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and touched Valentin’s knee. He pretended not to notice his friend move away. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
    “It’s about us.”
    Peter sat back and crossed his legs. “By ‘us’ I assume you mean you, me and Sara?”
    “I haven’t spoken to Sara about this yet, so please don’t blame her. This is purely my decision.”
    “You want me to stay away from your bed.”
    Val held his gaze. “Yes.”
    “Do you think I might hurt Sara or the baby?”
    “Christ, no!”
    Peter’s gut clenched as though Val had physically hit him. It was an effort to get up and walk to the door. After his night with James, and James’s willing acceptance of his lovemaking, Val’s sudden hypocrisy made him want to retch.
    “Get out of my office, Val. And give my best to Sara.”
    “If you will just listen…”
    “I don’t think so. You’ve always been reluctant to allow me into your bed. And this gives you a perfect opportunity to sever that connection permanently.” He opened the door. “I’ve decided to take a few weeks off. I suggest you leave Anthony in charge if you can’t be here yourself. He shows every sign of becoming as ruthless in business as you are.”
    Valentin moved in front of him, his voice low and fierce. “Don’t do this. Don’t make this into something it’s not.”
    Peter smiled. “But that’s me all over isn’t it, Val? I used to believe that you loved only me once and look what a mess that got us into. Perhaps this is for the best.”
    “Peter, for God’s sake, I…”
    Peter shoved Val over the threshold, stepped back and carefully shut the door in his best friend’s face. He turned the key and remained braced against it until Val’s footsteps faded into the distance. Finally he allowed his legs to fold and sank down onto the floor.
    Hell and Damnation. What was wrong with him? He’d fully intended to accept Valentin’s dismissal with his usual good grace and humor, but he hadn’t been able to muster such a positive response. Val was perfectly within his rights to ask Peter to stop visiting his bed. In truth, Peter would have offered to do so.
    So why did he feel so betrayed? It all came back to his early dependency on Val. They’d been lovers until Peter realized Val was only tolerating him and much preferred women. Val had never admitted that he needed Peter. Peter had long suspected that Val’s invitation to join him and Sara in bed had originated in a desire to please his wife rather than a true acknowledgement of his real nature.
    Was it time to break the intimate circle and move on? Peter thought about James Beecham and the unexpected strength of his feelings for this unknown man. He raised his head and stared at his desk. He owed his life to Val and would do anything for his friend. Perhaps it was time to make the ultimate sacrifice and let his best friend go.
     
    Abby waited until James’s valet had left before she ventured into his bedroom. He greeted her with a smile and a kiss on her hand. She settled herself in one of the wing chairs beside the fire and accepted a glass of port.
    James looked well. The dark green satin of his robe accentuated the darkness of his hair and eyes. He sat opposite her and warmed his big, capable hands in the firelight. She tucked her bare feet underneath her as the port settled in her stomach.
    “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “After the letter you wrote me?”
    She glanced down at the ruby-red swirl of her port. “I feel foolish for even writing it now.”
    “Don’t be. I’ve always admired your ability to get right to the point.” He studied her face. “Unless you have changed your mind?”
    To gain time, Abby sipped at her port. “No, I’d still like a child, but it was stupid of me to try to force your hand.”
    He smiled at her, displaying the dimple on his chin. “I’m not sure it was my hand you were trying to force. My cock, perhaps?”
    She spluttered as port went up her