Page 32 of Conail (Members From Money Season 2, #150)

And did what he had been dying to do since he saw her in the church. He crushed her lips with his. She felt the shudder going through his long, lean frame, felt the frantic pounding of his heart against her breasts. Her own heart was doing its happy dance, and she felt herself melting against him.

The sleepless nights, the hurt and pain she had endured after their argument, simply disappeared as if by magic. All that mattered was that he was holding her and kissing her as if she was the most important person in the world to him.

Dragging his mouth from hers, he rested his forehead on hers and took several deep breaths to steady himself. His body was on fire, his heart pounding out of control. His breathing was erratic. If he did not have her, if he did not sink himself into her warmth soon, he was going to die.

"Come home with me." He whispered harshly.

"Why?"

Shaking the cloud enveloping his brain, he stared at her. "What?"

"Why do you want me to come home with you?" She could have simply said yes and oh she wanted to, but this time she needed clarity. He had hurt her with his words, and she could not go through it again.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"That you're attracted to me? Yes. But I cannot go home with you knowing that you're not ready for a relationship."

He lifted his head, his gaze scanning the crowd and realized that they were the cynosure of dozens of eyes.

"Can we discuss this in private?"

She noticed people staring at them and had a second to realize that it had not even occurred to her that they were in the middle of the dance floor with a crowd of people giving them full attention.

She had been so caught up with him, nothing else had registered, except his arms around her and his body pressed against hers.

"Yes." She nodded and allowed herself to be led away.

He stopped just long enough for her to press a kiss on her new sister-in-law's cheek and wish her all the best and hug her brother. And say goodnight to her rather pleased looking mother.

His own mother was beaming as they escaped the curious eyes of the guests who were mingling with heaped plates in their hands.

"Come with me. Please." He finally persuaded her to go to his car, which was parked at the end of the road.

"Are you feeling unwell?" he asked as they walked the few feet to where his vehicle was parked.

"I'm fine."

He had retrieved her jacket and his from the hallway closet where her mother had hung them. But he had come prepared. As soon as they entered the sleek looking BMW convertible with the tan leather seat, he snagged a comfortably soft blanket from the back and draped it over her legs.

"You were shivering." He murmured when she gave him an inquiring look. Pressing a button, he reclined the seat for her. "Just relax."

It was surreal. He was treating her like a fragile piece of glass and his expression was different. Instead of the harsh lines of cynicism she was used to, there was a tender look on his face and his touch was gentle.

Closing her eyes, she stretched her legs out and fell asleep like a stone.

He kept glancing over at her and knew the instant she fell asleep. With one hand on the wheel as he negotiated the surprisingly sparse traffic, he used the other to touch her.

He wanted to make sure she wasn't a figment of his imagination, or he was not hallucinating. She had her hands folded on the bulge of her stomach and he felt his heart rapping against his ribs, hard. He knew she was having a boy, because he had received the report.

A son! He inhaled sharply as the knowledge filled him. The first time no longer mattered. It had taken him a while to come to that realization. He was completely over Michelle. And irrevocably and utterly in love with the woman next to him in the vehicle.

He had also decided that he was not going to spend another moment away from her.

He wanted to marry her. This time he was going to do it right.

First, he was going to have to convince her that he was sincere.

He had mucked things up so badly before and hurt her in the process.

There was no help for that now. He could not go back and undo the things he said to her.

From this point on he could do his best to fix it.

He had no idea how he knew it, but it struck him that she would never step out on him.

Easing into the driveway of his apartment, he parked and sat there watching her sleep. Before he could wake her, she stirred and opened her eyes.

"We're here."

"At your place." She stifled a yawn. "I was tired."

Leaning over, he released her belt and inclined the seat.

"Wait." He instructed as he opened his door and came around to open hers.

Taking her gloved hand, he carefully guided her towards the entrance and towards the elevator.

"Would you like some tea?" he asked as he took her jacket and put it away along with his.

"No." She rubbed the small of her back absently and stretched out the kinks.

"Let's go upstairs." Taking her hand again, he led the way.

As soon as they were inside his bedroom, he walked over to the leather sofa in front of the fireplace.

A fire was already burning in the hearth, casting a reddish golden glow over the room.

A jolt went straight through her when he knelt and eased off her shoes.

Putting them aside, he massaged her stockinged feet, his eyes on her face.

"How does that feel?"

"Uhm, better." The man had magic hands, she thought as he went for her arches.

Those magic hands wandered up to her calves and lingered there, working the tight knots of tension that had gathered. With a contented sigh, she leaned back and closed her eyes in delight.

"Don't stop."

"I won't."

He spent a few minutes there until she was as fluid as water.

"I hurt you." His deep voice was contrite and had her eyes flying open.

Memories of their last argument had her chin lifting. "You did."

He nodded and continued to work on her legs.

"I can only promise never to speak to you like that again.

" He knelt between her thighs and cupped her belly.

His eyes were still holding hers and the expression in them had her bones melting, like wax facing unrelenting heat. She could not find her breath.

"I spent a miserable week paying for my mistake." His heart overflowed when he felt the hectic movement of his son inside her womb. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tried again. "I was frightened."

"Why?" She whispered. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but she needed more. He had hurt her to the very core of her, and she could not forget that, not yet.

"I have never felt this way before." His hands moved to cup her face.

"After what happened with Michelle, I closed myself off and swore that I would never allow another person to get that close again.

You took me by surprise. I was blindsided.

When I made love to you, I knew it was like nothing I had ever experienced before, and I panicked. "

"Do you think you hold the monopoly on heartbreak?

" She asked him softly. "The only other relationship I had ever been in--" She nodded as his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Conail, there was only one other and then you.

He used me to get ahead and broke my heart and ended up shattering my self-esteem.

" She lifted her hands to clasp his thick wrists, her expression luminous.

"I fell in love with you when you knelt behind me and held me while I was puking my guts out.

I knew it was hopeless, but that did not matter one bit.

I was also afraid, but I hoped that by some miracle, you would feel the same way. "

"I did. I do." His fingers were unsteady. "When I saw you kneeling there, something stirred inside me, and I knew I wanted to be there for you." He brushed his lips over hers, needing the contact.

He needed her naked and in his arms with him buried deep inside her, but he supposed that would have to wait for a little while longer.

He had to clear things up. "I fought it.

" He nibbled and sipped at her mouth and felt as if he was drowning.

He went under happily. "The more time I spent with you, the more I realized that it was getting out of hand.

" Drawing a long breath, he tried to steady himself.

The fire was already raging inside his body, and he was as hard as steel and equally unbending.

He wanted her more than he wanted his next breath.

The passion was so intense, the desire so overpowering, he was being swept completely away.

When her hands dropped weakly away from his wrists, he rubbed her neck, thumbs feeling the racing pulse there.

She was as affected as he was. He could end the conversation now and oh how he wanted to!

He could just simply rip the dress from her and take her right here on his leather sofa, but he was determined to get things out in the open.

"I pushed you away." He continued hoarsely. "When you mentioned a relationship, I froze. And I lashed out at you."

"I'm not her." She whispered achingly. Lifting a hand, she touched his stubborn chin, one finger exploring the dent. "I would never do that to you."

"I know. Somehow I knew that." Capturing her hand, he pressed it to his mouth, his warm breath sending white hot darts of fire into her very soul.

The intensity scared her. Nothing had prepared her for all of it.

There were so many emotions tumbling around inside her, it was a wonder she did not simply explode.

"Take me to bed, Conail. I need to feel you. "

"We should talk--"

"No. Take me to bed."