The hotel sitting area which had seemed so spacious
when she'd first rented the room had grown dramatically smaller. "I...I just
wondered why you married me," Nikki said.
Jonah shrugged. "Because solving your problem solves
mine."
"I don't understand."
He stripped off his jacket and tossed it over a
nearby chair. "I don't expect you to. Yet."
Before she could question him further, he took a
final step in her direction. Retreating an equal distance, the back of her
knees hit the edge of the bed and she sat down abruptly.
"It's a king-sized bed," she explained in a rush,
scooting backward on the quilted cover. "When I realized the mistake, I
tried to get two doubles but the hotel's full. Every room's taken. I thought
maybe the couch--" She gestured wildly toward the sitting area.
"You're not using the couch and neither am I." The
mattress dipped beneath his weight. "We're husband and wife now, remember?"
He trapped her beneath him before she had a chance
to roll away and she stared at him in shock. "But you claimed we wouldn't...
You didn't intend..." Frantically, she searched her memory, struggling to
recall his exact phrasing. "You said you didn't want to sleep with me!"
"I told you it wasn't worth discussing. And it's
not. Certain issues are non-negotiable, and this is one of them." His eyes
were a fierce green, glowing with blatant desire. "So no more discussion. No
more negotiations. The time has come for action."
"No--"
"Yes, Mrs. Alexander. Most definitely, yes."
Framing her head with his hands, he stole a gentle
kiss, confirming her earlier opinion. Dear heaven, but he knew his way
around a woman's mouth. He also knew when to coerce and when to coax. And
right now, he coaxed. Teased. Tempted.
Seduced.
Hot little flames flickered to life again, splashing
across her skin, seeping deep within to weaken every muscle and sear every
nerve ending. She tried to resist, to explain all her reasons for keeping
their relationship platonic. But the words were lost, swallowed by a far
greater need--a need that consumed all rational thought.
The buttons of her suit jacket fell open and his
mouth drifted downward, following the length of her throat. She teetered on
the edge of surrender. He was her husband. He was helping her resolve an
untenable situation. And she wanted him. Heaven help her, she wanted him.
Considering the circumstances, could making love be so wrong?
"Nikki," he muttered in a passion-slurred voice.
"I'm sorry. I can't resist."
"I know," she whispered. "I feel the same way."
"Thanks for understanding."
His shadowed jaw rasped across sensitive skin and
she held her breath, aware that she'd committed herself to folly. He cupped
her breasts, nuzzling the curves above her lacy bra and then...
Nothing.
"Jonah?" she murmured, shifting beneath his
oppressive weight. He didn't respond and as the seconds ticked by, desire
waned. She moistened her lips, the return of sanity making her extremely
self-conscious. "Are you sure about this?" she asked uneasily. "Don't you
think we should wait until we know each other a little better? Jonah?
Jonah?"
And it was then she realized he'd fallen fast
asleep.
