Taming Clint Westmoreland - Brenda Jackson [45]
“I just made a mistake in accusing you of something when I should have checked out the facts first,” he said, in a low, husky tone. “I’m sorry and I can assure you that it won’t happen again,” he said, holding her gaze with his.
“And I’m glad you didn’t marry that guy because if you would have married him, you wouldn’t be here with me now.” A few moments later he added while placing his palm against her cheek, “Besides, he didn’t deserve you.”
That’s the same thing her aunt had said that day. Over the years, Claudine had just about convinced Alyssa that it was true. Touched by what he’d said, Alyssa tilted her head back and slanted a small smile at him. “Thank you for saying that,” she said.
“Don’t thank me, sweetheart, because it’s true. Any man who screws around on a woman like you can’t be operating with a full deck.”
Alyssa shrugged. “You haven’t seen the other woman,” she said.
“Don’t have to. Beauty is only skin deep and a real man knows that. I’m not the kind to get taken in by just a pretty face,” Clint said and he smiled down at her. “Although I would be the first to admit that you do have a pretty face,” he added in a husky voice. “Come on. Let me walk you to your room.”
She drew in a deep breath thinking how quick and easy it had been to fall in love with Clint. Even now, when she knew he didn’t feel the same way, she loved him so deeply it made her ache. It also made her want to express her love in the only way she knew how, and with the time limit they had, the only way she could.
“We didn’t finish the game,” she said softly, remembering the two orgasms he had given her and how she had passed out before returning the favor.
He reached out and gently caressed her bottom lip. “No, we didn’t, but you’ve had enough for one night. We’ll play again at another time. Trust me.”
She did and it suddenly occurred to her at that moment just how much.
Alyssa woke up the next morning overwhelmed that in just one night things had changed between her and Clint. There was no doubt in her mind that he still expected them to annul the marriage and for her to return to Waco at the end of the thirty days. But then, she thought, smiling, there was also no doubt in her mind that he wanted her the way a man wanted a woman. He had proven as much last night.
She glanced over at the clock and quickly sat up as her heart jumped in her chest. It was just before eight in the morning. Clint was an early riser. On most mornings he was up and out before six. She wondered if she had already missed him.
She slid out of bed and moved quickly to the bathroom to take a shower, remembering his hands and mouth on every part of her body. Moments later in the shower and under the spray of warm water, she glanced down and saw the marks of passion his mouth had made on her skin. Most of them, like the ones on her stomach and thighs, could be easily covered by her clothes, but the ones on her neck were blatantly visible. They would be hard to hide. At the moment she didn’t care.
A short while later she’d finished dressing. She’d decided to wear a new pair of jeans she had purchased the day before and a top she had picked up while at the mall. Sighing deeply, she left the bedroom, hoping Clint was still around and hadn’t left the ranch for the day.
“Is there any reason your eyes are glued to that door?” Chester asked, chuckling. Clint didn’t answer. “Hey, give her a while. She’ll be coming through that door at any minute. Unless your wife has a reason to sleep late this morning,” Chester teased.
Your wife.
Clint felt his stomach roll into a knot. It was only when he was conversing with Chester that Clint remembered that legally Alyssa was his wife. As his spouse, she was as deeply embedded as any woman could get in his life.
“Does she have a reason to sleep late, Clint?”
Chester’s question broke into his thoughts. He didn’t bother glancing over