‘I told you, remember? I don’t need you to decide for me what I want or don’t want.’ It had hurt when he’d revealed his feelings only to push her away. Her chin jutted higher.
Slowly he smiled and Poppy’s heart cracked, flooding her with warmth.
‘I remember.’ With one step he was so close she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. Her knees parted so he stood between them.
‘I don’t understand how you could still love me—’ He raised his hand when she would have spoken. ‘I can’t believe you forgive me for being so blind. But I’m grateful.’ He brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He was trembling as badly as she. ‘I love you so much, Poppy.’
For one, long, glorious moment the world stood still as their gazes meshed. Poppy could swear she heard his heart beat with hers.
Then he cupped her breast and her eyes rolled back in pleasure and relief. It had been too long.
‘Sex and marriage and working together. I can manage that.’ Orsino dipped his head and nuzzled the sweet spot at the junction of her neck and shoulder. Poppy gasped as pleasure shot through her. She reached for him, was fumbling his belt undone, when he spoke again.
‘Is that all?’
‘No.’ She dragged her eyes open and leaned away from his mouth. ‘I want you to call your father.’
He stiffened, straightening to stare down at her.
‘Just call him and find out why he wanted you to work for the family company.’
‘Why?’ There was no anger in Orsino’s gaze, just curiosity.
‘Because family is important.’ Poppy thought of her mother and the bond they’d shared and her voice strengthened. ‘I’m not saying he’s perfect or even admirable. But there’s a chance his offer was a sign he’d like to build bridges. Maybe he realised what he’s missed out on all these years, being estranged.’ Orsino deserved that chance that had been so long denied.
‘One phone call,’ he stipulated.
She nodded, her heart swelling that Orsino would consider this for her. ‘Yes.’
Abruptly Orsino pushed her back till she lay across the polished table. Excitement rippled through her as he loomed over her and she read the dark intent in his eyes.
‘Is that all?’
‘One more thing.’ She gasped as he bit her earlobe and liquid heat pooled in her belly.
‘You drive a hard bargain, Mrs Chatsfield.’
Poppy’s heart thudded. Mrs Chatsfield. She liked that.
His hand slid up beneath her skirt, stopping when it reached bare skin at the top of her stocking.
‘Witch!’
Orsino’s mouth plundered hers and the world spun. Happiness filled her. So much happiness she thought she might burst.
‘What is it, this last thing?’ He lifted his head and Poppy saw adoration in his eyes. She blinked hard.
‘Poppy? My love, it’s all right. I’ll make it okay. What is it you want? Come on, it can’t be that bad.’
‘Not bad at all.’ She cupped his beloved face in her hands. ‘I want you to spend a little more time in England so we could start trying for a family.’
The slow grin that spread across his face was the most wonderful thing she’d ever seen.
‘I love a woman who knows what she wants.’ He flexed his hand against her breast and she bit down on a moan. ‘You know, I’ve been thinking of pulling back a little on the more dangerous expeditions now there’s so much administrative work. Making a family with you would be a whole new adventure.’
Her throat closed so the words wouldn’t come. Instead she pulled him close and kissed him with all the love and happiness welling inside. Hope and forgiveness passed between them, binding them together.
Poppy slid her hands across his jaw, revelling in the strength and masculine roughness of his bristled chin.
Orsino’s hand slipped higher beneath her skirt then stalled as it encountered nothing but bare skin and soft femininity. His head reared back and his eyes widened.
His voice was strangled. ‘You’re a dangerous woman, Poppy. More dangerous than any mountain I could climb. You might just kill me yet.’
But there was satisfaction on his face as his hand explored. Poppy bucked beneath his touch as he unerringly found her most sensitive spot.
She grabbed his zipper. ‘But I intend for us to live together for a long, long time.’
‘Our very own happy-ever-after?’ The look in his eyes would have melted the frozen arctic. ‘I love you, Poppy, more than life itself. If that’s what you want, I’ll do my very best to deliver.’
Then he sealed the promise with a kiss that obliterated all the pain of the past and foreshadowed everything she wanted for the future.