by Thea Devine
Desire drizzled through her like warm honey, melting her from the inside out. I love you, she thought, the emotion carrying her through her climax, enjoying the expression of her feelings, even if it was a silent declaration.
“Are you sure about that?” Joel’s voice was rough with sleep and desire.
She nearly fell to the side, startled, but his hands gripped down on her hips, steadying her as he thrust up once, then again, his head arching back as he pushed her toward another, fuller orgasm. The pleasure was so mutual that they rose and fell back together, words forgotten for the moment.
Collapsing against his chest, she sighed, her heartbeat echoing his. He wove his fingers through her hair, and reached down, tipping her chin up so it rested on his sternum.
“Did you mean it?”
“What?”
“What you said. That you love me. Or was it just the moment, the sex?”
His eyes held hers and she wanted to bolt when she realized that she’d actually said out loud what she’d believed she’d only thought. Oh God…how could she have made such a stupid mistake? Was there anything that would send Joel packing faster? Granted, what they had was pretty much over anyway, but she didn’t want it to end on this note.
“Edie? Look at me.”
She’d closed her eyes, squeezing them tight, afraid he’d see the truth. For better or worse, the deed was done. She did love him, so much it hurt, and she couldn’t lie to his face.
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry, I didn’t plan on it, and I don’t expect anything, I just…I got carried away. But I know how you feel, what we have, and that’s okay, I—”
“Edie. Stop.”
He sat up, pushing pillows behind his back. She slid to his side, kneeling on the mattress and tugged the sheet around her—she was feeling too vulnerable, too exposed, to really be exposed. He yanked the sheet back down.
“Don’t ever cover up in front of me. Don’t cover anything. Especially how you feel.”
“But—”
“No, listen. I know. I’m glad you said that. I know we had an agreement, that all we had was sex, but—” His gaze held hers, and he paused for a long moment before he spoke again. “Nothing was put in writing, was it? Things can change. I want more, too. I think I love you, too, or I’m well on my way to it.”
“But—”
“No, I know. It’s a fling and a rebound fling at that, and I don’t blame you if you don’t trust my emotions, considering what I’ve said and where I’m coming from, relationship-wise. But if you give me a chance, Edie, I want to give us a chance.”
“But, I—”
He held a hand up. “I know—you have your life and your family here, and that’s hard. I can’t move my firm, but maybe we can meet each other halfway and see what happens. Maybe I could open a Cleveland office, maybe they could specialize in criminal cases, who knows?”
“That’s a really big step, Joel,” she said cautiously.
“I’m not saying tomorrow, or even next month, but I’m open to the possibilities. Are you?”
He reached out, pulled her down so that her face was close to his, his heart practically stopping when he thought she might say no. Never had his life seemed so precariously balanced on such a small word.
“Edie, I love you—and I think I can prove it in all the ways you deserve. Will you take a chance? Can we see if our fling could end up being a whole lot more?”
She smiled, lifting a hand to his face, her eyes spilling over with tears. His heart hammered in his chest; he didn’t know if the tears were good or bad. “Are there any more ‘buts’?”
She laughed, shaking her head. He leaned in, kissing tears away.
“I do love you, Joel. It’s scary, the idea of having just met you, but loving you, and seeing how this adventure has changed my life, it makes me think maybe I should think more about pursing my dreams, maybe not play it so safe all the time.”
“But?”
Her smile was brilliant, and his hopes soared. “No buts. I think it feels right. My parents always say time means nothing, that when something is right, it’s right. That you have to trust your heart. I trust my heart, Joel. And most of all, I trust yours.”
She laid her hand on his heart, and he laid his over it, more moved than he’d ever been in his life.
“I think we’re probably going to stay a few more days here, then, right?” he asked, breathless, as she kissed his lips, then his neck, and lower.
“Mmm. If you can stay, that would be wonderful. You can meet my friends, and I can show you around town. Maybe I can pick your brain on running my own business.”
He smiled in pleased surprise. “Edie! That’s amazing!”
“Well, it’s just a notion still. One thing at a time. You’re inspiring me, I guess.”
“Whatever I can do to help.”
“Well, I’ll take you up on that, but for the moment, I’m still on vacation.”
As her kisses drifted lower, utter happiness stole over him, and he knew—he just knew—that all was right in the world. Love, passion and happiness formed a trifecta of bliss. She loved him. As he loved her. Edie was his, and nothing else mattered. The rest was details.
He looked deeply into her eyes, making sure. “Are you sure? You want something more serious? I have to be sure, Edie. No reservations?”
“No, no reservations, but I plan on sticking around, anyway,” she said confidently, and showed him how certain she was for the rest of the morning.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1894-3
WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION…
Copyright © 2008 by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
THE GUY DIET
Copyright © 2008 by Thea Devine.
LIGHT MY FIRE
Copyright © 2008 by Debbi Quattrone.
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Copyright © 2008 by Samantha Hunter.
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