Page 66 of Booked for Summer

‘Condom.’ And damn, he’d forgotten that, too. Just like he seemed to have forgotten he was not supposed to be thinking of any part of this woman ashome.

‘It’s okay. I’m on the pill.’

‘Thank fuck.’ Worries that his walls weren’t high enough to protect himself from her were shoved aside as he let his body do what it wanted. Push into the heat of her. She gasped when he was fully seated. ‘You good?’

‘Yes.’ Her eyes glittered down on him. ‘But I want to spend the rest of the night being very, very bad.’

He didn’t think it was possible for him to get any harder. ‘That control I said I had, but I always lose around you?’ He thrust into her again, and again, pushing her back against the wall with the force of his hip movements. ‘It’s just snapped.’

He turned into an animal, mindless with the need to bury himself inside her, to spill his seed. To claim her in the most primitive way.

‘Yes, yes.’ Her voice egged him on. ‘I’m close, so frigging close. Don’t stop.’ A few seconds later. ‘Holy moly.’

Feeling her release clamp around him, he let out a howl of pleasure, legs buckling under the force of his orgasm.Mine, his body seemed to say.Mine.

Please, God, let him be strong enough to stop his heart from thinking the same.

ChapterTwenty-Three

As Jade watched the customers leave the shop, each clutching a book they’d been recommended at the library event the other evening, it was hard to keep the smile of satisfaction off her face. Not only had her idea been a success on the night, it had led to a definite increase in sales.

It wasn’t the only thing she had to smile about.

Her heart fluttered as she recalled Liam’s face as she’d left him early this morning. He’d been fast asleep, the harsh lines of his face relaxed, hair askew thanks to her restless fingers running through it, tugging on it when his tongue had reached exactly the right spot…

She gave a guilty start as the door to the shop opened.

‘Well, someone looks like they were having a raunchy daydream.’ Mary grinned. ‘I might be old but I still recognise that look. Anyone I know?’

Christ on a cracker. Her cheeks were so hot she was scared she might melt. ‘I wasn’t… um…’ Her eyes landed on the book next to the till. ‘I was thinking of the book I’m reading,’ she improvised, picking up Claire’s book.

Mary nodded approvingly. ‘I’ve read that one. Got me all hot and bothered, too.’

Desperate to change the subject, she pointed to the bag the older woman was carrying. ‘Is that what I think it is?’

Triumphantly, Mary pulled out a series of audio books and some large print books. ‘I tried to get a selection, like you said. What age did you say this woman was again?’

‘I don’t know, but you might. It’s Liam Haven’s grandma.’

Mary’s eyebrows bobbed upwards. ‘Pat Haven?’

‘I presume so. Liam only refers to her as “Grandma”.’

‘Well, well. It’s been a long time since I saw Pat. She moved to Martha’s Vineyard years ago. Can’t say I blame her. Must have been tough, bringing up her daughter’s child. There was a lot of sympathy for her, back in the day. But then her son decided to buy up the waterfront.’

‘I guess you could say that’s the price of progress,’ Jade argued. ‘Nantucket is a popular place for visitors, and they need somewhere to stay. If it hadn’t been Liam buying it, someone else would have done it. At least he was connected to the island.’

Mary eyed her quizzically. ‘The man’s got to you, hasn’t he? First you’re helping his grandma, next you’ll be rolling over and letting him take away this store.’

Jade could see both sides, and knew there had to be a middle ground that both she and Liam could be happy with. ‘I won’t be rolling over for anyone.’ To take the sting out of her words, she smiled and reached to take the books. ‘All I’m doing is helping a lady who’s losing her sight, continue to do what she loves, which is read.’

Mary pursed her lips together, then sighed. ‘Sorry, you’re right. Every time I saw Pat she’d have a book in her hand. Must be awful to have something as important and special as your eyesight, snatched away from you.’

Behind Mary, the door opened, and Jade’s heart jumped into her throat at the familiar large frame now blocking the doorway.

Liam nodded, his mouth curving in a slight smile which, together with the warmth in those silver eyes, unleashed a swarm of butterflies in her belly.

Presumably interested to see who’d caused Jade to lose the power of speech, Mary looked over her shoulder. ‘Ah, Haven. Sorry to hear Pat’s eyesight isn’t so good. Send her my love, won’t you? Hope she enjoys the book package this one here,’ she nodded at Jade, ‘is getting together.’

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