Back in the Bedroom Read online

  She was in her bathing suit, lying on her back, staring up at an azure summer sky so amazing it took her breath away. Beneath her, the yacht rocked gently in the breeze, the water lapping at the sides with a pleasant, hypnotic sound.

  “Mrs. Ledger?”

  That brought a smile to her face, though she didn’t turn toward the male voice. “Yes?”

  “I’ve brought you your sunscreen. Turn over and I’ll rub it on you.”

  With a naughty smile, she turned onto her belly and wriggled a little to get comfortable on her towel—and to show off her backside.

  She gasped when the tie of her bikini top was tugged free, then set to her sides. Then the cold lotion was squirted on the small of her back, making her gasp again.

  “Mmm, nice,” he breathed into her ear. His hands touched her, slid over her muscles and warm skin in a way that made her moan, without the strap of her top across her back to encumber him in any way. Up and down, then to the backs of her legs, even dipping into her bikini bottoms enough to have her wriggling some more.

  “Does your husband know what I do to you?” he whispered, his fingers getting quite wicked, making her lose her train of thought.

  Hmm. To even the score, she flipped over and exposed her bare breasts. She looked up into Reilly’s face. “He knows,” she said, feeling smug at the glossy look in his eyes as he devoured the sight of her.

  He cupped her breasts, gently stroking her nipples, and it was her turn to give him a glassy-eyed look. “Husband,” she managed to say. “I like that word.”

  “Do you?” He leaned in and kissed her mouth softly, settling one big hand on her belly.

  “You know what word I like even more?” she asked.

  “What?” He gave her the indulgent smile of a man on his honeymoon, a man who knew he was about to get very lucky for the third time that day.

  “Daddy,” she whispered. “I like the word daddy.” She watched as he went very still.

  His eyes cut to the hand he held on her still-flat belly, his fingers tightening a little as his eyes went hot with that wild emotion called love.

  “Remember on your desk last month?” she asked softly. “When the condom broke—”

  “I remember.”

  “Well, funny thing about broken condoms…”

  His eyes cut to hers. “Are you saying—”

  “Would you mind a whole lot?” she asked, holding her breath.

  “Mind a whole lot?” he repeated and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were bright and just a little damp. His voice broke, his breath hitched. “Minding isn’t quite the right word.”

  Her own breath hitched, too. “What is?”

  “Ecstatic,” he said fervently. “Blown away. Overcome.” He spread his fingers wide on her stomach, his expression pure love and protectiveness. Then he bent his head and kissed her right below her belly button. “Another generation…” He let out a breath.

  “Terrified?”

  “Only slightly,” he admitted, then scooped her up in his arms, against his chest. “I’m crazy in love with you, Tess.”

  “I know.” Her joy complete, she sighed with pleasure. “Let’s go inside, back to our stateroom. You can show me just how much…”

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7130-6

  BACK IN THE BEDROOM

  Copyright © 2004 by Jill Shalvis.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  Visit us at www.eHarlequin.com

  *South Village Singles