The Spanish Doctor's Love-Child. Kate Hardy

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      Every thrust took her nearer and nearer the edge.

      ‘Look at me, estimada,’ he reminded her softly.

      She did. And at the precise moment her climax hit again, she could see it reflected in his own eyes, in the way his pupils dilated until his eyes were almost completely black.

      He wrapped his arms round her, holding her close and muttering words in Catalan which she didn’t understand, though his tone told her he was as moved by what had just happened as she was.

      Eventually, Leandro withdrew. ‘Excuse me for a moment,’ he said politely.

      She knew he needed to deal with the condom, but as he left the room she started to wonder what the protocol was here. She’d never had a one-night stand before. Should she stay or should she leave now?

      Just as she was about to get out of bed and find her clothes, so at least she’d be dressed when he came back and wouldn’t feel quite so embarrassed about discussing it, he returned to the room—completely naked and uninhibited by his nudity—smiled at her and joined her in the bed.

      ‘I’m glad you didn’t decide to go.’ He put his arm round her, drawing her close so her head was resting on his shoulder. ‘I know we said neither of us want a relationship, and that hasn’t changed. But stay with me for a while.’

      This was what she’d missed even more than sex.

      Being cuddled.

      Being held as if she were someone precious.

      Something that had definitely been missing from the last months of her marriage.

      And the silence wasn’t uncomfortable; she didn’t feel the need to break it. Right here, right now, in Leandro’s arms, she felt warm and safe and wanted.

      Her eyelids started to drift down; although she knew she really ought to leave, maybe a few minutes’ nap wouldn’t hurt…

      She stopped resisting and fell asleep.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      BECKY woke feeling warm and comfortable. Then she remembered it was Sunday morning and she was on a late shift. Which meant that she could have a lie-in: she could just drowse and go back to sleep.

      And then two things burst into shocking clarity.

      Firstly, this wasn’t her bed.

      And, secondly, she was wrapped spoon-style around a hard male body, her face against his back and her arm slung comfortably round his waist.

      Leandro Herrera.

      Her gorgeous Catalan lover—for one night.

      Oh, lord. She really shouldn’t have stayed. They’d both said this wasn’t going to be a relationship. She should’ve taken a taxi home last night.

      From the regularity of his breathing, she knew that he was still sound asleep. Well, that was hardly surprising. They’d spent much of the night exploring each other, finding out just where each other liked to be stroked or kissed.

      Forget the lie-in. She needed to leave. Now.

      Slowly, cautiously, she slid her arm from around his waist and wriggled backwards. Leandro stirred for a moment, then rolled over onto his front.

      Lord, he was gorgeous, she thought. A perfect back, broad shoulders and good muscle tone, and that beautiful smooth olive-toned skin. She was, oh, so tempted to kiss her way down his spine. Wake him up nicely.

      But she knew what would happen next—and she’d end up being late for work. Which wouldn’t be a good idea.

      In some respects, she really regretted what she was about to do. Physically, she and Leandro were compatible. Very compatible. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. But, more than that, she’d enjoyed his company last night. Leandro was good to talk to, he was a great cook, and she’d felt comfortable with him.

      Though the sensible side of her knew this was the right thing to do. Make a clean break. They weren’t going to see each other again. And even though she was tempted to break her personal rule and maybe see where their relationship took them, she didn’t want to end up in the same mess as last time—involved with a man who wanted completely different things out of life and expected her to make all the compromises. Because although Leandro seemed more domesticated than Michael had ever been, there were limits: Leandro had made it clear the previous night that his new job was going to take up all his time. Just like Michael, Leandro would be focused on his career. His job would come first, and hers…

      Well, Michael had made it clear that her job wasn’t as important as his. And Becky had done with compromising.

      She wasn’t prepared to give up all the years of studying and hard work she’d put into her career. She wanted to go right to the top. To become nurse consultant, and then maybe nursing director; she enjoyed helping develop her junior staff almost as much as she enjoyed treating patients.

      So she dressed quietly and swiftly before tiptoeing out of Leandro’s bedroom and down the stairs. Although she could do with a shower, she didn’t want the noise of the water to wake him. Besides, it wouldn’t take her long to get home and she’d have plenty of time for a shower there.

      Though she wasn’t going to vanish completely without saying goodbye—she’d been brought up to be polite.

      If you could be polite with someone who’d given you mind-blowing sex the previous night.

      She rummaged in her handbag for her personal organiser and removed a blank page. She wrote him a note and propped it against the kettle where he was bound to see it:

      Thank you. Sorry, had to leave. B.

      And she was sorry. Sorry that she couldn’t give Leandro a chance. But she had good reasons not to want to get involved, and no doubt his reasons for not wanting a relationship were equally sound.

      ‘Be happy,’ she said softly, glancing up the stairs, and let herself out of the house, closing the door quietly behind her.

      Becky had assumed that Tanya, being on a day off, would still be asleep. So she crept into her own house as quietly as she’d crept out of Leandro’s. But when she’d clicked the door shut and turned round, Tanya was standing in the hallway. Fully dressed. And, unlike Becky, Tanya wasn’t wearing the same clothes she’d worn the previous night.

      ‘So where did you get to, then?’ her housemate asked with a knowing grin.

      Becky smiled back. ‘Morning. I wasn’t expecting you to surface until this afternoon.’

      ‘It wasn’t that late a night.’ Tanya laughed. ‘Though the same clearly can’t be said for you, you dirty stop-out.’

      Becky groaned. ‘Enough with the teasing.’

      ‘I know you sent me that text saying you were going to dinner with that guy from the party—but are you telling me you actually spent the night with him?’ She frowned. ‘I was a bit worried about you when I got your text.’

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