He stared at her for a few seconds and saw genuine distress written all over her face and realized it for what it was – fear. He was doing something unprecedented. He belonged to an all-white club and had fallen in love with a black woman who was also an employee.
He was from a long line of wealth dating back a hundred years. The reality hit him; it also occurred to him that his parents would have a problem with her. His father might admire her tremendously for the work she does at the company, but there was a chance he would reject her as a part of the family.
But he did not care. He loved her and would fight tooth and nail to ensure their stay together.
“Say something, dammit.”
A smile curved his lips. “You swear too much.” He told her softly, fingers caressing her cheek and moving to her full bottom lip. “That’s going to have to stop. I will not have my wife behaving like a sailor.”
“You- “The rest of the words were smothered inside his mouth as he crushed her lips with his.
Chapter 6
“This is insane.”
Reginald was enjoying himself immensely. Stacking his hands behind his head, he barely managed to stop the indulgent smile curving his lips as he watched the woman he loved pace the length of the area from the head of the bed to the foot.
He had worn them both out last night and had to admit to being greedy. But never in his life had he felt such an intense need for someone who could not be satisfied. After making love to her for the third time, they had fallen into an exhausted slumber.
She had called her aunt and told her she would spend the night with a friend. Now, they were up this morning. She had yanked a drawer open and removed a white T-shirt she had dragged on. He had to admit that he loved the way it looked on her.
“Are you going to say anything?” Stopping in the middle of the room, she glared at him.
His warm, tawny-gold eyes wandered appreciatively over her body, lingering on the nipples clearly defined against the material.
“Come back to bed,” he said softly. “We could call and order breakfast and spend the entire time making love.”
He bit back a smile at the frustration on her exquisite features. Her thick dark brown hair was tumbling in artful disarray around her face, and sleep marks were on her left cheek. She had fallen asleep in his arms, and he held her against his body in case she tried to sneak out while sleeping.
“I am going home.” She gathered her things together when he leaped off the bed and snagged her elbow.
“Let go of me.”
“No,” he told her, all humor fleeing.
“I am not doing this.”
“It’s already done, and I will not allow you to.“ He stopped at the fury igniting her features.
“Dammit, Jacinth. I told you I am in love with you.”
“Oh. You are in love with me. What the hell am I worried about? Reginald Tanner is in love with me. Then, all is right with the world. Just let me go.”
“No.” Turning her around to face him, he clamped his hands on her arms. “You cannot say you don’t feel something for me.”
“What I feel is good old-fashioned lust.” Her eyes flashed. “After all, you are pretty good at what you do, right? You have been with too many women to count, and you were…“ Stopping mid-sentence, she stared at him.
“What is it?”
“You are with someone.” Closing her eyes briefly, she took a deep breath. “You are involved, and we just – I – Oh God!”
“Stop it.” He shook her lightly. “I have not been intimate with Jayne since returning home.”
Jacinth felt her heart leap with hope, which she quickly squashed. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” She demanded.
“It’s supposed to assure you how serious I am.”
“Reginald-“ The sound of his name on her lips did uneasy things to him and quickened his heart.
“You must see that this is crazy. We are not suited. Two weeks ago, we were at each other’s throats. I hated you, and you despised me.”
“Which should have told us that it inevitably led to us getting here.” His hands gripped her arms. “The passion between us was so intense right from the beginning. And last night and this morning prove that we belong together.”
“Is that what your parents are going to think? Your Dad!” She cried, trying to push away from him. “He is going to fire me.”
“For what?” He shook her again. “Have you done something wrong?”
“Yes!” She shouted. “We had sex, and I was- Oh God!” A fresh worry thundered through her head. “We had sex without using anything. How could we be so reckless?”
“I don’t care.”
“Of course you don’t.” She snapped. “You are rich and white and can get away with almost anything. If I am knocked up, I am going to lose my job, and – what am I going to do?”
“You are going to calm down and listen to me.” He told her firmly. “I love you, and you will be my wife. I don’t care what I must do to make that happen, but it will.” His hands moved up her arms to her shoulders, expression incredibly tender. “I want children by you. One, possibly two, and I want them to look like you.”
“You are- “
“Hush. I am not finished.” He almost grinned at the blaze of anger in her eyes. “I would like them to have your spirit and your independence. I would also like you to know that this is not going away. I am not going away; if you are thinking of avoiding me, think again. I would also like us to spend the break together. I will tell my parents about us and be introduced to your aunt during that period.”
“And I would like a house in the Hamptons,” she said huskily, trying not to react to his words.
“We happen to have a house in the Hamptons.” He grinned at her.
“Of course you do. Look- “
“No.”
“What?”
“You are not putting up any more resistance or making any more excuses. I love you, and I am sure you love me too.”
“I don’t love you.”
“Liar.” Hauling her up against him, he quickly pulled the shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor.
“I am hungry,” She tried one last time to get him to let her go.
“So am I. Starving, actually.” Deliberately misinterpreting her meaning, he rotated his hips, allowing her to feel his swollen arousal.
“For food!” She gasped, the body already arching toward him.