“No, you’re fine,” he answered just as softly. “I didn’t know you were awake.”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep. I didn’t mean to. How long was I out?”
“Not long. Half an hour, maybe.”
“Oh.”
She knew she should move—despite what Jake had said, she was no lightweight anymore and she had to be making him uncomfortable. But with the soft cocoon of sleep still lingering around her, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
His hand in her hair felt so good. And it felt so natural to have his other hand resting on her baby bump, as if he were holding them both close. Would it be terrible to let herself imagine, just for a minute, that they really were a family?
That she and Jake had fallen in love, gotten married, and were now lying on the couch in their house, dreaming of the day their daughter would be born.
She sighed. She knew better than to indulge in fantasies about Jake, and after tonight she’d be careful not to get this close to him again. But since she was here, now, and would probably never feel this good again for the rest of her life, she was going to let herself enjoy it.
The only thing that wasn’t perfect was the bulky pillow in her way. With Jake there, what did she need a pillow for? She shifted a little, letting the pillow slide off onto the floor, and then settled back down again, nestling her head against his chest and her hip against his—
They both went still at the same time.
So that was why he’d kept the pillow there. With nothing between them, Erin was pressed against the long, hard ridge of Jake’s erection.
When she realized she was holding her breath, she let it out as slowly as a tire leaking air.
She didn’t know what to do. And judging by Jake’s frozen silence, he didn’t know, either.
Having sex with him would be a mistake. It would be impulsive and emotionally reckless, and it would further blur the boundaries between them.
She closed her eyes. In the stillness they were wrapped in she became aware of exactly how much she wanted him, and how much she wanted to silence the voice inside her that told her to guard her heart.
But this wasn’t about her heart. It was about her body. And for almost the first time in her life, her body seemed to have a mind of its own.
At first all she moved was her hip, rubbing it against his erection.
He didn’t move, but his hand tightened in her hair.
Then she reached down and covered him with her palm.
His body jerked. “Jesus, Erin. Are you trying to kill me?”
His voice was low and gravelly and raw, and the sound made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She shaped her hand to his contours and squeezed.
He grabbed onto her shoulders. “Erin. Sweetheart. Don’t do that unless you mean it. I’m serious. Pregnant or not, you keep that up and you’re going to get more than you bargained for.”
She sat up and straddled him, her knees on either side of his hips. His eyes were dark and hungry, and he was staring up at her like he wanted her. Like he had to have her.
She’d never felt so sexy and powerful in her life.
This might be her last shot at the brass ring for a while. Over the next couple of months she was going to turn into a blueberry, and she was pretty sure that becoming a single mom would kill whatever was left of her nonexistent sex life.
So she might as well go out in style.
She kept her eyes on his as she reached for the hem of her cotton top and pulled it slowly up and over her head.
She tossed it on the floor, and watched the muscles in his throat jump as he swallowed. Then she reached behind her and unhooked her bra—she was wearing a 34C now—and let that slide onto the floor as well.
He reached up to cup her with his hands. When he squeezed gently, she gasped. He brushed his thumbs across her nipples and they puckered instantly into hard, tight peaks. It felt so good she shifted against him, instinctively pressing against the bulge in his jeans.
Jake put a hand on her waist and urged her closer, putting his mouth on one breast as he teased the other with his fingers. Then he used his teeth, biting gently, and the sudden rush of adrenaline made her writhe against him, pressing her soft, aching center against the hardness that was almost driving her crazy.
He shifted on the couch, sitting up straighter so they were face to face and she was still straddling his lap. Then he kissed her, softly, teasing at her mouth until she tangled her tongue with his. He put his hands on her hips and pressed them close, center to center.
When he broke the kiss, she was flushed and panting.
Her blood was fizzing in her veins. Her body felt so charged she thought her hair must be standing up on end. He started to unbutton his shirt, but she covered his hands with hers and moved them away.