Awaken to Pleasure by Nalini Singh Page A

asked, “What are those?” when he lifted a document from the pile at his elbow.
    “Legal papers.” He raised his head and those dark eyes wouldn’t let her glance away. “I want to adopt Nick.”
    She put down the melon wedge she’d chosen. “Why?”
    “I’m certain that Hegerty will back off on his custody application. But, if we manage to do this, it’ll be almost impossible for him to come after Nick later on.”
    “Is that the only reason you want to adopt Nick?”
    “Is it not enough?” Nothing in his tone gave her a hint of his emotions.
    She shook her head. “It will mean something to Nick. He’s never really had a father and I don’t think he could bear the hurt if you adopted him and then forgot him.” As a child, she’d experienced that brutal truth over and over.
    “You’d share him that much with me?” The quickly masked hope in Jackson’s eyes was unexpected. Then she remembered his desire for a baby. Maybe, in spite of her recent courage, she might never give him a child who was his flesh and blood, but she could give him this.
    “Of course,” she said, softly. “He needs you but it’ll only work if you can go the distance, even if we part. If you adopt him, you’ll have to be his father. Forever.”
    “Yes.” It was an answer so strong that she didn’t need to hear any more. Nick’s heart was safe with Jackson. Right now, she didn’t want to think about her own.
    “Can I authorize the adoption?”
    He nodded. “To a point. You’re a legal guardian.”
    She picked up the melon wedge. “Mrs. Willis suggested that Mom make me a testamentary guardian in her will.”
    “Under the law, it’s likely that we can dispense with Hegerty’s consent since he abandoned Nick. But, we have to consider the possibility that it might be needed in case the court refuses to make a finding of neglect.”
    Her head jerked up. “He won’t give consent.”
    Jackson’s smile was without humor. “Somehow, I think I can talk him around if it comes to that.”
    She believed him. No one could stand in Jackson’s way once he was set on a course. While she ate, he made a quick call that set the new train of legal proceedings in motion. Afterward, he sat opposite her, not eating, just looking out to the blue, blue sea with eyes that seemed to be lost in memories. She couldn’t bear his withdrawal. Standing, she walked around behind him and bent down to hug his neck.
    He looked up, one hand on her arm. “Hey.” Surprise was evident in his Italian-dark eyes.
    “Don’t.” It was wrenched out of her.
    “Don’t?”
    “Don’t go away from me,” she ordered. “Please, Jackson.” A softer plea.
    Her mother had shut her out. Neither her biological father nor her stepfather had ever truly acknowledged her existence. Nick saw her, but today she realized it wasn’t enough. She needed this beautiful man to see her, too.
    Jackson tugged at her hands until she came around to stand in front of him. He pulled her into his lap. “I’m right here, cara.” His attention was focused wholly on her.
    Touched by his unexpected tenderness, her smile came from the heart. “Where did you go?”
    “It is not something to speak of this bright day.”
    She touched his jaw in a firm gesture. “Yes, it is.”
    A hint of amusement softened his stern expression. “Bossy little madam.”
    “Your bossy little madam,” she said boldly, testing her wings, seeing how far her very dominant husband would let her go, learning how much she would have to fight to ensure he didn’t become a despot.
    His smile widened. Leaning over, he pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “Yes. Mine. Don’t ever forget it.”
    She was startled by her enjoyment of the fleeting pressure. “Don’t you get ideas about being possessive.”
    “Too late.” The look in his eyes was dark fire, slumbering heat. And suddenly, she remembered the feel of his skin against her mouth. The hands she’d put on his shoulders clenched as desire flooded