Her heartbeat quickened as she rested her hands on his forearms. Desire smoldered in his gaze as he watched her. “I disagree,” she replied. “I still want to take some time. We can get to know each other better.”
“Do you know how badly I want to hold and kiss you?” he asked in a husky voice, and her opposing emotions tangled fiercely. She needed him to ease up and give her space. At the same time, she ached to throw her arms around him and kiss him.
“Just wait,” she said, pushing lightly against his muscled chest. “Give me time here. It’s important to me, Ryan,” she said, in spite of her yearning to reach for him.
As she looked into his eyes, she wondered if he had any idea what he did to her heartbeat. The longer they stood with locked gazes, the more she wanted him, and the more difficult it was to push away and establish some space between them. His arm tightened around her waist, and what she craved became more important than what she should do.
“It’s been a long time, Ashley,” he whispered as his gaze dropped to her lips. He leaned down, covering her mouth with his, and his tongue touched hers. Engulfed by longing, she couldn’t resist him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he drew her closer.
While her heart pounded, he leaned over her, kissing her deeply, his tongue stroking hers and building fires in her. The yearning was intense, insistent; her arguments seemed to go up in flames. She yielded to the moment, aware his kisses had comprised all her fantasies and dreams for months now.
In return she poured out her pent-up hunger, which had grown steadily. As he leaned over her, his hand wound in her locks and she tangled her fingers in his thick hair.
His manhood pressed against her. Clinging tightly to him, she moaned. She ached to be rid of the slightest barriers between them, but knew that couldn’t happen. Not now. Dimly, she realized she needed to regain control and stop, but not yet. She kissed him wildly, wanting him with all her being. He was exciting and desirable, the man of her dreams, the father of her child.
While they kissed, his hand slipped down her back and over her bottom to cup her against him. His kisses conveyed a desperate hunger, an intense need for her that made her want him even more in return.
He shifted her slightly and his fingers drifted over her breast, his feathery caress electrifying. She moaned again. His touch was a sweet torment that heightened her pleasure.
Finally, she pushed against his chest. When she did, he loosened his hold and she looked up at him. “We have to wait. I’m not ready,” she said, her breathlessness denying her words.
“Yes, you are,” he replied in a raspy voice. “And I’m more than ready. I’ve dreamed of you too many nights. I’ve thought about you more than you can possibly imagine.”
His words thrilled her, but she shook her head. “No, I can’t. We wait. There’s too much complicating our lives.”
“This is the best possible time to love each other.”
She twisted free and walked away from him, straightening her clothing and trying to get her emotions under control. She turned to face him.
His mouth was red and his expression conveyed his feelings. There was no question he was eager for her.
Fighting the urge to walk into his arms, she stayed where she was. “We need to talk about the future.”
“There are other ways to solve this and be happy.”
“Lust isn’t going to solve anything.”
“That isn’t how I would describe it. All right, Ashley, we’ll make some plans.”
“That’s exactly what I hoped to avoid. Ryan, I didn’t want you to know about the baby this soon because I knew you’d want to take charge. Let me deal with this. It’s my life, and you never wanted to become a father.”
“This is my baby, too, and you might as well get accustomed to the idea, because I’m not going away.” He spoke quietly, but she detected his unyielding tone.
She glared at him. “I want to have this baby and get settled. After that, let’s talk about what we’ll do.”
He crossed the room to take her hand. “This is so simple. Will you marry me?”
While her heartbeat fluttered, she hoped she kept her features impassive. She placed her hand on his cheek. “Your proposal is kind. Thank you, but no.”
“Dammit!” he snapped, while fire flashed in his eyes. “I’m not being kind. I’d like to marry you.”
“A week ago you wouldn’t have considered proposing. This is what you think you’re duty bound to do, and it’s generous of you. No, I’m sorry, but when I marry, I want it to be with someone I’m wildly in love with, who’s just as in love with me. You know we don’t have that relationship.” She shook her head. “No, Ryan. I knew you would propose, because I know you think you should.”
A muscle worked in his jaw and he got a piercing look in his eyes. Ashley braced for whatever he’d say next.
“We’re having a baby, which is the best possible reason to wed. Sex between us is fabulous—another dandy reason. Most times we’ve been out together, we’ve had a grand time, with the exception of breakfast this morning. We have simple backgrounds, and are in better times now, so we’re alike there,” he reminded her. While he talked, she had a suspicion he was fighting to maintain patience.
“We’re not remotely alike,” she retorted. “You’re a millionaire. I’m a wedding planner, trying to make ends meet, earn a living to support myself in the city and help my family,” she said solemnly. “And that’s just a start. There’s not one thing you’ve said that has changed my opinion. We have lust between us and that’s no basis to wed. We’re having a baby, but a sham marriage won’t do anything to make our child’s life better. The few times we’ve been together, we’ve gotten along, but they’re very few and not enough to tell how we’d do in the long haul. A pleasant time over dinner means nothing. We’re not getting our lives entangled so you can run things. You’re accustomed to control, but that isn’t the way this is going to go,” she declared, determined to resist him, although a nagging inner voice urged her to accept his offer.
“I don’t think you’re taking into consideration what would be best for our baby.”
She drew a deep breath as she gazed at him. “My baby needs loving parents. I want the man I marry to be my best friend, as well as my lover.”
“I qualify on half of that.”
“The least important half,” she said. “Ryan, as I said, you’re a take-charge person and I don’t want that. I’m having this baby. I don’t want to marry you out of desperation. An unhappy marriage won’t be any plus for a baby.”
“What makes you think it’ll be unhappy?”
“I don’t know that it will. But I also don’t know that it’ll be a solid marriage.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders again. “You think about what I can do for our baby. I can give it my name, so it will be a Warner and entitled to Warner money. There’ll be more than ample funds for education and
