She shook her head decisively. ‘I don’t want to marry you. I don’t know you! You don’t know me, either!’ she reasoned frustratedly. ‘And what you do know you don’t like!’
Nick gave a lazy smile as his gaze moved slowly over the slim contours of her body. Whether she realised it or not, her nipples were taut with tension beneath that fitted tee shirt. ‘Oh, I think you’ll find I like my side of the bargain just fine,’ he said mockingly.
Hebe eyed him with frustration, knowing he was deliberately misunderstanding her. What he was talking about was purely physical. The two of them had undoubtedly found a compatability that single night they’d spent together, but that had nothing to do with the commitment of marrying someone, living with them every day. He was thinking only of the nights—not the days, weeks and years of living together.
‘I think you’ll like it just fine, too, Hebe,’ he murmured throatily as he stood up to move purposefully towards her. ‘Would you like me to demonstrate how much you’ll like it?’
‘No…’ Hebe took a step back, her eyes wide as she easily guessed his intention.
She already knew that she did like—only too well!
Nick paid absolutely no attention to her half-hearted protest, taking her in his arms as his head lowered and his lips claimed hers.
Oh, God…!
Hebe simply melted against him, having no defences against his marauding mouth and hands as she felt the flood of warmth between her thighs, her breasts highly sensitised against the hardness of his chest.
His mouth moved hungrily against hers, sipping and tasting, the moist warmth of his tongue moving erotically against her lips before dipping deep into the hot cavern beneath.
Burning desire ripped through her, tearing her defences apart in a single assault, and her hands clung to the strength of his shoulders as she gave in to that engulfing fire.
His mouth broke away from hers, his lips and tongue trailing heatedly down the creamy column of her throat, his hands pushing her tee shirt impatiently aside. Taking one fiery nipple into the heat of his mouth, tongue caressing, teeth gently biting, he let his hand move down between her legs, cupping her there, just that touch through denim and silk making her quiver with pleasure.
She wanted—She needed—
Nick gave her what she needed, his palm pressing against the hardened nub between her legs, pressing more firmly as his mouth moved to her other breast, drawing the nipple into his mouth, sucking deeply as his tongue moved moistly, teeth biting with the same rhythm as his hand stroked, seeming to find that hardened nub unerringly as he touched and caressed her to fever pitch.
She couldn’t take any more. She felt as thought she was about to explode. She could feel the pleasure building until it couldn’t be contained, finally finding her release in long, convulsing waves of pleasure so deeply felt it was almost pain.
She collapsed weakly against him as he kissed her breasts gently in the aftermath of her release, realising her hands had become entangled in the dark thickness of his hair as she held him against her.
What had she done?
Stupid question—she knew what she had done. She just had no idea how to continue fighting Nick after responding to him so wantonly.
Nick straightened slowly, pulling Hebe’s tee shirt down as he raised his head to look at her flushed face and pleasure-dazed eyes. His own body was still hard with desire—a desire he had no intention of satisfying. It was Hebe’s pleasure that was important right now, to show her what they could find together any time she wanted once they were married.
She looked at him frowningly. ‘But you haven’t—’
‘I don’t need to, Hebe,’ he assured her huskily. ‘That was for you. Sex may not have been part of your plan, but I dare you to deny wanting me after that,’ he murmured throatily.
Wrong thing to say, Nick. So very wrong, he realized, as she tensed before moving abruptly away from him.
But he had needed to make her see just what they could have together besides the baby now growing inside her.
His baby, he acknowledged again fiercely. His.
And he would do anything—anything at all—to ensure that Hebe realised she was going to marry him rather than be paid off.
Even take advantage of Hebe’s response to him?
Yes, if that was what it took!
Damn it, he would keep Hebe naked in bed for a month if that was what he had to do to make her see sense!
Because she would marry him. Would become his wife. The mother of his child.
Hebe shook her head, trying to clear it of the cottonwool her brain had become as Nick kissed and caressed her.
She had to think, damn it. Had to make Nick understand that no matter how she responded to him she couldn’t marry him.
Which, after her arousal just now, and the way she still trembled in the aftermath of that shattering release, wasn’t going to be easy to do!
She raised her chin determinedly. ‘That’s just sex, Nick,’ she dismissed firmly.
He shrugged. ‘It’s a start.’
‘No, it isn’t.’ Her voice rose heatedly. ‘Marriage is for people who love each other, who want to be together for the rest of their lives—’
‘Or for people who have already made a baby together,’ he put in pointedly.
Hebe closed her eyes, wishing she could shut out the truth of his words as easily. They had made a baby together. And did she have the right to deny that child both its parents?
Yes—if they didn’t love each other!
But she did love Nick…
It was impossible to try and tell herself differently. Her fascination for him all those months ago had blossomed into love during that night they’d spent together six weeks ago.
The same time as their child had found a place and nestled inside her body…!
If Nick had loved her in return she knew that she wouldn’t have hesitated in agreeing to marry him. She would be the happiest woman in the world right now if that were true.
But it wasn’t. He thought she was after his money, not his love.
And surely love on one side was just as bad as no love between them at all?
‘Why does it have to be marriage?’ She frowned.
He raised dark brows. ‘You would rather just live with me?’
‘No! I mean, of course I wouldn’t,’ she admitted irritably. ‘I simply don’t understand why you feel you have to marry me.’
His mouth quirked with black humour. ‘Perhaps
