Authors: Angie Daniels
His hands were hot on her skin, making her wild with wanting.
Turning around, Bianca pressed her bare breasts against his chest, the fine hairs grazing her sensitive nipples. When he shoved her bikini bottom down to her ankles and tossed them aside she was more than willing to accept what he had to offer. She watched as he lowered his swim trunks and kicked them away.
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“Lie down,” he ordered softly.
Obeying, she lowered herself onto the large blue beach blanket with her legs spread, and London knelt between her parted thighs. He then stroked her inner thighs and she didn’t pull away as he eased a finger inside her wet folds. He pushed in and out slowly, and when she began to rock her hips against him, meeting each thrust, he increased the rate.
Knowing they were outside on a private beach, about to make love where any beachcombers could see them if they really wanted to, had her burning with wicked desire.
“Please,” she begged, “make love to me.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. Gripping her hips, London guided his length into her moist entrance. She gasped, then squeezed him like they were meant to be together—forever. Only they weren’t. At least she wasn’t going to be foolish enough to believe that. Never again. It is what it is, she reminded herself.
She planned to enjoy every second they had.
“Yes,” she moaned.
London withdrew to the tip then pushed forward again. She cried out, her breath coming in little pants.
He plunged again and again, and she cried out with each thrust, loving the way he felt inside her. She was his, and he was hers—even if it was just for the moment.
Finally, she came. She gripped and milked him before she collapsed around him. He continued to pump into her, filling her with everything he had and came shortly after. As soon as their heart rates returned to normal, London rose with her in his arms and carried her into the house and back to bed.
Chapter 22
Bianca lifted London’s arm, which was draped protectively around her waist, and carefully slid out from beneath him.
On her tiptoes, she moved across the room, thankful that her steps were silenced by the plush carpet. As soon as she was inside the bathroom, she shut the door, moved over to a vanity in the corner and took a seat. With her shoulders slumped forward she shook her head and wondered what she was going to do. She had done everything she could to keep it from happening.
Denying her feelings. Reminding herself that it was only a deal.
Not spending any more time with him than necessary. Yet none of that had made a difference. Some way, somehow London had wiggled his way past the barrier that guarded her heart.
She had fallen in love with her husband.
Bianca lowered her head and brought her hands to her forehead, then groaned. This was not at all how she had planned it.
Utterly surprised, she had discovered how alike she and London were. They enjoyed the same R&B music, loved to read and had business minds that worked well together. The time she had spent working on the marketing for his restaurants and the
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input he had given had proven that. He cooked. She cleaned.
They laughed together and their sex life was phenomenal.
She had accepted Collin’s marriage proposal, knowing deep in her heart that she didn’t love him as a woman should love the man she was about to marry. Sure, she enjoyed being with him, but she had not wholly given herself to him. His kisses were nice, but her body hadn’t reacted the same way it had when London made love to her.
Now she knew what love was.
The realization hit her hard and she shuddered.
What in the
world was she going to do?
The sun had begun to rise. Tangled in the sheets, London lay on his side. He stared down at the beautiful woman sleeping comfortably beside him.
His wife.
He couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from her. To him, Bianca Beaumont Brown was beautiful. So beautiful he could not put his emotions into words. He’d never felt his heart pound so hard from doing something more than just staring at a woman.
What was happening to him? Better yet, why was it happening?
Bianca made it perfectly clear that falling in love with him was out of the question. Yet a part of him wished that they were married for real.
She gave a soft moan and the innocent expression on her face brought a smile to London’s lips. He leaned down and gave her a delicate kiss on the forehead. He kissed her again, and this time she mumbled something that he couldn’t decipher. When she snuggled closer, he realized there was no way he was ever letting her go. He would just have to show her how good they were together, so that she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Chapter 23
Bianca heard a knock near her open door. “Come in,” she called out.
Debra stuck her head inside her office door. “I see you’re back.”
Lowering the pencil, she folded her hands on the desk and smiled. “Yes, I am.”
She pursed her lips with disapproval. “I guess I’m the last to know, since you’ve been ignoring all of my phone calls.”
“Not
all
of them. I was planning to call you this morning.”
“Uh-huh,” Debra said, looking unconvinced as she stepped into Bianca’s office wearing a slamming peach designer suit.
Bianca gasped. “Oh, my! I love your new hairstyle.”
Grinning, Debra combed her fingers through her short, spiked hair. “Thank you, girl. I felt I was do for a change. After seeing you going down the aisle, I decided that maybe it’s time for me to find myself a new man.”
Bianca’s brows rose. “Really?”
“Yes. At least for an hour or two.” Debra’s eyes crinkled as they shared the fun. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed their laughter. “Okay, enough with the stalling. I want to hear all about
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your honeymoon.” Debra flopped down in the chair across from her, an expectant look on her face.
Bianca grinned. “Fabulous.” Her pulse began to race just at the thought. She told Debra about the last four days she’d spent snorkeling, swimming, walking along the shore holding hands and the numerous hours she’d spent lying in London’s arms as he took his time making love to her.
“Damn, girl!” Debra studied Bianca intently and said, “Are you in love yet?”
Bianca met Debra’s gaze, no longer denying the truth. “Yes, I think I am.”
Debra practically jumped out her chair. “I knew it. And what did he say when you told him?”
Dropping her eyes to the report on her desk, Bianca shook her head. “I didn’t tell him.”
“Are you crazy? Why the hell not?”
Bianca looked up, then shrugged. “Because we have an agreement, and falling in love isn’t part of it.”
“Maybe not in the beginning, but a lot has changed between the two of you. You’re married, living in the same house, getting ready to have a baby. If that isn’t a lot of change, I don’t know what is.”
Debra just didn’t know how much she wished that was true.
But it could never happen because she wouldn’t allow it to. She had risked her heart once and look where it got her.
“But we both knew the rules from day one. He agreed to give my baby a name and that is exactly what London has done for me, and I love him for it.”
“But what about forgetting about what the two of you agreed on and taking a chance on loving each other?”
Oh, it definitely sounded good, yet everything that sounded good wasn’t always good for you, Bianca thought.
“No. You know what they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Our relationship is perfect just the way it is,” Bianca said out loud.
“It sounds like it’s broke to me.”
Yes, Bianca had to agree. However, she wasn’t prepared to do anything about it.
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* * *
He took his job seriously, yet Bianca was the first woman who ever distracted him from his work. He couldn’t take a breath without smelling her scent or remembering her smile.
He knew from the beginning that their marriage was simply a business arrangement so why couldn’t he get his heart to cooperate? Bianca was not interested in forever. She had made that point perfectly clear on several occasions. So why did his heart refuse to listen?
Leaning back in his chair, he swung around and looked out the wide window, staring out at the bustling downtown. He already missed the smell of the ocean and the magnificent view from their bedroom window. Usually, he was excited about the restaurant and his growing success. He enjoyed the hell out of his job. But now that he had Bianca in his life, none of that seemed anywhere near as important as her and the baby.
Now he wanted what he thought he would find time for later.
He wanted a family. Not just any family.
His family.
Bianca and the baby. He wanted her permanently in his life.
But she doesn’t want you.
With a scowl, he turned away from the window. He had every intention of keeping her in his life—permanently.
Chapter 24
Over the next week, they settled into a routine. The grand opening was drawing closer with every passing day, so London stayed in a hotel in New Castle. There were so many last-minute details that Bianca was amazed at how well London managed everything.
He was a natural.
Bianca played hooky from work and accompanied him. The restaurant was twice the size of the one in Sheraton Beach, but it had the same down-home feeling and warmth, and had the same aroma Mama’s kitchen was supposed to.
Bianca chuckled at that thought. Not
her
mother’s kitchen.
Memorial Day came and went and the big day was finally upon them.
Glancing around the restaurant at the tables that were all full, she smiled. This night was everything London had hoped for.
She’d hired a local, old-school band to perform. The music added to the comfortable vibe the restaurant exuded.
Playing hostess, Bianca made the rounds, spoke to customers and offered to help with anything anyone needed, while her husband worked the kitchen, making sure everything was
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running smoothly. Every time London stepped out onto the floor, Bianca knew it because her body got tingly and hot.
The last few weeks had been fabulous. The more time they spent together and the more they got to know each other, the more her protective layers began to fall away. Bianca had not known it was possible to feel so comfortable and fulfilled in a relationship.
And she was terrified.
Her days and nights were spent in the company of a man who made her laugh one minute and cry out in ecstasy the next. He taught her things in bed that she had only read about in erotic novels, yet each and every time London made her feel like the sexiest woman alive.
Deep down she never wanted this wonderful feeling to end.
However, even though he spent every night beside her, London never mentioned a commitment or life after the baby. Bianca tried to convince herself to live for the moment and then worry about the rest when it happened.
She moved to the side of the room and glanced around at the happy faces. London had worked hard to pull the night off, and she felt a stir of admiration for him. Her eyes followed him as he greeted the crowd, said a few words, laughed with a child and patted the hand of an elderly woman. All around her, people were laughing, talking, eating or licking their fingers. The wait staff rushed around the floor, yet Bianca barely noticed. She only had eyes for London.
“Isn’t this wonderful?” said someone to her right.
Bianca looked over at Mona, who was running the carryout counter.
“I’ve barely had five minutes to breathe. The phones have been ringing nonstop!” she added, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Dad is so proud.” The phone rang, and she answered it immediately while Bianca looked to her left where London’s father and the twins sat watching the crowd. Clarence had been smiling and dabbing his eyes all evening. A lump rose in her throat. Her father-in-law looked almost as happy as he had when she and London invited him to their house for Memorial Day and announced that they were expecting a baby. This would be his first grandchild.
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It warmed Bianca’s heart. Her baby was going to have two parents, grandparents and a whole lot of love.
Speaking of love…her eyes moved across the room to London, who was personally delivering a tray of food to a large table.
“You really love my brother, don’t you?”
Tearing her eyes from London, she found Mona resting her elbows on the counter, smiling knowingly.
Embarrassed, Bianca dropped her eyes. “Is it that obvious?”
Mona reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “Yes, you can’t seem to take your eyes off him, but he’s the same way with you. Girl, I’m so happy for the two of you and you just don’t know how happy I was when Dad told me about the baby. I can’t wait to hold my nephew in my arms.”
Bianca frowned. “Nephew, uh-uh. We’re having a girl.”
Mona shook her head. “We’ve got enough women in our family.”
“And we have too many big-head boys in mine.”
They shared a laugh.
The phone rang again. While Mona went back to work, Bianca shifted her gaze back to the man who was driving her insane. Needing to be near him, she glided across the room and got excited when he noticed her coming. London grinned, took her hand and guided her into the kitchen.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” she replied, shyly. “Looks like you’re a big hit.”
He grinned. “Seems that way.”
“Your dad looks pleased,” Bianca said softly, unable to take her eyes off London.
His smile widened. “Yes, he is. He’s already talking about finding a location in Wilmington.”