by Diana Palmer
Molly trembled all over when he lifted his face and their eyes clung. Sensing she was his for the taking, Worth cradled her face between his palms and tilted her head toward him. “I need you so much,” he said in a low, shaky voice.
She believed him because she felt the same hot need blazing inside her. That summer with him had been the happiest of her life and it had given her the gift of a lifetime—her son. Despite knowing what she knew now, and what she’d been through these past few weeks, she would let him make love to her, even if it put her soul in jeopardy.
He bent to kiss her, and her lips parted to the wet thrust of his tongue as it plunged deeply into her moist cavity. She clutched at him while his hands wandered over her body. It was after she felt a slight chill that she realized he had removed her gown, leaving her naked before him.
Without taking his eyes off her, he stood and removed his clothes, giving her the exquisite luxury of perusing his nakedness. So as to make room for him on the bed, Molly scooted over, and he lay beside her, drawing her to him—flesh against flesh.
His hands circled her back, drawing her close against him, the surge of his manhood waging war against her lower stomach. “You are still the loveliest creature on earth,” he told her huskily before his mouth returned to hers with feverish urgency.
She rejoiced in the feel of his lips tangling with hers, especially after he sucked on her tongue, further deepening and lengthening the kiss. Only after they couldn’t breathe any longer did he come up for air.
His eyes were glazed with passion, he reached for her leg and swung it over his hip, giving him access to her most sensitive place that he instantly covered with the palm of his hand, then inserted a finger into its warmth.
“Ohh,” Molly cried, bouncing her buttocks up. It had been so long since she’d felt this emotion, this high, that only his touch could bring her. Not only did she want his fingers to work their magic, she wanted him inside her, pounding her until she was spent.
And satisfied.
Realizing she was ready for him, she heard his breathing quicken at the same time the burgeoning thickness of his erection tangled in the curls at the entrance to her moist core.
Then it hit her that neither were protected. She drew back.
“Molly?” he asked in a guttural tone. “Please …”
“We … you don’t have any protection.”
“It’s okay,” he ground out. “I promise.”
“If you say so,” she responded in a frantic tone, revealing how much she wanted him whether he spoke the truth or not. Besides, getting pregnant twice, accidentally, with the same man, was not about to happen, whether it was the right time of the month or not. Fate had to be on her side this time.
She didn’t want to think about that now. She only wanted to think about how it would feel to have his hard flesh invade her softness. With only that in mind, Molly reached down, clutched his erection and guided its big, velvet-smooth tip into her aching flesh.
“Oh, my, Molly,” he groaned, shoving himself into the heart of her.
She couldn’t help but gasp, having forgotten how big he was. Still, her muscles contracted around him; and because she was so ecstatic he was inside her, she framed his face with her hands, bringing his eager lips to hers, where they clung.
She had thought this one last invasion into her flesh would be enough to last her for the rest of her life. She knew better now. When he began to move, and his breathing grew hoarse and labored, she realized she wanted more.
She wanted him forever.
Because that couldn’t be, when she felt him empty in her, and she climaxed like never before, she buried her face against his chest so tightly it took her breath.
“Oh, Molly,” he cried, shuddering in the aftermath of that awesome coupling. “My Molly.”
After it was over, he kissed her all over her face. With him still inside her, he brushed her lips with his, then they both closed their eyes.
And slept.
Seventeen
Molly awoke with a start, especially when she felt her leg entwined with a hard, hairy one. Outwardly, she remained immobile, but inside her was a mass of quivering nerves.
Worth.
Had they made hot, torrid love all night? Surely not. Surely it was only the middle of the night, or earlier. That was why he was still with her. She stole a glance at the clock; it told an entirely different story. It was almost six o’clock. Suddenly she felt like a giant hand was squeezing the life out of her heart.
She could be pregnant. Again. Although last night, when they had briefly discussed the fact that no protection was in the offing, he had told her not to worry, and she hadn’t. That was because she’d been in the throes of passion and nothing had mattered except feeling Worth inside her.
But with the dawn came reality and with reality came fear. Yet she didn’t want to think about those emotions, especially with Worth’s warm body still wrapped around her like a blanket.
Yet she had no choice.
“Worth,” she whispered, nudging him awake.
His eyes popped open, and she realized that for a second he, too, was disoriented. Then it apparently hit him where he was; the muted groan against her neck told her that.
“No,” she said in a desperate tone.
He paid her no mind, continuing to nuzzle and lick.
Oh, dear Lord, Molly thought, feeling her body weaken then ache for him to make love to her again. But she couldn’t allow that, not with Trent having jumped to the forefront of her mind.
“Stop it,” she whispered again, this time with more force.
Worth pulled back, confusion mirrored in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nearly six.”
“In the morning?”
“Yes.”
“So?” he muttered, still making no effort to dislodge himself.
“You have to go.”
“Why? It’s my house.” Propping himself on his elbow, Worth leaned over and gave her a raw, devouring kiss.
When he pulled his lips off hers, she was as breathless and rattled as she’d ever been. Damn him. He refused to play fair, having stirred her body back to life.
“I loved making love to you,” he said in a lazy tone.
Her gaze was intense. “Me, too.”
“It was even better than I remembered.”
His eyes had turned into banked down coals of fire as she felt him harden against her leg. Somehow she had to get him out of this room, but first she had to know what he’d meant last night when he’d promised she wouldn’t get pregnant.
“Worth?”
“Mmm?”
He sounded like his mind was a million miles away, only it wasn’t. It was on getting himself inside her again, as he was busy urging her legs apart.
“Why are you so sure I couldn’t get pregnant?”
His body went stiff as a plank, and for the longest time he didn’t say anything. Then he got back up on his elbow and stared into her face, his features contorted. “Not long after you left I had an accident.”
A feeling of dread spread through her. But she didn’t say anything. It was up to him to tell her what he wanted her to know, not that it would make any difference, she assured herself. They were destined to live separate lives.
“A horse kicked me in the groin. Kicked the hell out of me, actually.”
She winced. “I’m so sorry.” And she was. Even though he had hurt her to the core, she didn’t wish him any ill will, not when it came to his health.
“Me, too,” he said, his tone bleak. “As a result, I probably can’t father a child.”
Molly almost freaked out, which made speaking, or anything else, impossible.
Only you do have a child, a precious son named Trent.
For the first time since the birth of their son, she yearned to share that news with Worth, to take away the pain she heard in his voice and read in his face.
Only she couldn’t.
For her own
self-preservation that was impossible, especially with his parents in the picture. However much they might despise her, if they knew she had their grandson, they would pull out all the stops to take him away from her. And they had the money and the power to do just that.
As for Worth, she had no idea how that would affect him. She suspected he would follow their lead. Hence, she had no choice but to keep her mouth shut and guard her secret more now than ever.
Which meant she needed to leave ASAP. Today wouldn’t be too soon. Knowing that wasn’t going to happen, she would be forced to sharpen her acting skills.
She refused to give up Trent or share him with the man who had broken her heart, who was well on his to way to doing it again.
Fool!
“Molly?” he asked in a sandpaper-like tone, placing his lips against her forehead.
“I’m not asleep, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Now you know why we can make love all we want to and don’t have to worry about it.”
She stared at him wide-eyed. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
It was obvious he picked up on the censure in her tone as he pulled his head back, not bothering to mask his confusion.
“This was our swan song, Worth,” she said with emphasis.
His jaw went rigid with fury. “So this was our goodbye nookie, huh?”
She knew that crude statement stemmed from the fury that rearranged his features. But she was furious, too, scooting away from him. “Please go,” she said in a terse tone.
He reached for her. “Molly, I didn’t mean that.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied in a dull voice. “This was a mistake and we both know it.”
He sighed, but didn’t argue, which cut her deeply again. It was then she wondered again how she could have ended up in such a position. But when it came to Worth, she had never used good judgment, and time and years apparently hadn’t changed that. But it didn’t sit well with her or make her proud of herself. On the contrary, it made her sick to her stomach.
Suddenly thoughts of Trent popped back into her mind.
He was usually a late sleeper. But since he was with her mother, she couldn’t make that call. If he were to simply wander back into their suite …
The repercussions of what would happen if he chose to do that this morning didn’t bear thinking about. As far as she knew the door was not locked.
Great.
“Worth.”
“I’m going, Molly. You’ve made it quite plain how you feel.”
The bitterness was so thick in his voice that for a second she felt sorry for him. Then she mentally kicked her backside for that thought. If it hadn’t been for him and his betrayal of her years ago, both their lives would’ve been different.
Now it was too late.
She would soon go her way and he his.
Jerked back to the moment at hand by him rolling out of bed, Molly found herself gawking at his backside, mainly his buttocks, which were firm and perfect—buttocks she had caressed at will.
When he swung around and stared down at her, she swallowed a labored gasp. Pain was evident in his eyes and face. Only she wasn’t looking at his features, God help her. Molly’s eyes feasted on the rest of his body, equally as perfect—the muscled arms and chest, the dark hairs—just the right amount—that covered his stomach, down to his fully aroused manhood.
Hot adrenaline rushed through Molly as that turgid flesh made her ache to reach out, and not only caress its big, smooth tip, but surround it with her mouth.
“God, Molly,” he whispered in an agonized voice. “If you don’t—”
Feeling a flush steal over her face, she quickly averted her gaze and said, “Please leave.”
He didn’t move immediately; he was too busy uttering harsh obscenities. Then moments passed, and she finally heard the door open and close. Only then did she grab the pillow, hug it close to her chest and let it absorb the tears that freely flowed.
Recriminations?
That soul-searching time had come. Surprisingly, though, she had no regrets. She refused to beat up on herself for letting her body overrule her mind, since she knew it would never happen again.
And for that she was as sad now as she had been the day five years ago she had walked out of his life.
Worth rode the horse until both were tuckered out. Although he hadn’t covered anywhere near all of his property, he had achieved his goal.
Riding had definitely tempered the anger that threatened to blow his insides to smithereens. Before Molly had come back to the ranch, he’d been at a crossroads in his life, trying to decide whether he wanted to be a full-time horse breeder or a full-time politician.
Now he was more mixed up and uncertain than ever before. He still wanted to breed horses, but without Olivia’s land it wouldn’t be on the scale he’d envisioned. And he wanted to run for office, though the fire in his belly still wasn’t there.
He was in one big mess.
He blamed Molly. From the moment she had walked in the door of his ranch house, she had screwed with his mind. After yesterday, it was more than his mind. She had screwed with his body. She’d screwed him. Not true, he told himself. What they had done had been more than simply screwing. They had made love in the truest sense of the word.
As a result, Worth didn’t know how in the hell he was going to keep his hands to himself now that he had gotten another taste of Molly’s sweet, succulent flesh.
What awesome, heady stuff. Not only had his body exploded, but his mind, as well. And he wanted more, dammit. But she had made it clear that wasn’t going to happen.
Soon she would be gone. That thought made him nudge the horse in the side and send him galloping once again. However, nothing worked to remove the thought, the smell, the feel of Molly from his mind. It was as if she’d been permanently implanted there.
If that were truly the case, then he was in big trouble. This time she would leave and never return. So what could he do about it? Ask her to stay, a little voice whispered, which would be the height of insanity. He couldn’t trust her. Hell, she’d run off once. What was to keep her from doing the same thing again?
Nothing.
That was why he couldn’t take a chance on exposing his heart and having it broken all over again. Ergo, he had to let her go. And get on with his life.
Some things he could change and some things he could not.
Molly happened to fit in the could not category.
“Trent,” Molly called from the porch, “it’s time to wash up for dinner.”
Her son didn’t answer right off as he was playing with a ball, pretending he was one of the Harlem Globetrotters, and seemed to be having the time of his life. Since it was near dusk, she didn’t like him outside alone, and Tammy had already gone home.
“Aw, Mommy, I wanna play a little longer.”
“Trent.”
“I’ll watch him.”
As always the sound of Worth’s unexpected voice never failed to slam-dunk her nervous system. Dammit, she wished he’d stop appearing out of nowhere.
“Oh, boy, Mommy! Can I stay with Worth?”
She wanted to yell no, but she didn’t. Again, why punish her child for her misdeeds? What difference would it make anyway? Their time was on the downhill slide, as her mother was getting better, and stronger, every day.
Their departure couldn’t come soon enough because she was beginning to take a trip down Guilt Lane, to beat up on herself, something she had promised she wouldn’t do. But Trent needed a father and she knew it.
All boys need a father.
Trent had one he would never know. Suddenly, that thought was overwhelmingly depressing, thinking how much Trent loved this ranch. Not only was she robbing him of his inheritance, she was depriving him of his father.
But if she told the truth, she would lose her son.
That couldn’t happen.
“Mommy!”
“All right, Trent. You can tag afte
r Worth until supper’s ready.”
With that she turned and went back into the house, hoping that decision wouldn’t come back to haunt her.
Thirty minutes later, Molly returned to the porch and only caught a glimpse of Worth. A frisson of uneasiness ran down her spine. “Worth,” she called.
He stopped in his tracks and swung around.
“Where’s Trent?”
He made his way closer to her, his features pinched. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Her voice had reached the shrill level.
“Hold on. I’m sure he’s okay. I turned my back for a second, and he was gone.”
Molly leapt off the porch and ran to Worth. “Where have you looked?” she demanded, trying to keep her panic at bay.
“Everywhere but the barn. That’s where I’m headed now.”
“Trent!” Molly yelled over and over. No answer.
By the time they reached their destination, Molly was beside herself; her mind had become her own worst enemy. And Worth. She could have gladly strangled him, but since that wasn’t possible, she kept her mouth shut, almost choking on her suppressed fury.
“I’m sorry, Molly,” he said, entering the shadows of the barn.
She merely flung him a go-to-hell look.
He blanched, but didn’t say anything back.
“Trent, are you here?”
“Mommy, Worth, look.”
Both pair of eyes shot up to the hayloft. Trent was standing near the edge of the loft that overlooked the cement below. Fear, like poison, spread through her as she stared at Worth. He, too, looked green around the gills, though when he spoke his voice was even and cool.
“Stay where you are, Trent. Don’t move.”
“Wanna watch me walk—”
“No!” Molly and Worth cried in unison.
The boy froze.
“I’m coming up to get you,” Worth said. “Meanwhile, stay right where you are, okay?”
“No, I’ll come down.”
“Trent, no!”
The boy paid no heed. He turned, then slipped, miraculously falling straight into Worth’s outstretched arms.
For a moment no one said a word. It was as though they were all paralyzed. Finally, Trent rallied and said, “Are you mad at me, Mommy?”
