Page 263 of Under Her Skin

Seth studied him. ‘You’re notsure.’

Max scrubbed his hands over his face. ‘I don’t know. His voice sounded familiar is all.’ He glanced at the invoice Seth was filling out. ‘That hisaddress?’

Seth made a face at him. ‘You shouldn’t be seeing that but yes. Why?’ He looked at Max, frowning. ‘You’re not thinking of going overthere?’

Max shook his head. ‘Oh no. Just wondered how long he’s been on theisland.’

‘Now you’re soundingparanoid.’

Max sighed. ‘Yeah I know, but it couldn’t hurt to confirm or deny he’s not who he says he is. Just to be on the safeside.’

Seth rolled his eyes. ‘Look, next time he comes in, I’ll callyou.’

Sensing Seth wasn’t happy about this line of thinking, Max agreed. But inside her was planning – if Seth wouldn’t condone his snooping, he knew someone who would. The one person who had the most reason to make sure Amelia’s boyfriend wasn’t the man who was trying to killJess.

Jessherself.

Theo slida hand over Jess’s belly as they were driven away from the television studio. She smiled at his dancing eyes, his obvious joy. It had been a complete spur of the moment thing: Diane, the interviewer, had been fair and persuasive, but her journalistic instincts had made for some uncomfortable questions. It was when she had asked Theo what his dream was and he’dreplied.

‘Me and Jess. The two of us, together,forever.’

It just seemed the right, the true thing to add... ‘The three of us. Theo and I and ourchild.’

Theo had been stunned then his smile was breath-taking and she knew she’d done the right thing. Diane had congratulated them effusively and it was all Theo could do to stay in his seat and not take Jess in his arms. She could see his body relaxing and smiled at him. ‘I love you,’ she mouthed at him, not caring if the camera sawher.

Now, as Theo wrapped his arms around her, she leaned into him. ‘I’m sorry I put you through the last few days,’ she said, ‘I really was scared. But today, I just realized… I’ll never put the little bean in danger. I won’t permit it. This is ourfamily.’

Theo kissed her, his mouth rough on hers. ‘Miss Wood, when we get home, I’m going to strip every last piece of clothing from your gorgeous body and fuck you all nightlong.’

She laughed, tangling her fingers in his short hair. ‘Why wait until we get home? That’s what a privacy screen isfor.’

Deftly,she straddled him, rubbing her hand between his legs, feeling his cock stiffen against the movement of her fingers. Theo sighed happily as he unbuttoned her dress, scooping her plump breasts into his hands, taking her nipples in turn and sucking on them, drawing the tiny bud as it hardened. Theo slid his hands into the bodice of her dress, stroking the velvety smooth skin as he trailed his lips across her collarbone, to the hollow at the base of herthroat.

‘God, you are so beautiful,’ he murmured as he felt her hand free his stiff cock from his trousers. Kissing him, she moved the crest against her damp sex, up and down until he was half-crazed with desire then guided him inside, rolling her hips along the length of him. They rocked together, oblivious to the movement of the car, their focus unshifting. Jess thrust herself hard onto him, wanting to take him as far she could, Theo sucking on her nipples, hands gripping her hips hard keeping her impaled onhim.

‘Fuck me, gorgeous,’ he whispered and she grinned at him, slamming against him as her excitement built. His fingers dug into her flesh as she rode his cock, her muscles gripping him, hitting every sensitive point , driving him insane. She threw her head back and his lips moved to her throat, hungry to taste her skin, feel the pulse of her blood. He bit down on her shoulder as he neared his peak and he felt her cunt tightened around his cock, her thighs around his hips. She came to a shuddering climax a second before he shot into her, hard, groaning, grinding his hips up intoher.

They caught their breath for a few moments before they reluctantly disconnected. Jess’s face had that flush that he loved so much and to him, now, pregnant with his child, she had never looked so achingly lovely. He pulled her into the crook of his arms and she snuggled into him. She tilted her head up for akiss.

‘We should go tell your mom she’s going to be a grandmother. I know the interview’s not shown until Friday, but these days, it’s bound toleak.’

He rested his forehead against hers. ‘You’re right. We should head over there but I may need to changefirst.’

She grinned. ‘And that could take anhour…’

Three hours later,Theo drove them both to his mother’s house. Jess looked up at the impressivemansion.

‘Can you believe in less than two weeks, we’re getting marriedhere?’

Theo took her hand as they walked up the stone steps. ‘I can’twait.’

Amelia was, predictably, over the moon about the news. ‘I have some news of a kind too,’ she said, grinning. ‘I think I’ve finally persuaded my friend Clem to be my plus one – I hope that’sokay?’

She looked at Jess, her eyes searching the younger woman’s reaction. Jess’s heart gave a sickening thump but she kept her smile steady. ‘Of course it is. Whatever makes youhappy.’

Later, in bed, Theo’s head on her chest, she listened to the steady rise and fall of his breathing as he slept. She had talked herself down from thinking Clem was Jules in disguise mostly. She still thought it strange that Amelia’s new beau had avoided every effort to meet her and Theo – but, she reasoned, plenty of people were shy, or socially awkward and meeting the girlfriend’s grown up, superstar son was bound to make anyonenervous.

Jess felt better, her fingers stroking gently into Theo’s hair, she gazed down at him. ‘I love you, funny face,’ she whispered. Unconsciously, Theo’s arms tightened around her and she closed her eyes, allowing sleep to wash over her. For the first time in weeks, she slept soundly without the nightmares that had plaguedher.