Magic Moment (11 page)

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She turned over. A sandpapery item scratched her cheek and something bumped her nose. The room was enveloped in complete darkness. The outside breeze caressed the waves, swaying the boat back and forth. Her senses half dulled by sleep, Laura lifted an arm from beneath the quilt. She patted, trying to distinguish what lay in bed.

“Looking for something?” He was completely awake.

She shook off her grogginess. “I didn’t hear you come in.” He had been in the galley, on the phone with the marina’s office and talking windows, when she retired.

“I did my best not to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

After a long pause, he said, “I’m thinking.”

She wanted him closer. Last night his body had been so snuggly. She wanted to feel him again. Her other arm shot out from beneath the quilt, and both her limbs encircled his neck. She didn’t care if she was proper or not. She wanted to be near him, feel his snug body tight against her. His arm slid around her shoulders, but she couldn’t get close enough. She kept pressing, but she couldn’t feel him, his body, his warmth, his touch. How frustrating.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“You’re so warm and cozy. I want to be near you.”

“Then get rid of these damn blankets,” he grunted.

One quick movement on his part, and there were no blankets or quilts separating them. Her taut breasts strained against the nightshirt, brushing against his chest, as he eased her back into the mattress. His hands clung to her hips, and her arms wrapped around his neck.

“Laura, when I said I was thinking,” he murmured. “I was thinking about how beautiful you are, and how much I want you.”

He bent his head and kissed her with a passion that warmed her entire being. She pressed against him, holding him tight, her arms clasped around him. His mouth left hers, his lips traveling behind her ear and down her throat, nibbling, sucking, teasing. Laura was dizzy.

He lifted his head. Her right hand reached up and she ran her fingers through his thick, wavy hair. “I wanted to do this for such a long time.”

“What? Kiss?”

She laughed. “No, run my fingers through your hair. It’s so wavy and thick.”

He feigned injury. “You hurt my feelings. You didn’t like the kiss?”

“Hmm. Let me see.” She paused. “I’m not sure. Do it again.”

His mouth slid over hers, and his arms tightened around her waist. His lips were warm, soft, arousing, and she parted hers instinctively in response. Yes, she liked his kiss very much.

“That
was
good,” she said in a soft voice.

“Laura, if you want me to stop, tell me.” His tone was no longer teasing, but gently serious. “I’ll understand.”

She kissed him. “If you want me to stop, tell me,” she said warmly. “I’ll understand.”

He replied with another kiss. This time his mouth was strong and intense, his tongue sliding inside, tantalizing, enticing her emotions. She was tight against him, his chest pressing hard to her breasts, her peaks hardening. His mouth left hers, his tongue tracing an outline of her lips before he planted a gentle kiss where a knife had once sliced her jaw.

Laura shivered, his mouth covered hers again, and he kissed her deeply and completely.

He eased himself off her a bit. His mouth moved along her neck. A hand slithered from her waist up to her breast. His palm pressed against her, petting, cupping, caressing with an intensity that had her nipple throbbing. Laura arched into him.

Chase reached down and bunched the nightshirt’s hem. She raised her arms, and he pulled the garment over her head, tossing it to the floor. His hands ran along her bare body, fondling, stroking, learning every outline and curve.

She yanked off his sweatshirt. It joined her nightshirt. Laura’s lips moved along his muscular shoulder, up along his throat, then found his mouth again.

“Why didn’t I admit this to you before?”

Laura stroked his cheek. “Admit what?” With darkness all around them, she couldn’t see his face.

“How much I wanted you.” His head dropped to her breasts, he took one, sinking his lips and twirling the erect nipple.

Laura lay dreamily, soaking in the exquisite sensations. “Chase, I want to touch you,” she said.

He shifted and shrugged out of the sweatpants, kicking them to the floor. Her hands clasped and kneaded his buttocks while his mouth returned, hot and wet, to her breasts. She sighed, the sound curdling deep in her throat. His flesh, hot and strong against her fingers, along with his mouth caused a quick, pounding sensation clamoring in the pit of her stomach.

Hands roaming, Chase found and caressed the softness between her thighs.

“No,” she gasped, jerking back. She scampered away from him, recoiling in the corner of the bed.

“Laura? What is it, honey?”

Silence hung heavy as he waited.

She muttered her lie. “Nothing.”

Neither spoke. Fists clenched at her side, Laura cowered in the corner. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the brutal memories.

“Did they hurt you there?”

She continued shaking, part fear, part anger, part humiliation. The shudders refused to stop.

“Come here.” Taking her hand, he gathered her quivering body in his arms. He tucked the blankets and quilt around them both and simply held her.

After a long silence, Laura spoke, her voice low, timid. “I’m embarrassed.”

“Why?”

She nestled closer. “They took turns pinching me until I screamed. Ron and that man. The same spot you just touched. They made a game. Seeing who could pinch me the hardest and make me scream the longest.” Clamping her eyes, Laura tried to shut out the vivid image, not feel the wincing pain as each man had taken her tender flesh between his fingers and squeezed. “I tried not to give in, not to scream, not to give them the satisfaction,” she said, her voice barely audible. “But it hurt.”

His body flinched as if stung by a wasp. He said nothing, but simply held her. He wouldn’t hurt her, she knew, and the tender area wasn’t sore any longer, but when he had touched her, even though it was a gentle stroke, she felt the stabbing, twisting squeeze, and heard the wicked laughter.

Chase’s lips pressed her temple. “You’re with me. Nobody is around to hurt you. I promise.”

Their silent intimacy continued. Chase held her close, occasionally brushing his lips against her temple or cheek while his hand stroked her hair. She liked how he held her.

She was relaxed, ready, and tilted her head upwards for Chase’s tender kiss. His kiss turned passionate, insistent, needing. She answered his need with her own urgency.

His arms tightened around her. This time she wasn’t resisting the safe, secure cocoon as she had when he had caught her in his arms, stopping her flight from him that first night. Now she welcomed his embrace.

“Don’t ever be embarrassed. You were strong. You survived.” He kissed her lips lightly. “Remember, you can tell me anything. Anytime.” His hand caressed her cheek. “Better?”

“Um-hum.” She lovingly patted the hand stroking her skin. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” His mouth covered hers again.

His lips left hers, leisurely traveling down her throat, along her right shoulder, roaming freely over each of her breasts. He waited for unspoken permission before stopping to nuzzle and suck each rigid nipple, then continued his journey downward.

Laura sighed, never before feeling so worshiped, so desired, so special … so loved. But she needed to remember Chase didn’t love her. They were two people who needed each other’s comfort and a respite of pleasure. When daylight arrived, she must not make him feel uneasy or awkward. But for tonight, she delighted in the essence of him.

His lips continued wandering, teasing and playing along the way. Laura was unaware of everything except the pleasure he gave her, the amazing way he made her feel.

When his gentle kisses found that vulnerable place between her thighs, that soft spot where she had been abused, his lips brushed tenderly … once, twice, three times. He moved upward and kissed the sensitive stomach area where that bastard had cut her. His cheek lay against her stomach, his faint breath soothing the area that had her crying out in brutal agony not so long ago. Chase was so sweet, so tender, Laura decided she could lie like this with him forever.

Eventually, she reached for him, and her fingers ran lovingly through the waves of his brown hair as the two bodies lay still, calmly, peacefully. After a tranquil interval, Chase kissed her special place again. His hand caressed, and when the contented moan passed through her lips, he slipped a finger inside. Laura remained unflinching, relaxing against the mattress, soaking up the tantalizing sensations his touch produced.

Chase worked his way upwards and Laura’s hands, followed by her lips, glided over his chest. She loved his chest, smooth yet firm, with only a little bit of hair that was light and fuzzy. Her lips nuzzled his stomach, her hand slid between his thighs, stroking his swollen flesh that was hard with desire and begging for them to join together. He groaned at her touch, a cutting, deep, echoing sound.

Bending her head, Laura kissed the focus of her attention, her lips lovingly caressing the hard, yet sensitive part of his body before starting back up his stomach and chest.

Chase, entwining his fingers in her hair, lifted her head and his mouth took hers greedily in a blazing kiss. He rolled her over on her back. He was burning, pulsating, ready, and pressed against her thigh.

“Chase.”

“Honey, are you okay?” he whispered against her ear.

“Yes.” She chuckled. “Are
you
okay?”

“I’m with you. I’m fine,” he said tenderly.

She spread her thighs, anxious, wanting, needing him.

His arms clasped around her, drawing her body close, he eased inside her. They lay for a moment, not moving, simply soaking up the contentment of being a part of each other. Slowly, he began moving, thrusting gently at first, and then little by little building up speed. Laura sighed with each increasing stroke. Heated tingles glided through her body. Her legs clamped around his waist, taking him deeper, and she shook with the hot bliss as he moved powerfully, up and down, in and out.

She clung to him, rocking with him, answering his rhythmic strokes. His breathing was ragged and panting. His tempo increased, bringing them both to their ecstatic edge. Laura arched against him, moaning his name. Chase continued driving, steady and swift, until with a jolt and lunge, wave after wave of his burning release spread quickly through her.

He cried out her name and she held him, floating away on a cloud.

The morning’s first glow struggled to break through the dark plastic that covered the windows against the season’s late chill and early morning light. Chase blinked open first one eye, then the other. Laura was on her side, pressed against him, her hand resting on his chest, completely at home. Her eyes closed, soft breaths escaping through her slightly parted lips, she was the most alluring woman he had ever seen, let alone been with. Hot damn, he hadn’t been dreaming. Nor had he been drunk, mildly irrational, just trying to get his rocks off, or all of the above.

He had no intention of analyzing how last night had happened. When her arms had glided around him, all he cared about was having her. His need so strong, he had feared leaving the bed for those blasted condoms. She might have changed her mind, and he wasn’t taking the chance.

Now Chase selfishly wanted to wake her and make love all over again. Had she been some broad he had picked up at a bar, that’s exactly what he would have done, since everything had always been about Chase.

Laura was different. Or rather, he was
different with Laura. Solely indulging his own lust brought him little satisfaction. His complete fulfillment came from her tender smile, light moans, and soft murmurs when he touched her. From the easy way she stroked him, whispered his name, caressed his skin with her lips, he felt at home with her.

His heartbeat quickened as he watched Laura in gentle slumber. After what had happened to her, reaching out last night was important. Being with Chase, or any man, was a major step after her assault.

Only Chase didn’t want Laura with any other man. He wanted her with him.

Her effect on him was a strange and unfamiliar one. But right now, gazing at Laura, he felt a little ember spark inside him, growing into a flame and melting the block of ice he considered his heart to be whenever he decided a woman was getting too close to him.

For Chase, women had been the proverbial dime-a-dozen. He went through periods where he had different women every night. He picked them not for their intelligence and congeniality, but for how they looked on his arm and took to his bed. When he spent too much time with the same woman, he cut the strings and waved goodbye.

As with his job at the warehouse, with women, Chase enjoyed coming and going as he pleased. No demands, no commitments.

But then there was the other side of his life. Although he still lived in the family home he grew up in, weeks could go by and he never saw his father. He saw Millie, the housekeeper more often, and she wasn’t even a live-in. And they’d simply smile at each other in passing, or she’d tell him she’d put clean towels in his bathroom. As much as Chase enjoyed his solitude on the boat, the silence was sometimes disheartening. He often wondered what life would be like with a wife, kids, a specific time to eat dinner every night, and a mortgage.

Now, there was Laura, who was beautiful, funny, bright …

For the first time in his life, Laura was a woman he wanted to be close to. Chase couldn’t imagine being without her.

Was he in love? With Laura?

That he could fall in love with a woman had never entered Chase’s mind.

“Mr. Donovan. Chase Donovan.” The faint, gravely male voice came from outside the boat. “Chase Donovan!” The voice shouted this time, and continued repeatedly.

“Who’s that?” Laura, awakened by the mysterious voice, grabbed for Chase as he shrugged into his black sweatpants.

“Probably someone from the marina office.” The bedcovers were on the floor. He picked them up and tucked them around her. “Hopefully, somebody’s got a window. Go back to sleep.”