He blew out a deep breath that sounded frustrated, but his body seemed to lose some of the tension.

Encouraged by his partial capitulation, she continued downward, uncovering the erection that stretched past his belly button. She took him in hand and stroked him the way she knew he liked it.

Sucking in a sharp breath, he lifted his hips off the bed.

Laura bent her head and fitted her lips around the broad crown while continuing to stroke him.

He gasped and fisted her hair, seeming to give in to the inevitable now.

She opened her mouth wider and took more of him, using her tongue as well as her hand and the heat of her mouth to pleasure him. “So much more than your share,” she teased when she came up for air.

The comment, as usual, made him laugh. “Come up here.”

“In a minute. I’m not done yet.”

“We’ll be all done in less than ten seconds if you keep that up.”

Since she yearned for the connection with him, to show him in every way she could that she loved him, she yielded to his wishes but didn’t surrender control. Rather, she straddled him and leaned over to kiss his lips. “How’s this?”

“Amazing as always.” Running his hands from her thighs to her waist, he eased her nightgown up and over her head.

Laura hated how big and ungainly her breasts were getting with this pregnancy, but Owen said he loved them—almost as much as he loved teasing her about them. Tonight there was no indication of amusement. Tonight he was all about reverence as he filled his hands to overflowing.

He sat up to gain access to her and drew her left nipple into his mouth.

Laura wrapped her arms around him and held on as he aroused her the way no one else ever had or ever could. His touch set her on fire. She raised her hips until she hovered above his erection and took him in slowly, giving herself time to adjust to his considerable size.

“Easy, baby,” he whispered as he kissed her. “Nice and easy.”

She had no choice but to take it easy where he was concerned. The thought made her laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“The usual thing.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Yes, it is,” she said, delighted by the amusement she heard in his tone. “It’s hilarious.”

“You didn’t let me pull out all the stops to prepare you.”

“Because you said you didn’t want me tonight.”

“I never said that. I would never say that.” As he spoke, he leaned forward, forcing her onto her back. He followed her, never losing their tenuous connection. “I said I was afraid I might hurt you because I was wound up.”

“And I said you could never hurt me, because I believe that’s true.”