After The Loving. Кэрол Мортимер

couldn’t think at all, her hips arching to meet his throbbing rhythm, groaning her own shuddering release at the exact moment she felt his warmth inside her.

      As partings went, it had to be one of the most soul-shattering on record!

      Raff was already in the bathroom showering and shaving when Bryna woke the next morning, falling back against the pillows with a relieved groan as she realised it was Saturday, and her flight wasn’t scheduled until later that morning.

      Last night had been frightening in its intensity, Raff taking her once more before he allowed her to sleep, and her rest finally that of the almost unconscious, and this morning her body ached from the force of those fierce caresses.

      Last night they had been closer than ever before, and Bryna dreaded having to tell Raff she thought it best if they didn’t see each other any more. But what real choice did she have?

      He was smiling when he came out of the bathroom, freshly shaved, wearing only the black trousers to his suit, although they were a little creased from where they had been left forgotten on the lounge floor all night. His chest was bare and golden, the dark hair there sprinkled even more liberally with grey than at his temples.

      He sat on the side of the bed, smoothing back her ice-gold tangle of hair. ‘I thought you were going to sleep all day,’ he teased indulgently.

      She longed to turn her face into that hand, to shower kisses over his palm, to tell him how much she loved him, of his child that she carried inside her. Instead she drew back from him. ‘I’m going up to Scotland today to stay the rest of the weekend with my parents.’ It was an effort to keep her gaze on a level with him when his darkened angrily. ‘I think we should take that time to accept that it’s over between us,’ she added in a rush of emotion.

      Raff drew in a harsh breath, his hand dropping back to his side. ‘What do you mean, it’s over?’ he rasped abruptly.

      Bryna sighed. ‘We’ve both known it for weeks, Raff, so why fool ourselves any longer?’

      He stood up forcefully, grey eyes blazing. ‘When did you decide this?’ he demanded.

      She shrugged, sitting up against the pillows. ‘I’ve realised for some time——’

      ‘I meant, when did you decide to visit your parents?’ he ground out.

      ‘I telephoned them yesterday afternoon and made the arrangements——’

      ‘So you knew when we met to go out last night?’ he accused.

      She blinked. ‘Yes. But——’

      ‘Then what was last night all about?’ His voice rose angrily.

      Bryna swallowed hard. ‘Goodbye?’

      ‘Good——?’ His face darkened thunderously as he grabbed hold of her arms and pulled her up to him so that her face was only inches away from him. ‘Look at me and tell me you don’t want me any more,’ he ordered harshly.

      For the sake of her pride she had to do it; she knew she would never be able to face their child if she allowed their relationship to deteriorate to the stage where they were no longer equal but she was just someone Raff came to when he wanted a willing woman in his arms.

      She met his gaze steadily. ‘I no longer want you,’ she lied.

      ‘Damn you!’ he grated forcefully, releasing her so suddenly she fell back on the pillows, watching numbly as he pulled on his clothes. ‘Damn you,’ he said again before slamming out of the apartment.

      With a shuddering sob Bryna’s body began to heave in racking waves of agony.