“No. I didn’t.”
His grin faded, replaced by a look of tender concern. He brought a shaky hand up to smooth damp strands of hair from her brow. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Lauren. If I’d known, I might have been able to make it easier.”
“It couldn’t have been easier. I’ve never felt so wonderful in my life.”
“Even at the start?” His arched brow dared her to deny the moment of pain she’d felt.
“Even then. If I hadn’t felt a thing, something would have been lost. I wanted the pain. Does that make any sense?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he traced her eyebrow with his finger. “Why didn’t you tell me, sweetheart?”
“I didn’t think it mattered.” She paused, experiencing a frisson of apprehension. “Did it? I mean, we’re both adults. I knew what I was doing.”
“Did you?”
“Yes!” She didn’t understand what he was getting at.
“Lauren, I didn’t do anything to protect you. It’s possible I’ve just made you pregnant.”
Her jaw slackened only slightly. Then, unable to control herself, she burst into a smile. “What an exciting thought!”
Matt closed his eyes for a minute. “You’re supposed to be worried, sweetheart.” He propped himself up on an elbow and looked down at her. “You’re supposed to be thinking about this new life you have, the shop, your independence.”
“But a baby!” Her eyes were wide. “I could adjust to that. It would be marvelous!”
“I didn’t know you wanted a baby so badly.”
“Neither did I.” She scrunched up her nose. “But it probably won’t happen. Just once, Matt. And it’s the wrong time of the month.” She brushed the strands of hair from his forehead and left her fingers to tangle in the wet thatch. “Areyouworried?”
“Of course I’m worried. Babies should be planned, the logistics worked out. Everything should be clear from the start.”
“There you go again. So cautious.” She tugged playfully at his hair. “If I were to become pregnant, I’d manage. One way or another I would, because I’d want the baby enough to make everything fall into place.”
“Such a romantic,” Matt murmured, but there was a sadness in his eyes.
Her smile faded. “You’re thinking that you’ll be leaving soon.”
“Sooner or later I will.”
“It’s okay, Matt. There are no strings attached to what happened tonight. I won’t ask any more of you than you want to give.”
He snorted and flopped back on the pillow. “That’s cavalier of you.”
“Would you rather I demand marriage?” she asked, confused. “Times have changed. Just because we made love doesn’t mean you have to make an ‘honest woman’ of me. I don’t feel dishonest. I feel … lucky.”
He turned his head on the pillow so that he faced her again. “Explain.”
“I never expected what happened tonight. What I felt, what I experienced, were so much more than I’ve ever dared to dream.”
“Why not? That’s whatIdon’t understand. I don’t understand why you were a virgin. You’re beautiful, charming and intelligent. And you’re right. Times have changed. Women your age are rarely inexperienced.”
“Would you have had me throw myself at just any old man for the sake of experience?”
At the sound of hurt in her voice, he rolled over to cover her body. With his large hands cupping her face, he spoke gently. “No, sweetheart. Of course not. I’m the one who’s been lucky tonight. To know that you’ve given me what you’ve given no other man … that was one of the reasons I couldn’t stop when I realized what was happening.”
“One of the reasons?”
Even in the dark she caught his sheepish grin. “The others are right here.” He dropped a hand to her knee and lifted his body only enough to permit that hand a slow rise. He touched each and every erogenous zone before tapping his finger against her temple. “All of you—mind, body, soul. You turn me on, Lauren.”
