In Your Arms by Rebecca Goings Page A

he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off Melissa now, not when he knew exactly what she tasted like, what she felt like warm and naked in his arms. And that couldn’t be allowed to happen. There were consequences to making love, one of them babies. And Marcus would be damned if he’d leave Melissa with the shame of taking care of his bastard. Hell, she could even be pregnant right now, then what would he do?
    Scooting out from under her, Marcus stood from the bed and searched the floor for his jeans. He found them just as Melissa awoke.
    “Good morning.” She smiled sleepily, gazing at him with those wondrous green eyes.
    “There’s nothing good about it, Lissa. Get up and get dressed.”
    Propping herself up on an elbow, she didn’t even try to cover her breasts that bobbed at the sudden motion. Marcus groaned and looked away.
    “I can’t do that.”
    “Why the hell not?” he snapped.
    “Because you ripped my dress to shreds last night, Marcus. Or did you forget that?”
    Running his hands through his hair, he growled low in his throat. “It shouldn’t matter. It’s still early yet. I doubt much of anyone is awake. You can dress in your underthings, and I’ll take you back to the shop myself just to be sure no one sees you.”
    “What if I’m not ready to leave yet?”
    “I don’t care one way or the other. You’re leaving.”
    “What are you so afraid of, Marcus?”
    That stopped him cold as he hopped on one foot to pull his other foot into his pant leg. Glancing over his shoulder, he grumbled, “What are you talking about, woman?”
    “Why are you so afraid of us--of this?” Moving her hands to indicate the room, Marcus knew she was talking about their lovemaking. Letting his jeans drop back to the floor, he turned to face her.
    “Damn it, Lissa! Don’t you get it? If we keep this up, you’ll get pregnant. Then where the hell will we be?”
    She had the nerve to shrug at him. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    “Well, that’s obvious.”
    She rolled her eyes at him, making him sigh once more.
    “But that’s not the only reason, is it, Marcus?”
    When had this little girl suddenly gotten to know him so well?
    “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grumbled.
    “Oh, I think I do,” she countered, sitting up fully and letting the sheet fall to her hips.
    Oh God, he couldn’t keep looking at her. Turning his back, he tried to get a hold of his raging libido. He wanted her again. After all the times they’d made love last night, he still wanted her again, and it consumed him. When he heard the bedsprings creak behind him, he knew she’d gotten off the mattress. The squeaking floorboards confirmed his thoughts.
    When he felt her small hands on his bare back, he sucked in his breath. His erection ached almost painfully, and he wanted so badly to feel her warmth wrapped around him once again. Her fingers seemed to trace trails of fire up and down his skin, from his backside up to his shoulders. He knew he should walk away from her, should get dressed and flee the room if he had to, but she began kissing his skin and he was rooted to the spot.
    “Lissa--”
    “Shh,” she said. “Marcus, open your heart to me. Tell me what you’re afraid of.”
    He wanted to. God, he wanted to so badly, but would she reject him? If she knew exactly what he’d done in the past, would she look at him in disgust? He couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t tell her.
    “You want to know what I’m afraid of?” He growled as he turned to face her. “I’m afraid of babies, yes, but I’m also afraid of what your father might do to me if he ever found out what’s happened here.”
    “He won’t--”
    “And I’m afraid this might be our only time together.”
    A strange light appeared in her eyes, something akin to disappointment. His heart caught in his throat as he gazed at her, knowing full well that she realized he’d avoided her heartfelt plea.
    “Well, Marcus, if this is to be our only