Chapter Ten

Adam was pulling on his trainers when his phone rang. Hoping it was the returned call he’d been waiting for, he jumped to his feet and almost fell over his laces in his rush to grab up the phone. ‘Nicole?’ he said, seizing on it before his voicemail picked up.

‘Yes, hi, Adam. Sorry I didn’t get back. Phil has been tied up running a training course abroad and I needed to talk to him properly before I spoke to you.’

Adam pulled in a tight breath. ‘And?’

Nicole paused before answering, causing a trickle of apprehension to run the length of his spine. ‘You can see her tomorrow,’ she finally said.

Yes! Adam allowed himself to breathe out.

‘But a short visit only, Adam,’ Nicole reminded him. ‘Lily’s shy of strangers, so we need to take things slowly. We’ll see how it goes from there, yes?’

The ‘stranger’ comment hit home. Adam swallowed back a mixture of guilt and trepidation. Now it was actually going to happen he was suddenly more nervous about meeting this particular little lady than he’d ever been about meeting any other female in his life. ‘Yes, no problem,’ he assured Nicole.

Lily-Grace’s interests were paramount here. They simply had to be. However it worked out, Adam had made a promise to himself: he would keep in touch. If it went badly, maybe he could try again when she was older. When she could understand a little more and learn to accept him. Hopefully, even to like him. ‘Should I bring anything?’ he asked, wondering what on earth a man did bring a two-year-old child.

‘Just yourself. Twelve o’clock, if that’s okay with you. That gives me a chance to get some shopping before I pick her up from Mum’s,’ Nicole said over a timely yawn, reminding Adam she’d probably just got back from her shift. She was still nursing, then. It couldn’t have been easy for her, taking on Lily-Grace with her own two children already at school. But then, in the absence of any other available parent, she’d had no choice. Adam’s guilt multiplied threefold.

‘Twelve it is.’ He nodded, determined to try to do this right.

Nicole yawned again. ‘See you tomorrow, then. Oh, and Adam, make sure to be on time. She’s got an appointment with the nurse in the afternoon. Just routine, but she’ll need to have her lunch.’

‘I will be,’ he promised. ‘Thanks, Nicole.’

‘Like I say, don’t thank me yet. She’s a handful, Adam. Let’s just play it by ear.’

Adam rang off and flicked to his photos. ‘Nice to be meeting you, Lily-Grace,’ he said, his mouth curving into a smile. How would she look now, he wondered again, and made a mental note to ask Nicole to send him some new photos. He should have done that before, too. Despairing of himself, of the time he’d wasted, going nowhere and doing absolutely nothing with his life, Adam smiled at his now almost constant ghostly companion, whose sorrow he sensed definitely wasn’t so heavy. Time he stopped looking for reasons not to and started making something of himself, he decided, bending to tie his laces good and tight.

He’d made sure to warm up this morning, got some quad, calf and hamstring stretches in, giving Nathaniel cause to poke his head suspiciously out of his office door. His curiosity had obviously been piqued by the unnatural ebb and flow of the boat. Adam was only grateful he’d let him stay onboard. He needed to be out of the cottage but the prospect of a hotel room even for one night … Apart from the fact that he couldn’t afford one, Adam doubted he’d have been able to face staying in a soulless hotel room on his own. It was way too stark a reminder.

Forcing back the inevitable image his mind conjured up, Emily, so still, so cold, Adam sucked in a breath, plucked up his bottle of water, and headed quickly for the door. He needed to be out running, not thinking.

Despite the dreams – the hallucinations, he supposed that’s what they were – he was definitely feeling better. That was probably more to do with having Sienna in his life than the short time he’d been off the booze – though he wasn’t sure she was, or even wanted to be. Also Nicole returning his call might mean he’d have another person he cared about in his life. Was he being over-optimistic, he wondered? Possibly, but it felt a bloody sight better than being pessimistic.

‘All right?’ Nathaniel called across the marina as Adam leapt his handrail to the bank.

‘Yep, good,’ Adam called jauntily back. ‘You?’

‘Astonished,’ Nathaniel answered, looking him over, perplexed. Understandably, Adam conceded. It wasn’t often he emerged hangover free this early in the morning. ‘Are you off running?’

‘Thought I might now I’m dressed for it. Fancy joining me?’

‘Do I look as if I need to?’ Nathaniel indicated his physique with a sweep of his hand.

Adam laughed, noting the slight but definite paunch his friend was sucking in. ‘Erm, from this angle, truthfully, yes.’

‘Cheers.’ Nathaniel waved him on. ‘Don’t fall down any potholes, will you.’

Adam gave him a cheery wave back and set off at an even jog, running at a comfortable pace for two minutes at a time, then walking for two minutes times five. He thought that was sensible for the first week.

Not too disastrously breathless after his fifth sprint, he took a drink from his bottle, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his vest, and slowed his last two-minute walk right down, which should bring his heart rate back to resting level. As long as his mind didn’t wander in a certain other direction, that was. He could swear his pulse kicked up a notch every time he thought about Sienna. He still couldn’t believe the conversation they’d had, that he’d actually recounted details of his not-very-savoury first casual encounter after Emily. Why Sienna hadn’t recoiled in horror, he had no idea. Instead, she’d encouraged him, somehow making him feel safe to admit things he’d never imagined telling to anyone. She really was an enigma, sexual, sensual, innocent, shrewd, caring, kind; beautiful, inside and out. He’d be mad not to be in love with her. Adam smiled as he realised how easy it was becoming to admit that, too.

He wished Nathaniel hadn’t turned up at the crucial moment last night, checking up on him. He’d been a heartbeat away from pressing his lips against hers, possibly more terrified of kissing a woman than he’d ever felt; scared that she might pull away. Would she have? She’d have been wise to. She should have nothing to do with a waster like him, but Adam sensed that for some unfathomable reason, she wanted to. And, as much as he’d tried to tell himself he didn’t want to go there, didn’t need love and commitment and all the heartbreak that went with it, he knew now that he did want to, very much.

He wanted Sienna, in his bed, in his heart, in his life.

He wanted to hold her in his arms. Talk to her, lie with her; dream with her. He wanted to make love with her, and this time he wanted to do it right.

She’d said it was beautiful. He’d taken her virginity, treated her abysmally afterwards, and still she’d said it was beautiful. It had been. She was. Amazingly beautiful with her wild hair splayed against that pillow, her eyes holding his, smoky with sated desire. The way she called out his name …

Dammit. Seeing Sherry’s car parked outside the cottage, Adam stopped short. He’d aimed to collect his stuff but no way was he going in there while Sherry was around. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold his temper if she started bad-mouthing Sienna again.

She was probably about to put his stuff on the doorstep anyway, now whatever it was they’d been doing together was over. It should never have started, any of it, using women and then emotionally abusing them just as surely as their husbands were. What the bloody hell had he been thinking?

Had he abused Emily? Neglected her feelings in some way before the arguments had started? His mind drifted back to a place he didn’t usually dare let it dwell. He didn’t think so. He’d never been aware she’d been so unhappy that she’d want to seek affection elsewhere, with his own brother, who really didn’t give a damn about the women he bedded, just like the old man. Adam had tried to be like them, once his mother had left, to be one of the lads. He just didn’t get it, though, especially once he’d met Emily. Booze, women, booze, women and more booze, it just didn’t appeal. He’d done all right since though, hadn’t he? The old man would be proud.

Why? Adam asked himself the same question he’d asked himself a million times as he headed back the way he’d come. Why his brother? Yes, she’d been drinking, more once they’d started to argue, but had she been that drunk? Had Darren coerced Emily in some way? Had she been in love with him? He’d never know, would he? As hard as Adam tried not to think about it, his mind had played it over and over, searching for answers. Waking in the dead of night when the nightmares came, he searched. Sensing the emotions of the presence he either imagined or genuinely encountered, he searched.

He never found them.

What he had come to realise, though, was that he’d been running ever since. He’d run away on that godforsaken day, and he’d kept on running because he was truly scared he might meet someone he loved as much as he had Emily – and his love would never be enough. He’d put his cards on the table ever since, been honest with women, or so he’d kidded himself, making it clear he didn’t do commitment. He’d told himself he’d been ensuring the woman’s feelings didn’t get hurt. He’d been lying. It was his own feelings he’d been protecting. And now he wanted out. He had no clue what the future might hold, but he didn’t want to live like this anymore, every conversation he had with a woman peppered with sexual innuendo; every relationship nothing but physical. Whatever happened, he would be more grateful to Sienna than she could ever know for helping to open his eyes to that fact.

‘Are you decent?’ Sienna shouted down from the deck of Adam’s boat.

‘Er, yep,’ Adam shouted up. ‘Come on in, Sienna.’

‘How did the run go this morning?’ Sienna came down his cabin steps and then, ‘Oops, sorry,’ she said, averting her eyes and twirling around as she realised Adam was dressed in only a towel.

‘Erm, Sienna,’ he said, so close to her ear it sent goosebumps the entire length of her spine, ‘I realise it might not have been the most thrilling sight ever, but you have seen it all before, you know?’

‘It was,’ Sienna said, whirling back around to see his delicious, dark eyes filled with uncertainty. He was self-conscious? Adam-the-super-stud? Sienna was momentarily speechless.

‘Glad to hear it,’ Adam said, his gaze drifting towards his torso. ‘My ego was on a serious downslide there for a second.’

But his body, despite the scar, was the sexiest thing Sienna had ever laid eyes on. Did he really not realise what women were lusting after? She couldn’t quite believe it. ‘You have a gorgeous body,’ she assured him, helping herself to a leisurely perusal of it. ‘It’s just a pity it has to keep flaunting itself in front of every passing female.’

‘I’m trying to restrain it.’ He smiled embarrassedly and turned to reach for his shorts. ‘So what can I do for you?’

‘I, um …’ Whew, Sienna felt a definite hot flush, high up and lower down, as he whipped off his towel and tugged the shorts on ‘… wondered if you’d like to come over to my place?’

‘Sorry?’ Adam turned back, a curious look in his eye now as he plucked his shirt from the seating area.

‘Later. For a drink, maybe? A soft drink, obviously, as you’re, um, you know. And a bite to eat, possibly? That’s if you’re free, of course. No pressure. I haven’t got anything special in or, um, anything …’ Sienna trailed hopelessly off, her tongue tying itself in an inarticulate knot.

‘Oh, right.’ He looked a little uncertain, causing Sienna’s heart to go into crestfallen free fall. ‘I’d love to,’ he said, still not looking overly enthusiastic, ‘but won’t Lauren mind?’

Thank God for that. Sienna’s heart started its laborious ascent back up her chest, one of many it had undertaken since she’d first set eyes on him. She’d thought he was about to say he’d got other, more interesting plans. ‘She’s out,’ she assured him, ‘nightclubbing with her new boyfriend, so …’

‘Great,’ Adam said, looking relieved. ‘Death by killer look is a painful one, I’m told.’

So is death by electrodes, Sienna thought but didn’t volunteer. ‘So, you’ll come?’

‘I’d like nothing better,’ he said, his mouth curving into a lovely warm smile. It suited him, it really did. He should do that more often. ‘Do I have to dress?’

‘Um …’ Sienna eyed his still bare chest. No, she thought, absolutely not, ever. ‘Casual’s fine,’ she said, scooting around and heading for the door before she drooled on his toes.

‘What time do you want me?’ Adam asked.

All the time. ‘Sevenish,’ Sienna said shrilly, trying not to trip up the steps. ‘I’ll give you a guided tour of my interior. I mean …’ Oh God.

‘Can’t wait.’ She heard Adam chuckle softly behind her.

Making sure Tobias was watered and fed and comfortably tucked up in his bed in the kitchen, Sienna checked the general ambience and decided the lighting still wasn’t right. Growing more nervous by the minute, she flicked off the lamp in the lounge, and then clicked it back on again. They were just going to be talking, she reminded herself. She’d invited Adam over for a social get together, that was all. So she could hopefully get to know more about him, which might have been better relationship protocol than offering him her not-very-inviting virginal self on a plate before they’d even had a proper conversation.

If she was going to establish whether he might really be interested in her, mind and body, she had to stop compromising him – which she blatantly had – and have some kind of dialogue with him. Blowing out a tea light on the coffee table, she headed for the hall in search of her ringing mobile, her mind completely ignoring her will to resist and conjuring images of Adam doing terrible things to her with his tongue, as she answered it without first checking the number as she usually did.

Shoot! ‘Hi, Dad.’ Sienna blanched and blushed in turn. ‘Yes, yes, I’m fine,’ she said, attempting to moderate her tone to something other than choking.

‘So, how’s the script coming along?’ her father asked, probably imagining she’d written something equivalent to Gone With The Wind at the very least, inspired by her new surroundings – requisite inspiring surroundings her reasons for renting the cottage, she’d told him.

‘Um, yes, good,’ Sienna assured him, fancying that disclosing the actual inspiration behind her latest efforts might not be a terribly good idea. ‘How’s the training going? Five miles? Fabulous! Well done you.’

Her father continued to bombard her with questions. ‘Huh, huh, absolutely. Five a day,’ Sienna dutifully answered him, but when the conversation hinted at heading towards her love life: ‘Got to go, Dad. I’m expecting a friend.’ At which point, thank goodness, the doorbell rang right on cue.

Still on the phone, Sienna opened the door and gestured Adam on in. ‘Yes, a girlfriend.’ She gave him a smile and carried on talking to her dad. ‘She’s just arrived.’

Adam furrowed his brow and glanced back over his shoulder.

‘Byee! Good luck with the training tomorrow. Speak soon.’ Sienna ended the call and rolled her eyes. ‘My dad,’ she explained as she led the way to the kitchen. Bad enough that she’d been caught unawares by her dad but it would have been even worse if the caller had been her increasingly bothersome ex.

‘Ah, I see,’ Adam said. ‘I think. Training?’ he asked as Tobias bounded up to greet him, clearly thinking his hero was worth getting out of bed for.

Sienna smiled as Adam gently discouraged the dog from jumping up on his creaky hips, crouching down to his level instead to give him a good fuss.

‘He runs,’ Sienna said as, duly stroked and patted, Tobias went back in search of his creature comforts. ‘He’s training for the London Marathon in aid of mental health awareness. You two would have a lot in common.’

‘Wow.’ Adam looked impressed. ‘He must be pretty fit, then?’

‘He’s a former Physical Education instructor,’ Sienna said, turning to the cooker to check the Bolognese sauce.

‘Sounds like a formidable man to cross.’ Adam furrowed his brow, looking the tiniest bit concerned.

‘No, not really.’ Sienna smiled. It was true, her dad was a man’s man, tall and fit for his age, but he was actually as much a puppy as Tobias was, most of the time. ‘He’s lovely,’ she assured him, ‘despite outward formidable appearances. He took up running after Mum died. I think it was his way of coping, you know, focussing his energies – on his running, his career, his daughter’s virtue.’

‘Rrrright,’ Adam said, dragging his hand over his neck, now looking very concerned.

‘Oops.’ Sienna chewed on her lip, and then laughed out loud as Adam gulped demonstratively. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you stole mine,’ she said, pouring them both a lemonade. ‘I’ll tell him I gave it to you.’

‘Erm, I actually can’t see that making him want to kill me any less, Sienna,’ Adam pointed out as she passed him his glass. ‘So, er, how fast can he run, exactly?’

‘Fast,’ Sienna said, and then laughed again, as Adam made a great show of loosening his T-shirt collar.

‘I think I’d better up my jog to a sprint.’ He frowned worriedly, his mouth curving into a slow smile nevertheless. ‘You do that beautifully, you know?’ he said, scanning her face.

‘What?’ Sienna asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.

‘Laugh,’ he said softly. ‘It lights up your eyes.’

His eyes were locked on hers, dark and searching, that same hungry desire she’d seen there once before. Sienna looked away. He was burning a hole in her soul, he really was – and superheating other parts of her.

‘Shall we, um …?’ She nodded towards the lounge and stepped past him to lead the way there, brushing his bare arm with hers as she did, which shot a sizzling fission of heat right through her.

‘So, what happened with your mum?’ Adam asked as he followed her. ‘If you don’t mind me asking.’

Sienna shrugged. She didn’t mind him asking. She did mind that her answer might make her seem needy, though. She was, of course. Wasn’t everyone who’d lost someone too soon? But no more so than he, she supposed, albeit in a different way. ‘She committed suicide,’ she said as matter-of-factly as she could, turning away to rearrange a cushion lest she see a ‘Holy crap, I’d better get out of here’ look in his eyes. Sienna had seen that look before. Sadly, some people just weren’t comfortable dealing with such an emotive issue, so she didn’t generally share it.

‘She was bipolar,’ she went on, focussing on the rearranged, and rearranged again, cushion when Adam didn’t speak. ‘It’s an awful illness, little understood. I don’t think you can understand it really, unless you live with it. More awful for the person suffering, though. I don’t think Mum understood it.’

She paused, remembering with crystal clear clarity the look of bewilderment in her mum’s eyes, the disillusionment – with herself – that she’d slipped back into her dark place, not even knowing why. Nothing triggered it. Her mum would always be at great pains to tell Sienna that she was never the cause of it. Nothing in particular ever was. That’s why it was such a terribly cruel affliction, taking a sunny, caring person and draining the happiness out of her, leaving only dark thoughts and desolation.

‘She was fabulous when she was on a high,’ she continued quickly, catching a lump in her throat, ‘upbeat, bubbly, fun, the life and soul of the party, but when she was down … She was always consumed with guilt, mostly because she didn’t know why she was down. Maybe if they’d ever managed to get the medication right …’

Sienna swallowed and chatted on, wanting to just get it out there and hoping Adam wasn’t already contemplating his escape route, possibly thinking he might have to handle her with kid gloves.

‘Dad found her. He blamed himself, I think, because he hadn’t realised how desperate she was to just be “normal”. That’s why he decided to study psych—’

Catching a movement behind her, Sienna stopped and turned around, to see Adam not so much sit down on the sofa, as drop down, like a stone. ‘Adam, are you okay?’ she asked, stepping towards him.

A faraway look in his eyes, he didn’t even seem to see her. ‘Adam?’

Adam shook his head. ‘What?’

He seemed utterly bewildered. ‘You look as if you’ve seen a ghost. Are you all right?’

‘I …’ Adam dragged his hands over his face and through his hair. ‘I did,’ he said quietly, looking back at her.

Sienna scanned his face. His complexion was ashen.

‘I, er … shit.’ Adam got to his feet, shaking his head again and tugging in a sharp breath. He looked back to Sienna, and then moved towards her to pull her wordlessly into his arms.

‘I am so, so sorry, Sienna,’ he murmured, holding her close. ‘That’s hard.’ He buried his face in her hair. ‘So fucking hard.’

Sienna heard his voice crack and felt a splinter pierce her heart. He knew. He knew how hard it was. Her mind strayed to his circumstances. His loss. She didn’t ask him. She didn’t know how, given the secrets Nathaniel had told her were just that, secret. ‘There’s more,’ Nathaniel had said. ‘Something Adam will blame himself for for the rest of his life.’ Sienna didn’t know what, but she had a sick feeling she was beginning to guess.

She let Adam hold her instead, pulling her impossibly closer, his arms tight around her. Sienna waited, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat next to her own, his hand weaving softly through her hair.

He eased back after a moment, bringing his hand around, under her chin, lifting her face to look directly at him. Slowly, he searched her eyes, the same smouldering intensity she’d seen once before darkening his own. There was something else there though, uncertainty, fear, longing.

Hesitantly he leaned towards her, tentatively seeking her mouth with his, parting her lips so softly, Sienna felt something beyond physical dissolve inside her. His kiss was slow, deep and passionate, his tongue finding hers, exploring her, tasting her. Sienna reciprocated, her tongue more demanding, more wanting than his, as he welcomed her eagerly into his mouth.

Stopping, out of necessity of breathing, he looked back into her eyes, and then pressed his forehead to hers. ‘I want you, Sienna,’ he said, his voice low and husky. On its own it sent a wave of white-hot desire right through her.

He looked back at her, relief flooding his beautiful features as Sienna nodded. You have me, she wanted to say, but stopped herself. Would he ever want all of her?

‘Excellent,’ he said quietly. He didn’t seem cocky; over-confident that she would have said yes. She would have, though, however he’d asked her.

Sienna closed her eyes, a thousand butterflies taking off inside her tummy as he cupped her face in his hands. Closing his mouth back over hers, his kiss was bolder this time, deeper, sensual, plunging his tongue into her as if he was making love to her mouth.

His hands were in her hair, gliding down her back, over her bottom, everywhere. Sienna caught a gasp in her throat, wove her own fingers through his hair. She wanted him too. Like nothing she’d ever felt before, she knew that Adam making love to her was the only thing that could satiate her burning need. Her body ached for him. Her breasts tingled in anticipation of him, as he trailed his lips down her neck, his hands now sliding the straps of her top urgently over her shoulders.

Sienna heard the low moan in his throat as he bent to suck a nipple into his mouth, circling with his tongue; savouring the taste of her so gently she was near to coming from that sensation alone. She was almost ready to fall over the precipice into sweet oblivion, when his teeth, nipping, softly biting, increased the sensation, and when he moved to take her other nipple into his mouth, she groaned out loud. Her tummy was melting, literally, she could feel it.

‘Adam,’ she groaned. Her voice, thick with need, was alien to her ears. She opened her eyes to look down at him. The sight of this man at her breast made her head swim and her muscles down below contract in need of him. A need that was taking her breath away.

Adam found her mouth again, his hand seeking her bottom under her shorts, gliding up over the restricting fabric, seeking her waistband. His breath was ragged, frustrated, as he fumbled with the button. ‘Dammit,’ he cursed. ‘Sorry,’ he added quickly, and then, pulling in a breath, he scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs, following Sienna’s guidance to her room.

Laying her down on her bed, he ran his hands over her body, freeing her first of her top, then, his scorching eyes holding hers, he made short work of the button. Crawling over her, he eased the shorts down. Sienna lifted her hips allowing him to remove them all the way, and then waited, watching in awe, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps, as he peeled off his shirt.

His body truly was heart-stoppingly beautiful, the scar on his chest where he’d fought for his woman somehow making it more so. Unzipping his shorts, his erection was just as full of promise as before. Sienna wanted him now. She wasn’t sure she could wait another second. Oh, but he was going to make her wait. And he was going to do terrible things to her while he did.

She could barely breathe as he climbed back on the bed, easing her legs open as he did. She watched, her chest tight with yearning as he bent to trail his mouth slowly along her inner thigh.

‘I’m rushing,’ he said. ‘Sorry,’ he repeated. ‘I need to … Want to make love to you.’

Sienna gasped out loud as he ran his tongue along the secret folds of her flesh, lapping at her, expertly circling her sensitive place, until her hips undulated beneath him. ‘Oh God, Adam, please …’ she eventually cried out. She didn’t know whether to scream stop or don’t stop. She wanted him so badly.

Adam didn’t stop. Intent on administering pleasure that would surely kill her, he eased his hands under her bottom and pressed his tongue deep into her, drawing it slowly in and out, nipping at her, pleasuring her – until she came so hard she screamed and convulsed beneath him.

‘Shhhh,’ he whispered, pressing his mouth urgently back over hers and inserting one finger inside her, then two, his thumb paying meticulous attention to her now hyper-sensitive spot as he did. ‘I want to make love to you,’ he repeated hoarsely. ‘Open your eyes, Sienna. I need to see you.’

‘Oh God.’ Sienna let out a long, throaty moan. He was making love to her. He was making love to her with his words. She loved him. She absolutely did. And if he couldn’t ever love her back, she’d still love him, for making her unashamed of her body and showing her how beautiful sex could be.

She opened her eyes, to see him watching her intently as he slid his fingers slowly in and out. She was so wet. So unbelievably wet.

‘You’re beautiful, Sienna,’ he said. ‘You should see. You should watch what your body can do to a man.’ He kissed her lips again tenderly, and then kissed his way down to her breasts, circling attentively again with his tongue. She stroked his hair, tugged his hair, entwined her fingers through it and yanked it hard.

She couldn’t watch. Couldn’t keep her eyes open. It was impossible. Her back arched and her tummy muscles contracted and melted again in sweet, exquisite ecstasy.

Adam brought his mouth back to hers. ‘I think we might be in trouble,’ he said as he peppered her face with kisses.

Sienna’s eyes sprang wide. ‘Why?’

‘Contraceptives,’ he whispered, holding her gaze. ‘I didn’t think that you … That we, er …’

‘Lauren’s room, next door, bedside cabinet, top drawer.’ Sienna nodded him there, her heart now physically swelling with love as she realised he hadn’t been ever ready, that he hadn’t assumed.

Adam was gone and back in seconds, it seemed. ‘Have I spoiled the moment?’ he asked worriedly, positioning himself back over her.

Sienna shook her head. Looking as impressively magnificent as he did, as concerned, how could he ever?

‘Beautiful,’ Adam said huskily, finding her mouth again with his. ‘I want to see you, Sienna. Don’t close your eyes. Let me see you.’

Sienna did as he asked, watching him, watching her as he pressed his erection against her, and then slid slowly all the way in, deep inside her.

‘Okay?’ he checked. She loved him for that, too.

She swallowed. ‘Perfect.’

Closing his own eyes briefly, Adam smiled, withdrawing from her and thrusting slowly into her again.

‘Do you like it like this?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’ She could barely draw breath as he plunged deeply again.

‘Faster?’

‘Yes.’ She squeezed her answer out, her excitement spiked by the sound of the husky urgency in his voice.

Stroking her hair from her face, he locked his eyes on hers and increased the pace, deep, sure strokes, plunging into her over and over. Sienna raised her hips to meet him, matching his tempo, pushing her tongue into his mouth, her fingernails finding his back.

This time he didn’t seem to mind. Weaving his hands through her hair, he kissed her hungrily back. ‘You’re so beautiful,’ he whispered, thrusting harder and deeper until she bucked beneath him, a guttural moan escaping her. ‘Tell me when, Sienna?’ he said, holding back. He was holding back, so he could …

‘Now!’ she cried, a tear escaping her eye as a white-hot spasm clenched her muscles around him, followed by another and another, as Adam groaned throatily and jolted inside her.

‘Unbelievable,’ he murmured, exhaling hard and sweeping his beautiful dark, concerned eyes over her face. ‘Okay?’ he asked.

Sienna nodded, too scared to speak. If she answered, what would he say? Glad to be of service, and then walk away?

He brushed her lips with his. ‘It was a bit rushed,’ he said, kissing her eyelashes. ‘Sorry, we’ll go a bit slower next time.’

Next time? Sienna blinked as he moved away from her. To climb off the bed and get dressed, she fully expected. But he didn’t. Instead, he excused himself to the bathroom, then came immediately back and settled back beside her.

‘Bed’s a bit small, isn’t it? Girl sized,’ he said after a moment, observing the edge, which he was perilously close to. ‘Roll over.’ He turned to face her.

Sienna blinked again, bemused.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to molest you.’ He smiled, his eyes roving suggestively over her body. ‘I’ll need at least five minutes.’

‘Five whole minutes?’ She widened her eyes in mock-horror.

‘Okay, four.’ He laughed. ‘Roll over on your side,’ he said, a definite twinkle now in his eye. ‘Tuck that gorgeous bottom into me. That should hurry things up a bit.’

‘You’re bad,’ Sienna scolded him, turning to nestle into him. Bliss, she thought, wanting to preserve these few precious moments forever. He’d be gone soon, she supposed, back to his rocking boat.

‘I know,’ Adam said, finding her ear beneath her mad mess of hair and brushing it with his lips, ‘but I am trying not to be.’

‘I thought we were spooning,’ Sienna said after a second, realising he was perched on his elbow, now studying her obviously really interesting ear.

‘We are. I, er …’ Adam settled back behind her, circling her waist and pulling her close. ‘I just wanted to dispel any illusions you might have, while we do.’

‘Oh.’ Sienna’s blissful contentment evaporated.

‘I am bad news, Sienna. You know that, right?’

Sienna nodded. Her voice seemed to have deserted her again.

‘So, if I asked you to do this officially. If I asked you to go out with me and you told me to get stuffed, I just wanted to say, I’d completely understand.’