imagine that you were happy with me. It’s a generous offer, but what changes everything is that you want me to stay and make all this work. I really meant it when I said that you don’t have to give me the money,” she said, winding her fingers into his hair and realizing she’d misjudged him all this time. Maybe he wasn’t as materialistic as she thought. She saw the satisfaction in his expression.
“The money’s yours,” he replied with a smile. “Just stay with me, Em. We’ll be great together,” he said, leaning down to cover her mouth with his in a long deep kiss. She threw herself into the kiss, clinging to his lean muscled frame, seeing hope for their future, after all.
“The doctor told you that you were stressed out over not getting pregnant. That’s why I took some time off and we came out here for another honeymoon,” Jake reminded her, his voice lowering seductively. “For six more months, just relax and take life as it comes, darlin’.”
Heat flushed her cheeks when she remembered their first week on the island, when he had taken time off work to stay with her. They had made love constantly and she’d expected to get pregnant, but that had been three weeks ago and she knew she wasn’t expecting a baby. “I’m thrilled you want me that badly,” she admitted.
He smiled as he gazed warmly down at her. Creases framed his mouth and again he looked his most appealing. “I’m patient and you’re anxious. I’m not disappointed, Em. This has been a great bargain. And you won’t regret your decision. You can’t possibly. You can do good deeds to your heart’s content. As far as being ‘poles apart’ as you said we are, thank heavens. It’s more interesting that we’re not alike. I don’t want to marry someone like me.” His voice dropped while he talked and his gaze lowered to her mouth and she forgot about the future and the money.
“This is one thing we have that’s special,” he whispered. “The lovemaking is fabulous.” He lowered his head. His mouth brushed hers and as her insides heated, she had to agree with him.
His mouth opened hers and his tongue went deep, ending all talk as effectively as his half-a-million-dollar offer had. She slid her arms around his neck and pressed against him, kissing him in return as she combed her fingers into his hair.
She stroked his tongue with hers, tasting him, teasing, dimly hearing his groan over the thumping of her heart. It was paradise to be in his arms, to have hope and to be able to finally let go. She wanted to devour him, consume him, give herself completely to him and pleasure him the way he did her.
She twisted her hand in his shirt at the small of his back and pulled, tugging it free of his trousers. Then she ran her hand over his smooth back, wanting to feel all of him. As their kisses grew hotter, he slid his hand down her back slowly, lightly over her bottom and then back up to twist free the tiny buttons of her dress and push away the wisp of lace. He cupped her breast in his hand, his thumb stroking her nipple.
She gasped with pleasure, pressing her hips more tightly against him, kissing him until she pushed lightly against his chest. She hoped to draw this out, to play and pleasure him. She intended to love him for hours. She looked up at him, gasping for breath.
“Let’s swim first,” she said, gulping to catch her breath. “Let’s make this evening last, Jake,” she whispered.
“Sure,” he said in a husky voice, desire now a steady blaze in his eyes.
“I’m going to our room to get my suit. The one I want isn’t in the cabana. I bought a new suit.”
“Want me to help you change?” he asked, and she shook her head, smiling at him.
“You meet me at the pool,” she said.
“I can’t wait,” he drawled, touching the end of her nose lightly.
Laughing, she left him, shimmying out of the top of her dress as she crossed the room. It fell around her waist, leaving her bare except for a wisp of a bra.
“Dammit, Em,” she heard him mutter, and she turned, slanting a sultry smile at him.
“I’ll hurry, Jake,” she promised breathlessly and dashed away as he started toward her.
Laughing and eager, she raced upstairs. Her heart throbbed with desire and joy and she wondered if she was going to fall in love with her handsome husband, after all.
Six more months with Jake! He truly wanted her. This marriage wasn’t such a cut-and-dried bargain, after all!
The knowledge had lifted an enormous burden off her shoulders. And maybe it would help with getting pregnant. Dr. Claywood had assured her that she could get pregnant. He’d told her to relax and given her a list of books to read on the subject.
Plus she had a half a million to spend as she pleased! Emily could think of projects at her father’s church—a remedial reading program for kids and one for adults. Mission trips to help rebuild old churches. Free breakfasts for the needy. There were countless places where the money would help. She was on the board of a children’s shelter and worked with a mentoring program. The money was fabulous and she was grateful to Jake for his generosity, yet she wished he would do more things on his own to help others. She shrugged away her concern, thankful for what he’d done already.
In their bedroom she hurried to change to a new black two-piece swimsuit. It was skimpy, but she planned to wear it only on occasions when she was alone with Jake. Although, she knew she didn’t really need to go to any effort to turn him on. A look, a caress or a kiss could do that. It amazed her how easily he became aroused.
She strolled to the end of the natural rock pool as he swam up, shaking his head and raking his raven hair back away from his face. Smiling, she unfastened her coverup and took her time taking it off, knowing he was watching her, tingling beneath his steamy gaze. He floated at the edge of the pool, his arms crossed on the rocks.
She walked close to the edge and struck a pose, her hand on her hip. “Like my suit?” she asked in a sultry voice, turning first one way and then another. He looked her over and his gray eyes held scalding desire.
“Fabulous,” he said in a deep voice.
“I bought it for you,” she replied.
“Come here, Em,” he said in a throaty rasp that strummed her nerves.
She hurried a few feet away from him and jumped in, surfacing with her head tilted back to get her hair out of her face. Hands closed on her waist.
“I like your suit,” he said, running his hands over her hips as they both treaded water. She drew a deep breath. His hands slipped lightly across her breasts, a faint touch, yet scalding. As she drew closer, her leg slid between his and she felt his arousal.
“I thought all this cold water would keep you cooled down.”
“Not when you look like that,” he said, staring at her mouth. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders, relishing the hard muscles. She wanted to touch him everywhere, needed bare skin against bare skin.
Jake’s mouth covered hers. Her awareness splintered among his kiss, the cold water swirling around her and his warm body against her, his leg between hers, pressing intimately. Holding her tightly with one arm around her waist, he let his other hand drift down her bare back over the tiny string that held her top in place. His kiss went deep, distracting her so that she was only dimly aware of his hands moving over her, tossing aside the top of her suit and
