Chapter 16 #2
"It's supposed to be." She held out a hand, and he joined her on the chaise.
"It's such a beautiful night."
"Matt said you were fierce."
He sighed and realized she was not letting it go. "I did what I had to."
"My hero."
"I caused the problem--"
She placed a finger over his lips. "Don't spoil the moment. We're here and she's in Spain? Wales?"
"Scotland. I keep tabs on her."
"Her agent dropped her. And she was killed off in the series."
"Bad luck for her." His tone was mild, his expression feral.
"I'm scared of you."
Tucking his head down, he met her gaze. "You never have to be."
"I know. In two weeks, I will be as right as rain. Therapy is going well and I'm not so sore down there."
"I can wait."
"I can't." He hissed out a breath when she slipped her hand into the waistband of his shorts.
"Our son--"
"Is sleeping and even if he wasn't, he would have no clue."
"We cannot simply-- God! Sweetheart--" He broke off with a groan when she slid the tip of her finger over him.
"We can't." He rasped, but he was already as hard as iron and getting harder. It had been two weeks, and he was starved.
"We can." She sprung him free, long fingers sliding up and down the throbbing length. He was hot and unraveling rapidly. His blood was draining from his head.
"I want to feel you."
"We can't." He was weakening. Dammit, he could feel himself losing control.
"I want my mouth on you."
"Baby. Oh good Christ!" His body shuddered when she shimmied down and closed her mouth over him.
Hot liquid desire slammed into him with a force that had him reeling.
Sensations rocked his body and had him lifting his hips to meet her mouth.
It did not take long for him to climax. Biting down on his bottom lip, he shuddered, fingers flexing and fisting as she continued to use her tongue and mouth to drive him mad.
While their son slept through it all.
Grinning, she moved up and wrapped her arms around him. "I can tell you're no longer tense."
He could not speak and was still trying to recover.
When he found a modicum of control, he kissed the top of her head. "Witch." He managed hoarsely, making her laugh.
*****
August gave way to September and with it the fierce heat continued.
Her therapy was going well and she was healing nicely.
She had taken an indefinite leave of absence, much to her husband's relief.
There were still some bad moments each time he saw the scar left back from the bullet and the thin one slicing across her abdomen.
Even though she tried to reassure him that she was fine, he refused to touch her.
It was pissing her off. Aside from some heavy petting and the one time she had gone down on him out on the patio, the man was coming up with all sorts of excuses why they should not get back to the physical side of things. She was getting tired of it.
Their son was a month old when she decided to take the bull by the horns.
If she had to kidnap him, then so be it.
She wanted him back in her bed, not just lying next to her but making love and showing her that she was still beautiful.
The pregnancy weight was as stubborn as hell and was taking its time to go the hell away.
She was breastfeeding or mostly doing so as instructed by the nurses.
She had confided in her brother that she needed to feel normal again after all they had been through.
"I could take my nephew for a night." He gestured towards the direction of her bosom, and she smiled. "You could you know, do what you do."
"You mean express milk? You're allowed to say it, you know."
"Okay, pump or express. Whatever. I want some time with that beautiful baby. Andre wants to help."
"How sweet." She shook her head. "I want an entire weekend. I'm having separation issues already, but Kyle and I need this."
"What about Martha's Vineyard? Don't we have some sort of vacation home there?"
"Two."
"There you go."
"No." She shook her head. "I want something private."
"Where--" He broke off with a smile. "The cabin at Elder's Grove."
She grinned at him. "Precisely. I'm afraid you're only going to have him for one day and night."
"Why?"
"Because the little prince is in demand. My son is responsible for bringing the family together. Dad wants him as well as the grandparents. And Mom."
Matthew stared at her with lifted brows.
"Really?"
"Yep. So, you get him Friday. Dad has agreed to spend the night at the manor so that they all get to spoil him rotten including Jessica."
"She looks happy."
"She is."
"And Mom?"
"Another time. I still cannot get over what she put me through."
"It's going to take time. Okay, I'll settle for a day and night for now. Go and seduce your man."
"I plan to."
*****
At first, he balked at the idea of leaving their baby boy.
"He'll be with family, and we need some time alone. I cannot believe I have to be begging you for this. After what I went through--" She knew it was emotional blackmail, but she was willing to bring out the big guns.
When he started to reach for her, she stepped back. "If it's too much to ask--"
"No, dammit. No." Raking his fingers through his hair, he paced away. "You're right. We need to get back to where we were or to a better place. I see the scars on your beautiful skin and want to lash out." He stopped in front of her.
"I love you and the last thing I ever wanted was for you to get hurt. Yes, let's go away. We can leave our son with the family and just be with each other." He touched her cheek gently. "I've missed you."
"I've missed us. Leave it to me."
*****
The minute they carried their bags inside, they came back to sit on the porch swing.
"This is where I would love to grow old.
Sitting right here holding hands and looking at the sun setting.
Just look at the way it colors the sky. Right here, right now, it seems like all is right with the world. All the ugliness is beyond us."
"You were right as usual." She was cradled between his thighs, and he was using his feet to move the swing back and forth. The evening was mellow with the sounds of creatures scrambling in the brushes.
"I'd forgotten about this place." His lips teased the delicate lobe of her ear. "Grandpa Jack and William used to come here to fish. They would take me with them on occasions."
She leaned back and breathed in the fresh air.
"We're happy."
"Was that a question?"
"No." She shook her head. "I was afraid of verbalizing it because I did not want to jinx it." She turned sideways.
"Make love to me, darling."
His eyes glittered. "Let's go in--"
"No. Right here on this swing. In full view of nature."
He looked over at the bushes growing wild and untamed along the cobbled drive. It was true they were isolated, but there was always a chance--
"Yes."
Her eyes, the golden-brown beauty of them, showed that he had made the right response.
"Right here. Now. It's perfect." He cupped the back of her head and tilted it to close his mouth on hers. The kiss was warm, silky, and sweet. He stayed right there and could have taken them deeper, wanted to do just that, but the moment called for sweetness and time to enjoy each other.
Her hands drifted up, up, gliding over his chest, where she could feel the gentle thudding of his heart.
She had borne a child, carried this man's seed inside her womb.
He had been an enemy, a person she thought she despised and had turned out to be the most important person in her life.
Aside from her precious son, one he had created with her, he was everything to her.
She wanted to show him. It had to be more than words.
As if her urgency had been transmitted, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt.
His mouth was fused to hers, her breath tangling with his.
He could smell her, his mate, the woman he loved above all others, one he would die for, one he would gladly kill for.
He could taste the silkiness of her lips, feel the satiny sheen of her beautiful skin.
His hands skimmed over the bruise placed there by a crazed woman and he felt his heart contracting.
Losing her had almost maddened him. Getting her back had humbled him.
He would spend every moment telling her, showing her that she was his world.
Swiftly they undressed each other. The slow ember had turned into a blazing inferno.
Her neck arched under his skillful fingers.
He offered and she took. And gave in return.
Unabashedly and without shame, she gave herself up.
When his mouth closed over her breasts that were swollen with his son's milk, he suckled until he drew sighs and cries that echoed in the silence of their surroundings.
She was insane with need. Reaching between them, she fondled and caused her own furor. He swelled, his sex hardening until he was aching with a need so desperate, so powerful, he felt as if he would die from it.
He needed her and wondered dazedly, how he could have waited this long to take what was his. With a cry of pain and pleasure, he settled her over him, her tightness wrapping around him and stealing his breath.
Their coupling was sweet and poignant, until it was not. Desire raged strong and fierce, until the climax that took them was so forceful, they had to cling to each other to anchor themselves.
He held her close, his body shuddering, hands racing up and down her back. She was his, completely and utterly his and nothing in this life or the next could ever change that.
Later in bed, he held her warm body, the generous curves wrapping around him and felt contentment stealing over him.
As the cool night breeze whispered through the trees, it carried with it the scent of rain and earth, wrapping them in nature's embrace.
Their whispered words faded, replaced by the simple language of touch and closeness, each movement a silent promise that spoke louder than any vow.
In that secluded haven, the rest of the world melted away, leaving only the two of them, united, at peace, and utterly complete.
The end…