‘I’ve done some notes for George and Sally, and there’s a flight to London at twenty past seven tomorrow morning. I can pick up my tickets from the desk, but I need to be at the airport an hour before my flight.’
‘Crack of dawn start, then.’ He shrugged. ‘Not a problem. I’ll just go and fetch my clothes and Bramble’s basket from the car.’
When he returned, Bramble was settled very comfortably, thank you, on the sofa, and Melinda was making a fuss of her.
‘Don’t think you’re sleeping there tonight, dog,’ he warned.
Bramble just thumped her tail, as if she knew perfectly well that Melinda wouldn’t mind.
‘I’ll make us something to eat,’ Dragan said. ‘And, no, Bramble, you are not scoffing all the cold, soggy chips,’ he added at the dog’s hopeful look when he carried the paper parcel over to the bin. ‘They’re bad for you.’
‘Don’t do anything for me. I’m really not hungry,’ Melinda said with a grimace.
‘You need to eat,’ he said gently. ‘Trust me, low blood sugar on top of the bad news you’ve just had will only make you feel worse. Now, you go and check on Cassidy, and I’ll make you an omelette.’ At her raised eyebrow, he smiled. ‘I make a very good omelette, I’ll have you know.’
When she came back from checking on the parrot and the large, fluffy omelette was cooked, he divided it into two and slid it onto their plates.
She ate about three mouthfuls before pushing her plate away.
‘It’s that bad?’ he asked.
‘No, no.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. I just…It feels wrong to eat somehow. My brother’s dead and here I am, stuffing my face. It’s…wrong.’
‘OK. I won’t force you.’ He scraped the contents of her plate into the bin and made short work of the washing-up. ‘Come on. Let’s try and get some sleep.’ He looked at the dog, who was still curled happily on the sofa. ‘Bramble, in your basket.’
‘Oh, leave her,’ Melinda said, her voice weary. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
He remembered that feeling, too. As if nothing mattered any more. And he ached for her.
‘Come on, cara,’ he said, and shepherded her into the bedroom. She used the little en suite bathroom first and by the time he’d had a quick shower and cleaned his teeth, she was curled up in bed.
‘Have you set your alarm?’ he asked.
She nodded.
‘Good.’ He slid his arm round her waist and drew her back into the curve of his body. Melinda was a bright, independent woman who was more than capable of standing on her own two feet—but tonight he felt very protective towards her. He wanted to be the barrier between her and the world, make sure nothing else happened to hurt her.
Clearly her family was nothing like his own had been. The trace of bitterness in her voice when she’d spoken about not fitting in…Well, she fitted in just fine with him. And together they’d make a new family. A family where she was the centre.
Ha. He hadn’t even thought about children before. But now the idea had slid into his head, he liked it. And he could imagine their daughter—a small, stubborn version of Melinda, with his own dark eyes and hair and Melinda’s beautiful smile. She’d wrap her daddy right round her little finger.
‘Volim te,’ he said softly, and kissed Melinda’s bare shoulder.
He really hadn’t intended to pressure her into making love with him. But when she twisted round in his arms, slid her arms round his neck and kissed him back, he couldn’t help responding.
Her hand slid down over his shoulder, squeezed the firm muscles of his upper arms. ‘You feel so good,’ she whispered. And her mouth traced a path over his jawline, down his throat; her tongue pressed against the pulse point beating hard and fast in his neck.
‘Ah, bellissima,’ he muttered, and tipped his head back against the pillows, offering himself to her. If she wanted to take comfort from him, that was fine by him. He would tell her with his body that he was there for her, any time she needed him. That he loved her, wanted her, always would.
He dragged in a breath as she kissed her way down his breastbone. Her mouth was so soft, so sweet, and her hair felt like warm silk against his skin. He couldn’t resist sliding his hands into the blonde tresses, urging her on. ‘Melinda. You’re driving me just a little bit crazy here.’
She lifted her head and her blue, blue eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘Did you know, when you get turned on, your accent comes back a bit?’
‘My accent?’
‘Normally you sound very English. But when we make love…’
‘I lose control,’ he admitted.
‘That’s what I want. I want to make you feel the same way I feel.’ She shifted to straddle him. He could feel the warmth of her sex against his erection and it made his pulse ratchet up that little bit more.
‘I need to be inside you, Melinda,’ he breathed.
‘Si?’ she teased, wriggling just enough to make him gasp.
In retaliation, he cupped her breasts, stroked the soft undersides and rubbed the pads of his thumbs against her nipples until she gave a sharp intake of breath.
‘Dragan. I need you.’
He lifted his upper body from the bed so he could take first one and then the other nipple into his mouth, sucking hard. Her hands fisted in his hair and he could feel little shivers of desire running through her.
‘Please, now,’ she whispered. ‘I need you now.’
‘Let me get a condom.’
‘No.’ She leaned forward and kissed him hard. ‘I don’t want any barriers between us tonight.’
‘Melinda, we should—’ he began.
She pressed her forefinger lightly against his lips. ‘It’s OK. It’s my safe time.’
The doctor in him knew there was no such thing as a safe time. Though he also knew exactly why she was asking him to do this: it was a way of fighting back against the spectre of death, of proving to herself that she was alive and kicking.
He shouldn’t do this.
She was vulnerable.
And he was taking advantage of her. This had to stop.
‘Tonight I need you close, Dragan.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘I want nothing between us. Just you and me.’
His heart overruled his head. How could he stop now, push her away and make her feel even worse? She needed comfort. She needed him. And if they made a baby tonight…then so be it. They were getting married in a few weeks in any case. He would’ve liked more time with her on his own, but if they made a child tonight he’d love their baby. Always. Just as he’d always love Melinda. She was the one who made him feel complete.
‘I want you so badly,’ she said, her voice hoarse. ‘I need you. I love you. Ti amo.’
‘I love you, too. Always. Siempre.’
She shifted slightly and slid her fingers around his erection, guided him to her entrance; he rocked his hips, easing inside her. Lord, she felt good, so warm and wet. Her eyes were almost black in the lamplight, her pupils dilated so he could barely see the iris. As turned on as he was. Needing this as much as he did. Right now they were as one—body, heart and soul.
And he never wanted this moment to end.
Her