Luccy’s back arched as she set the rhythm above him, her hips moving slowly, erotically as she rode Sin, feeling the tension building inside him. He moved so that he could take her breast into his mouth as Luccy rode him harder and faster.
Luccy could feel a second climax building inside her even as she heard Sin’s groan, his release sending those shock waves crashing wildly into a climax that threatened to shatter her, and him, into a million pieces.
Minutes—hours?—later, Luccy collapsed weakly onto Sin’s chest, her breathing ragged as she trembled with the force of that second, mind-shattering release.
She should regret this. She knew that she should. But she didn’t. How could she possibly regret something that had been so wonderful? So much a joining, with an equality of giving and taking that had rendered their lovemaking totally beautiful.
And it had been love, Luccy realised dazedly.
On her part, at least.
Dear God, she was in love with Sin!
She was in love with a man who didn’t trust her, let alone love her in return!
Was that why his earlier remarks had hurt so much? Why she hadn’t been able to resist him when he had come to her bedroom?
How could she possibly have been so stupid?
Sin had never known such aching arousal followed by such an earth-shattering release. He felt completely spent, and totally satiated even as he felt Luccy’s withdrawal, not just emotionally but physically too as she moved to lie on the bed beside him, long lashes lowered over those midnight-blue eyes.
What was she thinking? he wondered with a gathering frown.
Nothing pleasant, if he was reading this situation correctly!
Did she regret what had just happened?
She couldn’t regret it!
No matter what other plans Luccy might have for her own life, and consequently that of their child, didn’t she realise that what they had just shared was unusual, a compatibility that all couples sought and so rarely ever found?
‘Luccy—’
‘It’s been a very—strange day, and now I think I would like to get some sleep, if you don’t mind, Sin,’ she said flatly, her gaze still not quite meeting his.
Sin turned on his side to look down at her, not touching her, not daring to touch her. ‘Luccy, do you regret what just happened?’
Her lids flew wide. ‘Of course I—! Yes, I regret it,’ she said more calmly. ‘As I said earlier, it changes nothing. I’m still not going to marry you.’
Changes nothing!
Damn it, couldn’t Luccy see that what they had just shared gave them a basis on which to build a marriage? That maybe, in time, she might even come to love him? That he might come to love her, too? Damn it, he desired her so much he was probably halfway there already. With a little cooperation from Luccy—
‘I think you have made your point, Sin, and now I would like you to leave,’ Luccy told him coldly; she wouldn’t just like him to leave, she needed him to leave! She was going to break down and start crying again in a minute, and she really didn’t want Sin to be a witness to that.
‘I made my point?’ he repeated softly, icily. ‘And exactly what point would that be?’ His voice hardened noticeably.
Luccy’s mouth firmed. ‘That great sex can make us forget all sorts of things,’ she said. ‘It even made us forget for a while that we don’t even like each other.’
Sin felt as if Luccy had physically punched him in the stomach. She still claimed she didn’t even like him?
He sat up abruptly. ‘Then I guess we’ll just have to settle for great sex, won’t we?’ he grated.
‘What do you mean?’ She looked up at him warily as he began to pull his clothes back on.
‘I mean, Luccy, that once we’re married—because we are getting married,’ he assured her firmly. ‘I’m going to share your bed—our bed—every night. And every damned day too if I feel like it!’ He didn’t bother with the buttons on his shirt as he bent down to pick up his jacket from the carpet.
Her cheeks flushed with her own rising temper. ‘You can’t force me into marrying you—’
‘Oh, yes, Luccy, I really believe that I can.’
Luccy’s breath caught in her throat as she heard the steel in Sin’s voice. ‘Because of the baby?’
‘Why else?’ Sin gave a humourless smile.
She shook her head. ‘You would condemn our child to being brought up in a loveless marriage?’
His jaw was tight. ‘You know the alternative, Luccy.’
She wrapped her arms protectively about her body. ‘I’m not going to give you my baby!’
‘My baby, Luccy,’ he corrected. ‘The legitimate Sinclair heir. And I’ll fight you for it in court if I have to.’