I snuggle against his chest so that he can’t see my face and reply, “I know there are a lot of years between us, but you make me tingle in places that haven’t for a long time.”
“Sirena,” he growls. “Please don’t say things like that. You’ll drive me insane.”
“I’m sorry but lying here with you, even if it’s in the hospital makes me so happy.” I press my face against his chest and I feel Garrett shudder beneath me, and seconds later my baby kicks.
Garrett chuckles. “You have an energetic little one in there.” He tugs me closer and kisses my forehead. “I want to be with you Sirena.” He sighs. “That’s all I know right now.”
“I want that as well . . . just please don’t hurt me.”
“I won’t. I promise I won’t.”
He caresses gently down my spine and I moan when the warmth from his palm covers my bruised tailbone. He freezes and hesitates to carry on.
“You
r hand takes the pain away,” I offer and slip my leg between his to get into a more comfortable position.
In this position, I realize that it probably isn’t all that comfortable for Garrett with his arousal hard and throbbing, trapped in his slacks against my thigh.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, applying slight pressure to my lower back.
I smile. “I wish I could get closer.”
His hand on me hesitates and then it’s gone altogether. “Can you turn over without any pain?”
“Let me try.” With some rearranging my back is now pressing against Garrett’s front. I wiggle closer still until I’m completely surrounded by the man. One of his arms is my cushion and the other rests over my belly as though he’s protecting my baby.
“Is that better?”
“Mmm, but you’re uncomfortable,” I point out.
He laughs. “I’ll survive.” He kisses the back of my head. “It’s late. Try and get some sleep.”
I’m not sure I’ll sleep in his arms because I’m too afraid he’ll leave. But I’m curious as to why he’s attracted to me. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, ending my private thoughts. “I mean I’m six months pregnant with a huge tummy. I don’t get how I, um, arouse you.” Thank God he can’t see my face right now because I can feel the heat lighting up my cheeks.
“The first thing I noticed about you was your hair as you walked down the corridor in front of me, and I’m not going to lie, I totally checked you out.” I hear the amusement in his voice. “I noticed the sway of your hips as you walked and your shapely legs, and then when you turned, I noticed your swollen belly seconds before your wedding ring. I felt a stab of disappointment when I saw your ring.”
“And then I told you the truth in the elevator.” I sigh.
“You did and I’ve been obsessed with you since . . . I’m not going to lie Sirena, since a failed engagement, many years ago, I’ve always kept my distance from anyone who has commitment written all over them.” He chuckles against my ear. “You don’t get a sign as big as this one,” he caresses my stomach, “but I find myself unable to move away from you. I have this need to take care of you.”
I cover his hand on my belly, and feel my baby kick out against his hand. My fingers intertwine with his as I yawn, but I’m desperate to stay awake and talk. “Tell me why you had a failed engagement . . . if you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind. It was a long time ago.” He rests his cheek against my head. “I was young and in love, except it turned out that my dear fiancée was in love with my bank balance more than me.”
“Oh.” I squeeze his hand, trying to provide some kind of comfort.
“As time went on I realized that I didn’t really love her and that I’d just gotten caught up in the moment. I’m not a monk, Sirena, but over the years I’ve been selective, and there hasn’t really been that many. I spend more time working than anything else . . . and when I should be concentrating all my time and energy into the completion of my new hotel, all I can think about is you.” He chuckles.
My heart swells with longing because he’s occupied enough of my thoughts since our first meeting and feeling him wrapped around me . . . “It feels natural.”
“Yes, it does,” he whispers, understanding my confession. “Please try and sleep now. We can talk more tomorrow.”
“Sweet dreams, Garrett.” I bring his hand up to my mouth and press a kiss to the back of his palm.
He sighs and the warmth from him lulls me to sleep even though his erection throbs against my bottom.
7