He was not going to let his stupidity drive a wedge between them. And he damn sure wasn’t going to give her the chance to entrench herself and throw up barriers.
As far as he was concerned, this was war. He was a tactical expert. All he needed was a chance to make Marla see reason. To do that, he’d have to resort to drastic measures.
“Sorry about this, babe,” he said, right before he zapped her with a burst of energy.
THE sound of a dog barking outside and the bright light on her face roused Marla. With a groan, she rolled to her stomach and pulled the pillow over her head. She’d slept so well, the best sleep she’d had in weeks. She didn’t want to wake up yet . . .
wait
. What time was it?
What day was it?
Panic racing through her, she flipped over, looking for the clock. She stared around the room, confused and disoriented. Curtainless casement windows, dingy plaster walls . . . This wasn’t her bedroom. She saw her glasses on a scarred imitation-pine fiberboard nightstand, snatched them up and put them on.
Squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in, she took in the holes in the wall, the double bed with navy sheets. This was the house in Needville.
Damn him!
She rolled out of the bed, turned toward the doorway, and there he was. He leaned against the doorframe, dressed in faded jeans that molded every inch of his muscled thighs, and a black T-shirt stretched across that magnificent chest. His hair was loose, a silk blond curtain around the face of a god.
Her mouth went dry and her heart went into overdrive even as she planned his slow, painful death. “I’ve downgraded Adam from son of a bitch to jerk status. You’ve just been promoted to his former position,” she told him.
His azure gaze drifted over her like a caress. She realized she was in one of her nightshirts, the same one she’d worn in Dallas, as a matter of fact. “I’m sorry, babe. You left me no choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” She looked around the room for something to throw at him—besides herself. He was way too tempting, and she was weak where he was concerned. “We could have talked things out in Houston.”
“Tried that. You weren’t particularly cooperative.”
“I wasn’t trying to be uncooperative. I just wasn’t ready to talk to you yet, that’s all.” Her voice broke at the end. She felt those damn tears pooling in her eyes, wanted to stomp her feet and scream and give in to a hormone-driven tantrum. Being pregnant had definite disadvantages.
He was there in a flash of the speeding bullet routine, cradling her against him. “Hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry, baby. I didn’t do this to hurt you. Hell, I already did that in Dallas. I’m sorry. I just want a chance for us to work things out.”
The way he said “baby” and the tenderness in his touch practically had her melting. She had missed him so much. She had to forcibly hang on to what was left of her pride, to remind herself she wouldn’t accept his pity. But it was pretty darned hard to do that in close range to him, with all that sexual energy pulsing around them.
“Stop it, Luke.” She pushed away from him. “Do
not
touch me. If we talk—assuming I don’t kill you first—I want it with the kitchen table between us. No Sentinel/conductor energy affecting my brain.” She poked her finger against his chest and glared at him. “And no more zapping me, or all deals are off.”
He stepped back. “All right. Negotiations in the kitchen.”
Shaking her head, she went to the bathroom first, noting the absence of potential weapons. Grateful that her stomach was calm for now, she did her business and went to the kitchen.
Luke was just screwing the top onto the travel mug, which he offered to her. “Here you go.”
“Uh, I’m off the caffeine right now.”
“I know. I researched the latest medical information on pregnancy on the Internet last night. This is herbal tea, with peppermint to calm your stomach.”
Oh, that was so sweet.
She noted the top on the mug, looked over to the counter. The knives were gone. “I see you’re taking precautions against me becoming violent.”
“Seemed the safest course of action, all things considered.”
She repressed a smile. She was such a sucker for this guy. She turned toward the table and saw a package of saltines sitting there. She felt the tears again, pushed them back. She glanced at Luke. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Hey, if you have any special needs—hormonal or otherwise—during this blessed time, I’m here to serve.”
The look in his eyes, coupled with memories of their entwined bodies, sent a shockwave of heat through her. “And you think
I’m
a smart-ass,” she muttered, trying to ignore her stirring libido.
“I know you are.” He indicated a chair. “So let’s talk.”
They settled across the table from each other, like two negotiators on a business merger. It seemed strange after the intimacies they’d shared, but Marla wanted it that way.
Luke leaned forward, his expression turning serious. “So how are you doing? Is everything going okay with the pregnancy?”
His concern touched her. “I’m fine. The doctor said everything looks normal and is progressing well. The morning sickness isn’t unusual.” She allowed herself a moment of anticipation and said, “The baby is due January 6.”
Luke’s face practically glowed. “A New Year’s baby. That’s great.”
She drew a deep breath, cut to the heart of the matter. “I refuse to be an obligation to you.”
He sighed. “Marla, I know I told you I didn’t want a permanent relationship with anyone. But when you went away, I missed you like crazy. That’s why I came to Houston, because I wanted to see if there was some way we could make this work. I did that before I knew anything about the baby.”
“You really didn’t know?”
“No, I swear. Otherwise, I’d have come sooner.”
Hope bloomed inside her. She wanted to believe him, she really did, and he
had
looked genuinely shocked when he saw the pregnancy kit in her bathroom. But it was still hard to accept, knowing he’d never wanted any permanent relationships. And something else nagged at her.
Luke rose and came around the table. He pulled her chair back and tugged her up. She tried to sidestep him. “Hey! I said no touching.”
“Just hear me out here.” Framing her face with his hands, he stared down at her, his eyes warm and open. “I love you, Marla, and I want to marry you.”
His hand slid down to rest intimately over her abdomen. “I’m thrilled about the baby, and I swear I’ll do my best to be a good husband and father. But I would
not
be saying these things if I didn’t mean them.” He bent closer, his lips hovering over hers. “Say yes, babe. Marry me.”
Her heart was doing somersaults, and her body was thrumming from his nearness. But she had to be absolutely certain. She put a hand on his chest, pushed him back. “What’s Adam’s phone number?”
He looked utterly confused. “What?”
“I want to talk to Adam before I give you an answer.” He scowled. “What the hell does Adam have to do with anything?”
“Are you jealous?”
“No. Maybe.”
Oh, she liked that. “Just give me his number.”
Frowning, he unclipped his cell phone, flipped it open, and scrolled to an entry. “Here.”
She took the phone, jerked her head toward the back door. “Go outside while I talk to him.”
He started to argue then seemed to think better of it. Muttering under his breath, he strode to the door. As he went out, she saw Bryony tied up in the backyard. Man, she was so scattered, she’d forgotten about her dog. Luke had a way of doing that to her.
She punched the number and put the phone to her ear. “Yes Luke,” came Adam’s harsh voice.
“This is Marla.”
There was a brief pause then he said, “What have you done with Luke?” He actually sounded suspicious.
“What, you think I could do him in?”
“Knowing you and your sister, I think anything is possible. I assume you’re with Luke.”
“He’s outside right now. I have two questions for you.”
“What are they?”
“Did you tell Luke about the baby?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I did not. I would have eventually, but I was hoping you would do it. We really do respect our conductors and try to honor their needs and wishes whenever possible.”
She believed him, and her heart lightened. “All right. Next question: Is there anything in your code of honor or laws that requires a Sentinel to marry a conductor who gets pregnant?”
“Absolutely not. The One has given us the gift of free will, and we must honor the choices conductors and Sentinels make. Our code demands that we care for the conductor and the child, and that we ensure the child has a mentor and is trained as a Sentinel. That’s as far as it goes.”
A rush of relief swept through her. Maybe Luke really did love her. “Thank you, Adam.”
“I expect an invitation to the wedding.”
The call clicked off and she stared at the phone in shock. Adam was a scary guy, all right. She walked to the open back door, looked through the rotting screen. Luke was playing with Bryony, chasing the poodle around the yard, then letting Bry chase him. She was yipping and having a blast.
Marla’s heart melted. Here was a gorgeous man and an incredible lover who would protect her with his life, and who even played with her dog. He’d be a great father, too. And he loved her. What more could a girl want?
Luke looked her way, and their gazes locked. He rose from wrestling with Bry, taking a moment to put her back on the rope. Then he turned and started toward Marla, his gaze never wavering. For such a big man, he moved with surprising grace, his body fluid and powerful. Her heart resumed somersaults as he approached her.
He opened the screen door. From the look in his eyes, she felt certain he already knew her answer. He could read her too well, could sense her feelings, often before she even knew them. He leaned against the door frame. “So did you and Adam come to any earth-shattering decisions?”
Her body responded to his nearness, desire throbbing and pooling in all the usual hot spots. “Maybe. But I’m not through with the negotiations.”
His gaze became heated and predatory. He
really
could read her. She was going to have to work on that. “Is that so?” He moved closer, his body almost touching hers. “Anything I can do to help things along?”
She was already lost, in his heat and vitality, in the light, possessive skim of his hands over her hips. “I’ll let you know,” she murmured, stretching up until their lips were separated only by a few air molecules.
“I can hardly wait.” He leaned down and teased his mouth against hers.
She kissed him with all the love in her heart, sliding her fingers in his hair as her tongue mated with his. Still kissing, they stumbled into the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind them. They crashed against the table, and cups went flying.
Luke lifted her and sat her on the table. She opened her legs and he stepped between them, pressing her against his seriously hard lower body as he devoured her mouth. Reaching behind him, she grabbed hold of his very fine ass.
Finally breaking off the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged. “How am I doing?”
She caressed his rear. “Not bad.”
“Not bad?” he asked in male outrage. “Babe, I’ll show you
bad
.”
Just so long as he did it
very
soon. She glanced at the table. “You know, we’ve never done it in the kitchen.”
He laughed, low and sexy. “Sweetheart, you definitely have a kinky bent. And while I aim to please, I don’t think this table is up to what I have in mind.” He ran his hands under the nightshirt, stroking her thighs. “I think we need to continue the negotiations in the bedroom.”
She yanked up his T-shirt, ran her tongue over a nipple. “Okay.”
He laughed again, although his voice showed signs of strain. “You’re easy, you know that?”
“Ask me if I care,” she muttered as he swept her up and carried her to the bed. Then she didn’t think about anything else for a long, long time.
THEY were lying in a tangle of sheets, the sunlight glowing around them. Luke was propped next to Marla’s abdomen, where he’d been kissing and stroking her belly, and talking to the baby. Marla was sleepy and relaxed, but then three mind-blowing orgasms could do that to a girl.
She and Luke had teased and laughed and loved, but they hadn’t yet discussed any final decisions. He looked totally complacent right now; he was practically glowing with masculine smugness. Time to shake things up a bit.
She sat up and stretched. His appreciative gaze swept over her breasts. “The sex has been great,” she said casually, “but it doesn’t change anything.”
That
wiped the Cheshire cat grin off his face. His eyes narrowed, and she could practically see him going into warrior mode. He sat up, sweeping back his gorgeous mane of hair. “This isn’t just about sex,” he said. “You know that.”
“Not on your part, maybe.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She was definitely enjoying this. “It means that great sex isn’t going to influence my decision about you.”
“You love me, babe. You told me so in the hospital. I know you weren’t lying.” He gave her a calculating look. “As a matter of fact, I know you haven’t faked
anything
.”
Oh man, was it getting warm in here, or what? Must be the baby hormone thing again. “I might have changed my mind.”
His gaze went arctic. “Oh, yeah? Well, let me explain something. We have enough supplies in this house to sustain a year-long siege. We can just stay here until you un-change your mind.”
He really was cute when he was in full macho mode. “You want me to stop loving you?”
His brows drew together. “What?”
