A Perfect Match: (Raining Romance Series) (6 page)

He covered her body completely with his, bearing most of his weight on one elbow.  He needed to have a hand free to knead her firm, perky breast.

With his mouth close enough to touch hers, he whispered, “I look into your beautiful blue eyes and drown in their depths.  I touch your lovely face and my soul shatters into a million pieces.  I taste your sweet lips and die a thousand deaths.”

Jaslyn caressed his face.  “Oh, Rhein.  I didn’t know you were so romantic.”

Emotion tightened his chest.  His pelvis continued rocking against hers.  His thrusting was slow and sensual but held an intensity that took both their breaths.  His voice was strained by desire and a primal need to devour this woman.  To possess her and mark her as his own.  “Normally, I am not.  It is only you who inspires such words and actions,” he said, pulling his manhood from her hot, wet tightness then forcefully slamming it back in again.  He buried himself to the hilt and roughly ground his hard prick against the pulsating walls of her vagina. 

Arching her back, she cried out and writhed beneath him.  She closed her eyes and threw her head back as the first waves of pleasure took her.  She had never experienced an orgasm with such emotional and physical intimacy before.  She loved this man.  Of that she was sure.

When she opened her eyes she reveled in the twisted look of pleasure and agony on his face.  She was responsible for it.  Tonight, she was the woman who was milking every ounce of his strength.  It was a powerful, heady feeling. 

She knew he was reaching for his own release. He relentlessly jackhammered into her.  She would be lucky if she could walk tomorrow.  Already, she felt deliciously sore and bruised.  She welcomed the feeling. 

His manhood grew even longer and harder inside her.  She knew he was so close to coming. Clenching her vaginal muscles around him, she caused him to scream out in ecstasy. The rush of hot semen triggered her second orgasm of the evening.

Rhein collapsed on top of her.  Their bodies were covered in a fine sheen of sweat.  Both of them struggled to catch their breath. 

Jaslyn held his head to her breasts, relishing the weight of his body.  The pounding of his heart reverberated through her ribcage.  At that moment it was as if they shared the same heart.

Slowly his erection ebbed, and his cock gently slipped out of her.  He lifted his head and gazed deep into her eyes.  “We were made for each other, Jaslyn.  You belong to me now.”

Just as she opened her mouth to respond, his phone chimed.

He cursed, rolling off her.  Quickly getting to his feet, he grabbed his phone from his pants pocket.

He gave her an apologetic look.  “That was Michael.  He and his wife are leaving the hospital now.  I need to get back to Sahara.  The nighttime is worst for her.  She cannot sleep if I am not there.”

Jaslyn pulled a throw from off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around herself.  Standing, she said, “I understand completely.  Go and be with your sister.  We can talk later.”

He dressed quickly, offering her another earthshattering smile that made her go weak in the knees. “We will talk in the morning, sweet Jaslyn.  I expect you to be in my office at nine o’clock.” 

She smiled in response.

He dipped his head, taking her mouth in one last passionate kiss before running out the door.

CHECKING HIS WATCH FOR the hundredth time, Rhein glared at Michael.  “It is ten o’clock.  Where the hell is she?”

Michael shook his head.  “I know you offered Jaslyn a job, but did she actually accept it?”

Rhein paced the length of his office.  “Yes.  No.  I do not know.”

“Well, I’m glad we cleared that up.”

“Do not be facetious.  Come to think of it, she may have skirted the issue.  But, after last night, I just assumed—shit! Get me her number.  I will call and get to the bottom of things.”

Michael sat down at the computer and pulled up Jaslyn’s personnel file.  Just as he opened his mouth to convey the information, Rhein’s phone rang.”

“Yes.  Are you sure? I’ll be right there!”

Turning to Michael, he whooped.  “It was Dr. Collins.  They found a kidney for Sahara!”

“How about the HLA test?” Michael asked breathlessly.

“All six antigens line up.  The donor is a perfect match! Sahara will live!”

Michael embraced his friend.  “Oh, thank God.  Do you want me to come with you?”

“No.  They are prepping her and the donor now.  I will only have a few minutes with Sahara before surgery.  Jot down Jaslyn’s number for me.  I will try to reach her from the hospital.  I want to tell her the good news myself.”

RHEIN PULLED INTO THE emergency room parking lot, feeling lighter, happier and more hopeful than he had in years.  Sahara was getting her life-saving miracle, and he was in love with Jaslyn.  He knew it last night when their bodies were joined together.  He had planned on telling her this morning.  He thought it would be romantic to disclose his feelings in his office—where they had first met and first fought.  To think he had wanted to dismiss her and send her away.  Now, it was driving him crazy not knowing where she was.  He wanted her with him always.

Making his way across the waiting room, he walked the same hall the two of them had last night.  Before making the sharp turn to Sahara’s room, he pulled out his phone and tried again.  It went straight to voicemail.  He didn’t leave a message.  The things he wanted say to Jaslyn had to be said in person.

As he stood in front of Room 223, he took a deep breath.  Soon, this nightmare would be over.  He and Sahara would once again work side by side at the company they had built together.  There would be no more hospital stays, no more anxiety-filled, sleepless nights.  And no more antiseptic smells. 

He smiled brightly and pushed the door open.  When he stepped inside, his heart failed.  His eyes bulged.  His legs buckled.  He barely made it across the room before collapsing between two hospital beds.  He didn’t even feel the pain when his knees hit the hard tiled flooring.  Tears of joy and utter disbelief wracked his body.  On his left lay Sahara.  All the tubes from the dialysis machine had been removed.  She had a single IV in her arm.  To his right lay Jaslyn.  She, too had a single IV in her arm.  Both of them were sleeping.  The reality of the situation hit him like a tidal wave. 
Jaslyn was the donor
.  The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with was giving life to his sister.

He struggled to his feet as the doctor came in. 

“Mr. Birkner, you’ve got two incredible women here.  Jaslyn called last night, asking to be tested first thing this morning.  She didn’t want to tell you in case it didn’t work out.  But, as you know, she was a perfect match for your sister.”

Rhein beamed.  “As it turns out, she is a perfect match for me, too.”

The doctor nodded and smiled.  “I hope you don’t mind that we got started with the prep and sedation without you.  The sooner we get this operation underway, the better.  This is what we’ve been waiting three long years for,” he said, clapping Rhein on the shoulder.

  “Indeed,” he said, leaning over and kissing his sister on the forehead.  The nurse wheeled Sahara’s bed out the room, giving him a chance to gently kiss Jaslyn on the lips.  With his mouth close to her ear, he whispered, “I love you.”

ZENA STARKLER WAS ABUZZ with Sahara’s return.  It had been three months since the transplant, and she was glowing with health.  Her first day back was one big party that went on well into the evening. When all the employees finally dispersed, Rhein and Sahara convened in his office.

“So, big brother, where is my sister-in-law-to- be? I thought she’d be here today.”

“It is my fault Jaslyn missed your welcome- back-to-work party, and I am sorry.  I am anxious for us to be married.  Since she has insisted upon a big wedding, I have to wait for her to make all of these ridiculous preparations.”

“Such as.”

“Well, this morning it was all about selecting centerpieces for the tables, deciding on what kind of flowers to have and choosing bridal-party gifts.  This evening, she and her mother are cake tasting.  Can you imagine?”

Sahara laughed.  “These things are normal wedding preparations, Rhein.  They aren’t ridiculous at all.”

“Oh, really? Who needs a cake? What is wrong with serving fine German chocolate? What else could people want or need?”

“It’s not about what people
want
.  It’s about what the bride
needs
.”

“Very well.  I will not interfere.  Jaslyn shall have all she wants and needs.  I just hope she does not wear herself out.  I am worried she is overdoing it.”

Sahara waved his concerns away.  “Dr.  Collins has released us from his care and given us both a clean bill of health.  I’m sure Jaslyn has more than enough energy to plan her wedding.”

He frowned.  “Yes, but will she have enough energy for other things?”

Sahara let out an overly-exaggerated groan.  “Oh, I get it now.  I read the post-op pamphlet—no sex for 12 weeks.”  She looked at the date on her watch.  “That time of abstinence ends tonight.”

Glancing at his own watch, he said, “Yes, it does, and it is getting late.  I best be heading out.”

She nodded.  “I have plans tonight as well, so you’ll have the house to yourself, lover boy.”

He rolled his eyes.  “I was going to stay at Jaslyn’s.  Kitsy does not seem to mind having me around.  I know the poor thing is going to be terribly lonely once Jaslyn and I are married.  They have been roommates for the last seven years.”

“I know.”

He cocked an eyebrow.  “Jaslyn told you?”

“No.  Kitsy.  She and I have gotten rather close in the last three months.  In fact, we have become really, really good friends.  Once you and Jaslyn are married, I’m moving in with Kitsy.”

“What? You do not have to do that.  There is plenty of room for all of us.  You and I built that house together.  It is huge.”

“Yes, but newlyweds need privacy.  And once you start a family, you’re going to need every spare inch for them to run around in. Besides, Kitsy and I might like a little privacy of our own,” she said, winking.

“No! I did not have the foggiest idea Kitsy was a lesbian.  Jaslyn never breathed a word.”

Sahara teased him.  “Perhaps she isn’t a gossip like you.”

Rhein gave his sister a big hug.  “I am happy for you, Sahara.  You deserve romantic love and happiness.  You are long overdue.  We both are.”

Sahara wiped a tear of joy from the corner of her eye and smiled.  “Go get your woman, and I’ll go get mine.”

JASLYN WAS EXHAUSTED BUT also filled with anticipation.  She knew Rhein had been counting down the days just as she had.  Finally, after twelve long weeks, he could be inside her again.  And she wanted that more than anything else in the world.  It felt like forever since the first time they had made love.  She was especially excited about being with him at his house.  The place she would soon be calling home, where they would live as husband and wife.

His kitchen was lovely and spacious.  While he chopped organic lettuce and vegetables, she poured them a glass of white wine.  Still being full from eating thirty tiny cake squares, she welcomed a light, fresh salad.

While he put the finishing touches on the homemade dressing, she asked, “How was Sahara’s first day back?”

“Good and festive.  Everyone was so happy to see her.  No one got any work done.”

“I hate I missed it.  But if we’re to be married next month, I have to get all this wedding stuff done in record-breaking time.”

She watched him dry his big, strong hands on a dish towel.  She wasn’t sure she could wait until after they ate.  She was craving his touch, longing to feel his hands roam over her body.  To have his long, graceful fingers slip between her feminine folds.

He took a sip of wine.  “Is there anything I can do to help out?  Sahara filled me in on the dynamics of weddings and brides, making me understand how important all of these details are to you.”

Jaslyn tilted her head to the side.  “Aww.  How sweet of her.  She and I are having lunch tomorrow.  I’ll have to thank her for setting you straight.”

He nodded.  “You do that.  Speaking of setting people straight, did you know your roommate Kitsy is not?”

Jaslyn nearly choked on her wine.  “Where did you hear that?”

“From my sister.  It seems Sahara and Kitsy have gotten rather close lately.  Do you know the two of them plan on becoming roommates after you and I get married?” he asked, advancing on her.

She backed away from him, trying to suppress a smile.  He
took several measured steps toward her like a tiger stalking its prey.  Her heart raced.  The old familiar darkness of anger and passion clouded his eyes, immediately making her wet.

It was true: she had intentionally kept her roommate’s sexual orientation hidden, as well as Kitsy and Sahara’s budding romance.  It wasn’t her secret to tell.  She was glad Sahara confided in Rhein; it was her place to do so, not Jaslyn’s.

“Sweet Jaslyn.” His voice was deep and rough.  “You have not answered me.”