feathery pressure. He kissed her like a man in love, and she melted against him.
With a moan, she opened, needing him to taste her. Needing more. His tongue slid into her mouth, and she was lost. The world was spinning. Her temperature spiking. Her fingers threaded through the soft, dark hair at the base of his neck.
When he grew hard against her belly, her body responded with a hungry ache of its own. If she didn’t stop him soon she wouldn’t be able to.
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t make this decision based on sexual chemistry alone. She wanted to do this the old-fashioned way. She had to pull back like they’d never tasted each other, like they’d never made love. She should get to know him better first. Only if she agreed to be his wife would she allow Joel access to her aching body.
She untangled her fingers from his hair. With every ounce of will-power she possessed, she yanked free.
Unfortunately, his potent magnetism called to her, and her body responded. She wanted to lean back and surrender and invite him in. Their love making was the most exquisite pleasure she’d ever experienced.
But if she invited him in, she’d be too influenced. His love making was a drug, if she allowed him into her bed, it was possible, she’d say, yes, to feed her addiction. That wouldn’t be smart.
And her child would be impacted if Ava made the wrong choice, one based on physical desire. Her rational brain needed to be the one to decide.
Joel watched her for a moment while they both struggled for air and recovered.
“There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow, on the beach,” he said.
He zeroed in on her lips, and her mouth dried. Her heart galloped, and her fingers itched to stroke over his strong, rippled body. “No. No, Joel. We won’t be making love until I make my decision.” She held up her hand in front of him, like a stop sign.
“Then I better convince you fast.” He grabbed her hand, swirled his tongue over her palm until her knees weakened before releasing her. “Sleep well, my Ava, and dream of me, the beach, and saying yes.”
The villa had everything, including stables with horses of all different breeds. Ava watched with fascination as. Joel greeted each horse by name. Even though Ava knew Joel hadn’t been to Sicily in over a year, the horses hadn’t forgotten their master. Not hard to believe.
She watched as he spoke to one stallion and stroked its neck, giving her proof that Joel took loving care of what belonged to him. If she married him, she would be no different. She and her child.
But it was easy to see, Joel loved the horse. While he’d promised he’d never love Ava.
What about the baby?
She chewed her lower lip as she considered her question. Yes, he’d love the baby. She knew that deep in her soul, and every baby deserved his father’s love, the way she’d deserved it as a kid and had been deprived. Could she deprive her own child of what she’d coveted most as a girl? A father’s love. Would that be fair?
Maybe if she could get Joel to confide in her. If she could learn his dark secrets, then she’d marry him. Because that would prove she wasn’t making the same horrible mistakes her mother had made. Then she’d know she was giving her child the best and that she could trust Joel to do what he’d said he would.
“Have you ridden before?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“I think it would be best that we walk then, especially since you’re pregnant. I won’t do anything to risk the baby.”
After a thirty minute hike, they found the beach and unpacked the blanket and picnic lunch Joel’s staff had prepared for them.
The spot they picked was lovely. She couldn’t imagine working in New York if she had this paradise waiting for her. Joel was lucky. A private Caribbean island waiting for him and now this, a family villa in Italy, a short walk from a dazzling beach. The sand was baby powder under her feet. The water was a bright aqua and the sky,
With a moan, she opened, needing him to taste her. Needing more. His tongue slid into her mouth, and she was lost. The world was spinning. Her temperature spiking. Her fingers threaded through the soft, dark hair at the base of his neck.
When he grew hard against her belly, her body responded with a hungry ache of its own. If she didn’t stop him soon she wouldn’t be able to.
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t make this decision based on sexual chemistry alone. She wanted to do this the old-fashioned way. She had to pull back like they’d never tasted each other, like they’d never made love. She should get to know him better first. Only if she agreed to be his wife would she allow Joel access to her aching body.
She untangled her fingers from his hair. With every ounce of will-power she possessed, she yanked free.
Unfortunately, his potent magnetism called to her, and her body responded. She wanted to lean back and surrender and invite him in. Their love making was the most exquisite pleasure she’d ever experienced.
But if she invited him in, she’d be too influenced. His love making was a drug, if she allowed him into her bed, it was possible, she’d say, yes, to feed her addiction. That wouldn’t be smart.
And her child would be impacted if Ava made the wrong choice, one based on physical desire. Her rational brain needed to be the one to decide.
Joel watched her for a moment while they both struggled for air and recovered.
“There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow, on the beach,” he said.
He zeroed in on her lips, and her mouth dried. Her heart galloped, and her fingers itched to stroke over his strong, rippled body. “No. No, Joel. We won’t be making love until I make my decision.” She held up her hand in front of him, like a stop sign.
“Then I better convince you fast.” He grabbed her hand, swirled his tongue over her palm until her knees weakened before releasing her. “Sleep well, my Ava, and dream of me, the beach, and saying yes.”
The villa had everything, including stables with horses of all different breeds. Ava watched with fascination as. Joel greeted each horse by name. Even though Ava knew Joel hadn’t been to Sicily in over a year, the horses hadn’t forgotten their master. Not hard to believe.
She watched as he spoke to one stallion and stroked its neck, giving her proof that Joel took loving care of what belonged to him. If she married him, she would be no different. She and her child.
But it was easy to see, Joel loved the horse. While he’d promised he’d never love Ava.
What about the baby?
She chewed her lower lip as she considered her question. Yes, he’d love the baby. She knew that deep in her soul, and every baby deserved his father’s love, the way she’d deserved it as a kid and had been deprived. Could she deprive her own child of what she’d coveted most as a girl? A father’s love. Would that be fair?
Maybe if she could get Joel to confide in her. If she could learn his dark secrets, then she’d marry him. Because that would prove she wasn’t making the same horrible mistakes her mother had made. Then she’d know she was giving her child the best and that she could trust Joel to do what he’d said he would.
“Have you ridden before?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“I think it would be best that we walk then, especially since you’re pregnant. I won’t do anything to risk the baby.”
After a thirty minute hike, they found the beach and unpacked the blanket and picnic lunch Joel’s staff had prepared for them.
The spot they picked was lovely. She couldn’t imagine working in New York if she had this paradise waiting for her. Joel was lucky. A private Caribbean island waiting for him and now this, a family villa in Italy, a short walk from a dazzling beach. The sand was baby powder under her feet. The water was a bright aqua and the sky,
Similar Books
