Destiny's Whisper (17 page)

“Sergei,” she whispered fearfully, trying to bring his face to her mind in the hopes she could momentarily contain her fear of the storm before she completely embarrassed herself by falling apart. She wasn’t a baby. It wasn’t as if she was stuck outside and being subjected to the ferocious elements. Still, from as early as she could remember, thunderstorms had always had the capability to turn her into nothing more than a quivering lump of fear under the covers, any and all signs of strength or courage gone.

Lightning lit the room again, so bright in its intensity it penetrated her tightly squeezed lids and had her eyes springing open, wide and filled with fear, the clap of thunder so close both lightning and thunder could have been born the same instant. Nothing more than a pitiful whimper escaped her lips.

“Chloe?” Sergei’s deep voice called softly in the dark, the next flash of light illuminating his silhouette in the doorway to her grateful gaze.

Her voice wouldn’t work; she could barely contain the fear that threatened to steal her breath from her completely. Mindlessly, she threw the covers from her legs and tried to dash across the room to meet him, but her weak leg refused to hold her and if Sergei hadn’t been moving forward to reach her, she would have crumbled to the floor. Sergei’s muscular arms wrapped around her slim form, her trembling body shivering against his own, her fear radiating in heavy waves that washed over him. Words of comfort were whispered into her hair and he gently lifted her into his arms, and carried her back to her bed.

Carefully he placed her amid the tussled covers, and tried to ignore the image of her lying naked against the silken sheets that sprang to his mind. Mustering control from he didn’t know where, he pulled up the sheet, covering her gorgeous, long legs and puffed out a relieved breath when that temptation was removed from his view. Considering the only light came in brief snatches from the lightning, he wondered how he would have ever survived such a visual onslaught if the electricity had been working. Thank God for small miracles–whatever form they took!

Believing he was about to leave, Chloe grasped one of his wrists with both hands, her voice pleading as she pulled him toward her. “Don’t leave me, Sergei. Please don’t leave me.”

Her tone, low and frantic, had him sitting on the bed beside her, their hips meeting, separated by only the silken sheet and he struggled to push aside the tingling heat that radiated between them at the simple touch. “I’m not going anywhere, Chloe,” he stated softly, running his free hand through her hair, catching a glimpse of wide eyes filled with fear as lightning again filled the room with light for only a brief second.

The thunder that trailed only seconds after the flash of light had Chloe’s arms suddenly wrapping around Sergei’s neck, pulling him forcefully toward her, solid, heated muscle meeting softly rounded breasts. Sergei’s low moan was lost as the thunder rolled around them.

“I hate storms,” Chloe’s voice was a ragged whisper against his ear, the warmth of her words making him shiver as a tingle ran through his body.

“Tell me something I don’t already know,” he stated with a chuckle, flexing his neck as he tried to loosen the death grip Chloe had on him and take a full breath. It was bad enough trying to breathe when you had a nearly naked girl in your arms and you were breathless because of that; it was quite another thing when that same gorgeous girl was trying to strangle you; unintentionally of course!

“More than a hundred people are struck by lightning and die by electrocution each year while they’re talking on the telephone,” Chloe offered weakly, burying her head against Sergei’s muscular neck as lightning struck again. God he smelled good! The aromas of warm muscles, remnants of a spicy aftershave and the soap from his recent shower all blended to create a special scent that was uniquely his own and yet totally masculine.

Sergei closed his eyes and fought for control at her innocent snuggling. A low growl rumbled deep in his throat as her the tip of her nose gently traced a path up the corded length of his neck, her hair tickling his jaw and tangling in the growing stubble of his beard. “I’ll remember to stay off the phone during thunderstorms,” he managed to choke out, trying to keep his tone light and teasing.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

Another flash lit up the room, but the glow was less bright and the thunder took several seconds to finally arrive. “It sounds like the storm’s moving on,” Sergei announced softly, closing his eyes and breathing deeply of the honeysuckle scent that was so much a part of her. His arms around her felt so right he didn’t want to even think about leaving her yet all the while knowing it was the
right
thing to do.

“What if it comes back?” Chloe whispered, pulling him closer and closer still; so close she could feel his heart beating rapidly against her own.

“I’ll stay until it’s over,” he promised, returning her hug and then gently pulling out of her arms. “But you have to lie down and at least try to go to sleep,” he requested, moving to stand to his feet only to have Chloe’s hands reaching for him again.

“Don’t leave!”

“I’m just going to be right over there in the chair,” he stated, pointing to the chair only a few feet away.

“That’s so far away,” she whispered dismally.

“It’s only a few feet.”

“Please, Sergei. Just sit with me on the bed; just for a little while,” she pleaded, pulling him back toward her until he finally relented and with a heavy sigh resumed his seat next to her, their fingers laced together.

“Neither of us are going to be worth a damn tomorrow,” he growled, wondering what time it was since it seemed time had stood still for the two of them.

“I promise I’ll try not to expect too much out of you tomorrow,” she stated softly, her words measured, as she grew drowsier.

“Gee thanks, I appreciate that,” he retaliated sardonically, closing his eyes then snapping them open as the urge to sleep played with him.

“Any time,” she mumbled sleepily.

“Chloe, it’s late,”

“Don’t leave me, Sergei.”

“Chloe,”

“Just hold me for a little while. Five minutes,” Chloe pleaded, gently pulling on his arm until with a surrendering growl, he finally agreed and stretched out beside her.

Chloe rolled to her right side and wiggled against Sergei until he finally curled up behind her, her shapely bottom pressing intimately against his lap, the front of his legs rested against the back of her thighs. Sergei’s arm casually dropped over her waist as his chest met her back and he felt her snuggle closer against him still, her innocent, little movements to get comfortable making him grind his teeth as he felt a low fire begin to burn deep inside him. When Chloe laced her fingers through his and pulled his hand upward and against her chest he thought he was going to go up in flames, the soft curves of her breasts rested top and bottom against his forearm where she had snuggled it close to her body. With a final wiggle against his warm body, Chloe snuggled in, unaware of the battle that Sergei raged with himself to keep from ravishing her on the spot. It wouldn’t take much for the lone silken sheet that separated their bodies to disappear!

“Chloe, quit wiggling,” Sergei growled deeply, shifting his hips slightly as her bottom pressed more intimately. His body was on fire and not paying any attention to his brain as he repeated over and over
, it’s time to sleep, it’s time to sleep.
His body had much better things in mind and as tempting as the thought was, he wasn’t going to jeopardize things by acting, as his mother loved to state, ‘like a male!’

“Sorry,” Chloe mumbled, wiggling her shoulders against his broad chest as she leaned more fully against him.

“Chloe.” Sergei’s voice was a deep rumble.

“You just feel so good,” Chloe’s voice held a note of wonder.

Sergei smiled in the darkness. “You feel good too. Now go to sleep. Five minutes, remember?”

“Can I ask for an extension?” She hated the thought of him leaving. It felt so right having his arms around her, just holding her. She felt safe and cared for and didn’t want to lose the feeling. For so long she’d felt all alone, it was nice to be a part of something, even if it was only borrowed for a short while.

“You can ask for anything you like.”

Several seconds ticked by before Chloe answered softly, “I want it to always be like this with us.”

“And how would that be?”

“You willing to hold me during a thunderstorm because I’m stupid and afraid of them.”

“You’re not stupid and a lot of people are afraid of storms,” Sergei stated firmly.

“Maybe.”

“There’s no ‘maybe’ about it.”

“I suppose, but most guys wouldn’t be contented with just holding a girl in bed. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories I’ve heard from the other girls at competitions and all the stuff that goes on in the hotel rooms.”

“I’ve heard the stories. I’d hazard a guess a lot of them are nothing but fiction, but then probably a few of them are true.”

“Isn’t it possible to be simply
friends
with the opposite sex? Does it always have to boil down to getting in each other’s pants?” Chloe asked sleepily, rubbing her chin against Sergei’s knuckles where their fingers laced together.

“A lot of people start out as friends and simply make the transition to a pair. If the chemistry is there, it’s going to happen; if it’s not, it won’t,” Sergei stated matter-of-factly.

“Are you talking about destiny?”

Sergei’s subtle shrug cause tingles to course through Chloe’s breasts as his gentle motion rubbed against the thin fabric of her tank top. “I suppose. Mom’s always said in some ways you have control over your destiny and in other ways you’re at its whim.”

“Do you believe that?”

Again, he shrugged. Again, little jolts of electricity shook her. “I believe certain things are meant for you in life and if you’re not paying attention you’re liable to miss them.”

“Kind of like whispers from inside you that keep reminding you of the direction you’ve chosen for your life?” Chloe asked quietly.

Sergei thought about it for a second and nodded, “I never really thought of it in those terms, but yeah, I suppose that’s one way to look at it. It’s like knowing what you want to do with your life, but not being completely certain exactly how to accomplish it. Some days everything falls into place so easily and other days you might as well stay in bed and write it off as a loss.”

“Do you have many days you want to stay in bed and write them off?” Chloe asked softly, wistfully.

“Thankfully, no. But in all honesty, I wouldn’t mind spending a day in bed just holding you,” he answered softly, his muscled arms pulling her gently closer, the warmth of his breath washing over her cheek, the warmth of his words stealing her heart.

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better and help me forget about the storm,” she stated sadly.

“Chloe, I don’t say anything unless I mean it. Remember that,” he countered firmly.

For long moments the two remained silent, listening to the steady patter of rain on the roof and the comforting rumble of thunder as the storm moved away. In the quiet of the dark room, they felt their hearts beat together, heard their breaths synchronize and envisioned their futures in their minds. The sudden dawning that each of them saw the other in their futures brought them comfort rather than fear and when Sergei’s deep voice quietly called her name, she answered.

“Do you hear that?” Sergei asked reverently.

“Yes,” Chloe answered softly.

“What do you hear?” Sergei encouraged.

Chloe listened to the subtle sounds around her: Sergei’s steady breathing, the stillness of the night, the rustle of the silken sheets as they shifted closer to each other. Suddenly everything was clear to her, she was where she was meant to be, doing what she was meant to do and with the realization came a joy and relief she had never known.

“I hear destiny’s whisper,” she answered quietly, smiling as a feeling of such complete calmness and sureness washed over her it left her weak.

Sergei smiled. “Me too.”

The final vestiges of the storm rumbled its last grumbling noises, barely lit small patches of midnight dark sky with its final attempt at lightning and finally dissipated into nothingness. Within the safety of a room filled with elegance, two figures slept soundly, entwined together innocently and dreamed of the future that lay ahead for them.

The final two weeks of Chloe’s recovery sped by on wings and with the doctor’s final release, along with his warning to take it slow or she’d be back off the ice, had her nodding in agreement and promising him anything. On the condition she could feel the ice beneath her again today, she was willing to turn over their first Olympic gold medal, when they got it, of course! Her comment had Sergei’s eyebrows lifting in amusement, a deep laugh escaping him at her rash promise.

With Sergei agreeing to see she followed instructions to the letter, he thanked her doctor with a hearty handshake and followed a literally bouncing Chloe out the door.

“You might want to look toward Dr. Reynolds’ window and see if he’s watching you while you blatantly disobey his just issued instructions. If he is, we might as well turn around and go see just how much longer you’re off the ice!” Sergei called as he watched her slightly wobbly jaunt across the parking lot.