Hey there, he said quietly, and she almost jerked right out of her skin.
Twirling, she saw him, sitting in the chair by the window, legs stretched out in front of him, hands resting on his thighs.
Relaxed and calm.
Except for the sparks shooting out of his eyes.
I didnt see you, she said with a hand to her racing heart.
Yeah. He pushed to a stand. Thats a big problem for us.
He was not happy. In fact, he looked fairly furious.
Nick-
You dont see me. He came close so that she could see that it wasnt just anger in those eyes, but something else, something deeper. Fear. Concern. Tension.
All caused by her.
First, he said, pushing her hair from her face with a surprisingly gentle hand. Are you all right?
Was she? Hard to tell with her nerves so highly strung. Yes.
Good. He stared at her, then let out a disparaging breath. Damn it. Im so mad I forgot what the second thing was.
Nick-
You went to the dog show. Risked yourself. You did it alone because thats the way you wanted it.
I had to! she cried. Nick, Im going crazy just waiting for things to happen to me. I cant do it anymore. Im taking control. Im taking action. I need those records from Laura Lyn, and shes promised to get them to me.
Theres something I need, too, and Im going to take it now. Then he hauled her up to her toes and kissed her. It tasted of frustration and temper, but more than that, it tasted of affection and need. An intoxicating mix, as she began to understand something shed missed before. Not some passing fancy, this. Not some vague attempt to bring back their high school days with a cheap thrill.
There was far more to his touch and kiss than that, and she had to admit, far more to hers. Nick.
See me, Danielle. Hear me. Stop shutting me out and feel me. His hands slid down her back to her hips, binding her to him as the kiss deepened, somehow tender despite its wild demand.
She met and matched his passion, mating her tongue to his, giving him her own affection and need and temper and frustration, as she suddenly couldnt get close enough, feel him enough.
You wanted me to be gone when you got back, he said, his breath uneven, pulling back to nuzzle at her ear. You want me gone now.
Nick How to explain when she didnt understand herself? All she knew was that the only place shed ever felt safe and sound and at home was here, in his arms.
How could that be?
I know we started fast, he murmured. But I dont want to finish fast. He slid his hands up her ribs, his thumbs just brushing the undersides of her breasts.
She opened her mouth to say she liked fast, but all that came out was a groan. Encouraged, he moved his hands beneath her top, cupping her breasts, stroking her nipples until she shuddered, pressing shamelessly against him while his mouth feasted on hers. This manno one had ever touched her like this man. Fascinated, needy, her hands explored him too, slipping beneath his shirt, feeling the muscles in his back hard and tense under her touch.
I want more, he said, and his fingers slid down her back and dipped under the lace of her panties. She shifted, making access easier, loving the sound that came from his throat when he found her wet for him.
I cant walk away, he said hoarsely, running his busy mouth down her neck, his hands still in her panties, his hips pressing to hers. You should know that.
Yes She could hardly stand. And you should know Im halfway to orgasm. You scare me to death.
At the words, torn from her throat, he took his hands from her and went utterly still.
Not physically, she added quickly, linking her arms around his neck, pressing even closer. Dont stop. Never physically. But God, Nick She managed to look directly into his eyes. You threaten my heart. Surely you know that.
I only know you threaten mine.
Thats why this wont work. We-
Kiss me, Danielle. His voice was rough with regret, need. Just shut up and kiss me.
I can do that. She heard the sound of impending loss in her own voice, too, and tried not to. Her fingers tightened in his hair as she drew his mouth back to hers. Then, when they could no longer breathe, but neither wanted to break away, Nick rested his cheek against her hair. She felt his heart thundering, felt her own matching it.
She could love him.
With so little effort, she could fall good and hard. With a little sigh for what might have been, with a sigh for what might be her last night with him, she let him back her to the bed.
NICK LOST HIMSELF in the moment, concentrating on binding Danielle so tightly to him that for once she wouldnt be able to rebuild that wall around her heart afterward. He was shameless about it, using his lips, his tongue, his teeth, making her tremble and buck and arch beneath him.
Im having trouble breathing, she informed him, trying to crawl into his body.
Good. He couldnt breathe, either.
The night had come upon them. The low-burning lamp by the bed made her skin glow, made her eyes soft and dreamy, and he knew hed never forget how she looked right in that moment, sighing with the pleasure that he gave her. He wanted to overdose her on that pleasure, wanted to keep her pliant and weak with desire.
Good. He couldnt breathe, either.
The night had come upon them. The low-burning lamp by the bed made her skin glow, made her eyes soft and dreamy, and he knew hed never forget how she looked right in that moment, sighing with the pleasure that he gave her. He wanted to overdose her on that pleasure, wanted to keep her pliant and weak with desire.
For him.
They were down to their underwear, kneeling on the bed, mouths clinging. Nicks plan was to make her wild, but she turned the tables and did it to him as she ran her hands over his body.
Youre so beautifully made, Nick.
Mmm, not like you. Bending his head, he licked the smooth curve that plumped out of her bra, inhaling the warm female scent of her as his fingers slid along her rib cage to the back, unfastening the hook so that her breasts spilled into his waiting hands.
Still need more, he decided, and stripped away their remaining clothing, easing her down on the bed, coming against her as the sheets shifted beneath them, as the evening breeze drifted in the window and over their skin.
Naked flesh against naked flesh. Moving, touching, holding, tasting in slow, erotic intent, reveling in the mutual delight. Mutual joy.
He definitely found more than he sought. More than he intended, as his senses soared, his soul stirred and his heart opened.
Nick, she whispered as he slid into her, her voice filled with all the awe hed already discovered.
I know. Joined, vulnerable yet strong, he moved. She moved with him, and the passion rose, consumed, taking him unaware, the hunger made all the more poignant by the accompanying fear that this was unique. Theirs.
Forever.
DARKNESS HAD FALLEN outside, but for Ted, that darkness went soul deep.
He stood outside some godforsaken bed-and-breakfast inn called Twin Oaks.
Hell, is what he would have called it. Hed seen them. Hed stood outside, cloaked by the night, and watched them embrace through the glass picture window.
Danielle and her new boyfriend. Shed gotten herself a new boyfriend.
Shed be punished for that.
Even the moon had gone to bed while Ted stood there in the woods. Watching. The window went dark.
Which meant right at this moment, somewhere inside there, lay Danielle with another man.
The fury nearly blinded him, but he forced a long, deep breath. Nothing had changed. She would come back to him. She would.
He would make her.
14
NICK SLEPT with Danielle that night, and the next, both against his better judgement.
But he was discovering, when it came to Danielle and his emotions, there was little better judgement to be found. They made love, they talked, they laughed.
And continued to play at being engaged for Nicks family.
But though staying had been his own choice, it turned out to be incredibly difficult, because with each passing day he became more and more sure of the one thing Danielle wouldnt want to hear.
They were meant to be together.
One morning, he woke up to an empty bed. When he surged up with a moment of panic, Sadie opened one eye from her perch on the floor and sent him a baleful stare.
Well, if youre still here, she must be, too, he decided, relaxing.
Without comment, Sadie closed her eye, ignoring him.
But when Danielle came out of the bathroom, fully dressed, Sadie leaped up to be petted.
Hey, Nick said softly, still prone. Come back to bed and wake me up.
You look awake to me.
Im having a nightmare. Comfort me.
She reached down and clipped Sadies leash. Sadie needs to be walked.
With a sigh at leaving the warm, cozy bed, Nick rose, jammed his legs into his jeans and came up behind her. How do you do that? He stroked a finger over the shoulder left bare by her sleeveless sweater.
She has to go-
Love me with all your heart during the night, then in the light of day pull back. Distance yourself.
She went very still. I dont do any such thing.
Really? He turned her to face him, and looked into her cool gray eyes. Youre doing it right now. Working up a temper to avoid the real issue.
Which is?
Us.
Nick-
Why is that, Danielle? Why do you let me in only when Ive got you naked and writhing and desperate for me to make you come-
Im never desperate.
She tried to turn away again but he pressed her into the door. Wanna bet? he asked silkily, his thumbs brushing the barest of touches on the very undersides of her breasts, a spot he knew by now made her stretch and purr like a stroked cat.
Her eyes fell closed. Thatwont work.
Uh-huh. Hed heard the helpless hitch in her voice, and made the movement again, this time reaching slightly higher, nearly to her nipples.
At the base of her neck, her pulse raced. He put his mouth there, tasting the spot, and she let out a little whimper.
This is She trailed off to gasp when he dotted hot, wet, openmouthed kisses down her throat.
He lifted her, just enough to press his erection against the V of her shorts.
Nickwhat are you trying to prove?
He could hardly remember. Something about making you desperate for me, he muttered, his mouth still full of her flesh.
Imnever desperate.
But the words sounded satisfyingly weak when he ran his hands up the backs of her thighs, spreading them open so he could step between them.