Confessions at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro Page A

Still love him. He was, in every way, a man to be admired. Do you not think he'd want you to live?"
    "Yes, but…" Her words trailed off and he could easily see how torn she was.
    "I don't require your heart. In truth, I've absolutely no wish for it."
    Confusion clouded her eyes. "Then what do you want?"
    "Is it not obvious? I want
you
. Your company. Your laughter." He gently squeezed her hands. "I want you as my lover. In my bed. Or your bed… or wherever our encounters may take us. Your heart can remain your own. As mine shall continue to belong to me. Your body, however…" His gaze skimmed slowly down her form.
    "Would be yours?" she asked in a husky whisper.
    "Yes." He resettled his gaze on hers. "As mine would be yours."
    "For how long?"
    "For as long as we wished. Until one of us no longer wanted to be involved."
    "Just a temporary, carefree liaison, based solely upon physical gratification." She sounded both skeptical and intrigued.
    "Yes. Except you forgot to mention discreet. No one would know except us."
    "How do I know you wouldn't tell anyone?"
    "First, because I give you my word of honor I wouldn't. And second, I don't like to share. Anything. But most especially the private details of my life."
    "I… see."
    "I would protect you in every way. Including against pregnancy."
    Her gaze briefly dipped downward. "That… that wouldn't be necessary. After seven childless years of marriage, I finally had to accept that I am unable to conceive."
    There was no missing the sadness in her voice, and he gave her hands another gentle squeeze.
    "You are a stunning, desirable woman. And passionate as well-something that, based on your reaction to our kiss, I think you've lost sight of."
    A frown whispered across her face. "I fear you're reading too much into it. My reaction was an aberration."
    "No, it wasn't."
    "Yes, it was."
    "I see I shall simply have to prove you wrong." And with those words he erased the distance between them with a single step and covered her mouth with his, instantly falling into the same dark abyss of want and need he'd plunged into last night. A fiery, shadowy place where only the two of them existed. A place he never wanted to leave.
    Forcing himself to move with a deliberate lack of haste, one in complete contrast to the urgency pounding through him, he released her hands and slid his around her waist, drawing her against him until they touched from chest to knee. For several seconds she remained stiff, then with a soft moan wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips.
    If he hadn't been so consumed with need, he might have savored the triumph. Instead, he tightened his hold on her and sank deeper into the kiss, his tongue exploring the delicious, velvety warmth of her mouth. With each passing second he felt more and more as if he were being pulled into a carnal vortex from which there was no escape. Not that he wanted to get away. God no. In fact, they weren't nearly close enough.
    With a groan he slid one hand down to the small of her back. His palm pressed against the base of her spine and his fingers splayed over the curve of buttocks, urging her tighter against him. His erection pressed into her and his hips involuntarily flexed, a slow thrust that dragged a growl of pure want from his throat.
    He lost all concept of time. Knew only that no matter how long he kissed her it wasn't long enough. Heart hammering, he somehow found the strength to lift his head, but only far enough to trail his lips along her jaw. Down the curve of her fragrant neck. All the while absorbing the sweetly erotic sounds emanating from her parted lips. He glided his tongue along the side of neck, tasting her warm, flower-scented skin, then gently sucked on the spot where her rapid pulse beat. No woman had ever tasted so delicious.
    With an effort that cost him, he finally raised his head. And bit back a groan of intense longing at the sight that greeted him.
    With her eyes drooped to half-mast, her cheeks