Evenings, however, was something else. They put everything away and shared a relaxing meal of whatever Fern made, then walked along the beach and made love, whether on the beach or back in the house.
He was an unpredictable lover. Some nights he was ravenous for her, others lazy and slow. But no matter his mood, he was always careful not to be too rough with her and to be thorough enough that she couldn’t even think straight from pleasure.
The pregnancy was changing Amandine’s reaction to Gavin’s touches. Her breasts were heavier and more sensitive, while her womb seemed to have expanded already, although she wasn’t showing yet, making Gavin feel bigger and fuller inside her.
“It’s worrisome,” she remarked when she could speak again after a particularly strong orgasm.
Gavin traced a gentle curve along her breasts and stomach with a long-stemmed plumeria. “What is?”
“I seem to have grown smaller.” When he looked at her inquiringly, she added, “Down there.”
“Oh. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. You still feel incredible.”
She chuckled. “I wasn’t worried about that. I was thinking about the delivery.”
He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her scent. “Don’t worry,” he whispered in her ear as he teased her nipples.
Every tweak sent streaks of electricity throughout her body, all the way to the tips of her toes. Her breathing grew uneven; heat pooled between her legs again.
“I’ll make sure you have the best medical care in the world. You and the baby are going to be fine.”
He kissed her softly at first, then deeply, hungrily, as though they hadn’t just made love only moments before.
She pulled his tongue, sucked on it. The more he wanted her, the more she wanted him back. Was it the same for him? Were they fueling each other?
His hand slipped between them, and he groaned. “God, you’re so wet.”
“And you’re so hard,” she whispered, feeling his thick erection pressing against her.
She spread her legs eagerly in welcome; he pushed in gently and smoothly, helped by her desire-slick heat.
The lines of his face grew sharper and starker as he moved. The muscles in his shoulders flexed, sweat beading on his taut skin. “Amandine…Amandine, my sweet.”
Her name was a mantra on his lips as he took them both to the pinnacle. She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders as she convulsed around him, her teeth cutting into her lower lip.
With a shudder, he emptied into her, his mouth pressed against her bare neck. His hot breaths fanned her pulse. “My sweet, my sweet. Mine.”
She stroked his head, tunneling her fingers into his thick, soft hair. At moments like this, nothing could stop her from feeling desired. Almost loved.
Chapter Fifteen
ONE EARLY MORNING while Amandine slept, Gavin tapped a few keys on his laptop and studied the spreadsheet that came up. Unbelievably enough, not only was his firm still functioning, it was making a great deal of profit. He had to give credit to Pete. The kid was doing a bang-up job. Maybe Gavin had underestimated his brother-in-law’s initiative and hunger. It was clear that Pete should be given more responsibilities.
Gavin leaned back, experiencing a vague sense of discontent mingled with relief. Not that he was unhappy that the firm could run without him, but he felt vaguely…superfluous.
His phone rang. Ethan.
“Where are you?” Ethan asked.
“Our place in Thailand. Why?”
“Because you aren’t at the firm. Hilary emailed me you were out of the office indefinitely when she got my package. I thought you got hit by a truck or something.”
Gavin snorted.
“Don’t ever worry me like that again.”
“I do occasionally take a vacation here and there, you know.”