"I remember thinking that something wasn't right. Something was out of sync. But I was so sleepy and so caught up in you that I didn't stop to sort it out. I should have known. You were so tight. So sweet." Of its own accord, his body stirred inside her and her muscles contracted reflexively, leaving them both breathless for a moment.
Panting, Lucky continued, "I didn't remember it later. Not until today when—" He broke off, unwilling to let mention of Shelby spoil the most pleasure he'd ever had in bed. God, it just didn't get any better than this.
"Today, when I realized that you were a virgin that night and that I was the only man you'd ever been with, hell or high water couldn't have kept me away from you, Devon."
Then he groaned her name again and sank deeper into the snug, liquid heat of her body, and they both climaxed. Her throat arched beautifully, and her limbs enfolded him as she experienced her long, sweet release.
Moments later, lying face-to-face, he brushed away the damp strands of hair that clung to her flushed cheeks. Her eyes were limpid and dilated, as though she had been drugged.
"Lucky," she said in a soft, sad rasp, lightly touching his lips with her fingertips.
"That's me." He smiled crookedly.
Without returning his smile, she rolled to the opposite side of the bed and got up. He appreciatively watched as her graceful body moved from bed to closet and she wrapped a robe around her slim nakedness. He was charmed, especially when she used both hands to free her sex-tousled hair from her collar.
But when she turned to face him, his enchantment dissipated.
"What?" he asked with perplexity.
"You've got to go now."
He would have thought he hadn't heard her correctly if her face weren't so pale and blank of all expression. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he reached for his jeans, thrust his feet into them, and pulled them on as he stood up. Tamping down his frustration, and a twinge of fear, he approached her calmly.
"That's the craziest statement I've ever heard you say, Devon. What do you mean by it?"
"Just what I said. You'll have to go now. And this time our parting must be final. You can't come back."
"Does the expression 'fat chance' mean anything to you?"
"Don't get angry."
"I'm not angry. I'm incredulous."
"Let's not make this difficult."
He laughed hoarsely. "It started out with a fist-fight, Devon. It was difficult from the beginning, and got more so each time we saw each other. But dammit, we've just proved it's worth fighting for. Tell me you think so, too."
Gnawing her lower lip, she glanced away and began fiddling with the knotted belt of her robe. Her distress was plain. Lucky softened his tone. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I'm married."
"Not to him."
"To him!" she said with emphasis. "Our names are on the marriage certificate. We signed it. In the eyes of the state—"
"What about the eyes of God? Who's more your husband? Him or me?"
"How dare you drag religion into this," she cried angrily. "Are you suggesting that since you've known me in a biblical sense, you have a greater claim on me than Greg?" She tossed back her hair. Her green eyes were stormy. "If you are spiritually married to every woman you've slept with, then you're a polygamist!"
The barb hit home, and Lucky knew it would be pointless to pursue that line of reasoning. It had been worth a try, however. This was one argument he had to win. He had to pull out all the stops.
"You don't love him," he stated flatly.
"No, I don't. But I'm still married to him."
"And why? Why did you ever marry him? He doesn't love you either."
"At the time it seemed right."