An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [42]
He kissed her, his mouth locating hers unerringly in the near-dark. Although his kiss was light, she knew it was his way of thanking her for admitting the truth.
He stood and stripped off his pants and shirt. Julia lifted the covers and moved over as far as she could in the narrow bed.
Despite sleeping in his embrace the night before, she felt strangely shy now. He put his arm around her shoulders and brought her close. He was warm and real and felt so alive that she trembled when she laid her head on his chest. His heart was pounding strong and steady against her ear.
“Can you sleep now?” he whispered.
“I…think so. What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
That didn’t answer her question, but she didn’t press him. “We kissed last night, didn’t we?”
He rubbed his chin across her hair. “Yes.” She heard the strain in his voice and felt unusually pleased. She tilted her head back so that she was looking into his warm, dark eyes. Only a few inches separated their mouths.
“Would you…mind—” she hesitated and moistened her lips “—kissing me again?”
His breathing stopped abruptly and his eyes narrowed as if he wasn’t sure he should trust her. Julia didn’t blame him.
Rather than waiting for his permission, she arched toward him until their lips met. Their kiss was sweet and undemanding. She was breathing hard when they finished, but so was he.
He kissed her again, a little deeper, a little more intensely. Then a lot more intensely.
Julia sighed as his mouth left hers, their bottom lips clinging momentarily. “Oh, Alek.” She sighed, and a trembling kind of response made its way through her body.
She said his name again, more softly this time. “I want to make love.”
She watched him closely and noted the different emotions flashing in his eyes. He wanted her, too; there was no question of that. He wanted her and had from the beginning of their marriage. He’d made certain she knew how much. Yet he hesitated.
His eyes gradually changed and told her another story. They darkened with doubt, which won over the needy, sensual look she’d seen in him seconds earlier.
“Julia.” He breathed her name, his tone regretful. “Not now.”
“Why not?” She knew she sounded defensive and couldn’t help it. He’d demanded she share his bed from the first night of their marriage.
But when she finally agreed to fulfill her part of their bargain, he rejected her. It made no sense. And it angered her.
“I’d feel as if I was taking advantage of you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the judge of that?” she said irritably.
“Right now, no.”
Stunned, she jerked her head away. His fingers came to her face, resting on her cheek, directing her gaze back to his.
“I want you, Julia, don’t ever doubt that. But I refuse to put my own needs before yours. You’re confused and hurting. There’s nothing I’d like more than to—” He stopped. “I’m sure you understand.” She nodded.
He kissed her briefly, then tucked his arm around her and brought her even closer to his side. His lips were in her hair. “When we make love, I don’t want there to be any regrets in the morning.”
Julia smiled and kissed his bare chest. “No one told me you were so noble.”
“No one told me, either,” he muttered disparagingly.
The way he said it with a deep, shuddering sigh led her to believe that if anyone had regrets in the morning, it would be her husband.
Content now, she curled up against him and shut her eyes. She’d prefer it if they made love, but being in his arms would satisfy her for now.
Alek envied Julia her ability to sleep. For weeks he’d been waiting for his wife to come to him, to fulfill her wedding vows by her own choice. Yet when she invited him to her bed, held her arms softly around him, he felt compelled to do the honorable thing.
Honor. But at what price? His body throbbed with need. His heart ached with love. No woman had led him on a finer chase. No woman had challenged him as much as his wife. No woman had defied and infuriated him more than Julia.
She’d been