Marriage Without Love & More Than a Convenient Marriage(110)

Her hips rocked instinctively into his caress, then back into that teasing hardness behind the thin shield of fabric pressed against her bottom. His other arm shifted to clamp around her, clasping one full breast and caging her to the wall of his body while he bit her neck. His hips pushed against her and he pressed two fingertips where she felt it most, pinning her in a vise of sheer delight.

A quicksilver shiver was chased by a shudder and then the quaking poured through her, running like fire between her thighs and suffusing her whole body in sparkling waves of pleasure. The contractions were huge and stunning and incredible. She mindlessly prolonged them by grinding his hand between her legs and rocking her hips against his erection, loving everything about this wildly intimate act.

When the paroxysm receded, she gasped for a normal breath.

Gideon’s caressing fingers left her. She protested with a little murmur. Her body wanted more and more and more, but a sweet lassitude filled her too. Now she felt sexy and adored.

She also realized her neck stung. Gideon had left a love bite there.

Dazed but determined to keep things equal between them, she tried to turn. He swore and rolled away.

“Don’t be mad—” She realized there was also a wet patch on her back. Plucking at it, mind hardly able to comprehend how... “Did you—?”

“Yes,” he said tightly. She sensed he was lifting his hips to remove his pajama pants. A second later the pants were dragged from beneath the covers and sent flying across the floor. “What the hell did you just do to me? I haven’t done that since, hell, I don’t think I’ve ever lost control like that. It’s not funny.”

Adara couldn’t help the fit of giggles as she sat up to remove his shirt. “I was kinda caught up and didn’t realize you were with me. That’s nice. I’m glad.”

“Yeah, I noticed you were enjoying it. That’s why I was so turned on, but I didn’t mean to lose it completely. Thank God it’s dark. I’m so embarrassed—would you quit laughing?” He threw the stained shirt after the pants.

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to help convulsing with giggles as he spooned her into him again, skin to skin. It felt incredible and she snuggled deeper into the curve of his hot body. “Was it good for you?”

“What do you think? It was fantastic, you brat. How’s baby? Did I hurt you? I was holding you pretty tight. Good thing you’re not going anywhere tomorrow, with that giant hickey on your neck.”

“We’re fine. Both very happy.” She smiled into the dark, melting as he caressed her belly and nuzzled her ear. “But you’re not going to leave those clothes on the floor, are you?” she teased.

He stilled and let out a breath of exasperation. “They’re fine till—oh, hell, it’ll drive me crazy now you’ve said it and you know that, don’t you?” He flung off the covers and gathered the shirt and pants to throw them in the hamper. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked as he returned to the bed that was shaking with her laughter.

Adara used the edge of the blanket to stifle her snickers. “I’m sorry. That was mean, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was,” he growled, cuddling her into him once more. They both relaxed. “But you must believe me now. About finding you irresistible?”

“I do,” she agreed, sleepily caressing the back of his hand where it rested on the side of her belly. Tenderness filled her and she knew she’d never been this happy in her life. “And I can’t help thinking... Gideon?”

“Mmm?” he responded sleepily.

“Are we falling in love?” Her heart stopped as she took that chance. It was such a walk straight off a cliff.

That didn’t pay off.

Stillness transformed him into a rock behind her. Her postorgasmic relaxation dissipated, filling her with tension. His breath didn’t even stir her hair.

Stupid, stupid, Adara. Hadn’t she learned a millennium ago not to beg for affection?

“I’m not sure,” he said in a gruff rasp.

“It was a silly question. Never mind. Let’s just go to sleep. I’m tired.” She resolutely shut her eyes and tried to force herself to go lax, to convince him she was sleeping, but she stayed awake a long time, a thick lump in her throat.

And when she woke in the night, he was no longer in the bed with her.

* * *

Gideon stood before the living room windows and saw nothing but his past. A dozen times or more over the years, he’d considered coming clean with Adara. Every time he’d talked himself out of telling her his real name, but this time he wasn’t finding an easy way to rationalize keeping his secret.