JENNA DREW IN a deep breath. “Ryan, deep down you must know it isn’t really going to work out between us.”
“The hell I do.”
“Your first love is your career. There’s no room in your life for a serious relationship right now.”
“I told you I was changing that.”
“I know you’re trying, Ryan, I really do. But it doesn’t happen. And I understand. Your business is important to you.”
“Not more important than you are.”
She tucked her hair behind one ear. “I’m not sure that’s true.”
He knelt in front of her and took her hand.
“Jenna, nothing is. more important than you.” He stroked her fingers with a sweet tenderness that reached into her soul. At the sensual feel of his lips brushing the back of her hand, like the brush of butterfly wings, she thought she would melt. His midnight eyes had gone from brittle ice to warm pools of longing.
“Remember the good times, Jenna? When we were first dating? Remember when we went to the ski resort that first December? The evening we went to the hot tub?” She remembered. It had been a beautiful, crisp, clear night. The lights on the neighboring mountain had glittered and the full moon reflected off the snow. Then big, fluffy snowflakes had fallen from the sky, landing on their hair and faces. “When we returned to the cabin,” he continued, “our key card didn’t work.”
She smiled. “And you had to traipse across to reception with only a towel around your waist to get another one.” He’d actually had a bathing suit under the towel, but when she conjured the image in her head, only the towel remained, and the sweet possibility of it slipping free. “And, as I recall, you met my return with a snowball to the chest,” he said.
She laughed. “Which you returned with a handful of snow down my top.”
He’d chased her, then grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, to her giggling protests, then scooped up plenty of white, powdery snow. Now, as she remembered the cold, wet snow spilling between her breasts, her nipples leaped to attention.
That trip had been the first time they’d gone away together—and the first time they’d made love. Ryan had wanted it to be special. That’s why he’d suggested the trip. After the snow incident, he’d carried her into the cabin and they’d made wild, passionate love in front of a roaring fire. She remembered waking up in the morning, in the warmth of his arms, thinking that this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
“Don’t you see, Jenna? It’s not hard for me to spend time
with
you, it’s hard for me to spend time
away
from you.” “I don’t understand.”
“When I’m with you nothing else is important.
Nothing.
Not my business, not my family, not myself. That used to scare me. That’s what I was running away from, but I ‘m not afraid anymore. I realize now that with you I ‘m more than I could ever be alone. With you I see past my business and the traditional forms of success I used to strive for. I see a life filled with love and happiness. Through your eyes I see a better world and a better me.”
He drew her hand to his mouth. The tender touch of his lips upended her composure.
“I love you. I can’t imagine my future without you.” His words spiraled through her, touching her deeply, confusing her whole sense of order. She’d come to a decision, one that would keep the baby with his father, and now Ryan had to ruin it all by being so . . . so wonderfully in love with her. But she loved Jake.
And she loved Ryan. Gazing into his loving eyes, she couldn’t believe how much she loved him.
But it was Jake’s baby and that fact tipped the scales in his favor.
Didn’t it?
“Jenna, I ‘m ready to move forward and build a life with you”—he placed his hand on her stomach—“and our baby.” She rested her hand on top of his. “But, Ryan, it’s Jake’s baby.”
“If you and I are married, any baby you have is mine, too.
I will raise Jake’s son as my own.”
Son?
“Ryan, you heard from the doctor? He knows it’s a boy?”
“Yes. In fact, both babies are boys.”
She tried to speak but her throat closed up. She coughed, then tried again.
“Twins?”
“That’s right.”
She shook her head, feeling numb all over.
“They’re fraternal twins.”
Jenna trembled uncontrollably. She was going to have twins. Elation surged through her.
“Jenna.” Ryan took her hand and his lips brushed her knuckles, then he pressed her palm to his cheek, holding it against his clean-shaven skin. “I love you more than life itself. And no matter how many babies of Jake’s you’re carrying, I will raise them all as my own. I will
love
them as my own.”
He kissed her hand and cradled it between his palms. His warm gaze settled on her, full of love and tenderness, and she felt an answering love swell inside her.
“And there’s something else I have to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I know you’re concerned about how much time I spend at work, but that won’t be a problem. I no longer have a business to run.”
Her heart did a little flip-flop.
“You sold your company?”
“No, I’m still the majority stockholder, but I’m stepping down as president. I’ve promoted Ken Harvey. He’ll run the company from now on. I’m going to spend all my time with you and the babies.”
She withdrew her hand from his and stood up, then walked to the window and stared out. Confusion swirled through her. And fear.
She could see his reflection in the glass approaching her.
His hands settled on her shoulders.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? I thought you’d be happy.” “You can’t give up your business for me. What if you start resenting me for it? Resenting the babies?” “Never.” He turned her around to face him and captured her mouth with his, his lips working a potent magic on her. She melted against him as his tongue parted her lips and curled inside. He released her mouth but kept her in the solid embrace of his arms.
“I could never resent you. I love you too much. That goes for our babies, too.”
“Oh, Ryan . . .” But what could she say?
“Jenna, you fell in love with me long before you met Jake. You agreed to marry me. Don’t let a case of mistaken identity destroy what we have.”
Mere hours ago she’d had everything sorted out. Jake loved her and she loved Jake. She was having his baby. Marrying him made sense.
She loved Ryan, too, but she’d convinced herself he didn’t really love her. Now he’d totally thrown that idea by the wayside and, in fact, had proven he loved her more deeply than she could imagine anyone loving her.
Ryan slid his hands around her waist.
“Poor Jenna. I know this is hard on you, but please tell me you’ll marry me.”
“ I . . . I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you love me?”
She gazed into his eyes and knew she did. A tear swelled from her eye.
“Yes,” she whispered. Her heart started thumping erratically. “But I need time.” Words rushed from her mouth. “So many things are happening and I ‘m so confused and—“ He rested his fingers over her lips, stopping the flow of words.
“I know, love. It’s okay. Let’s take it one step at a time.
Right now I’ll settle for knowing you love me.” As he smiled at her, he looked so boyishly handsome, her heart melted. At the soft adoration in his eyes, love welled up inside her, overpowering her senses. He leaned toward her. The tender brush of his lips on hers touched something deep inside her. She slid her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. The tip of his tongue gently probed her lips and she opened for him, inviting him in with a sweep of her own tongue around the inside of his lips.
He groaned and clutched her to him. Her breasts crushed against his solid chest, the nipples puckering with arousal. He swept her hair behind her shoulder, and his fingers curled around her neck to cup the back of her head. “I love you. You are my whole world,” he murmured into her ear. The wispy words sent quivers through her. Her breasts ached and a throbbing started between her legs.
“Jenna, I want to make love to you.”
Need shuddered through her.
“Yes.” She breathed the word. “Make love to me, Ryan.”
He slid his arms under her legs and lifted her. She clung to him as he carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed and sat down beside her. He undid the tie on her wraparound dress and peeled away the fabric.
His gaze, warm and loving, traveled the length of her reverently.
“You are so beautiful, my love.”
Ryan couldn’t believe Jenna was letting him make love to her. He’d been afraid she would turn him down. Her decision encouraged him. He ached with love for her. She sat up, dropped the dress from her shoulders, and tossed it aside, then unfastened her bra and peeled it away. Her breasts, round and creamy, spilled out. He sucked in a breath as he reached out and ran his finger along the swell of one breast. Incredibly soft. She took his hand and cupped it over her. The nipple pressed into his palm. He nibbled at the crook of her neck. Her breathing accelerated, as it always did when he touched her there. He nuzzled around her throat, then kissed along her collarbone, the whole time stroking her breast. Blood sped to his groin as she arched against his hand. Her fingers worked at his shirt buttons and she pushed his shirt off his shoulders. He shrugged it away as she unzipped his pants. As her fingers slipped inside his boxers and grasped his growing erection he held his breath, then exhaled as she wrapped her fingers around him and stroked up and down. Her touch felt so good he thought he’d die from the pleasure. He stroked her other breast, loving the little murmuring sounds she made; and then he licked the tip of her nipple and drew only the nub into his mouth and teased it with the tip of his tongue. She loved it when he did that. She squeezed harder on his cock and sped up her movements. He drew the pebbled areola into his mouth and sucked gently.
“Yes,” she moaned softly.
Her hot hand pumping up and down on his cock was getting him too hot too fast. He eased away from her. “I’ll be right back, honey.” He discarded his pants and boxers and strode into the other room, grabbing the iced bottle of wine and one of the stemmed glasses. He set them down on the bedside table and filled the glass.
“Thirsty?” she asked.
“Not exactly.” He dipped his finger into the translucent liquid and brought it to her breast, then allowed a drop to fall onto her nipple.
“Oh!” Jenna’s eyes widened.
He dabbed his cold, wet finger on her nipple, then drew it into his mouth, warming it with quick swishes of his tongue. At the same time, he dripped and dabbed the other nipple, then switched his mouth to that one. Jenna arched her pelvis upward, signaling him she wanted attention lower down. He stroked his hand downward, over her still flat stomach, over her navel, and slid under her panties. He continued past her silky, dark curls and slipped over the clitoral hood and dipped into her. Dripping wet. His cock twitched. He slid back over the clitoral hood, lightly, and she groaned and widened her legs. He hooked his fingers under the delicate lace of her panties and drew them down her hips, savoring the view of her glorious, naked pussy. He gave it a quick kiss, then dragged the panties the rest of the way down and off. He stroked up her thigh, over her hip, then cupped her breast again. The nipple thrust into his palm.
He took a sip of the wine, keeping it in his mouth. He drew her hard nipple into his mouth with it. Her whole body tensed as the cold liquid surrounded her, the nipple hardening even more.
“Oh, Ryan, that’s wicked.”
He swallowed and lapped at her nipple with his tongue, warming it. She smiled and pressed him down into the bed, then climbed over him.
“My turn.” She encircled his cock with her hands and lowered her mouth onto it.
The feel of her hot mouth surrounding his cock head sent sparks shooting through his bloodstream. She slid down over the shaft, taking it deep into her throat, then slid up again and circled his ridge with her tongue. Her other hand slid between his legs and fondled his balls.
“Is it nice and hot?”
He nodded. “Oh, yeah, baby. Really hot.” “Good.” She took a sip of the nonalcoholic wine and approached him with a grin.
Knowing what was going to happen didn’t prepare him for the incredible sensation. Cold liquid surrounded him as she slid her lips around him, flooding him with the cold wine trapped within her mouth. She swished it around him, then ran her hot tongue around his ridge. Hot and cold. Swishing and swirling.
Then the cold liquid disappeared but her mouth warmed slowly. She released him, then licked his shaft. Up and down. Up and down. He felt like a lollipop, and he loved it. He stroked his hand up her neck and cupped her jaw, gazing at her lovingly.
“Come here, honey.”
She leaned toward him and he kissed her, drawing her across his body. Their lips moved together, then their tongues danced. He rolled her over and prowled over her. He kissed her breasts, nuzzling gently, then slipped down to her pussy. He slid his tongue into the labia, then nudged through the folds until he found the little button buried inside. She shuddered. He flicked and dabbed. She arched up against him. He stroked her wetness with his finger, occasionally dipping inside her velvet opening, knowing that’s what she liked. She sucked in a deep breath and started a low moan. He sped up his movements and her moan grew louder. It curled through him, setting his excitement on a tight edge. His finger slipped deep inside her and she clamped around it, grasping him in her silky wet softness.