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Ali’s words of advice were still ringing in Jessie’s ears when she tiptoed through the garden that evening. It was nearly midnight. The grass was cool under her bare feet as she skirted the Cape Myrtle trees, their branches bending under the weight of their summer blooms. She’d waited until the house was quiet before coming out. She could see the lights from Monroe’s apartment blazing as always in the darkness, beckoning her back to him. The smell of lavender scented the sea air, making her smile with the romance of the moment.
She would tell him tonight. Ali was right. Monroe should know how she felt. Her love wasn’t some burden that he would have to bear, after all. It was a joy, a gift. He could take it or refuse it or put it to one side and think about it. But whatever happened, she wanted him to know about it.
She remembered the difficulty he had had in accepting Linc’s gift. The symbolism seemed so clear to her now. That was why she’d been afraid to tell him. Because she knew he wouldn’t know how to respond, what to say. It seemed cowardly to her now. She felt so happy, so confident. He was the right man for her. He might be unsure of himself but he didn’t have to be unsure of her.
She glanced up at his apartment window and saw his tall, lean figure standing next to the glass. He was watching her from the window. Her heart leapt into her throat. Her lover was waiting for her. She gave a quick, delighted wave, picked up the hem of her skirt and ran round the side of the building to join him.
As Monroe watched Jessie disappear from view, the weight of the guilt he’d been carrying around all day got heavier still. She had looked eager and so beautiful, the reddening twilight shining off that mass of fiery hair.
Bewitched, that was what he was. She’d cast some sorceress’s spell over him. He was so desperate to hold her again, his hands fisted at his sides. It was getting harder and harder for him to contemplate letting her go.
When he’d bumped into her that afternoon and she had whispered that she was coming over tonight, he should have told her no, made some excuse. But he hadn’t been able to. Not while he could smell that fresh scent of hers; not while she’d been looking at him with that combination of desire and trust that drove him insane.
So he’d told her to come, that he would be waiting. But as he heard her feet, light on the steps up to the apartment, as he turned and watched her step into the room, he knew that tonight he would have to start the process of drawing away from her. He would have to start putting the brakes on. He would have to let her see that there was no future for them.
‘Monroe, don’t look so forbidding. I’m positive nobody heard me.’ Jessie ran across the room and clung onto his strong frame.
He hesitated for a moment, then his arms came round her, and he hugged her to him. She could feel the rough stubble against her forehead where he’d forgotten to shave again that morning. She could smell the wonderful musky scent of him that made her knees tremble.
‘I missed you,’ he said.
Jessie’s heart stuttered at his words. Could he possibly have said anything more wonderful? ‘Me, too.’
He pulled her dress off her shoulders, pushed her bra straps down.
‘I can’t wait. Is that okay?’ That he should ask, the need and arousal thick in his voice, made her heartbeat skip again.
‘That’s good, because neither can I.’ She laughed as he lifted her into his arms.
He carried her into the bedroom and in seconds they were both naked. There was little foreplay tonight, for none was needed. She was so giddy with the feel, the smell of him, that when he touched her core for the first time she was already slick and ready.
His tongue thrust inside her mouth as his fingers probed gently, stretching her and then retreating, stroking the swollen nub and making her cry out.
The heat was engulfing her, so suddenly, so shockingly. It was as if she couldn’t breathe. She clawed the firm skin of his back as he pulled the condom onto his rampant sex. She gasped as he thrust inside her, filling her unbearably.
His hands tugged on her knees, forcing her legs wider still until he was buried deep. It felt like more, so much more this time.
The intense pleasure built to fever pitch as he moved in and out, the rhythm matched by her small, helpless cries. She was reaching now, trying to cling to the top; each vicious thrust seemed to take him further inside her, force her further over that edge. She cried out as she exploded over the top, shaking, shuddering, and dissolving into that wonderful oblivion. He sped up, thrusting hard, filling her to bursting. He gripped her hips, his eyes hot on hers, and she felt herself build again. So fast, so hard. The raw shock and arousal seemed to clog her throat, burn her to her core.
‘Oh, no, not again,’ she cried, on a pant of need and disbelief. The pleasure was so intense it was almost pain. He exploded inside her and shouted out as she shot over that last impossible crest and fell with him.
They lay panting together. Jessie watched the curtains billow beside the bed, the light breeze cooling her heated flesh. She was awed at how quickly the pleasure had overwhelmed her.
She propped herself up on his chest, looked down into his face and brushed the strands of hair back from his forehead. The satisfaction welled up inside her as she felt the moisture on his brow.
‘I expect you already know this by now, Monroe. But I’m hopelessly in love with you.’
He tensed, but his eyes opened and fixed on hers. She didn’t know what she’d expected to see, but the one thing she hadn’t expected was regret. It was only there for a moment before his usual grin took over, but it was there for long enough to make the chill go right through her.
‘You are, huh?’ His voice was low, seductive.
‘Yes, I am.’ Now was not the time to back down, she decided. Maybe she’d been wrong. He didn’t look regretful now. In fact, he looked cocky, his devilish grin dazzling her.
‘That’s sweet, Red.’ His hands stroked up her back. Then he pulled her down on top of him, tucked her head beneath his chin.
She could hear the solid beat of his heart, feel the soft sprinkle of his chest hair beneath her cheek as the silence stretched out between them.
She wanted to know if he loved her, too. The question almost spilled out, but she stopped herself, biting down hard on her lip. The sea-scented air breezed through the open French doors, making her shiver.
