Jasmine scooped in a quick breath, '...they chase each other endlessly around the bowl. I think Rhett and Scarlet did that, even after the book ended.' 'Perhaps they simply feel trapped,' He released her waist and slowly ran his fingertips up her arms, a feather-light touch that gave her the freedom to move if she wanted to. She didn't. She held herself completely still and the tiny little tremors under her skin told him how sensitive she was to his touch. Another swift intake of breath. 'No. They're happy fish,' she insisted. 'How do you know?' He trailed his fingers up her neck, over the soft thickness of her pinned-up hair to the dark red rose. 'Because I watch them play. They like their bowl. Its hexagonal shape is good Feng Shui, promoting peace and harmony. They have fun pushing the pebbles around at the bottom and the aquarium plants offer ready food beyond what I feed them. They're happy fish.' He'd tucked the rose in his breast pocket and was pulling out the hairpins. 'W
Softly, slowly, he kissed her closed eyes, feeling the slight flutter of her long lashes brush his chin, a butterfly touch he fancied on other parts of his body. Was she still nervous about her decision to have him? Her tension in the car had been palpable, and using the fish as an almost frantic distraction from his presence here in her apartment were both signs of uncertainty...or apprehension.She could have said no, Collins argued to himself, and her response to his kiss just now was enough assurance that the desire they shared overrode any doubts or fears, but it suddenly niggled that she might not be fully with him. He could take her. She was willing. But he didn't want any part of her to be withheld from him.He lifted his hands and gently cupped her face, studying its unique feminine contours, her marble-smooth forehead, the fine arch of her brows with their winged ends, the deeply set lids that gave her eyes their exotic triangular shape, the high slanted cheekbones flanking
'Now your clothes,' he said, his voice gruff with unaccustomed emotion. 'Yes,' she whispered, a soft breathy agreement that tingled in his ears as he moved around behind her, stepping close enough to effect what he wanted without pressing any physical contact.He parted her long rippling hair and moved it forward, over her shoulders, baring the nape of her neck and the elegant slope of her upper back, no angular bones, just satin-smooth skin leading down tothe strapless red dress. He unhooked the top fastening of the snugly fitted bodice and slowly drew the zipper clown to her waist, exposing the highly feminine indentation of her spine. There was no interruption to it. She wore no bra. And Collins was tempted into stroking his fingers down the intriguing little valley, smiling as the caress raised a convulsive little shiver.She was as sensitised to his touch as he was to hers. Which was only right and immensely satisfying. The dress gaped further open as he lowered the zipper to
They crashed onto his back, pushing and pulling, egging him into a fastseries of thrusts that she rolled around in an ecstasy of revelling in the hard heated fullness of him, loving every powerful stroke, arching herself to receive the utmost penetration, clamping around him, moaning with the intense satisfaction of it. It goaded him into pleasuring her as long as he could, exulting in her response, feeling like a mountaineer scaling the highest heights andshe was drawing him there from peak to peak. His own screaming need demanded a lift in tempo and the last crescendo was his, raising them both to an exquisite cusp of delight before abandoning themselves tothe sweet free-fall into blissful peace, wrapped in a togetherness that seeped into his soul and happily resided there. The rest of the night was spent in a sensual daze of touching, kissing, merging. Collins no longer felt any need for some ascendancy over what they shared. He was awash with all the seductive sensations of inte
Jasmine threw her front door open and stepped into her apartment and threw her handbag on the couch. She was tired. She'd been tired a lot lately... She noticed. Tired and frustrated. Work had been more stressful lately, but at least all that stress had paid off. Her company had gotten the much needed account they had been after for months and she was glad that now she could have more time to rest. That was a good thing. . Except for the fact that now that she didn't have much work to do, she had more time to think... And she had noticed that whenever her mind wandered that way, she ended up thinking about Collins Templeton. He hadn't called since their second night together at her apartment. She remembered waking up the following morning... Alone in bed... With nothing but the memory of their time together. She knew they'd agreed that they were only going to have that night together, but a part of her had hoped... Wanted him to be by her side when she woke up. Instead, the other
And she always had a cappuccino...except she'd gone off coffee, preferring a sweet cup of tea which seemed to settle the queasiness she felt most mornings. Still, at this time of day one cappuccino should be manageable.Unfortunately Favour had also ordered cream cakes and rich pastries that curdled Jasmine's stomach just looking at them. Cucumber sandwiches would have been infinitely preferable. They did serve elegant afternoon teas here in The Cortile, a huge two-storeyed area that had once been part of the old treasury building, nowincorporated in this very classy hotel. The colonnaded walkways running around it gave it a leisurely atmosphere, as did the cane armchairs in which they sat, and the grand piano being played by an excellent pianist, providing pleasant background music. It should have been very relaxing and would have been if Jasmine didn't have to guard her tongue.'No morning sickness yet?' she asked once the waiter had gone. Favour laughed and shook her head. 'I gue
Favour shrugged and helped herself to a second pastry. 'I feel hungry all the time. Must be my hormones getting out of balance or something.' Again her sister rattled on, leaving Jasmine to wonder how many lies she would end up telling. Deceit did not sit comfortably with her. Better to avoid meetings like this until she was ready to confront everyone with the truth. It was a relief when Leonard arrived, lilting the onus of a one-on-one conversation with Favour. Though again Jasmine found herself wracked with envy at the love so openly expressed between her sister and brother-in-law in their greeting and manner to each other. Worse was their mutual exhilaration in having a baby on the way. Favour preened as Leonard fussed over her, adoring the mother of his child, only too eager to watch over her every comfort and carry out her every pleasure.So it should be, Jasmine savagely told herself, and if that was not her lot it was because of the choices she'd made and it was now up to he
She walked across the living room to the goldfish bowl and smiled at Rhett and Scarlet who were responding eagerly to her presence. She didn't have to hide anything from them. They gave her pleasure and made no demands...except for food. It cost her very little to supply that. A baby would cost a great deal more, on many levels. But whatever the price she would pay it...somehow. She would never, never ask Collins for anything. She'd taken the gift of a child from him. He owed her nothing. But the child was not all hers. The big question was...how would he react to it? Her phone rang, drawing her away from her thoughts. Any distraction from her thoughts was welcome. She didn't speculate on who might be calling. She simply reached for her bag and withdrew her phone. She paused when she looked at the caller ID and saw Collins name. She waited two more rings before she could bring herself to pick the call. When he said her name, she held her breath. There was a moment of silence then h