The Billionaire's Beautiful Intruder (Billionaire Knights Book 3) (11 page)

A
s she lay
in the safety of Steve’s embrace, a sheen of sweat covering their bodies, Molly saw the rush of heat had brought a swath of color to his tanned cheeks, and he looked more feral and sexy than ever. Her heart ached at the thought that soon they would be together and yet still apart. They would work side by side but she would never be in his heart as his one true love, the way he was in hers. And as a silent tear stole from her eye, he dabbed at it with a fingertip, lifting his lips from her breast.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice husky.

She shook her head. How could she explain that what she really wanted was his heart? That having his lust was not sufficient, their physical union not enough to fulfill her. She simply needed more than he was able to give.

“It—it’s nothing,” she said instead. “Just… it’s so beautiful here on this island. So peaceful and so… healing.”

His gaze softened. “It’s healed me,” he said in his deep voice. “And that’s why I want to share it with others. Hoping it will do for them what it did for me.”

She placed her hand on his cheek. Her lovely man. The fact that he wanted to bring something good to the world made her love him even more, made her want him even more. She’d learned of his troubled childhood, his mother dying when he was a little boy, his father consequently going off the rails in a very public display of debauchery, and eventually marrying the kind of woman who could never be a mother to anyone. His father’s death had been hard on all three of the brothers, but mostly on Steve, the youngest. She didn’t know whether it had something to do with his desire to join the military, even though he had absolutely no obligation to, but she suspected that it had. To put his life on the line for his country, to fight an evil he could destroy while the evil that had destroyed his own family had left him powerless was enough motivation to sign up for three tours of duty.

And now out of the terror of his past something beautiful was emerging. Out of the terror of both their pasts, she thought, as she herself was joining forces with him to help bring balm to those whose lives had been destroyed.

He watched as the shadows chased one another across her face—her lovely face. The face of the woman he loved. He knew that now. No more prevarication. It was obvious that his heart had become involved. When and how he didn’t know, nor did he care when it concerned an emotion as primal and intangible as love. He simply knew that she was the one, the woman he’d never looked for, and had certainly never hoped to find, and yet he had. Only she was as far removed from him as ever, her heart belonging to another man.

She was touching the scar on his chin, and he frowned. But then he saw she was smiling, and she whispered, “That’s so incredibly sexy, did you know?”

He emitted a surprised grunt. “Sexy? Are you sure about that?”

“Like Harrison Ford,” she murmured, as she bent over and kissed the scar.

He intercepted her lips, and as their kiss deepened, their tongues hot and wet as they tangoed, she pushed him down, her hands on his wide chest, and slowly lowered herself over his erection. He groaned in delicious agony, and they rode the wave of pleasure together as they both were locked once again in their delicious dance of passion. Before long, they were thrown into an orgasm that came on the heels of the most powerfully affecting experience he’d ever had.

Their eyes locked, his hands cupping her breasts, his thrusts were met by her bucking hips as they moved to the ancient rhythm of their bodies until they were both drained and quickly sank into a deep sleep, bodies entangled and hearts pounding furiously with the release they’d given each other so selflessly.

When Molly awoke from her deep dreamless sleep, she became aware that outside the sun was still shining brightly, and briefly she wondered why she was sleeping in the middle of the day, which was definitely not her habit. But then she became aware of the large male body entangled with hers, resting soundly, and a smile lit up her features as she stroked her finger leisurely along his throat. He was her love, she thought, and kissed him tenderly, licking the sweat from his skin and relishing in the taste of him, his all-masculine taste and scent.

She gently disentangled herself and nimbly leaped from the bed and slipped into her jeans and shirt. Darting into the living room and then outside, she felt delighted when the sun stroked her skin, its warmth a loving caress.

Plucking a daisy from a patch of grass, she found herself retracing her steps to the stretch of beach beyond the promontory. And as she stood gazing down at the rushing waters below, she could just see in her mind’s eye the improvements Steve had talked about, the changes he was going to put in place.

It would be wonderful, she knew, and for the first time in a long time felt suddenly at peace. Perhaps Steve did love her? She’d seen the passion in his eyes, the longing and the lust… and the love? She daren’t hope, and yet she did.

She found herself wondering if or when these few brief moments snatched from fate would end and throw her back into her own humdrum existence—her loveless lonely life—when she suddenly became aware of a dark, black cloud shifting over the sun, and promptly plunging the world below into darkness.

And even as she glanced back at the house, a couple of hundred yards away, a sudden chill crept into her bones, and her skin erupted in goosebumps.

Without warning there was slash of lightning and she yelped when it was followed immediately by a crashing thunder. Then rain lashed down so hard and fast she was drenched within seconds. She whimpered in agony, and when she looked at the house found that it was gone! The curtain of rain was now so thick and impenetrable it was impossible to see more than a few feet in front of her.

She stumbled in the direction she thought the house was located, but then slipped on a slick patch, and she was tumbling down a steep incline, finally coming to rest against a small rock formation, her head thumping against the flinty edge, and then she was enveloped in darkness, and knew no more.

W
hen Steve woke
up and didn’t find Molly by his side, he was perturbed. And it was then that he noticed what had actually awakened him: the crashing of another autumn storm as it lashed the small island. The skies had suddenly turned pitch-black and the deluge that was coming down was so fierce and relentless that for a moment he feared it might wipe away the house.

But he knew his great-grandfather had used the very best materials and that the house was as solid as a rock, and could withstand the sometimes capricious clime that ruled the island. It had occurred to him that it might not be the best place to organize a site for recovering vets. That perhaps they’d much rather convalesce in the mellower clime of the Caribbean. But then he had his own experience to back up his decision. It was exactly the harsher climate that ruled these outcroppings that had enabled him to regain the mental and physical strength that had been so sorely lacking when he’d returned from the war.

He rose with a groan, and could still smell Molly’s scent on him. She was wrapped all around him, he recognized, not merely bodily but mentally and emotionally as well. She’d managed to crash his defenses and make her way into his heart. Yes, he admitted ruefully. Even though he’d been deceiving himself, telling himself that the only reason he wanted her here was because of her expertise, the truth was that he wanted her here because of her. Because of how he felt about her. He loved her, dammit. He’d fallen for her and now he couldn’t imagine his life without her, so he’d resorted to the dubious trick of forcing her into accepting her role by his side. If he couldn’t have her in his life as his wife, he could damn well have her as his business partner.

He glanced at the window, where the rain was now coming down so hard and heavy it was like a curtain obscuring all else. He strode to the living room, and was surprised to find it empty, and the door open. Where had she gone?

“Molly?” he called out. “Molly? Where are you?”

No response. Suddenly a sense of panic set in. She hadn’t gone out, had she? He knew these storms. They set on so suddenly and so violently you could well be on the other side of the island when they hit.

He quickly checked every room of the small house, and when he discovered her gone he raked his fingers through his dark mane. Where the hell was she?

M
olly had been lying there
for she didn’t know how long when she came to with a groan. The rain was still coming down relentlessly, pounding her face with its heavy drive, and when she tried to raise her head it hurt fiercely, a shooting pain lancing her. She’d fallen and hit her head against a rock. She tried to open her eyes, but she couldn’t see in which direction the house lay.

Oh, no, she thought forlornly. She’d survived a terrorist attack and now she was going to die out here from exposure, without even having confessed to Steve that she loved him. She’d lacked the courage to confide in him the true nature of her feelings—the real reason she’d initially declined his offer. And now it was too late. He would find her body here once the storm had spent its brutal force, and he’d mourn her death. Because she was a cherished contributor. Very quickly he would forget about her—the silly girl who’d gone out and got caught by surprise by the volatile weather in these parts.

And she was just about to close her eyes again, her body already too weak to rise, when she saw a shadow moving nearby. Instantly she feared for her life. Perhaps one of the wild animals from the forest beyond the plateau had ventured up, in search of prey? Her body shaking violently, she curled into a fetal position, and when the dark shadow moved closer, she awaited the painful bite of its fangs. She was drifting in and out of consciousness, the blood from the gash on her head mixing with the rain on her face. And then a familiar face swam before her disappearing vision. “Steve,” she murmured. “Oh, Steve…”

When she woke up again, she was in bed, and as her eyes fluttered open, she saw the hulking figure of Steve standing next to her. He was staring out through the window, a look of such anger on his face that she was momentarily afraid she’d done some terrible, terrible thing. But then she stirred and when he looked down at her his look morphed into one of compassion and solicitude.

“Molly?” he rumbled. “Molly, thank God. I thought I lost you.”

She shook her head and tried to smile, but she felt too weak. Then she muttered, “I’m such a nuisance to you, Steve. You keep having to save me.”

He laughed at that, then suddenly clasped her in his arms and held her close, rocking her gently. “Oh, Molly, Molly, thank God.”

“I just went for a little stroll,” she murmured.

“And were caught in the storm. I know. I should have warned you. Storms are treacherous in these parts, they roll in from the ocean and take you by surprise.”

He laid her back down and wiped the strands of hair from her brow. “You’re going to be fine,” he told her gently. “You have a slight fever but nothing to be worried about. And that cut on your head will heal. You don’t even need stitches.”

“Yes, Doctor Knight,” she said croakily.

He smiled. “Well, we did have some medical training in the army, you know. I might not be a trained nurse but I know enough to know you’ll be fine with a couple of days rest. Thank God I found you when I did. The exposure might have been the death of you if you’d stayed out there for even a few hours.”

She nodded, then coughed, frowning. “Steve… There’s something I need to tell you.”

She needed to tell him how she truly felt about him. Even if he didn’t feel the same, she felt compelled to reveal to him her true feelings. If he felt he couldn’t work with her because of that, then at least he would be making the right decision based on the right information.

But when she started to speak he pressed a finger to her lips, and softly said, “I have something to tell you as well, Molly. Seeing you like that made me aware of how fragile life is. There’s no sense in denying how I feel about you. You need to know the truth.”

Her stomach clenched. He was going to tell her he could no longer work with her. “Steve, it’s all right,” she told him brokenly. “You don’t have to keep me on your payroll. I know I’m not the kind of woman…” She swallowed against the painful knot in her throat. “I have fallen for you, Steve. I’ve gone and fallen in love with you.” She shook her head, her lashes fluttering down, fanning her face. She couldn’t bear to look at him. “I love you, Steve, and I understand that you could never love me back. You could never love a woman like me, who’s damaged beyond repair and who will never be able to bear you any children, any heirs. But I needed to tell you that… that this is the reason I felt I couldn’t accept your offer. Working with you every day, feeling the way I feel about you… It’s too much for me to bear. I—”

“That’s all right, Molly,” he told her quietly. “I’ve fallen in love myself.”

Pain lanced her so hard she feared her gentle heart might collapse from its lacerations. Still, she managed to ask, “Who is she?”

He’d taken her hand in his and was gently stroking the inside of her wrist, sending a thrill of delight through her, in spite of her heartbreak. “She’s a nurse and the most courageous, wonderful, beautiful and kind-hearted woman I’ve ever met. She dropped down on my island one day out of nowhere, uninvited and unbidden. And I was so hung up on my own stuff that I didn’t even recognize her for who she was: a gift from heaven, and the woman who took possession of my heart so swiftly I didn’t even realize it until it was almost too late, and she was lying brokenly against a rock.”

Desperate sobs were wracking her chest. “Steve, what are you saying?”

He looked at her earnestly. “I’m saying that I’ve fallen in love with you, Molly. That the only reason I wanted you on my project was so that I could be close to you. I’m saying that I thought you couldn’t possibly love me back, seeing as I’m damaged goods.”

She snuck her hand up his cheek and eyed him with wonder, her eyes swimming with tears. “Oh, Steve. I love you so much.”

He smiled, and his face lit up. “Molly Grayson, would you be my bride? Would you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”

Her eyes darkened. “But, Steve, I’m a broken woman. I’m not even a woman at all. I’m—I’m incapable of conceiving a child—your child. Your heir.” She shook her head. “I can’t let you—I can’t do that to you.”

He tilted her chin and gazed at her gently. “Molly, my love, I have enough nieces and nephews to stock an entire family tree, as Stu and Mike are producing heirs at an astonishing rate. And as for us, if you want we could adopt. Many children are in need of the kind of warm home that you can provide—that we can provide.”

She held his gaze. “Do you—do you want that?”

He nodded. “More than anything. I want us to be together, Molly, as husband and wife, and I want us to have a family, and if you agree, we can adopt.”

She nodded fervently, emotion rendering her incapable of speech.

He rubbed his thumb along her cheek to wipe away her tears. “Let me make you happy, Molly. I promise I’ll do whatever I can to prove a husband worthy of your big heart.”

“Yes,” she finally managed. “Yes, I will marry you, Steve.”

“Oh, Molly,” he groaned, and took her in his arms.

And then they kissed, the kiss of new beginnings, of new life and new hope. Of two broken people who’d managed to become whole again, and who were going to offer a home to other broken souls, their hearts big enough and their souls kind and loving enough to heal and nurture others.

“I want… a big family,” she murmured against his lips, her eyes liquid and filled with so much love Steve felt moved to tears himself.

“You’ll have it,” he promised. “You’ll have everything you want and more, Molly.”