Page 19 of Reluctantly Yours

Colton elbowed me.“She’s cute and great with Sofia.You lucked out.”

Funny.Before now, if he’d made that point, I would’ve recited the laundry list of reasons why the girl was all wrong.Too perky.Too much.Sitting beside her now, gazing at her delicate profile, noticing the way her sapphire blue eyes lit up with excitement when Aria and Valentina offered to take her and Sofia to lunch, I couldn’t bring myself to complain.I could hardly remember why I had in the first place.

The scotch was probably helping, as every sip unwound me a little more until I was feeling loose, relaxed.For the first time as long as I could remember, I was at peace.

That feeling lasted long into the night, with all of us sitting around the table well past the point where the plates were cleared, and after-dinner drinks were enjoyed.Valentina leaned against her husband, Evan, while their daughter, Isabel, slept in his lap.Colton did the same with his Eloise.Sofia struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was no use.She wound up falling asleep, curled up on her chair, with her head in Penny’s lap.

I watched silently as Penny absentmindedly stroked Sofia’s curls when chatting with the other women.The most natural gesture but one that filled me with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction—watching her love my child.

That satisfaction carried on past the point of our saying goodbye when it was clear the staff wanted to go home.“We’ll meet out at the country club tomorrow morning,” Colton reminded me, referring to an establishment in the Hamptons that Evan owned.“I know Dad and Uncle Connor and the others would love to hear about your new expansion.”

“I’ll be there,” I replied, pulling out Penny’s chair.The temptation to touch her was too much to resist.My fingers brushed against her bare shoulder, and she shivered, turning her head and locking eyes with me.They glowed with the same light I saw in them last night.I wasn’t imagining things.

In the car, with Sofia asleep in my lap, I asked, “Did you have a good time?”

Penny’s sweet sigh answered my question.“I feel so good.Like I’m all filled up inside.I never met those people before tonight, but I feel like I’ve known them forever.”

I understood the feeling.It was good to connect with them and catch up on their lives.I was looking forward to breakfast and an early tee time.More than anything, I looked forward to getting back to the hotel.I might have satisfied my appetite during dinner, but there were other appetites to be addressed.

Once Sofia was in pajamas and tucked into bed, I crept out of her room, leaving the door open a crack to let the hallway light in.If she woke up in the night, she’d be able to at least see where she was.

After that, it was a matter of hunting down the woman whose kiss still lingered at the forefront of my memory.I found her in her room, the door open, only she wasn’t getting dressed or preparing for bed.She stood at the window, gazing down at the city.

It was enough for a heartbeat or two to watch her framed against the skyline.Then, it was a matter of my feet carrying me across the room, where she turned at the sound of my approach.

To hell with right and wrong.Nothing had ever felt more right than this, anyway.

To hell with whether or not I could trust her after this.

To hell with the consequences.

Taking her face in my hands, I claimed her delicious mouth for myself again.

8

PENNY

Afive-alarm fire exploded at the touch of his lips to mine.That was all it took for everything I told myself not to feel or even think about to rush to the surface.I took his lapels in my hands and pulled him closer, signaling to him that I wanted more than this.Much more.

This was all wrong.So why did it feel so right?

Last night was bad enough.The heat from his kiss made me want to forget everything I knew was important—Sofia, my job, and self-respect.I would have thrown it all away, and all he did was kiss me.

Now, there was so much more involved.I knew right away he wouldn’t be satisfied with a kiss tonight, not when he growled like a deranged animal when his hands roamed my body, grasping, groping.My heart raced, pumping adrenaline through my system while I fought between duty and what he was doing to me.

He could keep doing it and never stop.It had to be the wine going to my head, making me moan into his mouth when he lifted my leg and hooked it over his hip before his fingers danced their way up my thigh.My skin sizzled.God, how long had it been?How long since I felt this complete rush of pleasure, the kind of pleasure that wiped out every other thought?There was nothing in the world I wanted more than this, right here, this man pinning me against the window and kissing me until I couldn’t think.

I could only feel, and what I felt was something I didn’t want to end.Not ever.

“I want you.”His deep, throaty growl in my ear made my pussy throb.I moaned again, making a move I hoped I wouldn’t regret.

I slid the jacket off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor as I ran my hands up over his arms, appreciating his shoulders, their firmness, and the way they bulged under his shirt.

Every kiss and touch made me want more.He was unlocking something in me, something I hadn’t even realized was there the moment I first set eyes on him.There was chemistry, and there was this—sheer, simple lust.

For once, I let myself give in to be swept away.I gasped and arched against him when he stroked my pussy through my panties.More, I need more.I opened my mouth, prepared to beg for it, but he silenced me with another kiss, deeper this time, thrusting his tongue into my mouth while stroking me.I was already wet, but now I felt that wetness soaking into the fabric.

He felt it, too, groaning and thrusting his covered erection against me.“So wet,” he growled out, his touch firm, causing lightning bolts of pure sensation to sizzle through me.I could only rock my hips, moving against him, straining for relief.

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