Harlequin Presents January 2015 Box Set 1 of 2(125)

Edward cupped my face in his hands. His expression was tender, his eyes shining. “All I want is to take care of you forever....”

“I want to do the same for you.” I was in so deep now. I wanted desperately to believe the fantasy was true. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I kissed him with trembling lips. Twining his hands in my hair, he kissed me back, matching my passion, exceeding it. A fire roared through me, and I gasped.

Drawing back, he pulled off his clothes and gently lay me back against the bed. My hair tumbled over the pillows. I shivered, closing my eyes as he kissed down my neck. His lips were warm beneath the cool ocean breeze blowing through the window. I breathed in the scent of him, clean and masculine, with the sea air and the rose petals scattered around us.

He unhooked my bra. I gasped as I felt his lips nuzzle my breast before he drew my full nipple gently into his mouth. Pregnancy had made my breasts so big, he had to hold each with both hands in its turn. I gripped his shoulders tightly.

Pulling back, he looked down at me. “You’re in your third trimester,” he murmured wickedly. “The doctor said you shouldn’t spend too long on your back....”

Before I knew what was happening, he rolled me over, so I was on top of him. He pulled my knees apart, so I straddled his hips. My belly was huge between us, my breasts hanging almost to his face as I leaned forward to kiss him. I felt the size of him, hard and huge between my legs and the pregnancy hormones I’d tried to ignore for months suddenly rocketed uncontrollably through me, leaving me weak with lust. Pulling up, I came down hard, impaling myself, drawing him deep and thick inside me. He gasped, putting his hands on my hips. Not stopping, not waiting, I rocked back and forth, riding him with increasing speed until he was stretching me to the limit, filling me to the core, and with a loud cry, I exploded, and so did he. We both soared amid the fading purple shadows of the night.

Afterward, he drew me close, holding me in his arms. He kissed my sweaty temple. “I never want to let you go.”

“So don’t,” I whispered. My body felt illuminated, glowing with happiness. I pressed my cheek against the warmth of his bare skin, glorying in the feel of his arm wrapped snugly around me in bed.

“Let’s go to Las Vegas,” he said suddenly.

Blinking, I lifted my head to look at him. “You want to elope?”

I thought I saw a shadow cross his eyes. Then he gave me a lazy smile. “I don’t want to give you the chance to change your mind.”

“I won’t.” I looked down at my engagement ring. “Though this thing is so heavy, I feel lopsided. What is it, ten carats?”

He grinned. “Twenty.”

“What! I think you might have overdone it!”

“I’ll get you a ring for your other hand. Then it won’t be a problem.” He stroked my cheek. “Just say you’ll run away with me tomorrow.”

It sounded like a dream. But... I bit my lip. “Without my family?”

He gave a low laugh. “I should have known you wouldn’t like that thought. Bring Howard with us, then. And whomever else you want. Plenty of room on the jet.” He stroked his jaw ruefully. “Though I’m still waiting for him to hit me on the jaw.”

I snorted. “Howard would never go through with it. He loves you too much now.” Then my smile faded. “Madison is coming home tonight....”

“From Mongolia? Is it the first time you’ve seen her since Penryth Hall?”

“Yeah. I need to try to work things out.” I sighed. Rising to my feet, I started to pull on my clothes.

“Don’t go.” He held out his arm. “Stay with me tonight.”

I looked at him longingly, then shook my head. “I need to talk to Madison. But then...” I looked at him. “If she forgives me for breaking up her engagement, and Howard can come, then...”

“Then?” he said, his voice filled with rising hope.

I smiled at him. I felt so happy, there were tears in my eyes. “Then I’ll elope with you in the morning.”

With an intake of breath, he rose to his feet. Taking me in his arms, he kissed me softly. “Go home. See your family tonight.” He gave me a smile that was brighter than the sun. “And I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It felt so good in his arms, so warm, so right. It felt—like home. I bit my lip, suddenly reluctant to leave. “On second thought, maybe I could stay here tonight. I’ll see Madison tomorrow....”

With a low laugh, he shook his head. “No. Go. Talk to them. Then we can start our new lives tomorrow.” Drawing back, Edward looked thoughtful. “Anyway, I think there’s something else I need to do tonight.”