A REASON FOR MARRIAGE

Simon allowed himself to chuckle softly at the doubtful expression on Sara’s face. “Do not look so worried, Sara; my only intention is to unzip the back of your gown, not to force some strange sexual practice on you.”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she glanced at him over the bareness of her shoulder once she had rolled slightly away from him. “Maybe force wouldn’t be necessary.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Simon drew in a sharp breath even as he bent down to slowly lower the zip at the back of her black gown. That breath stayed caught in his throat as he took in the creamy perfection of Sara’s long, naked spine, and revealing the top of a pair of silky black panties.

Simon clenched his hands into fists in an effort to stop himself from touching the creamy length of her bared flesh now so temptingly revealed to him, and a nerve pulsed in his jaw as she rolled over to face him once again, allowing him to lower the gown down over her breasts and the slenderness of her waist, curvaceous hips and long silky legs, before discarding it completely.

Those black silky panties were now the only item of clothing she wore-a perfect foil for the creamy naked swell of her breasts. Full and pert breasts, tipped with rose-coloured nipples, which were swelling, hardening, under the heated intensity of Simon’s gaze.

Sara was beautiful everywhere-so very beautiful-and in a way that made Simon ache just from looking at her, from breathing in the sensuous perfume of her skin.

“Simon?” Sara looked up at him uncertainly.

His nostrils flared as he breathed out deeply, before bending slightly so that he could pull the covers gently over her tempting nakedness.

Her eyes widened. “What are you doing…?”

Simon sat on the side of the bed, securing those bedcovers beneath her arms as he reached up and smoothed the silky hair back from her temples. “I would very much like to kiss you goodnight, if that is agreeable to you?”

“Goodnight…?”

Simon gave a gentle smile. “I believe you have already suffered enough excitement for one evening, don’t you?”

Sara would hardly call the time she had spent at Lincoln’s house earlier this evening exciting-nor the bursting dam of emotions that had followed it! Nor would she compare either of those things to the thrill of just imagining making love with Simon.

“I don’t understand.”

He gave a shake of his head, his eyes dark. “This evening was a less than happy one for you, and I believe it would be wrong of me to now take advantage of you. As such-”

“But I’m perfectly okay now,” she protested.

“You are not okay, Sara,” he insisted flatly, his fingers still lightly soothing against her brow.

But she was okay-more than okay, actually-so much so that she couldn’t even begin to describe the euphoria she felt at being free from the past.

“Perhaps you’re the one that’s changed your mind about wanting to go to bed with me after I made such an idiot of myself earlier this evening?”

“I have not changed my mind in the slightest in regard to wanting to make love with you, Sara,” he assured her. “But, as I have already stated, I would prefer not to take advantage of the fact you are feeling less than your usual feisty self.”

Sara looked up at him searchingly. The sincerity of the expression in his eyes and face was unmistakable. “Such gallantry isn’t doing a thing for your reputation as a womanizer, you know,” she teased huskily.

His expression hardened. “The thing to remember about reputations is that they are formed by people other than the person whose reputation is under discussion.”

Yes, they were. And the man Sara had heard of wouldn’t have shown a moment’s hesitation in taking ‘advantage’ of her. Which left Sara feeling more confused than ever in regard to the enigma that was Simon Hamilton. She gave a baffled shake of her head. “If you have no intention of making love with me then why did you undress me and put me in your bed?”

His expression softened again. “I believe, if we are to be exact, that I put you in my bed first and then undressed you. And I did so because you are emotionally exhausted and need to sleep.”

“I could have gone home and slept.”

“And tomorrow is another day…” Simon continued softly as if she hadn’t spoken at all.

Sara chuckled softly. “You’re supposed to be Rhett Butler, not Scarlet O’Hara!”

He shrugged those broad shoulders. “It is the sentiment which is important, no matter who says it.”

Yes, it was, and Simon’s thoughtfulness in not making love with her tonight had succeeded in throwing Sara’s emotions into even further turmoil. As well as making her ache for his touch!

“Where are you going to sleep?”

He shrugged. “There are three other bedrooms in the apartment that I can use.”

“And if I would rather you stayed here with me…?”

Simon drew in a ragged breath. “I would ask what I have done to deserve such torture!”

“You’ve been a perfect gentleman,” Sara assured him firmly. “And if I ever have a chance to bump into your Aunt Ann, I’ll be sure to tell her what a credit you are to her.”

“I am gratified to hear it,” he replied dryly. “And now I believe it is time for you to kiss me goodnight and then get some sleep,” he added huskily.

Sara was only too eager to kiss Simon goodnight, but at the same time she was totally unsure that sleep would be possible once she had.

“And then I am going to return to the sitting room to finish my glass of brandy before taking a very long, very cold shower!” he concluded

The grimness of his smile revealed the depth of self-control he was having to exert not to make love with her as his head lowered towards hers. Sara curled her arms up about his neck as their mouths met. She put every shred of emotion she was feeling at that moment into a long kiss. The fondness she felt for Simon. The desire. The aching yearning. Most of all the joy in at last being free of the past and able to feel all of those things… For

Simon wrenched away from Sara’s tantalizing lips, breathing hard as he gently but firmly pulled her arms slowly down his shoulders and chest. “Enough,” he breathed raggedly, shaking his head as Sara’s fingers lingered on the bareness of his chest.