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‘Yeah.’ She chuckled, way too forcibly. ‘I’m just a big goofy sook, that’s all.’
‘Yeah, weddings can be emotional, huh.’
‘Damn straight they can.’ She smiled at his agreeable expression.
They stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound the distant music and laughter from the reception. Jess wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension between them, but the words wouldn’t come.
Morgan beat her to it. ‘Would you like to come back inside and dance with me?’
She went to say no, then switched it up. ‘Yeah, why not.’
‘Come on then.’ He offered her the crook of his arm. ‘Let me lead the way.’
When they got back inside the hall, the lights had been dimmed and the polished floorboards gleamed beneath the spinning disco ball. All around the ceiling, draped fairy lights flickered and glimmered. By Morgan’s side, Jess felt the thunderous beating of her heart somehow blocking her sensible thoughts, and she swiftly felt like they were in another world, one where anything was achievable and mistakes were impossible. Where love prevailed and conquered.
Reaching the dance floor then relaxing into him, she felt as if everything around them faded away, leaving them in a ballroom of their very own. She liked how Morgan took the lead as he swayed her. She was wearing three-inch heels, but she still felt tiny next to him. And then, when the music slowed and he drew her that little bit closer, he made her feel ethereal, feminine, protected, wanted. The bits of her he was touching tingled: her hands, the lower arch of her back – her heart. Ignoring the little voice in her head warning her to be careful, she met his gaze, but he wasn’t giving much away. She was lost in all that was him, the floor seemed to sway beneath her gliding feet, and she abruptly felt as if she was freefalling. Her body hummed with satisfaction, but her heart was heavy with remorse, dragging her down, down, down. Her legs were suddenly weak and then reality slapped her hard in the chest. She couldn’t stay here, playing fantasy with Morgan. She had a life, and a beautiful daughter, back in Italy.
There was no way she’d ever be calling Silverton Shores home again.
No way at all.
But then the entire world hushed and stilled as his finger found the bottom of her chin, and he gently brought her teary gaze to his. Feathering his fingers across her cheek, he tucked some loose hair behind her ear. Her heart raced as she felt his warmth so close to her, his touch sending shivers down her spine. She wanted to lose herself in his arms, to forget everything else and just be with him. She wanted it so much, she felt herself teetering on the dangerous edge of him.
As if sensing the workings of her heart, he leant in closer, his breath warm on her skin, and whispered in her ear, ‘I got you, Jess.’
And in that moment, with those four words, he told her everything. How much he still loved her. How much he wanted to be with her. How much he missed her. She kept her gaze locked to his as his fingers trailed down her back, stopping in the curve. A quiver of need raced through her. She wanted this man. More than she’d ever wanted him before. Time hadn’t healed the gaping hole. Instead, it had lain dormant, waiting, hoping, longing for the moment he’d be able to slip back into his place in her heart. With only the slightest bit of hesitation, she rested her head against his chest as his arms came possessively, protectively, around her. Dizzy with longing, she breathed him in. He smelt of leather and spice, all naughty and nice.
She knew what she wanted, and she wanted him.
Morgan Savage had always been her weakness. The one and only man who knew how to make her body sing and her heart swell with love. No matter how hard she fought him off, she innately knew she couldn’t resist him. She imagined dragging him to some dark corner of the room and pushing him against the wall. She pictured kissing him with the hunger that had been building up inside her the past few weeks. And she longed for him to respond with equal passion, his hands roaming all over her body, exploring every curve and crevice with an expertise that only he possessed. For he knew her. All of her. He knew her strengths, her weaknesses, her dreams and her fears. If only he knew her secret. Would he embrace the truth? Would he forgive her for it? As she stopped swaying and looked up into his piercing blue eyes, she saw the same desire and longing mirrored back at her, with secrets of his own dancing among the shadows.
* * *
Morgan was sick and tired of being sensible. This woman drove him wild, in every way, and he wanted to be wild with her, now, and hopefully, forever.
‘Should we get out of here?’ His heart raced as he locked eyes with her and waited.
‘Mm-hmm.’ She almost purred her reply.
He didn’t need any more of an invitation to follow his ravenous need for her. Holding her hand, he led her off the dance floor, through the tables and towards where she’d left her coat and bag. Nerves flickered, but he ignored the warning sensation to bring this to a grinding halt. And as she gathered her things and they made their way outside, where the cool night air hit them, he smiled into it, because nothing and nobody was going to stop him making passionate love to the woman he loved with every inch of his being. Close to his side, he felt her shiver and instinctively wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in closer. She leant into him, taking comfort in his warmth as they strode away from the light and noise. They walked in an intimate silence, the only sound coming from their shoes crunching on the gravel driveway of the reception hall.
With quiet darkness enclosing them, he finally broke the silence. ‘My room, or yours?’
She smiled coyly at him, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. ‘Yours,’ she said, her voice low and sultry.
Then, together, they trampled any rules either of them had silently placed and snuck like thieves into the dead of night and towards his hotel room. Reaching it, he fumbled with the key card, his fingers shaking with nerves and anticipation. She leant against him, pressing her body close to his. He could feel the heat emanating from her skin, and it only made him more desperate to kiss and hold her. Finally, the lock clicked and he pushed the door open.
Jess followed him in, placed her diamanté-studded purse on the dresser, then provocatively glanced at him over her shoulder. Shedding his jacket, he ripped off his tie, tossing both to the side. He could be a very patient man when he needed, or wanted, to be. Now wasn’t one of those times. He didn’t want to stop to think things through like every other time they’d come so close. He didn’t need to come up with reasons why they shouldn’t do this. All he needed was her. Overcome with primal hunger, he wanted to feel and taste and fixate. He wanted Jessica Sabatini to know just how much he craved her, needed her, loved her. Closing the distance, he stopped inches from her and slowly slid the zipper of her soft, silky dress downwards, groaning with longing as it dropped to the floor.
He kissed the side of her delicate neck. ‘Are you sure about this, Jess?’
‘Yes …’ came her breathless response, urging him on.
As she followed his lead, he felt his control slipping. With every breathless moan, he gave more of himself to her. His hands roamed freely over her body, teasing, caressing, until he felt her begin to quake beneath him. He had to touch every bit of her sweet skin. Grasping the clasp of her lacy bra, he flicked it and it slipped off her. He glided his hands over the rounded fullness of her breasts as she turned to face him. Sliding his hands down the luscious curves of her, he paused at her waist, then her hips. She was exquisite and, for now, she was all his.
Dropping to his knees, he brought his lips to her sacred place, savouring her sweetness with tender licks, sucks and the gentlest of nibbles. She shuddered beneath his dancing tongue as he lingered, bringing her to the brink of euphoria. And he wanted, needed, ached to give her so much more. Before she had time to tumble into ecstasy, he stood, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was all he’d ever wanted. He knew she’d always held a piece of him, but now, after spending almost two amazing weeks with her, all of him belonged to her. Once again.
‘I need you,’ she whispered, as though reading his thoughts.
