Irresistible (9 page)

It took her a moment to clean up and get her emotions under control. As much as she wanted—needed—to believe that Sean was marrying her because he loved her, a sliver of doubt rose. What if this news changed everything?

Exiting the restroom, the first person she saw was Sean. As always, her heart started to beat fast. People were already boarding as she hastened to join him.

His brows dipped. “Are you okay?”

She briskly nodded, moving past him with her head down. She wasn’t ready to talk.

Sean handed their tickets to the flight steward and followed her. When he settled in his aisle seat, she was gazing out the window.

“Syd?”

“Yeah.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Baby, look at me. Are you—” He stopped midsentence, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

She raised her eyes to meet his. “I’m not pregnant.”

His nonplussed expression was difficult to read. “You sure?”

Was he happy? Sad? Relieved?

When he didn’t say anything more, she raised her chin, steadying herself. “Now there isn’t any reason for us to marry.”

Sean’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think that’s what matters to me?” He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Sydney. Baby or no baby. I want to be with
you
.”

Tears burned behind her eyelids. “Really?”

Slipping the armrest between them up, he pulled her into his arms. He rested his chin atop her head as he held her close. “Really.”

That’s when Sydney realized that the love she’d found was real. She snuggled against him and within seconds drifted asleep.

Beyond the tension that had surrounded dinner, for the first time since Sean returned home, his world felt right. For years he had watched Sydney interact with his family, but it was different tonight. They fit as a family—she fit. Would his mother realize what he had?

Sydney belonged here with them—with him—forever.

From the family room connected to the dining room where he sat, he heard her gentle laughter before she appeared from out of the kitchen with his mother and sister. Scents of pot roast and cinnamon from the apple pie they’d eaten earlier lingered.

Before all three of them disappeared back into the kitchen with the last remnants of dinner in hand, he patted the space next to him on the couch. “Mom, come sit with me.”

“This doesn’t sound good.” She glanced at Cameron and Sydney and they both moved at once. Their attempts to get through the open archway at the same time would have been funny as they bumped into each other, but both knew what was coming. “Why do I get the feeling those two know what this is all about?”

A swirl of ash-blonde hair was swept up and fastened away from her face and her slender neck was highlighted by the low cowl-neck sweater, a shade off from her brown slacks. Tall and willowy, she held an elegant, almost royal, tilt to her chin as she took a seat beside him.

“What have you done now, Son?” The seriousness in her voice was no competition for the way she pinned her sight on him.

Why was it a mother could turn a man into a child with only one look?

Of course, perhaps he had reason to feel the guilt that rose hot and fiery up his neck to singe his ears. He swallowed hard, and then cleared his throat.

“Mom, I don’t know how else to say this, but I’m in love with Sydney.”

After dropping the news like an atom bomb and waiting for the fallout, the only sounds were the measured ticks of the grandfather clock against the wall, beating out of sync with his racing heart. They stared at each other and silence stretched as tight as a rubber band just waiting to be released with a snap.

“Mom?”

She shot a frustrated glance toward the kitchen entrance, and a second more passed before she spoke. “Girls, if you plan to eavesdrop you might as well join us.”

Cameron popped her brunette head around the corner. When she inched into the middle of the archway, she reached beyond the wall, grabbing Sydney and dragging her out into the room with her. Both wore sheepish expressions as they moved farther into the room.

Their mother shook her head. “I guess I win,” she whispered in an almost revelatory fashion.

Cameron’s concerned gaze darted to his.

Sean placed a palm on her shoulder. “Mom?”

When she gazed up at him, her eyes were glassy with tears. “Your dad and I wondered how long it would take.”

“Dad?” he asked, confused.

“You and Sydney.”

“What?” Cameron screeched, plopping down in a winged chair. “You mean I was the only one oblivious to all of this?”

Sean ignored his sister. “But how—”

“Sweetheart.” His mother placed her warm palm against his cheek. “When will you learn you can’t hide anything from your mother?” She glanced toward Sydney who stood like a statuette, unmoving in the middle of the room. “Come here, darling.”

Sydney hesitated, before drifting down beside her. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry? For loving my son?” She smiled softly. “Don’t ever apologize for loving someone, especially this rascal. He’s pretty hard to resist.”

Sean’s and Sydney’s eyes met, and he felt her love reach out for him. “I’ve asked her to marry me.”

“I would expect no less.” Their mother batted moist eyelashes and he could see she struggled not to cry. “Now when is this happy occasion taking place?”

“We haven’t gotten that far, but she will be moving in with me tonight.”

His mother frowned, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she rose. “I need to store the leftovers.” As she began to leave, Sean said, “Mom, what did you mean by winning?”

A heavy sigh pushed from her diaphragm. “Your father bet me that after you finished your doctorate and returned home, within a month you would make a move on Sydney. I said my boy had more willpower than that. He would take care of business first.” Then she smiled. “Your dad reminded me you were just a man—like him.” And then she blushed, her gaze clouding over as if reliving a private memory. A single tear swelled, and she swallowed hard. “Cameron, would you like to help me?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Their mother chuckled. “No.”

When they were alone, Sean pulled Sydney into his arms and captured her mouth with his. Her lips parted and he swept in to devour hers. She tasted of cinnamon and a future that only now made sense. As his hand slipped beneath her sweater, she grabbed him around the wrist.

“Uh-uh. I will not have Mom catching you feeling me up on her family-room couch.”

“That wasn’t all I had planned to do.”

She swatted at his hand as he cradled one of her breasts. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Mom,” his voice rose, while he never lost eye contact with Sydney. Then he pushed to his feet, dragging her with him. “We’re leaving. Thanks for dinner.”

“Be careful, and Sean don’t—” Her muffled request was lost on him as he closed the door behind them.

Sounds of waves breaking on the beach joined Sydney’s cutest giggle. Above them a starry night glistened. Sean swore the Man in the Moon looked down upon them with a mischievous grin as they raced across the immaculately groomed yard, escaping like two wayward children. Sydney giggled, the girlish laughter so sweet and innocent. When they reached his car, he trapped her between the vehicle and his body, and then he took her lips in a drugging kiss.

“I don’t know if I can make it all the way home.” His rock-hard cock pushed angrily against his zipper, demanding release. His hands trembled with the need to touch her.

“Me either,” she moaned against his mouth.

“Boathouse,” they both said at once.

Chapter Eight

Dust tickled Sydney’s nose. The boathouse hadn’t been used or cleaned since the death of their father. Sean gave her no time to ponder the thought as his firm body sealed her against the wall.

“Baby, this is going to be hard and fast.”

The need in his voice and his jeans-clad hips moving against hers made her nipples tighten. Sparks of sensation splintered in all directions. But it was the feel of his arousal pressed so hard against her that made her wet, ready.

And then he paused. “Shit.”

“What?”

“Uh. What about—uhmmm.”

“Oh!” Sydney had completely forgotten she was on her period. “My first day is spotty, almost nonexistent.” She didn’t continue on to say that half the time she didn’t even use a tampon, like today.

“Then it’s okay.”

“Oh hell yes.” She crammed her hands beneath his sweater and hissed when skin touched skin.

His mouth crushed hers, his lips firm and possessive. Sydney moaned, her knees threatening to buckle as his tongue probed the depths of her mouth. She needed this man more than she needed to breathe.

“God, I can’t wait to fuck you. Feel your pussy squeezing my dick.”

His dirty talk sent goose bumps across her flesh. Her heart beat a mile a minute against her chest.

“Then fuck me, Sean. Do it now.” Sydney needed to feel him deep inside her, filling her, completing her.

A growl rumbled in his throat as his hands went for the button of her jeans, as her fingers fumbled at his belt. A moment of clarity sparked when they realized that if they dealt with their own pants they could be making love sooner. Together they pushed their jeans to their ankles, realizing they had encountered another problem—their boots—more specifically her boots.

“Dammit.” Sean pressed his forehead against hers. “Looks like hard and fast is turning into slow and awkward.” His chuckle turned sultry. “Turn around, baby.”

Keeping eye contact, she pivoted. In the darkened room, shadows bathed his handsome face. “I love you,” came out on its own accord.

“I love you too, baby.” Pushing a hand up the back of her sweater, he traced a finger down her spine, sending chills along its path. “You have such a beautiful body. Put your palms against the wall. Bend over for me.”

Sydney’s pussy flamed as she felt the cool wood beneath her touch. She swayed her back, presenting him with her ass.

When his palm smoothed down her abdomen, his touch a breath away, a wave of moisture anointed her thighs. Her inner muscles drew taut. Then his fingertips caressed the length of her swollen folds and she cried his name.

“So hot. Wet. Mmmm…” he hummed. “Spread your legs wider.”

When she did, he pushed beyond her swollen folds, flicking his thumb across her clit.

She gasped. “Sean, please.”

“Touch yourself, baby. Do what I’m doing across your slick heat.”

Slipping one hand between her thighs, Sydney ran her fingertips over her moist flesh.

“Yeah, that’s it.” She heard him breathe deep. Felt his lips nuzzle her neck. “Now your clit.”

If he didn’t shut up she was going to implode. She’d never been so turned on by her own touch. Felt so daring. Finding the engorged bud, she rubbed slowly, back and forth, dipping her head and closing her eyes as that feel-good feeling shimmered up inside her.

He nipped her earlobe, and then eased back. Cupping her breasts, he plucked at her nipples, pinching and teasing, until her body shook.

Her head rose and she glanced over her shoulder. Shrouded in darkness, he had an almost mysterious, dangerous mien.

“Faster,” he growled. His rough, throaty command added to the heat surging throughout her.

Sydney rocked her hips against her hand, her breaths quick and uneven. She trembled, so close, so very close. When he replaced her finger with his, her thighs began to tremble, her orgasm started to bloom and unfurl. One second she was concentrating, the next he entered her from behind in one powerful thrust. Like a glass bulb being dropped, she shattered. The fullness of their joined bodies tossed her over the edge.

With the stream of fire that shot up her core, a strangled cry squeezed from her throat. Bathed in shivers, she braced herself against the wall.

He bucked against her once, twice, and then stilled. His fingers biting into her breasts set off another series of quakes as his seed released, bathing her insides and forcing the whirlwind of her climax to go on and on.

“Oh yeah,” he moaned, collapsing against her back.

Sydney’s knees wobbled as she took his weight. The last of her earth-shaking orgasm was a weak throb. Carefully, he extracted himself from her, turning her around to wrap her in his embrace.

“Thank you,” he whispered against her ear.

“For what?”

“Making all my dreams come true.”

Sydney chuckled softly. “I think you have that backward.” She brushed the hair from his face. “You are my dream come true.”

He squeezed her, before smoothing his palms down her arms. “Think we should go before Mom and Cameron realize we’re still here?”

Embarrassment heated her face. “Ohmygod. I didn’t think of that.”

His deep laughter met her words. “Let’s go home.” He took her hand in his and they exited the boathouse together. They were halfway to the car when Sydney pulled to stop.

Home?