If he thought logically, he decided he'd only done it because she'd erected some thick defensive barriers and something extra was called for to penetrate those walls. The concept of having to work hard to impress any woman was entirely new to him. At least, if her body's reactions and sighs of pleasure had been anything to go by, he'd sure succeeded last night.

But was it enough?

Last night had been unique in many ways. Not only had the lovemaking been extraordinary, but they'd really talked. Sophie had said he got her to open up and speak about personal things she didn't discuss with anyone else. That went both ways. Apart from the official reports he'd had to give to law enforcement following his capture, he'd never spoken to anyone except Melissa about his ordeal as a hostage. Even his sister had needed to wring the details out of him because he hadn't wanted her to know the truth of all he'd endured during his capture. Sophie had a way about her, and he'd found that out as he spoke about being held captive, some of what he was voicing occurring to him for the first time.

As well as the traumatic ordeal he'd faced, he'd told Sophie about his desire to help the African people and relayed his impressions of the people and harsh beauty of the land that had stayed with him long after his travels to the continent.

A close bond was developing between them that he'd never shared with any of his other lovers and it was happening with the speed of a fire spreading through dry bushland.

Waiting for Sophie to awaken and antic.i.p.ating her slumberous eyes looking up at him through her lush eyelashes made him strangely replete. It came as no surprise to him that she'd shelved their dinner plans in favour of them becoming lovers - the s.e.xual awareness between them was constantly buzzing and arcing. If he had to get married, Sophie would suit him very well.

He knew she wasn't after his money, their s.e.xual compatibility had blown him beyond the stratosphere and he couldn't see himself getting bored with her in bed any time soon. Apart from just the physical, she stimulated him in every way. Sophie was no pushover. She was a smart woman and they'd already proved just how well they could communicate together. She'd also understood Charlotte's plight. No doubt about it, Sophie was the one for the role. Even Melissa had been ecstatic when she'd met him for a coffee and he'd told her about how the evening at Centrepoint had panned out. Melissa had told him firmly that the universe had made his decision for him, and that marrying Sophie Hamilton was his destiny.

Madcap Melissa and all her talk about fate and destiny! Logan believed in making his own destiny. He wanted to marry Sophie, so they'd marry. It was really very simple. He'd make it happen despite her resistance because it was for their mutual benefit, and he was certain she'd come to appreciate that and they could both be happy with the arrangement.

The silky softness of Sophie's hair brushed erotically against his skin as she shifted, raising her head to look up at him. If anything, her eyes looked even greener this morning.

Hi.' Her voice was a little deeper as she spoke through sleep-thickened vocal cords. Smiling, she levered herself up to plant a long, slow kiss against his lips.

He could definitely get used to this.

Good morning, sweetheart.' He kissed her again. Do you feel as good as I do?'

Her smile widened, and a deep dimple formed in each cheek. My limbs are languid and there's a little aching spot deep inside me that's starting to pulse its own Morse code message.'

G.o.d she was s.e.xy, and her eyes sparkled with vivacity.

His own voice was a little hoa.r.s.e now as he asked, Morse code? Hm. What does it say?'

That it wants to feel you there.'

He was more than ready to oblige. I'm so glad there are no morning-after regrets.'

Her eyes widened. Are you kidding me? After so many years of celibacy, my body's applauding my decision to live like a modern woman, and you,' she trailed a finger down his chest, were the perfect choice.'

Oh, you feed my ego, baby.' He laughed.

Yeah, I can't help it. Here I'm supposed to deflate it and I'm pumping it up.'

Are we still talking about my ego?' he asked with a wicked smile.

She laughed. You're bad, Logan Jackson. Handsome as sin and dynamite in bed. How did I get so lucky?'

Marry me, Sophie.'

Instead of agreeing, she pulled away from him so she was sitting by his side.

I'm going to tell you something because I feel I can trust you enough to talk to you,' she announced grudgingly.

You trust me and you like me.'

She raised her hands in a gesture of defeat. Yes. Even though you are very annoying and arrogant at times.'

Logan smiled. Trusting and liking are a pretty good start on such short acquaintance.'

Don't think you can distract me with that s.e.xy, enigmatic smile of yours, either.'

She thought his smile was s.e.xy. That was one more point in his favour. He deliberately gave her another smile, which made her roll her eyes.

There you go.' He raised his hand and began ticking off his fingers. You like me, you trust me and you're attracted to me.'

Her expression grew serious. My engagement to my first fiance, Peter, was based on attraction. It was ill-founded. I had the wool pulled over my eyes because, as I told you, he turned out to be a fortune hunter.'

You know I'm not a fortune hunter,' he declared.

Obviously. Neither was Jake, but my marriage to him was based on friendship. Jake's offer of marriage was set out in much the same terms as you're offering now. An agreement, rather than a proposal.'

For some inexplicable reason, Logan was very happy to hear that.

Jake and I were each other's first lovers in our late teens. We were comfortable with each other.'

Good. Comfortable was like an old pair of shoes. It was a lot less than he and Sophie had already shared.

That first youthful affair didn't last but our friendship did,' she continued. Later, both of us were heartbroken over other relationships. Neither of us felt safe with love. We decided to give in to the pressure from our families and to settle for the friendship we had as a basis for marriage.' Her hands rested on his chest. I'm telling you that all the trust and respect we had for each other, and the friendship we'd had for years, wasn't enough. Jake was still deeply in love with Amanda, the wonderful woman who is now his wife.'

Sophie didn't seem to be upset by her ex-husband's marriage, he noted with satisfaction.

There's another difference, then,' he p.r.o.nounced. Jake married you while he was in love with someone else. I'm not some guy on the rebound, and I'm definitely not carrying a torch for anyone.'

Jake and I realised we'd made a mistake almost before the ink had dried on the marriage certificate. Even though we'd been lovers, we'd both grown up. There was no pa.s.sion in the marriage I had with Jake and it was hopelessly like being married to my brother.'

Was that relief that flooded through his system?

He smiled again. As far as I'm concerned, all your arguments support my case. You know there'd be pa.s.sion in our relationship. You can't deny you feel it. What I shared with you all night was in no way brotherly.'

She laughed.

How many times have you done that since we met?' he probed.

A furrow appeared between her eyebrows. What?'

How many times have you smiled? How many times have you laughed?' His voice was low and deep as he added, How many times have you come?'

Another delightful red flush stole over her chest and made its way all the way up to her cheeks.

I've also wanted to throttle you,' she shot back.

He laughed. You see, you feel pa.s.sionate when you're with me.'

You really are incorrigible.'

Serious again, Logan said, Look at me and tell me you haven't felt more alive since we met than you have in ages. I know I have.'

Okay, Logan.' He watched the movement of her throat as she swallowed. You know d.a.m.ned well I desire you like crazy. Last night was...' She shook her head, closed her eyes briefly, then allowed all her pleasure to show in her expression and shine from her eyes. ...something I want to repeat over and over again.'

Then -'

She raised one of her hands from his chest and gestured for him to stop and listen.

He waited for her as she seemed to try to find the right words.

You have to understand that you're also making me feel vulnerable, and all this talk of marriage is impossible. I can't believe the personal details you've drawn out of me in such a short time. I'm normally so guarded, yet I've told you things I haven't told anybody else and that...well...it simply makes me nervous.'

I'd say trusting me enough to open up to me is a positive.'

But -'

You know I'm not after your money. It's you I desire.'

Her face fell, and the finger that had been tracing patterns over his chest now pushed a little against his breastbone. You may desire me but you need a mother for Charlotte and you're hoping this will work to our mutual convenience. My answer is still no to marriage, but I do want to be with you for as long as this lasts between us or until you find a wife.'

An unfamiliar sensation caught and twisted in his chest. He'd found a wife already.

He didn't want anyone else. Sophie was perfect for him. They were perfect for each other. Why the h.e.l.l couldn't she accept that?

She leant toward him and kissed him before he could argue his case any further.

Slowly, he relaxed into her kiss, and told himself to stop thinking and just enjoy feeling. It wasn't difficult. Her skin was soft as he traced her curves with his hands. A quiver went through her as he trailed his fingers down her spine, swept each hand out to her waist then upward until he was cupping the weight of her pert b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

The look in her eyes was pure need and it excited the h.e.l.l out of him. Shifting her body away so they were not in such intimate contact, she made room for her hand to move down so she took his pulsing shaft in a firm grip. Logan closed his eyes and bit back a groan as his body shuddered. Her touch was an invitation to pure sin.

Whoa, sweetheart. Again, so soon?' He borrowed her line.

A tinkle of laughter followed as she increased the pressure of her hand. I think you're up for it.'

I wouldn't want you to think I'm a soft touch.'

The tip of her tongue darted out of her mouth and she ran it along her lower lip as she stroked him up and down. Definitely not a soft touch. I'd say you're a hard man. Very hard.'

Reacting quickly, he flipped her onto her back.

Hey!' she protested playfully.

Didn't I tell you I was a make-things-happen kind of guy?'

Pushing back against his shoulders she reversed their positions again immediately. Grinning at her stubborn determination, he let her have her way.

I'd say you've just met your female equivalent, Logan Jackson.'

Logan watched as a smile of utter satisfaction spread across her face. She reached across to the top of the bedside table for a foil packet. Just as well we both had a stash of these,' she said. I had no idea I'd underestimated so much with my purchase. I'm going to have to find a different pharmacy today because I simply can't go back to the other one again so soon or they'll think I'm some kind of nymphomaniac!'

I like the sound of that,' he said with a wink.

Without any further preliminaries, she applied the protection and straddled him before she took his length in her hand once again and positioned him at her entrance. Then she went up on her haunches and eased down to bury every inch of him within her.

There was no stopping the raw growl that rumbled up from his throat as she placed the palms of her hands on his chest and began to move her pelvis up and down, burying his length and then easing it out of her tight, hot sheath. Sophie had well and truly made up for her drought of however many years it had been since she'd last had s.e.x. Her need for him had been as intense as his for her, and they were well matched as lovers.

Gradually she increased her pace until her thrusts were fast, and he saw the absolute raw need on her gorgeous face as she pushed her body to reach its climax. His shaft was burning, wanting to burst. His grip tightened on her b.u.t.tocks to help her as she began to lose her rhythm.

Her groan of satisfaction and the fierce clenching of her internal muscles around him as she o.r.g.a.s.med was the catalyst he was waiting for to let go of his own restraint and join her. Afterward, she flopped on to his chest, her body still joined to his.

Mm,' she breathed. That was divine.'

He lay back, sated but not entirely content. She'd ridden him like a woman possessed, intent on fulfilling her physical needs. As he thought back over their night, he realised that despite all the great s.e.x, the closeness he'd felt as she'd cuddled into him, and the tenderness with which they'd caressed and kissed each other, he was feeling uncertain.

That was a first.

This is just s.e.x, she'd told him, I'm not making any commitment. How neatly the tables had been turned. Even though he'd uttered the same words too many times to count and had applauded himself for his honesty, and for laying out the rules right at the start of each relationship he'd embarked upon, Sophie's declaration had left him unsure.

She'd said they'd be together until he found a wife. That must mean they were going to the Hunter Valley together this weekend, but as far as he was concerned he'd found his wife, so there would be no goodbye any time soon. But the way she'd ridden him just now had left him feeling a little as though she was treating him like the gigolo she'd initially thought him to be.

I'm going to have a hard time keeping my mind on work today,' she p.r.o.nounced.

Glad to be of service.' Except that was the problem - that last time had felt like a service.

She eased her body off his and stood to don a bathrobe. I'm a grown woman and I'm enjoying finally acting like one instead of holding on to foolish and very girlish romantic notions. I intend to enjoy this between us for as long as it lasts. No regrets.'

The hollow feeling in his chest cavity reminded him of the way all the air had left his lung when the bullet had punctured it.

What was wrong with him? She was offering him an affair full of mind-blowing s.e.x for as long as they were both satisfied. That was the hand he'd always dealt his lovers, the terms and conditions he'd always laid out. So why did he feel out-of-sorts about her declaration?

Because he'd offered her something he'd only ever considered offering one other woman. Marriage. Thankfully he'd found out that the woman he'd thought he loved was more in love with his wallet, and he hadn't been embarra.s.sed and repeated his father's mistake of marrying a gold-digger. But, Logan had offered Sophie marriage and she didn't even appear to be prepared to contemplate it.

Irritation flicked through him as he sat up, removed the condom and threw it into the bin he'd placed next to the bed during the night.

Had he met Sophie a month ago, he wouldn't be feeling this way. An as-long-as-it-lasts affair with her would surely have been enough back then. Now, temporary did not suit his plans. d.a.m.n it! He couldn't afford to indulge in a fling when he needed to present to the court with a wife. I won't accept that this is so short-term, Sophie.'

Oh, Logan,' she sighed, as she tied the belt of the robe firmly around her waist. It can only be a transient affair. We don't love each other and you need to find yourself a wife pretty quickly.'

He stood. I've offered you marriage.'

Her beautiful features hardened and his lover was gone. The Ice Princess was back. Your offer is to act as your wife so you can gain custody of your G.o.ddaughter. In my book that doesn't const.i.tute marriage.'

It would be a real marriage.'

Your idea of a real marriage is a partnership with exclusive s.e.x for the very short-term. To me, marriage should be based on love, and there should be enough commitment there from each person to make it last a lifetime.'

Agitation coiled deep in his gut. d.a.m.n it, Sophie. I don't do love.'