It swung open immediately, his wife smiling up at him from the shadows. What took you so long?
A streak of pure need jolted through his body. Rachel.
That was all he got out before he reached for her, pulling her into his arms where she belonged. His mouth fell on hers, and she kissed him back fervently. She tugged on his hair as if trying to bring him closer. He was happy to oblige.
It wasnt until a gust of particularly frigid December wind hit them that they both realized their front door was standing wide-open. He shoved it closed and turned the dead bolt. The good news was, theyd been in the dark foyer and there were unlikely to be many witnesses at this time of night anyway.
Within seconds, hed turned back to Rachel, but apparently it had been enough time for her to go. His heart pounded an anxious drumbeat as he struggled to read the situation. Had she suddenly had misgivings, or was she simply awaiting him in their bedroom? As if in response to his questions, a thin ray of light appeared, beckoning him toward the living room.
She was at the sofa, leaning one knee on it without really sitting.
He said the first thing that came to mind. Youre beautiful.
She blessed him with an ageless smile, full of feminine secrets. I feel beautiful.
Her fingers flirted with the button at the top of her shirt, and David suspected that he would die on the spot. Except that, if he did, hed never get to make love to Rachel again.
He approached her slowly, curious, not wanting to rush her or take charge of the seduction. As hed climbed out of his car, hed been trying to decide on the best plan of action here. Why hadnt it occurred to him that Rachel might have her own plans?
Mesmerized by the slow slide of the button from its buttonhole, he stopped inches from her. A second button followed, revealing the creamy swell of her breasts. He had to touch her.
He rested his thumb over the third. May I?
She nodded, her eyes echoing the urgency he felt. His fingers actually shook as he unbuttoned the shirt and parted the satiny folds of material. Her breasts were so full, their centers darker than he remembered. It made him crazy that her body had started changing with pregnancy and hed already missed some of it.
Recalling what shed discussed with the doctor, he asked, Are they too tender?
She arched toward him. Only one way to find out, I guess.
Keeping his touch featherlight, he trailed two fingers over the slope of her left breast, slowing so that it took forever to reach the tightly puckered nipple. That hurt?
Wordless, Rachel shook her head. He wanted to smile, but his entire body was humming with arousal. Still, he focused his concentration on being gentle, bringing her pleasure. He slid the fabric off her shoulders, glancing down to take in the sight of his wife wearing only a pair of pink panties. For just a moment, he slid his hands down over her rib cage to her waist, then back up to her breasts. When he moved to lay her back on the couch and lavish her with more attention, she frowned, tugging instead at his shirt. He struggled free, glad for the sudden cool air against his skin. It might be December outside, but it was an inferno here.
Rachel placed a palm against his chest and gave him that smile again, the one he felt down to his toes. He sat, helping steady her with his hands as she straddled his lap. The urge to bury himself inside her, to reclaim what was his, was overwhelming. But he hadnt touched her in weeks-hadnt truly explored her in months-and he refused to deny either of them the experience.
Reaching up, he cupped her breasts together, still gentle but merciless in his attention, running his thumbs over the peaks, bringing her close enough to his mouth to suckle. When she cried out, he had to double-check that he hadnt caused her any discomfort.
No, she assured him. More. Her voice sounded exactly like the woman hed once thought he knew as well as himself, but also not. It was a dizzying, exotic contrast.
He continued to use his tongue and lips against her sensitive flesh, and she bucked in his lap. Edging one finger beneath the band of her panties, he found her slick and ready for him. Having been pushed to exquisite, excruciating limits, he yanked down the combined waist-bands of his pants and boxers. She braced one hand on the sofa back for balance while she shimmied out of her own underwear and he sat paralyzed, absorbed in the sheer joy of watching her, the warm light of the end-table lamp bathing her lush curves in gold. She looked like a decadent, pagan treasure. His treasure.
Kissing her again, he slid her across his thighs, so close now that all rational thought fractured and flew. Meshing his hands in her hair, he angled her head back, wanting to look into her eyes as he thrust upward and impaled her. For just a second, their gazes were locked together as intimately as their bodies. Then she leaned forward, rocking in a rhythm that quickly doubled and grew frantic. Fingers clutched on slippery skin and half-formed words of carnal praise were traded breathlessly.
She called out his name, one of the few coherent things either of them managed, just as her muscles constricted around him. Feeling like an exile finally home, David tightened his embrace and lost himself inside her.
Chapter Thirteen
They lay together stretched out on the couch for some time, dozing but neither of them falling asleep for long. David idly massaged the small of Rachels back, which she seemed to like, judging from the occasional sighs.
He kissed the top of her head. I dont think you told me-what actually tipped Ari off about the baby?
A combination of a couple of different things. A biggie seemed to be our lunch with her the other day. She said it was obvious there was something we werent telling her.
The comment lodged under his skin like a splinter. He and Rachel had definitely been keeping secrets, and not only the happy news of the pregnancy. As for the other? It was probably impolitic to ask where they stood relationship-wise while he still had her naked against him. Theyd dragged an afghan over their bodies as their temperatures dropped back to normal, but neither of them had bothered to dress. Just being around Rachel when she was this uninhibited made him want her again.
Would she expect him to stay the night, or would taking a step that gargantuan be overkill? Despite himself, he grinned. After what theyd just shared, it was hard to imagine anything else being seen as too much, too soon. I hate to leave you, but I guess I should get back to the dogs.
Would she expect him to stay the night, or would taking a step that gargantuan be overkill? Despite himself, he grinned. After what theyd just shared, it was hard to imagine anything else being seen as too much, too soon. I hate to leave you, but I guess I should get back to the dogs.
She nodded. I suppose thats the responsible thing to do.
He felt around for various pieces of clothing while she watched, her expression inscrutable. Rach, I cant tell you how glad I am that you called.
She shot him a smile so wicked it was probably illegal in fifteen states. Well, you kept saying that if there was anything I needed
He laughed out loud, a tremendous weight off his chest. For the first time all year, he felt deep down in his soul that they were going to be okay. It would take work, and it wouldnt happen overnight, but they were going to be okay.
His mother was right-this was the season of miracles.
WHITE ROSES awaited Rachel when she walked into work on Wednesday morning.
May nodded toward them with an approving grin. Someone loves you.
The words gave Rachel warm fuzzies. All morning, though, the quick pulses of joy were followed by nervousness. When shed suggested to David in November that they go their separate ways, shed been almost numb. Even he, by tacit admission and his total lack of protest, had acknowledged how much their relationship had deteriorated. NowLast night had been like regaining feeling in a frostbitten extremity. Along with the extreme pleasure hed brought her, hed awakened a dormant pain. Because, for the first time in a long time, she truly realized how much she had to lose.
She made herself wait half an hour, rather than give in to her eager impulse to call him. Instead, she contacted Belle Fulton with some bids shed put together for the chamber of commerce, then helped May organize a promotional calendar for the coming new year, with seasonally themed discounts and specials. The entire time, David was at the back of her mind, patiently waiting.
Her fingers shook as she dialed the number she knew by heart, and she smiled wryly. Where was the brazen woman whod slowly stripped for her husband the night before? Had he guessed that when she reached for that first button, part of her had been petrified? It had been so worth it, though. Shed felt glorious, powerful, cherished.
Waide Supply. David Waide speaking.
Hey. This is Rachel Waide speaking.
She could feel him smile into the phone. Hey, gorgeous. I was just thinking about you. Of course, thats because I havent stopped thinking about you since I left last night.
Glad to know I made an impression. She glanced around, making sure May was busy and out of earshot, then lowered her voice. So, I was thinking.
Go on, he encouraged. It worked out really well the last time you called me to share your thoughts.
She laughed, but the nervousness that had been dogging her expanded sharply in her lungs-like when you take too deep a breath in really cold air. David, last night was wonderful, but it might have been a bitpre-mature. We might have moved a little fast.
I was really hoping this conversation was going to go differently, he said, forlorn.
But I liked the direction we were moving in, she added. I thought maybe we could, um, date for a little while? I know, you probably think it sounds stupid, but-
It sounds a whole hell of a lot better than losing you, he said emphatically.
Relief coursed through her. In that case, I ordered two tickets to the Winter Wonderland Dance. What are you doing Friday night?