Page 36 of Nigel

He cradled her headon one shoulder and stroked her back. "Just be here like this. Iam hard-" he whispered against her mouth. "And I would likeyou to know that this has never happened to me before." Hekissed the sides of her lips. "It's gratifying to realize thatit can happen at my age."

"It has neverbeen this way for me either." She could smell the subtle scentof his cologne.

"It's an eyeopener indeed." He stroked her back, fingers trailing along theskin. He kissed her cheek, her nose, her forehead and went back toher lips.

"I love kissingyou," he admitted hoarsely. "I can still feel you wrappedaround my cock." His frank admission left her weak with need. "Iwant to feel it again. We did not use anything." He lifted hishead to give her an inquiring look. "I never considered it - areyou on-"

"No."

"What if-"

"I don't know."

"I never thoughtI would want a child - never thought about it before now. But I wantyou to myself for a bit. To know you, to be selfish with you."He cupped the back of her head.

"Not to shareyou with anyone - not even a child. But I cannot use anything, I donot want anything between us." He laughed; the sound derisive."I am lost, Ava. Lost in you, over you and for you."

"Stop."

"I cannot."He kissed her hungrily, adding heat to it. "I need you again.Let me have you again."

"Yes," shewhispered, opening her arms to accept him as he slid into her."Nigel-" She clung on when he started moving and was lostin him as well.

Chapter 8

"I was hoping wecould have a meal together before you left. The one we had lastevening was interrupted." He had led her downstairs.

After taking a showertogether that had stretched more than it should have because of thesex and the fevered touching, he had left her alone so she could getdressed. To put coffee on. "I don't usually eat breakfast here,for one reason or another, but I am prepared to make an exception."

"I am runninglate." She was also exhausted and operating on fumes. The manhad been insatiable and kept her up all night.

"Just coffeethen. I insist." He poured a cup and brought it to her, tryingnot to reveal the disappointment on seeing the overnight case she wascarrying. "Let me take that." He wrestled the case from herand stashed it in the corner of the room.

"Sit."

She did and acceptedthe cup of coffee. Her heart trembled inside her chest as she staredat him. He had dragged on sweats and white tees that molded to hisimpressive upper body and his hair was drying from the shower.

"Sure, aboutbreakfast? I could whip us something up in ten minutes."

"I am sure."She sipped the excellent coffee and felt somewhat revived by thecaffeine.

"What time doyou get off later? I have some meetings scheduled and a quick run toNew York but I will be back by the latest seven. I would like you togo home and pack some clothes and come back here."

"No."

"This time wewill have dinner on the patio." He smiled at her as heeffectively ignored her refusal. "Tell me a favorite of yoursand I will have the housekeeper prepare it. This time, I will ensurethat we eat the entire meal."

"I won't beback."

Her sober tone andthe frown on her brow got through to him.

"I won't beseeing you tonight? May I ask why?"

"I need time."

"You will havethe entire day." He masked his fear quickly. "I need to seeyou, Ava."

"It's happeningtoo fast." She pushed away the cup and rose. "I need timeto sort things out, to sift through the craziness."