Something’s changed between us, can’t you see it? Can’t you feel it?

‘I certainly haven’t had enough of you,’ he growled.

Even as he said the words his eyes betrayed more needs than sexual ones.

Alanna had said how lonely he was, how he needed someone to love him. She was right. Natalie saw the truth in his face, glimpsing the emotional bleakness behind his physical passion.

But he would never admit it. She knew that, too. The wounds of his past—whatever they were—had never healed properly. All she could offer Mike was comfort in its most primitive form. She could not tell him she loved him, but she could show it.

‘That’s nice to hear,’ she murmured, trailing her fingertips over his male nipples till they tightened into tiny marbles.

When her head bent to lick them he groaned, taking an unsteady step backwards till his back was pressed up against the kitchen benchtop.

‘Is this what you want?’ she whispered as she went down onto her knees before him, her eyes lifting up to his tortured face.

He sucked in sharply when she unsnapped the waistband of his shorts, moaning softly when her lips pressed against his navel. She swirled her tongue around it whilst her hands pushed his shorts and underwear to the floor.

How different it felt from when she’d done this last night. This was not an act of lust, but an act of love. Her hands cupped him gently whilst her lips ran lightly up and down his length. Every lick. Every kiss. Every touch. All done with love. And when she took him into her mouth, her head was swimming with emotion.

‘No,’ he ground out as he carried her from the kitchen in the direction of the bedroom. ‘That is not what I want. I just want you, Natalie.’

Natalie didn’t say a word as he swept her into the bedroom. She was too busy fighting with the futile hopes that his passionate words evoked in her.

Because he didn’t really want her, did he? Not for ever. Just for the time being.

But the time being was exciting, she told herself as he lowered her to the bed.

Enjoy it, Natalie.

And who knew what might happen in the future? Alanna had said that life without hope sucked. Natalie had to agree with her.

So she began to hope.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NATALIE was doing some last-minute primping and preening with her hair when she spotted Mike in the bathroom mirror. He was standing in the bathroom doorway, watching her.