“Our lives don’t work that way, Jennifer. You know this.”
Shaking her head, she backed away from him. “I need to get some air.” She opened the door leading out into the garden. Jennifer heard his footsteps as he followed her. She continued on until she stood inside the gazebo. This was where they’d first kissed.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She turned and stared back at the house. “I never expected anything that night. We were talking, and then you were kissing me.”
“One thing led to another, and we’re standing here waiting for whatever to happen next. I get it, Jennifer.”
“You don’t get it. If you got it, you wouldn’t be trying to announce to the world we’re engaged. We’re not engaged.”
“I know.”
“How do you know? I don’t get it, Patrick. We agreed we’d give this a try. Announcing an engagement that may never happen is a little extreme.”
He stood in front of her, one of his hands banding around her waist as the other cupped her cheek.
“Stop talking,” he said. His lips brushed across her making her close her eyes. “Everything I’m suggesting is for you. The engagement is to protect you. I’ve not long come out of a court battle about paternity of a child, Jennifer. I would hate for others to think that’s how I feel about you.”
Licking her lips, she stared at him. Her heart jumped inside her chest at his closeness.
“I can’t think when you do that,” she said.
“When I do what?” he asked, pressing closer to her.
“You know what.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her body flush against his. “We can announce an engagement if you want to. I’d hate for you to feel forced into anything.”
He brushed the hair off her shoulder. “What’s your favourite colour?” he asked.
“What?”
“Mine’s blue. What’s your favourite colour?”
“Purple. What music do you like?” He leaned closer as she asked her question.
“Jazz music. You?”
“I don’t have a favourite.”
Patrick pulled her away from the edge of the gazebo. He started to slowly move with her in his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re having our first dance away from prying eyes and the constant questions.”
She rested her head against his chest relishing the feel of his hands around her. “There’s no music.”
“We have birds chirping away, and the water falling over there is enough music to dance to.”
“Is your favourite ice cream chocolate?” he asked. His chin rested on top of her hair.
“No. I like strawberry. Yours?”
“Vanilla. See, we’re getting to know each other. How do you take your coffee?”
She smiled. “I used to take it with milk and no sugar. Now, I can’t stand the stuff.”
“I like mine black with three sugars.”
“You’ve got a sweet tooth?”
“You should know. There is nothing sweeter to taste than you.”
She felt the blush fill her entire body at his words. “You’ve got a smart mouth.”
“I know how to use mine.”
“So do I,” she said. She heard him gasp, which made her feel powerful.
****
Patrick loved the feel of her in his arms. He never wanted to let her go. Her head rested on his chest, and he stared down at her. With her eyes closed she looked peaceful. He hadn’t been lying about the engagement. Everything he did was intended to make her time go easy. Last night while she’d been sleeping he’d ordered some books on childbirth and pregnancy. He wanted to help her any way he could.
The thought of being a father filled him with so much pride. Out of all the women who’d entered and exited his life, Jennifer had been the only one he’d remembered. Her expressive, kind eyes drew him in. Most women looked at him and saw his money, his bank balance, rather than the man beneath the surface.
Jennifer saw beyond the fake persona he portrayed to the rest of the world. That night at the party, he’d seen it inside her the moment she turned to face him.
“What are you thinking?” Jennifer asked.
“I’m thinking about you and what happened here on the night we first met. That was the night we first met?”
She laughed. “Yes. We’d never crossed paths before then.”
He hadn’t thought so.
“We’ll get through this, Jennifer.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
Holding onto her tightly, he danced with her close. Running his hands down her back he felt his need for her start to grow in his cock. Whenever she was near he always wanted her. His pants tightened over his thickening shaft.
He became aware of her breasts against his chest and her soft womanly curves next to him. Patrick felt the arousal inside him begin to intensify. She rubbed her body against his, and a moan escaped her lips.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“You can feel what you do to me, Jennifer.”
She stared up the length of his body. Taking her hand within his, he pressed her palm over his crotch.
“I want to fuck you.”
“We’ve never made it to a bed, Patrick. Last night we fell asleep. What if we’re only compatible because we’ve never been in a bed?” she asked.
He needed to get her to a flat surface and soon. His need for her refused to go away. Every time he was near her, his body went into full fuck alert. Patrick rubbed his cock against her palm.
“A bed is easily sorted. This,” he pressed his cock to her hand, “is not, Jennifer. I need you, baby.”
“I need you, too.” Her hand went from being stiff against him to touching his and caressing his dick.
Taking her by the hand he led the way back inside the house. Patrick took her up the stairs and through to his bedroom. She went with him willingly. There was no force or argument. The moment they were inside the bedroom he turned to her.
“Strip,” he said.
“What?”
“I want you naked in my bed. I’ve never felt your naked skin against me.” He pulled his shirt up and over his head. “I want to rectify that problem now. You’re not leaving this bed, Miss Dixon, until I know every inch of your glorious body.”
She began to work her clothes off as he did the same. He pulled her to him the instant she was naked. Her body was a dream. She wasn’t completely showing her pregnancy even though her stomach had a nice, rounded bump. Pressing his palm to her stomach he kissed her deeply.