At the same time she tried to pull away.
Jack’s arms tensed and she was forced to put her hands on his chest to push back but he kept her close, not allowing escape.
She gave up pushing and her eyes lifted to look in his.
He could see her face in the moonlight but he couldn’t read her eyes and he wished he’d thought to turn on a light.
She hesitated before speaking and with embarrassment dripping from her voice, she whispered. “I’ve never done anything like that before in my life.”
“I know,” he replied softly and understood he’d scored a point when her stiff body relaxed somewhat in his arms.
“I don’t want you to think –” she started, he gave her a gentle shake and his head bent so his face was closer to hers.
“Poppet, get that out of your head. I don’t think anything except what we shared earlier was unbelievably, f**king magnificent.”
Even in the dark, he could see her lips part in surprise and her eyes widened in wonder seconds before she found something else to be embarrassed about. “Your Mum –”
There was no way Jack was going to explain the intricate history of competition between the Bennett brothers, Miles’s taking sibling rivalry to a compulsive extreme and Joy’s total understanding of it (and incessant worry about it) when Belle was in his shirt, in his arms, in his room, in the moonlight.
He’d do it tomorrow morning when she was eating breakfast in his bed after he’d made love to her again.
“She won’t mind,” Jack said and he felt Belle’s body jerk.
“She won’t mind?” Belle’s sweet voice had grown louder. “She’s your Mum. How could she not mind that I came to her birthday party with one brother and spent the night with the other?”
“Belle –” Jack tried to break in but she was struggling again in his arms.
“She’s going to think I’m a slut.” Belle’s eyes had left his and she was muttering with agitation as she fought his hold on her. “And rude,” she added and then finished with hilarious melodrama. “Oh my God. She’s going to think I’m rude slut!”
Jack bit back laughter and began again, “Belle –”
But she kept talking and fighting.
“I have to go, tonight. I should have left when you were asleep. I don’t know what I was thinking. Why didn’t I go? I should have gone. I should –”
Jack silenced her by wrapping a fist in her thick, soft hair and gently tugging.
Her body stilled and her head tipped back. He seized his opportunity, his mouth descended to hers and he kissed her quiet.
He took his time and he made certain to do a thorough job of it.
When he lifted his head, her body had melted into his, her face was soft and her eyes had no trouble holding his.
Jack noted this achievement for future reference.
“Now, listen to me,” Jack ordered softly when he had her undivided attention. “I’ll explain things to Mum. I’ll explain things to Miles.” He watched her wince when he said Miles’s name but he kept talking. “Trust me, they’ll understand.”
“What can you possibly say that will make them understand?” she whispered, her voice horrified.
“You haven’t been dating Miles long, have you?” he asked and she hesitated at his change of subject before she shook her head. “Was it serious?” he went on and she shook her head again. “Was it going to get serious?” he pressed gently and he felt her take in a breath and then sigh.
“I was going to break up with him tomorrow, I –”
Jack suppressed the sense of elation her words caused and cut her off by saying, “I’ll make him understand.”
“I should talk to him,” she replied swiftly.
His hand left her hair and came to her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone.