Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7)(59)

“That didn’t take any effort at all,” he said, giving her hair a soft stroke. “You were like heaven. I couldn’t believe I was that lucky.”

“I thought about you afterward. All the time.”

“You did?” he asked, surprised.

“But I was scared to death to find myself hooked up to another guy I thought was everything I wanted, only to find out I was just delusional. To let myself believe in you, count on you and have you run out on me?” She shook her head. “I wasn’t up to that. I thought it would be a lot safer if I never saw you again.”

“I understand, Abby. It doesn’t matter what place I have in your life—I’ll never run out on you. I’ll support you and the kids, I’ll be a good father, I’ll—”

“You were even kind and supportive after I called you a sperm donor….”

He chuckled. “You were in high temper that night. Remind me not to get into fights with you.”

“Cameron, when you asked me to move in with you, I thought it was all about the babies. That it had nothing to do with me.”

“Ohhh, it had everything to do with you.”

“The past couple of weeks…” she said. “I don’t know when I’ve been happier.”

“Really? If I could just elevate myself above sperm donor—”

“Why? They don’t get any better. Talk about packing a punch,” she laughed. “That night, I remember thinking, if I had a little more time, if my life weren’t so screwed up, I could fall in love with this guy.”

His breathing got a little heavier. “I have nothing but time,” he said, and his voice had grown raspy.

“Then we don’t really have a problem here, do we?” she said with a smile. “We could—”

She was cut off by his hands on her face, his lips on her lips, kissing her with a passion she hadn’t even dared hope for in so long. He groaned and moved over her lips with heat, urging her mouth open and kissing deeper, hotter. Long and wet and hungry. It was quite a while before he could even break from her lips a tiny bit.

“That’s what I remember,” she whispered, breathless.

And that fast he was on her lips again, devouring her, feeding her deep kisses and tasting the inside of her mouth. Her arms went around his neck, his went around to the small of her back and they were locked in a passionate kiss that didn’t end until he felt a strong kick against his belly. She laughed against his lips.

“I have a feeling that’s going to be an issue from now on,” he said. “More so after they’re born.”

“No question in my mind. I have to start on the parenting books right away.”

“Abby,” he said, running his fingers through her dark blond hair. “I’m a pediatrician. I can help with that.”

“Cameron, I love you, too. I want this to work for us. I can’t imagine being away from you ever again. You’ve made me so happy.”

He groaned. “God, why couldn’t you have told me that when you were less than thirty weeks….”

“I guess it’s too risky now,” she said in disappointment. “I’m sorry, Cameron. Although really, it baffles me that you can even think of sex when you look at me.”

“I think about touching every single curve of your body. I think about kissing and tasting every part of you. I think about things I’m not allowed to do until after you deliver and mend. I can’t stop thinking about all of that.”

“But you’re allowed to hold me, right?”

“I’m allowed to never let you go,” he said.

Their one night together had been filled with fire, explosive in its power. This lazy morning was not—it was sweet and gentle, as though Abby were fragile and precious. They started out embracing in the kitchen, then moved to the bedroom to lie down on the bed, clinging to each other, kissing. Then, inevitably, clothing was pushed out of the way then removed. Cameron was determined to keep his pants on, a safe barrier, but that idea crashed when her hands on his zipper slowly glided it down.

Cameron undressed her slowly, shed his own clothes quickly, then stretched out beside her, bringing her gently into his arms. Holding her, kissing her, caressing her, he made a study of her body with slow hands and soft lips. Just skin on skin, lips on lips, nothing but a breath separating them, brought such relief and contentment to both of them. “I’m going to have to go back to sleeping in the loft,” he whispered against her mouth.

“I would hate that,” she said. “You can’t imagine what it feels like, to finally have your hands on me again. It’s so wonderful.”

“We can’t do it. And we can’t even do this too much longer. We’ll just get carried away.”

“Mmm. Carry me away, Cam.”

“You shouldn’t fool around with orgasms. They could get you contracting.”

“Can I fool around with one?” she asked in a breathy whisper.

He chuckled low in his throat. “One long, slow, gentle one?” he asked. He slipped his fingers into her wet folds, stroking her, bringing a delicious moan from her. “Just lie back and relax, baby. Nothing wild. We’re going to have to save the wild part for later.”

“Oh God,” she whispered. “Oh, Cameron…” And then her hand was on him, tight and hot, stroking him aggressively, pulling on him.