Chapter 1

“Oh, God.” Eve covered her eyes. “What have I done?”
Julian pressed a kiss to her perspiration slick forehead. “You don’t know?” he said with a lusty grin.

“This shouldn’t have happened,” Eve said, sitting up and reaching for her discarded clothing.

Julian’s touch on her shoulder scorched her skin and sent wild charges of electricity all over her body and halted the retrieval of her clothing. The feel of his soft lips against her back, and the tenderness of his fingertips as they trailed up and down her bare arm were overwhelming the good judgment she managed to get a hold of thirty minutes too late. “It should have happened a long time ago,” he countered.

“In my office, Julian? On the couch? Anyone could have--” Sighing, Eve walked to her unlocked door. Pushing in the silver latch in the knob, the door clicked locked. “What about my marriage? What about TC?” She turned to face him, then immediately averted her eyes. The sight of his bare chest, and his tussled hair was refreshing the all too new memories of their illicit coupling and reminded her that she was standing in the middle of her office as naked as the day she was born. “I’m married, Julian,” she said, reaching for her clothing and underwear that littered the floor.

“I’m all too aware of that.” Julian stood from the couch and approached her. Instinctively, her eyes drifted to his still semi-aroused manhood. She swallowed audibly. Her knees went weak. She turned to her desk, dropped her gathered clothing atop the smooth surface, and braced her hands against it for support. Why was he making this so impossible? He took her left hand and pressed it to his lips. “On paper you’re married to TC, but in your heart and in your soul, you’re married to me. You’re mine, Eve, and I’m yours. All of me.”

His mouth found her neck. She pressed her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of his loving touch. Her fingers got lost in his hair as his arm snaked around the front of her body. Stifling a moan of pleasure, she jumped from the dangerous confines of his arms when his thumb grazed the sensitive bud of her right breast. “Julian, please. This can’t happen again. I was vulnerable. My concern for Sheridan, coupled with thinking about our son, it…it.”

“Vulnerability had nothing to do with what just happened here, Eve.”

“It was wrong, Julian.”

“We are not wrong. Stop lying to yourself and stop lying to me. The only thing that’s wrong in any of this is your sham of a marriage to TC Russell.”

Her back stiffened. She squared her jaw. Her defenses were at their highest level. “You can’t say that!”

“The hell I can’t! Stop denying it, Eve. You didn’t say the words when we lost in the throes of passion just now, but every touch, every kiss, every thrust of your hips as they moved with mine, the way you said my name when I took you there….” Julian sucked in a breath. “You love me, Eve. Say it already.”

His hazel eyes flashed with desire and exasperation. She turned back to him. He was totally naked except for a thin layer of sweat that shined on his skin. She ignored the tingling that stirred between her thighs. Just that quickly she forgot what he said and what she was about to say. “You should get dressed and go.”

“Turn around, Eve,” Julian urged.

She shook her head. “Julian, you really should--should get dressed and go,” she managed through her dry throat.

Eve felt the heat of his body behind her even before his throbbing hardness and pounding chest pressed against her. He brushed her hair to the side, and propped his chin on her shoulder. Her whole body was aflame from the feel of his warm breath against her neck. “Does my naked body make you nervous, Eve?” His hands at her waist, he pressed her body against the evidence of his need. “Nervous is the last thing I feel when I see yours. You’re more beautiful than ever.”

Eve closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip. The moisture gathering at the meeting of her thighs and the pounding in her chest made her all to aware that her heart and body were ready and willing to partake in round two. Julian was the most incredible lover; skillful, giving, caring, and so loving. “Julian, please,” she begged.

“Please, what?” he whispered in her ear. His fingers trailed along her flat abdomen and pass her navel before stopping just short of the thick, dark patch of curls that covered her center. “Please, what? Don’t stop?” His lips suckled her earlobe. “Never let you go?”

Eve whimpered. “Julian.”

He turned her around so they were face to face. His fingers trailed sensually up and down her arms, stirring the embers of passion that raged inside her. “Eve, when I came here today, our making love was the last thing I expected to happen, but I won’t apologize for it. I have wanted you for so long.” His eyes raked hungrily over her body. Her already painfully aroused nipples hardened all the more. Her cheeks burned with shame when a knowing smile turned his lips. He knew what he was doing to her and he was enjoying it. She dropped her gaze, but Julian quickly lifted her lowered chin.

“Don’t. Don’t look away from me. It’s just us here. Why are you ashamed? You should never feel ashamed with me, Eve. I love you more than anything in this world. What we feel for each other and what we make each other feel is nothing to be embarrassed about. You can be the woman you are with me, Eve. No inhibitions, no secrets, just us, and our love.”

Tears burned her eyes. “But I…”

He pressed his forefinger to her lips. “Shhh. You did nothing wrong. We made love, Eve and it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever been a part of. It was raw, hot, and passionate, yet tender, sweet, and loving. It was everything we’ve been keeping bottled up unleashed. And there’s no turning back now. Not for me. It’s no secret that I love you, and after today, I know you love me, too. You showed it with your actions. I just want to hear you say it. Please, just say the words.”

Her lips trembled as Julian kissed away her tears. What he said was true. She had never experience anything of the likes she just shared with anyone before. Not even with him all those years ago. “My darling, please. Just say the words.”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “God help me. I do love you, Julian. I love you so much.”

Smiling, Julian stepped back. He looked intently into her eyes. “Say it again.”

She combed her fingers through the sides of his hair before locking her hands at the nape of his neck. “I love you, Julian Crane.”

“And I love you. I love you more than those three words could ever say.”

His lips hovered a breath away from hers, but before they could meet, Eve pulled back. “Julian, I have a life outside these four walls. I have….”

He silenced her with a kiss. Her mouth readily parted. There tongues dueled for an all too brief moment before he pulled away. “You have a man that’s going to move heaven and earth to see that you’re happy. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I think we both know that’s not going to be the case, but together, nothing can stand in our way. So, are you with me?”

Eve answered his query with a lingering kiss. Lifting her into his arms, Julian positioned her on the desk and their two bodies became one once more.