Free Sarah's Child by Linda Howard Page B

nights. Its raining now; isnt this nice? He cupped the ball of her shoulder in his palm, his fingers kneading the delicate joint; then he deliberately slid his hand inside the collar of her robe, his fingers gliding under the edge of her nightgown to fondle the cool sweetly swelling curves of her breasts.
    Sarah held herself perfectly still, her body quivering inside from the run of pleasure. He wasnt being fair; how could she think clearly when her body, superbly fashioned by nature to respond to the touch of the man she loved, was demanding all her attention? Intellect was a fine thing, but Rome was fast teaching her how little her mind could control her bodys natural desire.
    Rome watched her closely, seeing the soft mists of passion cloud the cool directness of her eyes. Her lashes drifted down, her lids growing heavier, and her breath was coming faster between her softly parted lips. His own heartbeat was picking up speed as he felt her breasts growing warm beneath his touch, the enchanting woman smell of her rising to his nostrils and telling him, without him even thinking of it, that she was his for the taking. Before it was too late, he drew his hand back, but the need to touch her drove him to reach for her again, clasping her slim waist and pulling her to him. Her coffee sloshed dangerously close to the rim, and he rescued both of them, setting his own mug down, then taking hers and placing it beside the other one.
    Then she was securely in his arms, her soft body nestled against his, adjusting herself without thought to the hard contours of his muscular frame, and that adjustment made both of them gasp.
    You see? he muttered shakily, burying his face against the slippery silk of her hair. Were good together. Damned good.
    Sarah laced her arms around his back, feeling the dampness of his shirt where hed sprinted through the rain. The fresh smell of rain and the coming autumn mingled with his own vital male scent, luring her, and she rubbed her nose into the hollow of his shoulder. What kind of marriage would she have with him, heaven or hell? Would she be content with what he could give her, or would she slowly shrivel inside, dying because she wanted all of him and his heart would always be Dianes? At that moment, standing there in the kitchen with their arms locked around each other, she felt that she could ask nothing more of heaven, but when the daily grind of life wore her down, would she need more from him?
    Slowly his big hands moved up her back, finding and stroking each separate rib and vertebra. Say yes, baby, he cajoled huskily, the first endearment hed ever used with her, and she melted inside, going weak. I want you; Ive always wanted you, all those years when you were giving me that delicate cold shoulder. There was no way I was going to jeopardize my marriage to Diane by going after you; I loved her too much. But Ive always wanted you, and Diane isnt between us anymore. I think I think shed like the idea of us taking care of each other.
    Her face hidden in his shoulder, Sarah closed her eyes in pain. When he spoke of Diane, every word was a sword that cut into her heart. How could she ever be strong enough to live with the knowledge that shed never replace Diane in his affections? But even as she writhed inside in pain, Rome lifted her even more tightly against him, and his action sent all her thoughts into confusion. Gently shifting their positions, he leaned back against the cabinets and spread his legs to support Sarahs weight, pulling her intimately against him and holding her tightly to his chest.
    If Im going to have you, then Ill have to marry you.
    Catching her jaw in his fingers, he gently forced her to lift her head so he could see her face. Youre just not the type of woman who could handle anything less. Im offering you a commitment, a legal relationship with all the rights that grants you. Ill be faithful to you; I prefer a commitment with one woman to a thousand one-night stands with women