Free Risk of a Lifetime (Mills & Boon Medical) by Caroline Anderson Page A

isn’t really the word,’ she gritted, and he gave a slow, warm laugh that vibrated deep inside her.
    The bra dropped away, freeing her breasts, and for a moment she held her breath. She needn’t have worried. He lifted his hands, cradled them gently and sighed.
    ‘Oh, that’s better,’ he murmured, his thumbs grazing gently over her nipples, dragging out every last ounce of sensation until she cried out and writhed against him. And then he smiled that wicked smile again and started moving, and she felt the tension grip her tighter, felt it spiral up until at last he flipped her beneath him, pinning her down as he drove into her again and again and took her with him over the edge into freefall.
    * * *
    Wow.
    Just—wow.
    He hadn’t really expected this. He’d been half joking when he’d asked her. Not that he hadn’t meant it, but he’d never for a moment imagined she’d take him seriously, far less say yes.
    And she’d blown him away, with her openness, her courage, her astonishing responsiveness. He still couldn’t quite believe it had happened.
    He touched her face gently with his fingertips, and she tilted her head towards him and smiled shyly. ‘Hi.’
    ‘Hi, yourself. OK?’
    Her smile widened, and she nodded. ‘Very OK.’
    ‘Good. I’ll be back in a moment,’ he murmured. He eased his arm out from under her, snagged his jeans off the floor and headed for the bathroom, then went downstairs, locked the back gate, brought the Prosecco and nibbles back in on the tray and carried them up to the bedroom.
    ‘Interval refreshments,’ he said with a wicked grin, and got back into bed beside her, propping himself up against the pillows and holding out her glass.
    She sat up cross-legged in the bed, tucked the quilt around her and took the glass from him. ‘Thanks. I wondered where you’d gone.’
    His grin was wry. ‘I thought a little security might be in order. We left the back gate unlocked and the doors hanging open.’
    ‘Ah.’
    ‘And the Prosecco downstairs.’
    ‘Bad move. That would have been a waste.’ She sipped, then frowned, and he could see reality starting to intrude. ‘What time is it? I forgot to put my watch on after my shower.’
    ‘Ten past ten.’
    Her shoulders dropped. ‘Oh. That’s good. I thought it must be later.’
    ‘What time is your mother expecting you home?’
    She shrugged, lifting her shoulders and causing the quilt to slip enticingly. ‘I told her it would probably be elevenish.’
    His smile was slow and lazy, and full of promise.
    ‘Good,’ he murmured. ‘That gives us lots more time. Drink up.’
    * * *
    He walked her home.
    ‘You don’t need to,’ she told him, but he just arched a brow.
    ‘Yes, I do,’ he said, his voice implacable, and he walked her right to the door.
    She turned to him, unsure what to say. Thank you for the best sex of my life? That didn’t seem quite appropriate, but it was the truth.
    In the end she just looked up at him, and he smiled knowingly. ‘We should do that again some time,’ he said innocently, and she nearly laughed out loud.
    ‘That would be lovely.’
    She went up on tiptoe and pressed a fleeting kiss to his cheek. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘My pleasure.’
    This time there was no mistaking the meaning in his eyes, and she swallowed and took a step back. ‘Goodnight.’
    ‘Goodnight, Annie. Sweet dreams.’
    He didn’t kiss her goodnight. He’d already done that very thoroughly before they’d left the house, but he stayed there until she was safely inside.
    She closed the door quietly and leant against it, centring herself, listening to the sound of his retreating footsteps. The television was still on in the sitting room, and she went in, wondering if she looked as thoroughly loved as she had been, and smiled brightly at her mother.
    ‘Hi. Want a cup of tea?’
    ‘No, thanks, darling. I’m just watching the last five minutes of this and I’m off to bed. Good time?’
    ‘Yes, thanks. Very nice.’
    Hardly