‘Finn,’ she said weakly.
‘Mmm?’
He tugged at the little lacy thong, sliding it down over her thighs, and laid his hand softly on the dark fuzz of hair which concealed the very core of her femininity. He felt her jerk with pleasure. Wanted to give her yet more pleasure.
He knelt in front of her as if in homage, then dipped his tongue to delve into her honeyed warmth. She clutched his head to her, catching sight of their reflected image in the mirror. The sight of it turned her on even more. It seemed outrageously provocative to see her naked, pregnant body and the dark-haired man working such magic with his mouth.
‘I’d better get horizontal,’ she groaned. ‘Before I fall over.’
He lifted his head and saw the smoky look in her eyes. ‘Yeah. I think you’d better.’
He carried her, protesting, but only half-heartedly.
‘Finn, stop it—I’m much too heavy these days.’
‘But I like it. I like carrying you.’
‘I’d noticed!’
‘And you’re still light enough not to trouble me.’
‘You’re a very strong man, Finn Delaney,’ she sighed.
‘I know I am,’ he teased.
But he felt as weak as a pussycat as he tore his clothes off and lost himself in the warmth of her embrace.
He kissed her long and hard, smoothing his hand reverentially over her belly, and was just about to move it along, down to the inviting softness of her thighs, when she shook her head.
‘Wait,’ she whispered.
‘I don’t think I can—’
‘Your baby, Finn. He’s going to kick.’
‘How can you tell?’
‘I just can—ouch!’
Finn felt the hefty swipe of a small heel as it connected with the flat of his hand, and he stared down into Catherine’s eyes, more shaken than he would have imagined.
‘You think it’s a boy?’ he questioned thickly.
‘I think
so.’
‘How?’
‘I don’t know…I just… Oh, Finn!’
‘Do you like that?’
He wasn’t feeling the baby any more. ‘Mmm.’ She slipped her hand down luxuriously, to capture the silken-steel of him, exultant to feel him shudder helplessly beneath her caress. ‘Do you like that?’
‘It’s not me I’m thinking of right now—I don’t want to hurt you, Catherine.’
For a moment she closed her eyes. If only he knew that the only way he was going to hurt her was by leaving her. And this is only going to make it harder, whispered the voice of reason. You should stop it right now.