Her response was to melt against him with a soft moan, her hands going to the back of his head, her fingers sinking into his hair to hold him against her.
As if he was going anywhere. He licked, nibbled and sucked, while she held him in her hands and drove him out of his mind with her strokes. He cupped her sweet ass, shifting her a little closer so that she could-oh, God yeah-run the hottest, wettest part of her over the hottest, hardest part of him. God, Liz-
She tugged at his shirt and he obligingly lifted his arms. Before yesterday itd been a long time for him too, way too long. She could have no idea how he was barely holding on to his control here, but before he could mention it, before he could change their positions and lay her back on the couch to cover her body with his, shed lifted up on her knees and guided him home.
When she sank down on him, she gasped out in pleasure, a sound that co-mingled with his low, helpless groan. Lizzy, he murmured, hands going to her hips. Let me-
She rocked her hips and he saw stars. Hed wanted this to last forever, but he didnt have forever, not with her silken wet heat clamped around him and her breath soughing in and out in his ear, not with her hips pumping restlessly, with an air of desperation, as if she needed him so badly she could hardly stand it. With his hand in her hair, holding her head for his kiss, he shifted her leg, opening her a little more for him, so that her body was completely flush to his now, and just like that, everything in his world began to come together.
Or explode.
Depending on how he looked at it. He pushed up into her, a long, hard slide of slick, heated flesh that had her crying out in shocked pleasure as her arms went around him tight, holding on as if for dear life. Jason-God, Jason
Yeah, the way she panted his name just about did him in. He tried to hold back, tried to hold still and just let it ride over him, the feel of his own body sliding in and out of hers, her soft, sweet body plastered up against him, but then she tightened, shuddered and, with a small cry, burst. Unable to hold it together in the face of her gorgeousness as she fell apart for him, all over him, he followed her over.
For what might have been forever, they remained wrapped up like pretzels, breathing like lunatics. He let himself absorb it all, her soft breath in his ear, her hands clasping him close, the feel of her little aftertremors.
Finally she pushed off him and rolled over to flop on the couch at his side. Not a bad way to go out.
He rolled to face her and pulled her in. That wasnt our last time.
Yes, it was.
Lizzy, he said very gently. Its not going away.
What isnt?
Us. Even though you want it to.
She swallowed and closed her eyes. Dont.
Why?
Because youre in transition. Its a bad time for this.
Really? Thats all youve got?
Okay, then its because Im going to LosAngeles.
Which, luckily, is still on Planet Earth. I even know how to get there, imagine that. He dipped his head close. This thing isnt going to go away, just like my feelings for you arent going to. And pretend otherwise all you want, Im going to bet its the same for you. Because he knew his words needed a moment to sink in, he got up and went into the kitchen for water.
LIZZY WATCHED his sexy butt go into her kitchen, watched him grab a glass and turn on the tap while her breath caught in her throat, threatening to choke her. Standing up, she went into her bedroom and grabbed her bathrobe, and on second thought, her spare one, as well, since Jasons clothes were damp. She put on one and entered the kitchen to find Jason finishing a glass of water.
In the buff.
He set down the glass and looked at her.
Ive thought about what you said, she told him. And I think youre confusing love with
He stroked a finger down her jaw. Love?
She gulped. Yeah. That. The one emotion shed never been able to tame, control or make work for her without pain.
Him being gloriously naked didnt help. She tossed him the robe. He held up the pink silk and, with a small smile, slipped into it. He looked ridiculous.
And hot as hell.
Im not confused, Lizzy. In fact, Ive never been more clear. This isnt lust.
Its been twenty-four hours.
Its been over ten years. And heres the thing Ive known since high school, but never had the balls to follow up on-youre it for me.
Oh my God.
I want this to work.
This? She spread her hands. This is merely adrenaline, and okay a lot of affection and heat, but thats all in-the-moment stuff. Im going off to get the life thats always been within my grasp, and youyou dont even know for sure what youre doing.
So what? I still havent heard a reason for us to throw this away. He crossed his arms and waited. In pink silk.
She gulped, torn between hysterical laughter and a horrible vulnerability. Okay, its not you. Its me. She paused, then admitted the truth. Its all me. II dont get love. I dont trust it. I dont want it.
Thats because loves always cost you. He stepped close, dipped down to meet her eyes. Its always been a burden, holding you back. It doesnt have to be like that, Lizzy, not with us.
Stop. Shakily, she lifted a hand to hold him off as she shook her head and backed up. I cant take you seriously in that thing. Im sorry.
Fine. He dropped it, smiling as silkily as the material of the robe. Better?
Was he kidding? Okay, listen. I know what youre saying. Hell, any shrink out there would have a field day with this, my textbook fear of commitment. I lost my parents young, had to raise my sister, always had to be in control and now I cant give that up to share my life, blah, blah, blah She let out a breath. Listen, you said youre screwed up, but the truth is, Im the screwed-up one. Lets just leave it at that, okay?
No. He shook his head. No, not okay.
From somewhere in the depths of the bathroom where shed left her clothes, her cell phone went off. Grateful for the interruption, she whirled toward it.
Lizzy.
She kept going.
16
LIZZY RAN INTO the bathroom for her cell phone. Please, she whispered as she yanked it out of her pocket. Be Cece
But the incoming number was unfamiliar to her, and she sagged in disappointment. Hello?
Lizzy?
It was Cece. Her throat swelled. Oh, thank God. Are you okay? Where are you?
Well, I was halfway between my place and yours, in a Hummer, but now-
Are you okay?
I am now. Lizzy, this phones going to die. Can you come?
Yes, of course, Ill come help you.
Thats the thing. I dont need help, I managed. On my own. Well- She laughed. Not on my own, not at all. Hunter was there with me.
Who? And where are you?
WereHunter, where are we again? Ceces voice broke off and then there was some rustling.
Cece? Lizzy said. Cece? Whos Hunter-
That would be me, said a deep, masculine voice in her ear. Were at the San Luis Memorial.
And that was it, the cell died. San Luis Memorial, she said to herself, whirling to get dressed only to plow into Jason. He tossed her clothes at her as he hopped into his jeans.
Come on, he said, and grabbed her hand.
She spared the split second to stare at him in eternal gratitude. Jason. You dont have to-
He didnt even slow, just sent her an annoyed glance over his shoulder. Really, Lizzy? Youre going to dump me and argue with me?
No. No, she wasnt. Shes with some guy.
Okay.
No, you dont understand. She gave up men. We both did.
Beg to disagree on that one.
She sighed. I had a momentary slip. You sneaked in past my defenses.
Right back at ya, babe.
CECE LOOKED UP at Hunter as he replaced the hospital phone by her bed, then leaned in closer and stroked her hair from her face. How are you feeling?
Hed delivered her baby and then managed to wave down a boat floating past them, whod transported them to a roadblock and emergency personnel. From there theyd gotten a ride to the hospital in San Luis Obispo, since Santa Reys had been so badly damaged theyd not been accepting patients.
How did she feel after all shed been through? Shockingly good. She looked down at the sweetest little baby girl shed ever seen. The infant lay on her chest, looking up with bright blue eyes, mouth pursed seriously. The peach fuzz on her bald head softened the rather severe expression, and Cece fell madly in love with her all over again.
Shes beautiful, Hunter said.
Yeah. She paused, then screwed up the courage to voice the thought foremost in her mind now that she could breathe. I guess its over now, right?
Which? The storm? Hunter glanced out the window and shook his head. Not quite yet, though the worst has passed, I think.
Not that. She paused. This.
He paused, too, and she figured he had no idea what the hell she was talking about.
Hell, she barely knew what she was talking about.
No, that was a lie, and she no longer lied, especially to herself. She knew exactly what she meant.
Cece. His voice was achingly soft, achingly deep as he hunkered down to her eye level.
Oh, God. Here it came. Another rejection. She should be good at them by now, but she wasnt. Its okay, she whispered. I-
I dont want it to be over.
She closed her eyes, then opened them and saw his steady, patient gaze. You dont?
Slowly he shook his head, then bent to press a kiss to the babys head, and then Ceces mouth. Theyd been through so much that she felt as if she knew him better than shed ever known anyone, so it was a bit shocking to realize that it was their first kiss.
It was perfect.
Cupping her face, he looked into her eyes for a long moment, then kissed her again, letting her feel and taste the truth.
Yeah. He was right. It wasnt over.
Not by a long shot.
JASON GOT THEM back to his Jeep in an hour which, considering the conditions, was nothing less than a small miracle.
They didnt speak, which was for the best. Lizzy could sense his frustration, his hurt, and it killed her that shed caused it.
She hurt, too. It was the one thing shed wanted to avoid, and yet here she was.
Sporting a damn cracked open heart.
The rain finally slowed to an immeasurable drizzle as they drove back the way theyd come to get to the highway. Lizzy couldnt take her horrified eyes off the destruction. Houses had taken on up to ten feet of water depending on where they were and how high the foundations were elevated. There were bricks knocked off retaining walls, fences down, roofs missing. Entire streets gone.