‘I don’t know.’ Looking into his eyes, she felt as though everything in her life was changing. And not only did she not trust her feelings, she knew she couldn’t have them. She had to think about Lexi. But Lexi wasn’t here now, was she? Maybe there was no future, but there could be a present. She was a woman as well as a mother.

His mouth was close to hers but he didn’t kiss her, and she wondered whether he was waiting for her to make the decision.

Jenna lifted her hand to his face, the breath trapped in her throat. His jaw was rough against her fingers and she felt him tense, but still he didn’t kiss her. Still he waited.

Consumed by the thrill of anticipation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his, feeling her stomach swoop. It was like jumping off a cliff. As decisions went, this was a big one, and deep down in her gut she knew there would be a price to pay, but right now she didn’t care. If she had to pay, she’d pay.

As her lips touched his she felt the ripple of tension spread across his shoulders—felt the coiled power in his athletic frame.

‘Be sure, Jenna…’ He breathed the words against her mouth, his hand light on her back, still giving her the option of retreat.

But the last thing she had in mind was retreat. She kept her mouth on his and he slid his hands into her hair and held her face still, taking all that she offered and more, his kiss demanding and hungry.

Someone groaned—her or him?—and then his arms came around her and he held her hard against him. The feel of his body made her heart race, and Jenna felt her linen skirt slide to the floor, even though she hadn’t actually felt him undo it. And suddenly she was acutely aware of him—of the strength of his hands, the roughness of his jeans against the softness of her skin, the hard ridge of his arousal—

‘Jenna—I have to—’ His hands were full of her, stripping off her skirt, peeling off underwear until she was naked and writhing against him. And her hands were on him, too, on his zip, which refused to co-operate until he covered her hands with his. This time instead of stopping her, he helped her.

Hearts pounding, mouths fused, they fell to the floor, feasting.

‘The bed is a metre away—’ Ryan had his mouth on her breast and pleasure stabbed hard, stealing her breath. ‘We should probably—’