“Jesus.” He slowed down, determined to draw out her orgasm, but the tight contractions of her body were impossible to ignore. He felt the familiar burn of his own release. He didn’t want to go without her.

Nick realized she was trying to avoid looking him directly in the eye. He growled. His lovely wife was in for a wakeup call if she thought she could keep their lovemaking impersonal. She didn’t love him yet, but Nick refused to accept anything less than everything she had to give.

She didn’t have to love him, but she wouldn’t hide from him.

He let go of her hands and pulled her down so he could look in her eyes. She looked alarmed and tried to sit back up. “Nick. Wait—”

He held tight and anchored a hand in her hair. “I love you, Raina.”

Her eyes softened at his words and he could see the answering response in her eyes.

That broke him. His orgasm shattered him into a thousand pieces as he came harder than ever before, like he was filling her with the feelings he could no longer deny.

The knowledge that she could soon be pregnant with his child made his orgasm even stronger. He was giving her an essential piece of himself, and he realized he wanted a child just as much as she did. He was going to be there for her and show her day after day that she could trust him to keep his promises. Starting with the most important one he’d ever made.

To love her until the day he died.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE SEXY SMILE on her husband’s face was Raina’s first clue that she’d grossly miscalculated.

His enormous erection was the second.

“You’re ready again? So soon?” Raina couldn’t keep the astonishment from her voice. She’d taken control before, determined to keep their lovemaking as sexual as possible. It was enjoyable for her to be on top and seemed less intimate somehow. Like she was just having a good time.

Especially since she’d immediately rolled off him and elevated her hips.

Nick stalked toward her, a confident smile on his face as he knelt next to her. “You didn’t honestly think that was it, did you?”

Raina just stared at him as he took the glass of water she held and placed it on the nightstand. Dating an older man had definitely lowered her expectations when it came to recovery time. Her eyes dipped lower and a deep throb of arousal gripped her core. Nick looked painfully erect, almost as if he hadn’t come just five minutes ago.

Clearly she was going to have to adjust her thinking about how to manage her new husband.

“See something you like, my love?”

She looked up to find Nick watching her from beneath lowered lashes, his eyes lingering on her mouth. How many nights had she dreamed a scenario just like this one? Nick, on his knees before her, kissing her, caressing her.

Telling her he loved her.

She flushed, the heat spreading from her cheeks down to her toes. It was bad enough to have these fantasies about him. It was unbearable for him to know about it. A man like Nick could have any woman he wanted and no doubt had plenty, probably more than one at a time.

But he didn’t marry any of them, did he?

“I probably shouldn’t move yet. I’m supposed to…” She motioned toward where her hips were elevated by a pillow. Nick’s eyes followed her hand. He looked back at her and winked.

“I like to be thorough in everything I do. So I’m not convinced once is enough.”

His lips rubbed hers once, then again, before she opened for him. His taste flooded her senses. He took her mouth slowly, savoring, drawing out the anticipation.

He moved the pillow gently until she was flat on her back. When she started to protest, he said, “Trust me, okay?”

She nodded, shakily. He got on the bed and turned her until she fit in the curve of his body, her back to his chest, her bottom snug against his hips. His hand trailed over her rib cage and came to stop over her heart. Her breasts tightened in anticipation.

He squeezed the stiff tip of one of her nipples between his fingers and the sensation shot straight to her core. It had been so long since she’d been touched. Her skin was aching for it, practically crying out for more. She turned her head slowly and their eyes met. He looked golden in the fading sunlight coming in through the window.

Part of her wanted to turn away. Being with him like this in the soft light of early evening seemed too intimate. They were here for one purpose and one purpose only. To make a baby.

Him touching her like this, gently worshipping her with his hands, was more than she could handle.

“Nick, make love to me,” she cried. Anything to stop the torturously slow motion of his hands over her skin.

“I am making love to you.” He lifted her leg and hooked her ankle gently over his calf. In this position she was completely still but her body was open to anything Nick wanted to do.

He held her anchored to his chest with his right arm, his fingers playing gently with the tips of her nipples. He thrust into her from behind, going all the way deep on the first stroke. The sudden shocking invasion sent her headfirst into another orgasm.

“Sweet,” he breathed in her ear. “Just the feel of you around me is so sweet.”

Raina shuddered in his arms as he held her closer, not allowing her to retreat at all from the shocking intimacy of being bared to him so openly.

She’d thought she knew what to expect. After all, she was hardly a virgin and it wasn’t like she hadn’t had sex with Nick before. But she hadn’t expected him to want to hold her. To caress her.

She hadn’t expected him to love her like this.