Read Online The Collector's Edition Volume 1 by Emma Darcy - Free Book Online
Authors: Emma Darcy
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Morocco.
Jayne put her ear to their bedroom door, listening for any hint that Dan was awake. A few gurgles, splutters and excited little squeals indicated that Baby was in fine fettle. There was no discernible sound from Dan. Very quietly Jayne turned the handle and pushed the door open enough for her to slide into the room and unobtrusively check out the situation.
Baby had kicked off the bedclothes on her side. Her legs were up in the air and hanging suspended between her kicking feet and the clutch of her hands on its ears was a soft, toy panda bear, obviously a new and exciting acquisition. She made an absolutely gorgeous picture, snugly clothed in a red jumpsuit and playing with the black and white bear. Jayne wished she had a camera in her hands to take a snapshot.
The soft melting in her heart and the fatuous smile on her face both froze with shock as Baby caught sight of her and the bear went flying, almost smacking into Dan’s nose. Jayne’s feet flew across the floor and she scooped Baby up in her arms to prevent any mishap that mightwake Dan. She flicked him a quick, cursory glance, saw no sign of movement, and with a sense of intense relief, hastened to the door to make a speedy exit.
‘Reduced to kidnapping, Jayne?’
The husky drawl stopped her in her tracks. She spun around, excuses for her action tumbling from her mind but distracted from reaching her tongue by the sight of the bedclothes sliding off Dan’s torso as he hitched himself up from the pillow.
He had a beautiful body, sleekly muscled, firmly fleshed, his olive skin sensually smooth and gleaming with health, compelling an urge to touch, to glide fingers or hands over its warm vitality. Lying naked with him had always been a tactile pleasure. It was impossible to see him like this and not remember. It had been so good…so long ago….
In sheer defence against the stirring response in her own body, Jayne stared at the St. Christopher medal dangling from the fine silver chain around his neck. His mother had given it to him when he was a boy, promising him a safe journey through life. He always wore it. There would be another journey after China, Jayne savagely reminded herself. And another. There was a long way to go before Dan reached Z and Zimbabwe.
‘Answer me, Jayne,’ he commanded harshly.
She dragged her gaze up to his, feeling intensely vulnerable and fighting not to show it. There was not the slightest trace of slumber in his dark eyes. They probed hers with merciless intent.
‘Are you suffering a bout of frustrated maternal instinct?’
‘No…I…’ She recalled the anguish she had felt when she had first seen Dan with the baby. It was gone now. It had gone the moment she had learnt Baby was Nina’s and Mike’s daughter, that she wasn’t part of Dan and some other woman. Nevertheless, it was a warning of how deeply Dan could still touch her. She had to be on her guard against that. ‘I thought Baby might be hungry,’ she explained defensively.
‘She’s had a bottle of formula. I was up earlier.’
‘Oh!’ It flustered Jayne that she hadn’t heard him moving about the apartment. Had he looked in on her, remembering how it had once been between them? She shied away from that thought and rushed back into speech. ‘You seemed to be heavily asleep. I thought you might appreciate some extra rest.’
‘Considerate of you.’ His mouth took on a mocking twist. ‘Or was the urge to hold the baby again irresistible?’
‘I told you…’
‘She’s so soft and warm and cuddly, so sweetly appealing. Makes your stomach curl, doesn’t it?’
‘I…’ Jayne floundered. It was true, yet it was true of all baby things; kittens and puppies and chickens. It didn’t mean she was broody for a baby. ‘It’s only natural to feel caring toward a child this young,’ she said defiantly.
‘Does your new career make up for the child we could have had, Jayne?’ Dan asked, insidiously striking the raw feelings that had
Jayne put her ear to their bedroom door, listening for any hint that Dan was awake. A few gurgles, splutters and excited little squeals indicated that Baby was in fine fettle. There was no discernible sound from Dan. Very quietly Jayne turned the handle and pushed the door open enough for her to slide into the room and unobtrusively check out the situation.
Baby had kicked off the bedclothes on her side. Her legs were up in the air and hanging suspended between her kicking feet and the clutch of her hands on its ears was a soft, toy panda bear, obviously a new and exciting acquisition. She made an absolutely gorgeous picture, snugly clothed in a red jumpsuit and playing with the black and white bear. Jayne wished she had a camera in her hands to take a snapshot.
The soft melting in her heart and the fatuous smile on her face both froze with shock as Baby caught sight of her and the bear went flying, almost smacking into Dan’s nose. Jayne’s feet flew across the floor and she scooped Baby up in her arms to prevent any mishap that mightwake Dan. She flicked him a quick, cursory glance, saw no sign of movement, and with a sense of intense relief, hastened to the door to make a speedy exit.
‘Reduced to kidnapping, Jayne?’
The husky drawl stopped her in her tracks. She spun around, excuses for her action tumbling from her mind but distracted from reaching her tongue by the sight of the bedclothes sliding off Dan’s torso as he hitched himself up from the pillow.
He had a beautiful body, sleekly muscled, firmly fleshed, his olive skin sensually smooth and gleaming with health, compelling an urge to touch, to glide fingers or hands over its warm vitality. Lying naked with him had always been a tactile pleasure. It was impossible to see him like this and not remember. It had been so good…so long ago….
In sheer defence against the stirring response in her own body, Jayne stared at the St. Christopher medal dangling from the fine silver chain around his neck. His mother had given it to him when he was a boy, promising him a safe journey through life. He always wore it. There would be another journey after China, Jayne savagely reminded herself. And another. There was a long way to go before Dan reached Z and Zimbabwe.
‘Answer me, Jayne,’ he commanded harshly.
She dragged her gaze up to his, feeling intensely vulnerable and fighting not to show it. There was not the slightest trace of slumber in his dark eyes. They probed hers with merciless intent.
‘Are you suffering a bout of frustrated maternal instinct?’
‘No…I…’ She recalled the anguish she had felt when she had first seen Dan with the baby. It was gone now. It had gone the moment she had learnt Baby was Nina’s and Mike’s daughter, that she wasn’t part of Dan and some other woman. Nevertheless, it was a warning of how deeply Dan could still touch her. She had to be on her guard against that. ‘I thought Baby might be hungry,’ she explained defensively.
‘She’s had a bottle of formula. I was up earlier.’
‘Oh!’ It flustered Jayne that she hadn’t heard him moving about the apartment. Had he looked in on her, remembering how it had once been between them? She shied away from that thought and rushed back into speech. ‘You seemed to be heavily asleep. I thought you might appreciate some extra rest.’
‘Considerate of you.’ His mouth took on a mocking twist. ‘Or was the urge to hold the baby again irresistible?’
‘I told you…’
‘She’s so soft and warm and cuddly, so sweetly appealing. Makes your stomach curl, doesn’t it?’
‘I…’ Jayne floundered. It was true, yet it was true of all baby things; kittens and puppies and chickens. It didn’t mean she was broody for a baby. ‘It’s only natural to feel caring toward a child this young,’ she said defiantly.
‘Does your new career make up for the child we could have had, Jayne?’ Dan asked, insidiously striking the raw feelings that had
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