Summer of Love by Marie Ferrarella (easy to read books for adults list .TXT) 📕

lay there as he finished unbuttoning her shirt and parted the edges, lay there still as he reached beneath her and unclipped her bra. It was only when he lifted her right breast free of the lacy cup that the spell was broken and she was able to move but even then her hands remained locked around his neck as she drew his head down, inviting him to suckle her.

She gasped as a wave of intense pleasure rushed through her when his lips closed around her nipple. There was no slow build-up of passion, no need for caresses or time. She wanted him, right there, right now, this minute.

He lifted his head and must have seen how she felt because he shuddered. Emma could feel the tension in his body as he stripped off her clothes then shed his own. He made love to her there on the floor, his body pressing hers down into the carpet, but even though everything was heat and passion, there was tenderness, too. And it was that more than anything else that convinced her that Daniel had been telling her the truth. He did love her. Her heart soared at the thought.

Daniel could feel his heart pounding as he slowly came back down to earth. Making love with Emma had always been the most wonderful of experiences and this time they had reached new heights. Propping himself up on his elbows, he stared down into her face, feeling his love for her swamp him.

‘Wow! I’m not sure how that came about but it was definitely something else,’ he murmured, buzzing her lips with a kiss.

‘It was.’ She smiled as she cupped his cheek with her hand. ‘A definite wow in my book too.’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Daniel laughed throatily. ‘At least I don’t have to apologise for not finding somewhere more comfortable.’

‘Oh, it’s comfy enough.’ She wriggled a little and his breath caught when he felt her body moving beneath his. Even though it was only moments since they had made love, he could feel himself responding. ‘Although I may need to check my backside for carpet burns.’

‘If you do find any, I’ll be more than happy to administer a little first aid,’ he assured her, grinning.

‘I’ll let you know,’ she told him, laughing.

Daniel kissed her lightly on the mouth then rolled to his feet. Although he could have happily stayed there all day, they needed to talk and they couldn’t do it there. He offered her his hand, unable to resist pulling her into his arms when she stood up.

‘I didn’t plan for that to happen, Emma, but I’m glad that it did.’ He raised her chin so that he could look into her eyes. ‘I know you think that I was under a lot of pressure earlier but I’m not under any pressure now and I still feel the same. I love you and that’s why I made love to you just now. I only hope that somehow, some way, I can make you believe me.’

‘I do believe you, Daniel.’ She gave a little shrug when he gasped. ‘You couldn’t have made love to me like that and not cared.’

‘No, I couldn’t,’ he agreed, his heart overflowing with emotion. He kissed her on the lips then led her to her room and gently steered her through the door. ‘We need to talk and I won’t be able to concentrate if you’re in that state of undress. Put something on and come downstairs. We’ll talk then.’

She didn’t say anything as she went into her room and closed the door. Daniel went back to his own room and quickly dressed, hoping he hadn’t made a mistake by suggesting they waited. Would Emma start to have second thoughts while she was away from him? He hoped not but even if she did, he would convince her that he was telling her the truth. What would happen then was up to her, of course, and his stomach sank at the thought that his future was hanging in the balance. He might love Emma with his whole heart and every fibre of his being, but he had no real idea how she felt about him.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EMMA could feel her stomach churning as she made her way down the stairs. Now that the rush of euphoria had started to fade, she’d had time to think and there were a lot of questions that needed answering, the main one being that if Daniel had loved her five years ago then why had he let her go? Maybe he had been keen to further his career but surely he must have known that she would have supported him? After all, she had offered to give up her own dreams of becoming a surgeon so they could be together—how much more proof had he needed about her commitment to him? It was all very puzzling so it was little wonder her heart was racing as she went into the sitting room.

‘That was quick.’

He stood up and came over to her, taking her hand to lead her over to the sofa. He had switched on the gas fire and the room felt warm, too warm, in fact. Emma sank down onto the cushion, feeling slightly faint, although maybe it was the ambiguity of the situation that was causing her to feel like this rather than the temperature. She needed answers and she needed them now.

‘Look, Daniel, I.’

‘I know how difficult …’

They both spoke at once and both stopped. Emma bit her lip in an agony of frustration. They would get nowhere if they carried on this way.

‘You first.’ Daniel sat back in his seat and regarded her gravely. ‘What were you going to say?’

‘Just that I don’t understand why you pushed me away if you loved me, as you claim to have done.’

‘The simple answer is that I was afraid,’ he said quietly.

‘Afraid?’ Emma looked at him in confusion. ‘What of?’

‘Of hurting you. Of ruining your life.’ He stared