won’t.”
Her fortitude flickered. Never had she thought he’d make it this hard. But how could she possibly walk away now? Grabbing the last shred of courage left in her, she bent farther in and nuzzled his ear. “You want me.”
“Dio.” His chest lifted against her breasts. “Definitely.”
Sweet relief poured through her courage, lifting and growing it into a powerful determination. “I want you, too.”
His grip was strong and yet, tender. However, the force with which he pushed her back flung her hair into her eyes. By the time she’d smoothed it away, he had the book on his lap like a shield. A bleak determination shone in his eyes. “I made a promise to myself, to you, and to our son that night in the hospital and I will not break it.”
“I absolve you of the promise.”
“But I do not absolve myself.”
Frustration bubbled. The man was as stubborn as she. A tug of respect slipped around in her. And also a bit of amusement. Here she was, ready to release the old Lise for good, ready to seduce a man for only the second time in her life. Ready to jump all the way in and what did she find? A man determined on keeping her on the pedestal, the pedestal she was determined to climb down from forever. The next move was hers and she wasn’t willing to walk away until she’d won. This time she would win a battle between them and make them both happy.
Her gaze slid down his chest to the book as she tried to decide her next move.
Il Libro di Padri.
Not much knowledge of Italian was needed to translate the title.
“The Father’s Book?” She focused on his face. Was it slightly red?
“Si.” He shrugged as if it were of no importance.
Her heart melted into a puddle. The last little piece of anger she held against him misted and disintegrated. Love filled the hole inside her she’d held since childhood and healed the wounds he’d inadvertently given her. Because now she knew him. Knew that behind the impetuous, reckless man lay a kind, gentle soul. A man who jumped into situations, true, but only for the love of life, the love itself.
A man who stayed awake at night preparing to be a good father for their son.
He stared back at her, hands tight on the book. “I need you to leave.”
What was she going to do? Jump on him? Force him to make love to her against his will? If it were any other time or any other person, she’d laugh.
Lise moved her hand across her tummy, buying some time, trying to find an answer to her dilemma.
Her son supplied her with one.
The kick was a hard one, the hardest ever. She gasped and pressed her hand on her stomach.
“What?” The book dropped to the floor as he lunged to her side and wrapped her in his warm arms. “What is it? Shall I call a doctor?”
The kicks had been her little secret, one she’d wanted to share with him, except he’d been so distant, so determined not to touch her that she’d balked. But now was the perfect time to share.
“No.” She laughed through another kick. “Give me your hand and I’ll show you.”
His hand was large and broad and hot. It poured warmth into her belly as they waited. Waited for their son.
The next kick was even stronger.