THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,111

and smiled, as if he was actually remembering the moment. “I think I fell for you the moment you opened the door to me that first time. But I only realized my feelings for you for what they were the night we made love. And I knew for certain that day we spent together at the zoo.”

She was pretty sure she had fallen in love with him that first day as well. Although she’d spent most of her life trying to avoid being vulnerable to love again, but had to admit, that day at the zoo had been a turning point for her, too. “But you never told me.”

“I know. I was assuming that you would know the way I felt every time we made love. Because it was love, not sexual desire, that was driving my passion for you, Sebrina.”

“But we’ve never even gone out on a real date.”

“We’ve gone a lot places together. It didn’t matter to me if we called them dates or outings. All I know is that the more time I spent with you, the harder I fell.”

Outings. She’d insisted on that word, because she hadn’t wanted the scandal of a broken affair with him when he eventually packed up and left town without her. She hadn’t wanted to risk her heart getting broken a second time. “But…but I thought I was just another woman you slept with.”

“No, Sebrina. You were never that. When we were together in bed, it wasn’t sex. It was love.”

Shivers rushed through her, thinking of those times. “I didn’t know,” she said softly, still trying to believe this was happening.

He stood and she watched as he crossed the room toward her, her heart kicked up a notch with every step he took. She scooted over, allowing him to sit down beside her. Then he turned to face her and took her hand in his. “I do love you, Sebrina. And if you accept my love, we can become a team. I want to be a part of your life, just like I want you to be a part of mine.”

“And when you leave in a year?” she asked, holding his gaze.

“I’m hoping you will go with me. But if you want to remain here, so will I.”

She pulled back, shocked. “You will give up your dream for me? Your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by Dr. McIntyre?”

He smiled at her. “Loving you is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will cherish the most.”

Suddenly, Sebrina couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. She wanted to swipe at them, but Parker was holding her hands. Seeing her dilemma, he leaned in and licked her tears away. And then he captured her mouth, and he began kissing her in a way that she could feel in every part of her body.

He released her mouth and whispered against her moist lips, “I love you.”

She stared into his blue eyes and whispered what she felt in her heart. “And I love you, too.”

Seeing the flash of surprise on his face, she couldn’t help but grin. “I fell in love with you that first day, too.”

“Oh, baby.” Standing, he gently pulled her up from the sofa, swept her into his arms and headed for his bedroom.

Once there he placed her on his bed, in the perfect place to watch him strip off every stitch of his clothes. Then he stripped off hers. When he joined her on the bed, he kissed her again, and then their bodies connected in the most sensuous, most natural way. He was deep inside of her and when he began moving, thrusting in and out, stroking her desire as only he could, she finally knew what it felt like to be loved.

When he whispered again that he loved her, something inside her snapped. At the same moment, she felt her climax peak, driving her almost over the edge. “Parker!”

“Sebrina!”

Nothing could be as real as this. Passion had taken over her senses as desire and need continued to push her towards the edge. Then Parker would snatch her back, they’d share another orgasm, and then they’d build back up again.

This, this was love. And now that she knew it, she would never let him go again.

A short while later, Parker pulled Sebrina closer and wrapped his arms around her. She was exhausted and so was he, but he had to tell her again, “I love you, sweetheart.”

“And I love you.”

He’d heard her response, although her voice was weak. But that