Silently they stared at each other, each dangerously close to tears.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. He hooked his thumbs under the straps of her nightgown and pulled it down over her breasts and lower until it bunched around her hips. He noticed the changes in her breasts brought on by motherhood and marveled at them. Her waist was still trim. He encircled it with his hands, his thumbs caressing her navel. Then he lowered his head and laid it on her stomach. His hair tickled, but she didn’t move. She ran her fingers through the unruly waves.
“My baby,” he whispered, and kissed her abdomen with an emotion deeper than passion.
“I love you, Jared,” she vowed.
He raised his eyes to hers and smiled ruefully. “You said that to me months ago, and I more or less ignored it.” His voice became gruff. “I’m listening now.”
“Then come to me.”
He seemed surprised. “You’re sure? Duncan and Vandiver in the cave…”
“Was something else entirely. I want you.”
He rose and undressed quickly. When he was settled under the blankets, he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. His hands traveled over her body, reacquainting themselves with the curves and textures he had missed for so long.
While still capable of rational thought, Lauren placed a cautious hand on the thick mat of hair covering his chest. “Jared, will it hurt the baby? Should we wait—”
“There’s no way. No way,” he said as he pressed her down deeper into the pillows, trying to capture her evasive lips.
“Jared,” she said with more emphasis.
Patiently he raised his head and sighed. “Didn’t I tell you once before that I would never do anything to hurt you? Would I lie about something as important as my own baby?”
She smiled teasingly. “Forgive me for thinking that at this moment your judgment might be somewhat clouded.”
Her hands locked behind his neck as his mouth melded with hers. Her fingers moved over his back and ended up stroking his shoulders as he lowered himself to fondle and kiss her breasts.
“You taste so good,” he murmured as his tongue flicked over her aroused nipples. “Our baby is going to be the fattest one around.” He stayed at her breasts to tell her of his loneliness of the past few weeks. “I wanted you so badly, Lauren. But I had to stay away from you for your own protection.” He raised his head and she saw the sincerity in his eyes. “Tell me you know that.”
In answer, she took him in her hand and guided him to the gate of her womanhood. Bathing the pulsating tip with the moistness of her own loins, she led him further into the welcoming folds of her body.
He stretched himself along her length, covering her completely. “Hold me tight, Jared,” she breathed.
“Entrap me, Lauren. Surround me.”
The sweeping tide of loving was carrying them away when she heard the soft, husky cry which was most precious to her. “Lauren, thank you for loving me.”
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes a gripping story of family ties and forbidden attraction.
Please see the next page for an exciting preview of
Friction
Prologue
The two stalwart highway patrolmen guarding the barricade stared at her without registering any emotion, but because of the media blitz of the past few days, she knew they recognized her and that, in spite of their implacable demeanor, they were curious to know why Judge Holly Spencer was angling to get closer to the scene of a bloodbath.
“… bullet hole to the chest…”
“… ligature marks on his wrists and ankles…”
“… half in, half out of the water…”
“… carnage…”
Those were the phrases that Sergeant Lester had used to describe the scene beyond the barricade, although he’d told her he was sparing her the “gruesome details.” He’d also ordered her to clear out, go home, that she shouldn’t be here, that there was nothing she could do. Then he’d ducked beneath the barricade, got into his sedan, and backed it into a three-point turn that pointed him to the crime scene.