Tonight and Forever by Brenda Jackson Page A

caressed her mouth with slow moist strokes, building pleasure inside of her with each second that ticked by. He thoroughly explored the insides of her lips, drawing one into his mouth, sucking on it. She groaned at the sensations churning inside her.
    “Let me love you, Lorren. Please.” His plea, spoken huskily in her ear, sent shivers down her body. He hadn’t demanded anything from her with dirty words, as Scott had always done. His words were soft and sensual. And he wasn’t handling her roughly either. He was touching her as though she were a fine piece of china. She shivered as his caresses became more sensual, more heated through the fabric of her nightgown. Her breathing quickened along with his. She knew where they were headed if she didn’t stop him. But for the life of her, she couldn’t.
    And deep down, she didn’t want to.
    Please let all of Scott’s accusations be lies. Please don’t let me disappoint Justin. More than anything else in the world, tonight I want Scott to be wrong about me. Please let it be so. Please.
    “Please.” Her lips whispered the words in his mouth. Slipping her arms around his neck, she melted into his embrace. “Please.”
    Justin’s eyes smoldered with desire when he raised his head. In one smooth movement he swept Lorren into his arms. She closed her eyes and brushed her face against his throat as he carried her from the kitchen to the bedroom. Once there he gently placed her on the bed in the tangle of bedcovers, then joined her, pulling her into his arms.
    His lips again took hers, his tongue probing the soft sweetness of her mouth. She melted against him. Justin’s hand traced a path down her waist, toward her thigh, then stopped. A part of him held back as sanity returned. What am I doing? The last thing Lorren needs is for me to take advantage of her. We’re both in a highly charged emotional state as a result of the auto accident. I won’t be able to handle it if she regrets our lovemaking in the morning.
    Reluctantly, Justin broke off their kiss. “No,” he whispered raggedly, forcing his head up. “This is no good.”
    Misunderstanding his words, Lorren’s body stiffened. She pushed herself away from him and his rejection. Humiliation swept through her. She was lying in bed, with her nightgown up, and he didn’t want her.
    Scott had been right about her.
    A fresh wave of pain swept over Lorren. She pushed her gown down and turned away from him. She couldn’t look at him. “Please leave,” she managed to say, her voice shaky.
    Justin got off the bed, straightening his clothes and cursing under his breath. “Lorren, I’m really sorry about—”
    “Just leave, Justin.” She couldn’t handle any words of pity he was about to say.
    He hesitated before speaking again, rubbing the palm of his hand across his haggard face. “I think we need to talk about—”
    “No. There’s nothing to discuss. Just go.”
    When Lorren heard the door closing behind Justin, she collapsed on the bed, giving in to her tears.

Chapter 6
    J ustin stood at the grill and basted the ribs. Looking up, he smiled. “Syneda, I’m glad you could make it.” He glanced around the patio. “Where’s Lorren?”
    “She’s not coming.”
    Justin’s smile vanished. “Did she say why?”
    “She said something about feeling a little under the weather.”
    Justin cast a sidelong glance through the trees, to the house where Lorren was staying. “Oh, I see.”
    Syneda was silent for a long moment. As an attorney she’d become very adept at judging people’s characters. She felt she’d done a pretty good job of summing up Justin Madaris. He came across as a very caring man, one who would never intentionally hurt a woman. And the bottom line was that Lorren was hurting because she was convinced that, like Scott, Justin had rejected her. Lorren had told her what had almost happened last night, and how Justin had stopped and walked away. She believed he had done so because he’d