this was as good as it got. She could make love to Seth in his home and hold on to these happy memories through the long, lonely nights ahead.
He flattened her against the door with his body, hard and hot against hers. But even when he covered her mouth with his, taking and demanding—there was still a gentleness to him.
“Now, Seth,” she whispered against his neck, grabbing the belt of his jeans. She didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want gentle. She just wanted this memory.
“Babe,” he growled, and then he picked her up. She squeaked in alarm—she wasn’t getting any lighter these days—but Seth cradled her to his chest as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Just like she had from the very beginning, she felt safe in his arms. She knew he wouldn’t drop her.
“I apologize for the lack of furniture,” he said as he carried her toward the kitchen.
“Don’t,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his jaw. Tucking every contour of his face, every muscle in his neck, away into her memory. “Don’t apologize for any of it.”
He sat her on the island counter and kissed her again, harder this time. She managed to get his buckle undone and then he was shoving her flowing skirt up, pulling her panties down. “I need you so much, Kate.”
“Yes,” she hissed, shoving his pants out of the way. When was the last time anyone had needed her? Roger certainly hadn’t. He’d barely even wanted her. Her parents had relied on her because she was cheap labor.
But who needed her because she was Kate?
No one. Just Seth.
They normally took their time with foreplay, but she didn’t have the patience for it today and neither did he. He set himself against her and then, with one delicious thrust, buried himself deep inside. Moaning with pleasure, she fell back on her elbows as he grabbed her hips and slammed into her again and again.
She loved being with Seth, but this rawness, this need—this was what had been missing. She had thought he’d been holding himself back out of deference to her being pregnant. But today?
Today, he was like a man possessed. Seth pounded into her again and again, his fingertips gripping her hips with brute strength. Kate sprawled on top of the island, surrendering to him completely. Already, she could feel the orgasm spiraling up and up. Pulling her along until her back was arching and she was grabbing at his forearms, desperate for anything to hold on to. When her climax broke, it broke hard, wrenching a guttural cry from her lips. She didn’t hold back, either.
She was Kate Burroughs and he needed her.
Seth flung back his head and made a sound that triggered another, smaller shock wave that left Kate completely boneless with satisfaction. He thrust one final time, the cords in his neck strained with the effort.
Then he fell forward, panting hard. She tangled her fingers in his hair and held him to her breast. They hadn’t even gotten undressed on the way. It had been the most intense sex of her life, and she was glad it had been with him.
Seth withdrew and pulled her up, crushing her against his chest. Kate could feel the tears running down her face, but this time, it wasn’t because the intensity of the orgasm had been overwhelming. She didn’t even think it was the hormones, although they weren’t helping.
This was supposed to be short-term. Fun. Seth had helped her secure her future. He made her feel desirable and beautiful even though her body was changing constantly. He’d introduced her to his family. And after all of that, he still made passionate love to her.
How was she supposed to let him go?
He could not wait for his bed to show up. An air mattress with two sleeping bags on it wasn’t cutting it. Going back to the hotel would have been the smart thing to do. But he hadn’t been able to wait to have Kate in this house with him and she was game, so an air mattress it was.
He wanted her in ways that didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Which had to be why he was awake at some ungodly hour of the morning, trying to make sense of it all.
Thankfully, Kate was still asleep. She lay curled against his side, her burgeoning belly nestled on his hip, her leg thrown over his. Her breathing was deep and regular, and every so often, she’d twitch a little in her dreams. He hoped they were good dreams.
He gently stroked her hair and tried to think. In the midst of everything that had happened yesterday, Seth had almost overlooked one of the things his dad had said when he’d been telling Seth to man up.
They were sending him to Shanghai in a matter of months, then maybe to India. Which was great. Seth loved to travel. He liked to see the sights and try new foods and...
It wasn’t like he had misled Kate. Part of their conversation about him buying a home had revolved around the fact that he was not going to live in it year-round. But he hadn’t told her exactly what that entailed.
It was one thing to live in LA for a year. Sure, it took a little while to get from LA to Rapid City and back, but it was doable. Seth had made it home for birthdays and anniversaries and holidays with a few more frequent flyer miles under his belt and a growing distaste for airport coffee.
But Shanghai? Mumbai? Bangkok, maybe? Those weren’t quick trips home.
It would be best for everyone, he reasoned, if the break was clean. He did not want to string Kate along. There was probably a great man out there who would appreciate everything she had to offer. Seth wouldn’t stand in the way of that by giving her false hope that whenever he made it home, they could pick up where they left off.
Yes, a clean break was best. It just made sense.
Kate stirred against him. “Seth?” Her voice was heavy with sleep. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he told her, tightening his grip around her shoulders. “I’m just not used to the air mattress. Go back to sleep.”
For a moment, he thought she was going to do just that. After all, he had run her all over God’s green earth yesterday—industrial sites, soccer fields, soul-sucking house closings—not to mention several rounds of explosive sex. Plus, she was pregnant and he hadn’t missed the yawns she’d hid behind her hands during the signings.
But then she put her palm on his chest and leaned up on her elbow. The room was too dark to see her face, but he knew she was staring down at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
I love you.
The words almost tumbled right off his tongue without his permission. He just managed to get his mouth closed around them before they complicated everything. Because if there was one way to make sure the break wasn’t clean, it was those three little words.
“Seth?”
“I’m going to Shanghai,” he told her, suddenly glad that they were having this conversation in the dark. He didn’t want to see the hurt in her eyes. “My dad confirmed it yesterday at the soccer game.”
The silence was heavy. “When?”
“After
