Lucas hissed in a breath and fought for the legendary calm that seemed to have completely deserted him. When it came to this woman, he had no control. How could he have not noticed that before?
He was always in control. Always cool and composed. Distanced even, from the very women he slept with. There were barriers erected between him and the rest of the world.
But tonight was different.
She was different.
There was nothing he wouldn’t do to have Rose, Lucas thought. For the first time ever, his mind was taking a backseat to his body’s demands and he didn’t care. Didn’t want to think and could only be grateful for the complete shutdown of his coolly rational brain.
“Lucas…”
Her whispered plea slammed into him. He reached for their joining and stroked his thumb over the one nub of flesh he knew would make her the most crazed. She didn’t disappoint him. Instantly, she rocked on him, swiveling her h*ps as best she could to take him deeper, higher.
And still it wasn’t enough.
Shifting position, Lucas pulled free of her, drawing moans from both of them. Then he eased her legs off his shoulders, turned her over onto her stomach and lifted her hips.
Moving to accommodate what he was doing, Rose went up on all fours and in an instant, Lucas entered her body again, seating himself as deeply as he could. His hands on her behind, he squeezed and stroked while she moved into him, gasping for every breath.
He slid one hand down and around to cup one of her br**sts, tugging at her nipple as he continued to move inside her. Faster, harder, deeper, he pushed them both beyond the edge of reason and into a world where the only hope either of them had was another crushing release.
Moonlight caressed her skin and silvered her hair. The cool sheets beneath them and the chill of the air in the room added even more sensation to what passed between them. And when he felt her cl**ax stir, Lucas let himself go. This time when they made that leap, they made it together.
A few minutes later, Lucas was lying against the bank of pillows with Rose still spooned in front of him. He hadn’t been able to separate himself from her yet. The heat of her drew him in and it was something he was in no hurry to give up. Breath churning from his lungs, he fought to get his brain back. He’d never experienced anything like this before. Rose was the first woman in his life that had emptied his mind and fired his body so that nothing else had mattered.
He could hardly believe what had happened. He hadn’t been able to dredge up coherent thought beyond admitting to himself that she was so much more than he had originally thought. His natural restraint had dissolved. His rational self had taken a vacation, leaving his body in charge—and he hardly knew what to think about that. Hell, he’d never lost himself in a woman like that before. Sighing, he kissed her shoulder and reluctantly parted them. And—
A sudden, staggering realization punched him hard. How could he have not noticed? Been so careless?
Looking down at the woman cuddled into him he said, “Rose, tell me you’re on the pill.”
“What?” She sighed, rolled over and nestled her head more comfortably on his chest then licked her lips.
That brief sweep of her tongue sent another jolt of desire through him and he had to fight to ignore it.
“The pill, Rose,” he repeated as she shifted lazily to turn her gaze up to his.
Her hair was a cloud of silvery blond, framing her face and lying across her pale, beautiful skin, making her look like some pagan goddess. And, despite the raging unease inside him, his body instantly went like stone again. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to be repeating his stupendous lack of control.
“What did you say?” She stroked her palm up his chest and around to his back and the brush of her fingertips against his skin felt like match flames.
He hissed in a breath, caught her wandering hand in his and growled, “Rose, the damn condom broke. Tell me you’re on the pill.”
That got her attention. She went absolutely still and her eyes widened. His stomach sank. He saw the flash of shock that became worry in her eyes, and he knew they were in trouble.
“Oh, God…” She pulled her hand free of his grip and covered her mouth with it.
Lucas sighed and briefly dropped one arm across his eyes as if he could shut out the whole image of what had just happened. He couldn’t believe this.
“How did it…never mind.”
“I don’t know how the hell it broke, either,” he muttered. “It’s never happened to me before.” He got out of bed, stalked to the bathroom to take care of the mess, then headed back to the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, he pulled her into his side and looked down at her. “Look, it’s too late for this conversation, but you should know I’m healthy.”
“Me, too,” she assured him, though he hadn’t for a second considered she might not be.
Not the sweet and pure Rose.
Irritation warred with the dregs of the passion he was still feeling. Even now, when he was reeling with the possibilities facing him, Lucas could admit to himself that his desire for her hadn’t been quenched. Not even close. Which said exactly what about him?
She pushed her hair out of her face and reached for the edge of the duvet, dragging it up over her br**sts as if somehow by draping herself in armor she could undo what they had already done.
“Is there a chance?” He actually winced at what had to be the dumbest question he’d ever uttered. Of course there was a chance she would get pregnant. He’d been stupid. Thoughtless. Allowed himself to be carried away by his body’s demands at the expense of his damn brain.
“Forget it,” he said quickly. “Stupid question. I know there’s a chance.”
“It’s the wrong time of the month,” she told him, “but that’s no guarantee….” A moment later, she groaned and added, “I can’t believe it broke.”
His teeth clenched hard enough to snap his jaw, but he still managed to say, “My fault.”
“Oh, please.”
Not the reaction he’d expected. When he looked at her closely he was even more surprised by the irritated expression she was aiming at him.
“We’re both grown-ups, Lucas. We were both here. We both wanted this and neither one of us handmade a faulty condom, so please don’t treat me like a child and take all the blame for this.”
“That’s not how I meant it,” he muttered. Women were damned confusing at times, he told himself. You don’t take responsibility, they’re pissed. You do take it and they’re pissed anyway.