The Durango Affair - Brenda Jackson [43]
A part of her was disappointed that he hadn’t kissed her goodnight. But she knew the reason why he hadn’t. One kiss would lead to another, then another and eventually to something neither of them could handle. Durango was intent on keeping his word to keep his distance and she appreciated him for doing so.
He had looked so darn good at the ceremony that for one tantalizing moment she had wished that their wedding was real. But she knew that wasn’t possible. In about a year or so, he would be going his way and she would be going hers. After all, they were sharing an in-name-only marriage.
But still…
Would having Durango for a temporary lover be so bad? It was amazing how you could develop an all-consuming craving for something you were perfectly fine doing without only months before. Prior to her one night with Durango she’d dated, but had never been into casual sex. She hadn’t been involved with anyone since she’d broken up with Thomas Crawford and she hadn’t felt as if she was missing out. But all of that changed the night she and Durango had conceived their baby. From that night on she had been acutely aware of her body and its needs.
And then there were the memories that wouldn’t go away. Durango and their night together had definitely left her with some lasting, vivid ones and a particularly special little moment, she thought, affectionately rubbing her tummy.
She glanced over at the bed and looked at the gown she intended to sleep in tonight. Alone. If she decided to share an intimate relationship with Durango, she had to remember that it would be with no strings attached. He didn’t love her and she didn’t love him. Remembering that would definitely make things easier emotionally when the time came for them to part ways.
She crossed the room and picked up the low-cut, short, barely there, flesh-tone nightgown and thought about the kiss they had shared after the man had announced them man and wife. She could still feel the heat from his lips on hers and just thinking about that kiss and the one they had shared last night in the hot tub sent shudders racing through her body. There was something about Durango Westmoreland that just kept her blood heated. Jessica had been right. Westmorelands weren’t ordinary men.
Durango had been right, as well. There was no way they could entertain the thought of being married—even on a short-term basis—without there ever being a chance of them sharing a bed. She could see that now. Some marriages could truly be in name only, but she realized now that theirs would have to be in bed and name only. And she could handle that because once the marriage ended, she would begin living a solitary life. Her total concentration would be on raising her child. She wouldn’t have time to become involved with a man. To be perfectly honest, it wouldn’t matter to her if she never had another lover. Her affair with Durango would be enough to sustain her.
She knew what he said about abiding by her decision until she indicated she wanted things to be different between them. Well, now she had decided. She wanted things to be different.
Savannah saw Durango the moment she stepped out of the bedroom. He was standing on the balcony, gazing out at the lake. His chest was bare and he was wearing a pair of black silk pajama bottoms. His broad muscled chest and shoulders seemed to catch the remnants of the fading sunlight and it gave his dark skin an even richer glow. She wished she had time to get her camera and capture him on film so she could always have the breathtaking image at her fingertips.
As she continued to watch him her heartbeat quickened and the heat he had deliberately turned up earlier with his kiss was inching its way into a flame as she felt her body respond to his mere existence. And then, as if he’d sensed her presence, he turned slowly, capturing her eyes with his.
They stood there for a moment, separated by a few feet while sexual tension flowed between them the same way it had that night in Atlanta, and Savannah could feel herself slowly melting beneath