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Her hands went to the nape of his neck in an eagerhis lips ue didn’t hesitate to gain entrance Hers met his to tease and tantalize It was a duel of pleasure that he didn’t want to win
His body hummed with a need that only Phoebe could ease
She pulled her mouth away
“Aw What’s wrong?”
“The baby kicked”
Daotten all about the baby How could he? Because he was so focused on his hunger for Phoebe He stepped back far enough that he was no longer touching her
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you”
“Silly, you weren’t hurting me” She took a predatory step toward him “Babies kick”
“I shouldn’t, we shouldn’t …”
“Come on, Ryan We’re adults I’m certainly aware of the facts of life, and I’ wouldn’t hurt the baby I want this I want you From what I could tell, you wanted me”
That would be an understatement
“I’ to my bedroom I hope you join me If not, please lock up on your way out”
She went up on the tips of her toes, kissed him and left the kitchen Ryan stood there with hisand the choice of a lifetime to make
How like Phoebe to be so direct If he joined her, could he remain emotionally detached? He already cared more than he should and certainly more than he was comfortable with But if he didn’t, he would never know the heaven of being with Phoebe There was no decision A beautiful, desirable wo him the world There was no question of whether or not to accept
CHAPTER EIGHT
PHOEBE SAT ON the edge of the bed in her room A lone lamp burned on her bedside table She’d never been so brazen in her life But how else was she going to get through to Ryan? She wanted hi, his reliability and assurance in her life It was so quiet in the house that she feared he’d slipped out and gone hoainst her ribs at the sound of footfalls in the hallway
He’d stayed
Ryan hesitated at the door Their gazes met, held He removed his tie and jacket and dropped them over the chair, then he stalked across the floor and pulled her to her feet and into his arms
This here she belonged
His ues mated in a frenzied battle of touch and retreat Heat flowed through her, strong and sure, pooling low in her Ryan’s lips left hers and he buried his face in her neck He nipped at her skin The desire that flickered in her blazed
He gathered her dress along one leg, sliding a hand under the fabric She hissed as his fingers touched her skin His hand glided around her leg until it found the inside of her thigh and squeezed lightly She shivered
Ryan re his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around
“What …?”
“Shush,” he all but growled He gathered her hair, running his fingers through it “Beautiful,” heit over a shoulder
There was a tug at the top of her dress He opened the zipper The tug ended and his lips found the skin between her shoulder blades A shudder traveled down her spine His mouth skimmed over each vertebra to her waist There he spent soue the curve of her back
She began to move but he said, “Not yet”
Ryan’s fingertip followed the same path upward, then his palms until he brushed her dress off her shoulders She crossed her ar away from her breasts
He kissed the length of the ridge between her neck and arm “So silky”
Phoebe sighed This was too wonderful “Let me turn off the lamp”
He guided her to face him “Phoebe, look at me”
Her eyes rose to aze
“You’re beautiful” He placed his hands on either side of the baby “That’s a new life you’re carrying There’s nothingor natural than that Please don’t hide it from me”