Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [67]
Her arms held his shuddering body firmly and tenderly. She received almost as much pleasure out of the knowledge that the supreme enjoyment of her body had brought the powerful man to this pitch of dependent need, as she had derived out of her own sexual fulfillment.
He moved off her slowly, his breathing still rapid but his heartbeat slowing as he settled on his back, his arm curved possessively around her.
Michael reached down and pulled a white fur throw from the foot of the bed. He tucked it around them, changing his position so that her head was nestled in the curve of his shoulder, her shining brown hair splayed over his chest.
Brenna nestled contentedly closer, feeling as delightfully relaxed and drowsy as a kitten. She yawned, her heavy eyelids closing irresistibly.
“Don't get too comfortable,” Michael advised firmly, his deep voice rumbling beneath her ear. “You have quite a few explanations to make.”
Her eyes flew open as the realization struck her. She had been so lost in the rapturous euphoria of her first experience with physical love, that she had forgotten everything but the pleasure of giving herself to Michael in this exquisite fashion. But now it was brought home to her that Michael knew!
She stiffened, and would have raised her head to look at him, but his hand instinctively closed on her hair in jealous possession, holding her prisoner in his arms. “Talk,” he ordered briskly. “I don't believe I've ever had a virgin before, but the condition is quite unmistakable.”
Brenna was glad that her head was still buried in Donovan's shoulder, as the warm color rushed to her face. “I suppose you want to know about Randy?” she mumbled.
“I think I have some cause to be curious,” Michael said dryly. “I believe the last recorded case of Immaculate Conception was almost two thousand years ago.”
She drew a deep breath, and then said with a rush, “Randy is not my child.”
“I guessed that,” Donovan said ironically, his hand idly stroking her silky hair. “However, I would like to know the identity of the mother of the child I'm claiming to have fathered.”
“My sister Janine,” Brenna said quietly.
As briefly as possible she related the circumstances of Randy's birth and her subsequent guardianship, as well as Chadeaux's plan to gain custody of Randy and the details of the abduction today.
Michael's hand on her hair paused in its stroking action, and she felt his body stiffen with anger. “And may I ask why you didn't tell me all this when I suggested our little bargain?” he asked with steely softness. “Surely you realized you'd have to be honest with me when we went to bed. Or did you think you could postpone paying off indefinitely?”
“No,” she protested indignantly, wriggling away from him and sitting up. She was unaware in her agitation, that the coverlet had dropped to her waist revealing two enticing pink nipples, peeping out from the tangle of brown satin hair. “I wanted to go to bed with you. It was you who suggested the postponement.” She ran her fingers through her hair wearily. “I don't know why I didn't tell you. I was frightened and upset. Randy is all the family I have.”
“You didn't trust me,” Donovan said sharply. “What the hell did you think I'd do, turn the child over to that bastard?”
“You didn't like Randy,” Brenna said reluctantly, not looking at him. “I couldn't take the chance.”
Donovan began to swear fluently under his breath. “I never said I had a personal dislike for the child,” he said between his teeth. “Of all the muddle, addle-brained, completely asinine bit of reasoning, you take the prize.”
Brenna tilted her head defiantly. “He