Brides, Babies And Billionaires. Rebecca Winters
vibrated through him, or were his tremors affecting her? He willed her to look at him and his heart slammed into his ribcage when she did. Gold specks glittering, her hazel eyes smouldered with desire. She wanted him. Primal macho pride surged through him.
But before he allowed himself to accept what her eyes were offering, that same pride decreed he be totally honest, even if it meant she didn’t stay. He pressed her head to his shoulder, not wanting to see her expression change, fighting for a softer way to tell her.
There wasn’t one. He watched his breath stir her hair as he forced out the words.
‘One thing life’s taught me is there’s no rose-covered cottage with two dogs and a cat and a happy-ever-after waiting for you to find it. Flowers don’t last and having a one true love is as rare as a priceless diamond.’
She made a strangled gasp into his shirt. He cupped her chin, raising her head until their eyes met, and felt a strong urge to take it all back just to see the pain vanish. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t deceive her.
‘I want you, Lauren. I want to make love to you so badly it’s driving me crazy. But I won’t lie. I don’t believe in soulmates and endless romance, I’ve seen too much anguish caused when others have. However, I do believe in and expect complete fidelity.’
Lauren’s heart twisted. Someone had hurt him, broken him, making him doubt every other woman he met. She fought for composure. If she gave in to desire, she’d be the one counting the cost.
Her heart didn’t care, deeming every moment spent with him worth any pain. There was no yesterday, no tomorrow, only now. There was only Matt Dalton, his skin hot under her hand, his body trembling in sync with hers and his heartbeat pounding against her breast.
She inhaled, drew in ocean spray and aroused male. Wanted, ached for more. All-consuming heat coils spiralled from her core. Her fingers itched to unbutton his shirt and caress the muscles it defined.
‘Matt?’ A dry whisper, pathetically weak for the powerful emotions controlling her.
Passionate blue eyes darkened, his nostrils flared, his lips parted. Something akin to euphoria swept through her. He was no longer the aloof, self-contained executive of fourteen days ago. This was primal man. And tonight she would be his.
‘Lauren. I...’ Rough. Grating. Emotional.
She touched one finger to his mouth. ‘No promises. No tomorrow. Only us tonight.’
With a triumphant growl, he scooped her up, claiming a conqueror’s kiss as he strode towards his room. To that massive bed with its rumpled sheets and pillows sure to smell of ocean waves.
* * *
The sudden shudder from head to feet took Matt by surprise. His body resonated with the aftermath of the most intense, satisfying sex of his life. As if they’d been transported to a new dimension where only they existed. Lauren had been his, totally, utterly his from the moment he’d lain beside her, kissing and caressing her, moulding her body to his form.
Tightening his arms around her, he held on, riding out the incredible feeling, wishing he could see her beautiful face and her lovely expressive eyes. There was only the faintest light seeping round the edges of the window blinds, only enough to see shadowy outlines.
She was stroking his chest, threatening to reignite the fire that had consumed them both. His willingness to be engulfed by the flame warred with the suspicion that she didn’t realise the fervent effect her gentle action evoked.
He placed his hand over hers, sought and found her lips. Keeping the kiss soft and light, he tried to let her know how he felt, elated yet humble, primal yet emotionally moved.
Her soft sigh motivated action.
‘Don’t go away.’ He went to the ensuite, turned on the light, then left the door ajar, allowing subdued light to spill into the room. Bunching up the pillows, he slid into bed and nestled her tight against his side, her head on his shoulder. Her breath blew across his chest, tickling his skin in the nicest sensation imaginable. Her hand lay over his rapid-beating heart.
He’d never initiated after-sex talks, curtailed them as quickly as possible if his partner did. This new desire to learn all he could about Lauren was unnerving and compulsive, so not him. Confidences led to familiarity, which equated with vulnerability. And that he’d determined never to risk.
He stroked her hair for a moment, pressed a kiss on her forehead.
‘Why are you so wary of guys like me? Maybe not me so much any more, but it’s there. With Alan too.’
Lauren didn’t answer. Her body stiffened, she stared at his chest, and her fingers curled. Idiot, he’d pushed too soon. If he could see her face...hell, he knew what he’d see. Fear. Reluctance.
He’d had no choice but to tell her about his father, had given her no reason to believe she could confide in him.
‘There was a woman in London I’d known and dated for quite a while. I liked her a lot, though after I wondered if she’d shown her true self to me at all. We shared mutual interests and friends, got on well and I believed we could have a mutually advantageous marriage. It’s surprising how many people settle for that. Love wasn’t a factor at all.’
He had no idea why he’d confessed his humiliating experience unless it was to show her she could trust him, that she was different from other women he’d known. His calm, rational approach to the relationship with Christine was worlds away from the mind-blowing emotions Lauren aroused simply by being in the same room.
She stirred as if preparing to pull away. He held on, needing contact, and rushed the end of his embarrassing story.
‘Luckily for me I discovered she was also involved with a married man before I proposed. I ended the relationship immediately.’
She raised her head and he was stunned by the honest sympathy in her eyes, not a hint of disapproval for his cold approach to a lifetime commitment. He kissed her, holding back the passion that flared. Having her confide in him was paramount even if he wasn’t sure why at the moment.
‘We’ve all done things we regret or had them done to us. I have no right to judge anyone, Lauren. Will you tell me? Whose actions did you brand me, Alan and umpteen other guys with?’
Her eyes clouded a second before she dropped her gaze.to his throat. She quivered, and sucked in a long breath. Feeling like a louse, he was about to tell her it didn’t matter.
Lauren blurted the first words out in a breathy rush then steadied as Matt soothed her back with rhythmic caresses.
‘Just after Christmas, the same year you and I...you know... There were often weekend barbecues in our place, crowded, noisy, lots of drinking. My brothers’ friends got a kick out of teasing me, and calling me little sister to make me blush and get tongue-tied. To them it was harmless fun. I hated it.’
The almost forgotten feeling of helplessness crashed back, clogging her throat, rendering her speechless. Followed just as suddenly by an empowering sensation. She was no longer a victim. She’d grown and moved on. Hadn’t she talked to them at Easter without any childish awkwardness?
‘I can see now it was thoughtless but never ill intentioned. If I’d been closer to any of my family I’d have been able to tell them how I felt. Instead I used to spend most of my free time with friends. That night the house was quiet inside when I was dropped off. I didn’t see my brother’s best friend leaning on the dining room door jamb until he lurched out and grabbed me in a bear hug.’
Matt pushed up against the bedhead, taking her with him. ‘Lauren, if you—’
‘He mumbled, “You’re pretty, li’l sister,” and kissed me. He stank of beer and sweat and to me it was gross. I remember kicking his shins, breaking free and looking over the top of the stair rail with revulsion. He was slumped against the wall, finishing off his can of beer.’
‘And you lumped our kiss on the balcony with that?’