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  But too soon, he broke the kiss, and she swayed against him in protest, reluctantly opening her eyes to gaze up at him questioningly. With a determined set to his jaw, he scooped her up in his arms, carried her back to his bedroom and deposited her on the still rumpled bed. And as soon as she made contact with the cool sheets, she clicked back to reality.

  Oh no, worst idea ever. With that kiss, Nathan had burrowed even deeper into her skin, turning her into mindless mush in his hands. If they did anything more, she’d be lost forever.

  “Nathan, we mustn’t…” She placed both hands on his chest in an effort to push him back as he leaned over her on the bed, but her action was half-hearted at best.

  “I need you, Aura,” he murmured, brushing his lips over hers. And stripping off his jeans, he climbed on to the bed beside her.

  He captured her mouth again in a deep kiss and she moaned into his mouth. And when he pressed her back on to the pillows, she gave in to the clamouring need of her body and relaxed beneath him, her tongue meeting his in a sensuous dance.

  Sweet relief washed over Nathan at her surrender.

  She was here with him again.

  When she’d locked herself away, he hadn’t been able to see sense, but to hold her again, it was as if everything was all right in his world once more.

  He broke their kiss and moved on top of her, caging her in with his big body. Nuzzling into the hollow of her neck, he placed a gentle kiss there. She smelled of shower gel, a fruity citrus scent that brought a small frown to his brow. He wanted to smell her, not an artificial fruit tree.

  He slid down her body, paying homage to her breasts on the way, briefly suckling both nipples with an intensity that left her gasping and clutching at his hair. When he reached his goal, he spread her thighs apart and fitted his big body there.

  She was all wet and ready for him, and with a grunt of satisfaction, he licked her slightly swollen folds, using his hands on her thighs to clamp her to the bed as she squirmed and twisted against his tongue.

  Judging by her delicious moans, she wasn’t in any pain, still he used his tongue to massage her soft flesh, lapping up her flowing juices. He released one of her thighs and thumbed her clit, smiling with satisfaction when her moans increased in intensity.

  “Let go for me, Aura.”

  He pressed his lips to her clit and sucked. With a scream and a shudder that shook her entire body, she climaxed against him and he pushed his tongue into her tight channel, loving the way she contracted around him.

  As she came down from her high, he turned his face and placed gentle kisses against the soft inner skin of her thigh. Then when she was ready, he straightened up on to his knees between her legs. His heart raced and his shaft was rock hard, precum leaking from its tip in anticipation.

  Aura lay before him like a raven-haired goddess, her skin flushed, a look of wonder on her face. He shouldn’t need her this much, but he was powerless to walk away. Never had a woman had such an effect on him. It should terrify him, but then, never had any attraction lasted. Maybe he should stop questioning this pull between them and just enjoy it while the feelings were there.

  Aura gently floated down to earth. Her body was like jelly and she couldn’t even summon the strength to move her legs as Nathan kneeled between them, his eyes locked on hers.

  “You’re even more beautiful when you come. It’s something special knowing I’m the only person to have seen that.” A sexy half-smile tipped his mouth, and he stroked his stiff erection with lazy movements.

  Her gaze dropped to it, instantly snared by the way little droplets escaped the tip and he used his fingers to spread it down the length like lubrication.

  She licked her lips with the tip of her tongue. What would he taste like? She’d heard of it before, and had never wanted to do it… until now.

  Clambering up on all fours, she reached out and brushed tentative fingers over the tip of his shaft.

  He sucked in a sharp breath, his whole body tensing, and her gaze flew to his face. Then he relaxed, smiling that crooked half-smile again before spreading his legs slightly to brace himself and holding his shaft out in invitation to her.

  She inched forward and taking hold of his thickness with one hand, licked the tip with her tongue. Musky, a little salty. She liked it.

  A small moan escaped him, but he held still. She glanced up at him. His jaw was set and he was watching her every move with narrowed eyes. She licked her lips and this time took the tip fully into her mouth, running her tongue around it in teasing circles.

  “Fuck.” He buried his fingers into her curls and pulled her closer so that a bit more of his shaft entered her mouth. “That’s so good.”

  She took more of him in, pulled back, and then ran her lips and tongue down his length again.

  “Not so fast, baby,” he said through gritted teeth. “I don’t want to come like this.”

  Why not? He’d given her unbelievable pleasure. She desperately wanted to give him pleasure too. Bolder now, she sucked on the head of his shaft and pumped a gentle hand up and down it’s length, causing him to buck his hips.

  He groaned, his fingers tightening in her hair in a half-hearted effort to stop her. Then, without warning, he pulled himself from her mouth, and squeezed his erection with one big hand.

  She blinked up at him.

  “Turn around,” he growled, twirling a finger.

  She shifted on the bed so that she was on all fours before him, her bottom towards him.

  His hand came down in a sharp smack on her butt cheek, and she gasped, but the sting quickly melted into a warm glow of pleasure.

  “Ass in the air, baby. Let me see you.” He placed a hand between her shoulder blades and pushed down until one side of her face was pressed against the sheet, her bottom high.

  Grasping her thighs with both hands, he spread her legs further apart. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, hot embarrassment searing her skin. But then his warm breath flowed over her sex, followed by his tongue, and her eyes popped open on a whimper.

  With a grunt, Nathan straightened behind her. The tip of his shaft nudged her opening, and grasping her hips, he pressed into her.

  She gasped, and then moaned as his thickness stretched her bit by bit. The fullness bordered on unbearable this way.

  He held still for a beat, letting her body adjust to his entire length buried in her, then rocked back, pulling out to the tip before pushing back in, inch by glorious inch.

  Aura trembled as her channel squeezed him, her orgasm coiling and building inside her.

  “Goddamn, you feel so good,” he muttered.

  His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her hips and increasing his pace, he pounded into her. His groin smacked up against her bottom again and again, and the slick sound of their joined bodies moving filled the air.

  Her body swayed and shuddered beneath him and she levered up on her forearms and elbows. The intensity was too much. She was right on the edge.

  Nathan reached down and thumbed her clit with one hand, keeping his grip on her hip with the other. “Come for me, Aura. Give me all of you.”

  The build-up of her climax powered through her core and with a cry she let the explosion burst in her.

  He pounded into her a couple more times, and then on a shout of pleasure, rammed fully in. His shaft pulsed inside her and the warm spurts of his seed coated the walls of her channel.

  Gasping, she slumped forward on to the bed, her body a quivering spent heap, and he collapsed over her, his breathing harsh, his hot sweat-slicked skin pressed against her back.

  * * *

  Aura opened her eyes. The bedroom was shadow-grey and only a dim glow peeked in from around the closed curtains. She glanced at Nathan’s bedside clock. Half-past-three.

  Nathan lay spooned against her back and she shifted a little against the solid warmth of his body. He was asleep, one heavy arm draped over her, and his hand cupping her breast possessively as he held her tight to him. His breathing w
as deep and even, and no wonder; they’d made love on and off throughout the night, unable to get enough of each other. He must be more than tired. She glanced at the clock again. It was early, but her body buzzed with restless energy and all her sleep had fled.

  How many times had they made love last night? She’d lost count. His intoxicating male scent was on her and his taste still on her tongue. She smiled and licked her lips remembering the first time he’d come in her mouth. She’d never have enough of him.

  Her smile froze. He hadn’t used a condom. Oh, he had the first time, but not after. And she wasn’t on the pill. Her heart beating against her chest, she counted quickly in her head. She was a week away from her period, surely that meant she couldn’t get pregnant?

  A sudden twinge of disappointment snaked through her and she bit her lip. To have Nathan’s baby… a little girl or boy with dark hair and intense silver-grey eyes, his crotchetiness and his sweet smile, a part of him that would be hers forever. She touched tentative fingers to her stomach. If any such chance existed…

  She wouldn’t even be a nuisance to Nathan. He’d leave, and she was ready to accept that without complaint. Her heart would eventually heal, but please let there be a chance…

  Nathan stirred behind her, his hand tightening over her breast and then moving down to clasp hers over her stomach as he pressed soft kisses to the base of her neck.

  He raised his head, his lips feather soft by her ear. “Since you’re not asleep… I know a few things we could do to pass the time.”

  She turned, melting against him as he claimed her mouth in a searing kiss.

  9

  “All right. Tell me everything.”

  Aura glanced up from the delicate hand-stitch detailing she was adding to another dress. Lisa stood in front of her, hands on hips, her eyes expectant.

  “About what?”

  “Don’t you act innocent with me.” Lisa said, going and plonking herself down on the window seat in the sewing room. Even the weak afternoon sun was enough to bring out the gold in her beautiful blonde waves. “You’re glowing like a light bulb, Aura, and don’t think I’ve missed the hot looks that Nathan of yours has been shooting you since I walked in here.” She sat forward. “And by the way, he’s a total knockout in real life. I can see why you’ve been lusting after him all these years. I would too if dark and brooding were my type.” She grinned, and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  Aura rolled her eyes. Was she glowing? She’d spent the morning in bed with Nathan, only getting up for lunch. Monday would have gone in a blink like yesterday if it hadn’t been for Lisa arriving with Jason just after three in the afternoon. Yep, she probably did look well-loved.

  No, well sexed-up would be more accurate.

  “He’s not my Nathan anything.” And she’d do well to keep reminding herself of that. They never spoke about the future. They never spoke about anything but the now. How long would ‘now’ last?

  “Uh-huh. So you’re telling me you haven’t done anything with him?”

  Aura put down her sewing and glanced at her friend. She’d never been a convincing liar, and Lisa knowing her better than most would pick up on it straight away. “Well, maybe we did something…”

  Lisa gasped. “Something? Like kissing, touching?” She pointed to her crotch with an evil grin. “All the way down there?”

  “For goodness sake!” Aura choked back a laugh.

  “Are you still a virgin?”

  “I don’t… I mean…” She cast a nervous glance at the closed door of the sewing room, but Lisa just goggled at her expectantly. “No, not anymore,”Aura said dropping her voice, though it wasn’t as if Nathan would hear, not with Jason keeping him busy in the kitchen.

  “Oh.” Lisa sat back on the window seat, a concerned frown crinkling her brow.

  “What?”

  “Well, that explains the looks he’s been giving you. But what about you? If he’s not your Nathan, then what is it?”

  Aura shrugged. “Sex. What else would it be?” She picked up her sewing again, needing something soothing to occupy her fingers. “I’m here. He’s here. And when that’s no longer the case, it stops.”

  “Yeah, I can imagine that’s how it would be for him, but not you.”

  “Why not?” Exasperated, she thumped the material down on her lap. “It’s not like I’m still a teen with my first crush. Plenty of people have sex and don’t think any more of it.”

  “Plenty of people do, but you’re not plenty of people, are you? Your heart is soft as mush, Aura, and it’s just too easy for someone to squish it.”

  “That’s not how it is with Nathan and me. It’s…” She chewed her lip. “Look, I know there’s no future in this, and I’m okay with that, really I am. I just… I just needed whatever time I had with him.”

  Lisa looked at her with sad eyes. “Oh, sweetheart, I know you need this, but I don’t want you getting hurt either.” She sighed. “You know, I hoped Bill might make you happy. He was the safer bet, but deep down I think I knew it wouldn’t really work. Only Nathan would do for you. You’re that far gone on him.”

  “I’m not expecting more, not really.”

  “Then you’d better lock your heart up and throw away the key,” Lisa said, shaking her head. “And if he dares hurt you, you tell me and I’ll sort him.”

  Aura smiled. That was adorable. But the image of Lisa squaring up to Nathan, brought to mind a little golden duck trying to browbeat a raging bull into submission. She loved her friend too much to ever let it get to that. It was better to just get the whole matter of Nathan out of Lisa’s head.

  “I’m fine, but what about you? Found out anything more about your mysterious date for tomorrow?”

  Lisa grimaced. “Nope, he’s still mysterious. Well, okay… not as much maybe. I did ferret out that he’s a maths lecturer at Leeds University.”

  “Ooh, twenty-six and a maths lecturer. Brainy. You know, with a little more sleuthing you could easily find him online.”

  “And waste my time for what? No, thank you. I’d rather know tomorrow when my expectations are well and truly shattered.”

  “Gosh, you’re such a cynic. I hope he turns out to be the hottest prince you’ve ever clapped eyes on, if only to prove you wrong.”

  “Frog prince, you mean, with my luck around men.” Lisa hopped up from the window seat with a leer. “Come on, nymphet. We’d best rescue Nathan from Jason’s clutches or you won’t have anyone to get jiggy with once I’m gone.”

  Aura stuck her tongue out at her, but Lisa just laughed and bounced out of the room, and Aura trudged behind.

  The sound of Nathan’s deep rumbling laughter and Jason’s excited squeals reached them in the hallway even before they got to the kitchen.

  Lisa shot her a questioning look, and Aura shrugged, her own eyes wide with surprise.

  The scene that met them in the kitchen left her gaping.

  Jason stood on the kitchen counter, with Nathan steadying him with both hands, as he reached up on the tippy toes of his stripy blue socks, trying to grab the pink and blue toy caterpillar that was wrapped around Nathan’s head like Caesar’s wreath.

  Nathan grinned at them as they entered and Aura could only smile and stare. He looked utterly silly and utterly carefree, and this new side of him had her speechless.

  Jason clapped his little hands and cooed at Lisa as she surveyed them, her hands on her hips. “Well, you two seem to be getting on like a house on fire.” Her gaze fell on the kitchen table where the squeezed remains of two orange halves lay beside an empty mug and a great big splodge of orange juice.

  Nathan shrugged. “He was thirsty, and it’s always better squeezed fresh.”

  “Can’t argue with that.” Lisa went to them and held her hands out for Jason. “Come here you little terror.”

  Jason leaped into his mum’s arms, and Nathan took off the caterpillar crown and handed it to him.

  Lisa picked up her bag and turned to Nathan. “Till nex
t time, Nathan. But meanwhile, take good care of my girl.”

  It was said with a hint of threat and Aura had to hide a grin. Lisa wasn’t ready to rubber stamp him just yet.

  But Lisa’s true meaning must have flown over Nathan’s head because he merely lounged against the counter with a broad grin. “I’ll do that.”

  He caught her to him as soon as the front door had closed behind Lisa and Jason. “I’ve missed you.”

  Aura giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What? In fifteen minutes?”

  “I’m beginning to think one minute is too much.” And he captured her mouth in a kiss that sent molten fire throbbing through her veins.

  He finally broke the kiss and she gasped for breath before wriggling out of his hold. “You keep doing that and you won’t have any dinner tonight. I need to get to the shops.”

  “We’ll go together.”

  Warmth curled through her and she smiled up at him. He could have chosen to stay back and work, but he was actually prepared to traipse around a shop with her. Her mind latched on to all sorts of interpretations. No, don’t go there. Don’t even think about reading too much into it.

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “Aren’t you supposed to stay out of sunlight?”

  Not that the greyish February afternoon sunlight was anything to talk about, but if he’d only offered to accompany her out of politeness, this was his out.

  “I’m not a vampire, Aura. A bit of sunlight won’t turn me into a steaming ash cloud.”

  She laughed. He could easily be a vampire. He had all the magnetic charisma of a prince of darkness. All he lacked were the pointy teeth.

  Her laughter had him grinning and reaching for her again.

  She dodged. “No, you’re not going to distract me.” And sidestepping him, she raced for the stairs, intending to get to her room and lock herself in so she could get changed to go shopping.

  But she only managed to make it half-way up before he caught her, one arm curling around her waist. He pulled her back to him, turning so they both landed on the stairs with him cushioning the impact for her with his big body.