“Perfect,” she said breathlessly.
“Yes.” He increased the tempo.
“Like…” She moaned as the delicious friction urged her higher. “Like the first time.”
“Yes.” His gaze darkened. “Like the first time.”
“We were good together.”
“So good I tried to forget.” His voice grew hoarse as he pushed them both closer to the edge. “I couldn’t. Because I belong here.” He shoved deep. “Right here.”
She gasped as the first tremor rocked her. “I want you…there. Oh, yes, there. Again. There.”
His words punctuated his sure thrusts. “I know…you do…for now.”
“For al—”
“For now.” He buried himself within her. “That’s all I need.”
The rush of a powerful orgasm left her without words. As her cries of pleasure mingled with his heavy groan of release, she reveled in the feeling of completion as his hot seed poured into her. But magical as that feeling was, she knew it was not enough.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MAKING LOVE on the stairs. If anyone had told Morgan six months ago that he’d be making love to a woman in such a wild and crazy place he would have laughed in disbelief.
But, damn, what an outstanding idea. Keeping his torso lifted away from her so she wouldn’t have to bear his weight on the uneven surface, he gazed at Mary Jane lying nearly naked beneath him. Her silk top was pushed up to her neck, so she might as well have been wearing nothing.
The light in the stairway wasn’t great, but good enough that he could enjoy the view. His glance skimmed over her high, plump breasts, the delicate valley between her ribs and the graceful curve of her pregnant belly. Below that, surrounded by soft curls, his penis was still imbedded deep within her. He should probably move away and get her into bed, but he hated to break that precious connection.
Slowly his attention returned to her face. Her cheeks were flushed and she’d have a case of razor burn tomorrow. If the look in her eyes was any indication, she wouldn’t care. She was gazing at him as if he’d just finished creating the heavens and the earth. He couldn’t remember seeing that much satisfaction on any woman’s face before. And of course he wanted to see if he could duplicate his efforts. But not here.
“This is a first for me, doing it on the stairs,” he admitted. “I sure hope your back’s okay.”
She smiled. “My everything’s okay. More than okay. We loved that.”
“We?”
“The baby and me.” She placed her hand over her tummy. “She’s dancing.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Feel.” Curving her hands around his back, she urged him down so his stomach rested lightly against hers.
Sure enough, he could feel that baby. It was sort of like lying on a shiatsu massage unit. Except instead of rolling nodules, the pressure came from a foot, or an elbow, or a knee, all belonging to his baby. His little girl.
He gazed into Mary Jane’s eyes as he continued to rest lightly against her belly and absorb the soft nudges of the child she carried. “While I’m still inside you and lying on top like this, I almost feel as if I’m right there with her,” he said softly.
“You almost are,” she said.
“You’re sure I didn’t do any damage?”
She shook her head. “I’m no masochist. I would have stopped you if you were hurting me or if I thought there was a problem with the baby.”
He rubbed his stomach gently across hers, and the baby seemed to kick in response.
“She’s talking to you,” Mary Jane said.
“Yeah?” He could stay like this for hours, but he had to get Mary Jane off these stairs. Carpeted or not, they weren’t the same as an innerspring. “What’s she saying?”
“She’s saying, ‘Hello, Daddy.’”
His heart swelled with emotion. Gratitude to Mary Jane for nurturing this baby was part of it, but he knew that wasn’t the most significant thing he was feeling. He dared not speak of what his heart was telling him. Not yet. He’d already revealed more than he intended tonight. Now Mary Jane knew the depth of his passion. The rest, words that had the power to change their lives forever, would have to wait.
With great reluctance he eased away from her. “I feel like Adam being kicked out of paradise,” he murmured. “But you shouldn’t keep lying on these stairs.”
“There’s more paradise where that came from,” she said. “Unless you’re planning to call it a night.”
He hadn’t really figured out what would happen next. “You need your rest,” he said, thinking he should leave. He was already a far luckier man than he deserved to be.
She gazed at him. “That doesn’t mean you have to go home. I’m greedy, Morgan. Now that you’ve shown me that the first time wasn’t a fluke, I want to make love again.” Her glance drifted downward. “If you’re up to it,” she said with a wicked smile. “And I do believe you are.”
His heart began to pound with renewed desire. “I—”
“And after we make love again, I want you to sleep with me tonight and make love to me in the morning before we have to get up.”
Oh, he could do that. He could so do that. And then leaving would become more and more difficult. “I’m not sure that we should—”
“Why not? Is there any medical reason?”
He knew there wasn’t. Not with a young mother-to-be as healthy as Mary Jane. She could probably make love until the week she delivered, so long as her partner was careful and used positions to accommodate her. His penis twitched at the prospect of making love to Mary Jane as she grew more rounded and ever more desirable. But it wasn’t part of his game plan.
“No medical reason,” he said.
Her gaze challenged his. “Did you or did you not have a good time just now?”
“I had a wonderful time, and you know it.”
“Me, too. Absolutely wonderful. And I didn’t think about this before, but making love is very convenient when a woman is pregnant.”
“Convenient? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Well, it’s not as if you have to worry about knocking me up.”
He chuckled. “True.” But she was right that their lovemaking was simple and straightforward. Because she was pregnant, there was no agenda except giving each other pleasure. He wasn’t trying to make a baby, nor was he trying not to.
“And so everything’s more fun, don’t you think?”
“No doubt.”
She smiled. “Then come to bed with me and we’ll do it again.”
He was helpless in the face of temptation. He would spend the night with her and make love to her the next morning, too. But then—then he would have to be strong.
MARY JANE dreamed that Morgan was kissing her all over. His warm, wet mouth traveled from her earlobe to her throat, to her collarbone, then to her breasts and down her inner arm to the tender place inside her elbow. He moved on, and she squirmed at the tickling sensation of his tongue dipping into her navel. Lovingly he stroked her belly before easing down to her feet.
No man had ever licked her toes, but in her dream Morgan did that, and she discovered that she loved it. His tongue slid into the crevices between each one, and the sensation reminded her of the friction of his penis gliding deep inside her. Then he sucked gently on each toe. She grew warm and damp with anticipation.
Guiding her legs apart, he thoroughly kissed the backs of her knees. By the time he ran his tongue up her inner thighs, she knew what to expect next. Some dream she was having. Or maybe not a dream. She trembled on the brink of waking, not wanting to give up this excellent dream unless…unless it was real.
When she felt his warm breath stir the curls covering her most intimate secrets, when he kissed that sensitive place with deliberate care, her lashes fluttered open. The room was filled with the soft light of dawn. This was no dream. Morgan was giving her a treat.
Suspended halfway between sleep and wakefulness, drifting in a sensua
l haze, she closed her eyes. Lying on the bed limp and relaxed as a rag doll, she allowed Morgan to do as he would with her. He seemed to know exactly what to do with her, and he apparently required no participation from her to achieve his ends. He might even think she was still asleep and her body was automatically responding to his touch.
What a wild sensation, to be coaxed and kissed awake in every sense of the word. He cupped her belly with both hands, caressing her lightly as he continued his assault right where it counted the most. She was in heaven.
He used his tongue with the finesse of a master, and she grew slippery and hot in no time. Tension wound through her, tightening the muscles that had been loosened by sleep. Lying still was no longer an option as his tongue continued to work its magic.
Being quiet lost its appeal, too. She began to pant and squirm, although she was careful not to dislodge him. If he stopped she would be reduced to begging.
He didn’t stop. He drove her right over the edge, wringing moans of ecstasy from her lips as waves of sensation rolled relentlessly through her, leaving her once more limp as a rag doll.
Moving beside her, he kissed her full on the mouth, giving her a taste of her own passion, and just like that, she was ready for him again. She arched against him in invitation.
He rolled over her, positioned himself between her thighs and in one sure thrust claimed her.
She opened her eyes and discovered she was looking directly into his.
“Good morning,” he murmured, angling his body so he pressed gently against her tummy with each easy stroke.
“Yes, it is,” she murmured, cupping his bottom and wiggling closer. “At least so far. I’ll take you over an alarm clock any day.”
His voice grew husky as he continued his lazy rhythm. “I woke up and saw you lying there, and I…couldn’t help myself.”
“Don’t control those urges on my account.”
“I don’t seem to be able to.”
“Good.” She wound her legs around his, locking them closer together.
“Ah, Mary Jane.” He picked up the rhythm. “That feels so good. Like you really want me inside you.”
“Read my lips. I really want you.”
“I’d rather kiss your lips.” Leaning down, he captured her mouth with firm intent. Then he lifted his head and smiled at her, his eyes alight. “There’s something better than fudge and caramel lipstick.”
“There is?”
Her breathing quickened as his steady thrusts brought predictable results. Satisfaction was so easy to come by with this man.
“Yeah. Pure Mary Jane.” He leaned down to pleasure her mouth again while he continued pleasuring the rest of her.
The combination brought her to the brink of orgasm in no time. Clutching his head, she urged him to break the kiss, wonderful though it was. “I need…room,” she said, panting.
“Room?”
“Room to yell. I’m about to yell, Morgan.”
“That’s what I’m after.” Looking into her eyes, he shifted his angle slightly.
And that was all it took. Wham, she was going wild, arching upward, yelling out all sorts of craziness. Maybe even something about love, but she was too far gone to be sure.
Then it was his turn, and his groans echoed through the bedroom. She might not have been totally aware of what she had said in the ultimate moment of release, but she certainly heard what he said. And although he cried out her name, he didn’t use the L word. And oh, how she wished that he had.
MORGAN TOLD HIMSELF to put no importance on Mary Jane’s declaration of love. Nobody should be held accountable for what they said in the grip of a powerful orgasm. Nothing had changed, really. He still had to leave Austin and give her space. Room. She’d wanted room to yell just now. She needed more room, period. Boxing her in would be unforgivably selfish on his part.
Yet that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Her words of love ran through his mind in a continuous loop as he cuddled with her. She didn’t bring up the matter, though, which probably meant she hadn’t realized what she’d said.
He kept the tone of their interaction light as they finally climbed out of bed. Following their previous pattern, she went in to shower and get ready for work while he dressed and headed downstairs to make breakfast. All the while he rehearsed his speech.
But he waited until she’d eaten her scrambled eggs and toast before he delivered it. Knowing what he had to say had taken away his appetite, so he made up some story about planning to eat later and instead sipped some instant coffee he’d made for himself. He wasn’t setting a good example for her, but he was afraid he’d choke on anything solid.
After she finished, she took her plate to the sink, and he picked up his mug and stood, knowing this was the moment he’d been dreading.
“So you have the closing on the house today,” she said, rinsing the plate and putting it in the dishwasher.
“Yes. At eleven.”
She turned to him. “So I guess we could go over there tonight, then.” There was a cautious look in her eyes, as if she’d guessed that wouldn’t be happening.
He kept forgetting how easily she picked up on a mood. He set his mug on the counter and walked to her. Taking her by the shoulders, he gazed into her eyes. Such a clear, honest blue.
She swallowed nervously. “You’re still leaving, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m still leaving.”
Backing out of his grip, she lifted her chin. “None of this made any difference to you?”
His chest felt as if it were filled with lead. “It made a huge difference. Now I know exactly what I’ll be missing.”
“But your practice calls.” She sounded bitter.
“No, not the practice. I’m seriously thinking of giving it up. Ellie offered me a job with Maitland, and I’m considering it.”
Her eyes widened. “You are?” Light began to suffuse her face. “You might move here permanently?”
“I might, but I’m worried about the impact on you.”
She looked as if he’d just slapped her. “Oh, I get it. You want to move here, but you don’t want to be involved with me, and you’re afraid that would be awkward. Well, don’t worry. I won’t—”
“No, damn it!” He grabbed her again and stopped just short of shaking her. “Don’t you see? I desperately want to be with you! But I don’t think it’s fair for me to swoop in and take over your life!”
She gazed at him and finally shook her head, as if trying to clear it. “Morgan, you’re doing it again. Making my decisions for me. Did it ever occur to you that I might love for you to take over my life?”
“Now, maybe.” He massaged her arms gently. “That would be natural, when you’re carrying this baby. But once you’ve had her you could easily wake up and wonder what you’d saddled yourself with. I couldn’t bear that.”
For several long seconds she studied him. “So what are you planning to do?”
“Ellie said the offer stands. She’d be glad to have me join the staff whenever I can arrange it, whether that’s in one month or one year. I think the decision should be made after you’ve had the baby. In the meantime I’ll go back to New York and take care of things there. The two of us will have more time to think this through.”
Her voice quivered slightly. “Do you need more time?”
No. He glanced away, unable to look into her eyes and tell her a lie. “I need to take care of some things back in New York. For one thing, I’m definitely moving out of the apartment. I need to get started on that.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
His gaze swung quickly to her. “You can’t do that. Your job—”
“I don’t mean permanently. I mean for the weekend.” Her eyes were soft with compassion. “You’re not the only one who can be protective, Morgan. I’m not letting you walk into that apartment by yourself.”
A lump stuck in his throat. He wanted her there by his side more than she could imagine, and he felt cowardly as a result. “
I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe you will, and maybe you won’t. I’m coming with you. I also think there’s something else we need to do. Arielle didn’t want a funeral, but you and I need to have…what’s that word?”
“Closure.”
“That’s it. Closure. Maybe we could come up with something for the two of us that wouldn’t go against Arielle’s wishes.”
He knew in his gut that she was absolutely right about closure. He needed to find a way to say goodbye to Arielle, but he hadn’t considered that Mary Jane had the same need. “Since we’re talking about something symbolic anyway, maybe we could handle that here,” he said, “so you wouldn’t have to make the trip.”
“I don’t think so. I think you need to take me back to New York with you, Morgan, for lots of reasons.”
As he looked into her eyes, he knew she’d reached within herself and come up with some age-old wisdom he couldn’t deny. “Only if you’ll let me cover all your expenses. You’ve been incredibly stubborn about that so far, but I won’t consider this unless you’ll let me foot the bill.”
She hesitated, and at last she nodded. “Okay. And thanks. I’m afraid it would put a real crimp in my budget.”
“Do you want to leave this afternoon?”
“As long as I can clear it with Shelby, yes, I would. I think we need to get this done.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I am right. We can leave today and I’ll come home Sunday. Then if you’re determined to play martyr and stay there until the baby’s born while I enjoy your beautiful house here in Austin, I’ll try to live with that.”
He almost smiled. When she put it like that, his decision to spend the next four months in New York sounded righteous and downright stupid, which was what she had intended, of course. But in four months her outlook might undergo a drastic change. He didn’t want to tie her down and then have her long to be free.
MARY JANE had made the plane trip to New York twice, once for Arielle and Morgan’s wedding, and once for the procedure that resulted in her pregnancy. Both had been filled with excitement and an air of celebration. Remembering those trips as the plane touched down at JFK that night, she felt the first wave of sadness hit.
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