Touched by a Phoenix (58 page)

Her arms around his neck, she trembled. Her kiss suspended in air, breathlessly hovering just below him. Then she kissed him, not just a brush of lips against his, but a kiss—a kiss that scalded his lips. It was the kiss he had waited for. A kiss born long before either of them existed, waiting for this moment to reveal itself.

His breathing came in broken gasps. He had missed her so much but she was too weak. He had to breathe…had to regain his composure. It took every bit of fortitude he could muster to gently pull away from her.

“My darling, you need to rest. We will have a lifetime for us when you are well.”

She started to argue but he silenced her with the sweetest of kisses. He helped her settle into bed and cuddled up beside her.

He whispered, “I just want to lie here with you—close to you forever.”

They lay in silence—holding each other close, oblivious to the rest of the world, both thankful for the moment.

Her soft voice broke the quietness. Filled with solemn gratitude, she whispered, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For calling me back.”

Something in the soft, gentle tone of her voice made him think of the long night they had spent in the chapel.

He shifted so he could see her. “What do you mean?”

The tears glistened in her golden eyes. “When I died.”

His heart swelled until his chest felt as though it would explode. How did she know? He barely even believed it himself…what happened that night was inexplicable.

“My darling, how do you know what happened that night?”

“You came for me.”

He was confused. She spoke as if he should understand but he didn’t.

“Alexis, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“The night I died. Your soul called to me and you gave me your breath so I could come back—back to you…to us.”

His breath caught in his throat, “Alexis, how do you know about that?” his soft words were hushed and filled with reverence.

“I’m not sure. I just do.”

He was quiet for a few moments, “Alexis, I love you with all that I will ever be. I died with you that night.”

“I know—I felt you. There are no words to express how much I love you.”

She was trembling with uncontrolled emotions. She didn’t need words, he felt her love surround him.

She whispered, “You are my hero.”

“Sweetheart, why don’t you go to work for a few hours this morning?”

His eyebrow arched; his tone tight, “Absolutely not.”

“Brad, please. I have been awake for a week now. All the monitors are gone and the doctor said he will release me Sunday if nothing changes. I will be fine,” she said sweetly.

“I am not leaving you.”

She chuckled softly, “Brad, going to work is not leaving me as long as you are planning to return at the end of the day.”

“Alexis, I promised you I would not leave you. Besides, I can work from here.”

She sighed, “Brad, you’ve been here 24/7 for weeks. I’d like for us to begin putting our life back together. If someone came to visit with me, would you go to work for a few hours?”

“Like who?”

“Mom, Monica, or Nan—I’m sure one of them would be available for a visit and some girl talk.”

He sat down on the bed, his hair still damp from his shower. She reached up and brushed it away from his face, sparking the flame. She had to get him out of here for a while. Otherwise, she would lose her mind. He flat refused to make love to her until the doctor released her.

Even under her best persuasions, he had held firm.
“It’s too soon; you’re not strong enough yet…I might hurt you,” he had said.
Well, she had a plan to tempt him beyond human control and needed time to put her plan into motion.

“Darling, I don’t want to leave you,” his caring voice touched her.

She took his face in her hands and kissed him softly, “We will be going home in a few days and need to start getting back to normal. Please go for a few hours.”

He hated to admit she might be right. Their life would return to normal next week and the world would come crashing down on them—down on them with the consequences of his actions. “If I go, will you promise to rest while I’m gone?”

“I promise, and when you get back, I’d like to discuss something with you this evening.”

Worry flickered across his brows, “Do I need to be concerned?”

She giggled sheepishly, “No, we need to decide on a new wedding date. That is—unless you have changed your mind about marrying me.”

He swept her into his arms. “Oh no, Miss Saunders. You will not get out of being my wife that easily. I’m afraid you are stuck with me for the rest of your life—wedding or not.”

The depth of his love smoldered in his eyes, dazzling her with their intensity.

“Then go to work love and we’ll have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves,” she beamed a brilliant smile at him.

“Okay, I will go for a few hours. If and I mean
if
, someone is available to stay with you while I’m away.”

“I’ll make a few calls while you finish getting ready.”

It didn’t take him long to finish dressing and return to her arms.

“And who is the lucky person?”

“Actually all three, Mom will be here in about half an hour and Monica is going to pick up Nan. They should arrive somewhere around ten.”

“Well then, while I have you to myself for a few more minutes…,” the rest of his words lost on her lips.

“Brad, unless you plan to forgo work and take care of business—I suggest you stop,” she said, eyes shimmering with desire.

He took a deep breath. God, he would be glad when they could go home. “Okay, how would you like Angelo’s for dinner tonight,” he asked as he turned to finish his tie.

“Yum
, real food…sounds wonderful.”

Alexis approached him from behind and wrapped her arms his waist nuzzling against him.

He turned in her arms and engulfed her into him…placing long, slow, sweet kisses on her lips.

“How am I supposed to leave you when you look at me like that?”

“
Mmm,
perhaps it will give you the incentive necessary to return,” she smiled all too sweetly at him.

“Darling, I do not need extra incentive, I can’t live without you. Let’s talk about selling the penthouse this evening as well. Maybe we can even discuss building the new house.”

She lifted her head to receive the kiss he offered. “Sounds like a wonderful plan,” she murmured against him.

Catherine knocked as she pushed the door open, “Am I interrupting?”

Brad glanced up to Catherine smiling, “Good morning Catherine, come on in,” as he broke the loving hold. He strode over to Catherine and gave her a warm hug.

“Good morning Bradley, you are quite handsome this morning.”

“Thank you for coming to stay with Alexis for a few hours. I promise…I won’t be gone long.”

“Nonsense, take your time. We have plenty to keep us busy for hours.”

He chuckled warmly as he leaned down to kiss Alexis on the tip of her nose, “I guess I had better make myself scarce then and leave you ladies alone.”

The women spent the morning together, laughing and talking. Together they devised a daring little plan of escape—allowing Alexis to surprise Brad at the Christmas dinner.

Alexis had ordered a dress weeks ago and had it sent to the office. Catherine agreed to pick the dress up from the office and have it pressed. Monica was going to shop for shoes and jewelry, arrange for a manicurist, hairdresser, and make-up artist to come to her at the hospital.

Nan—Nan had the most important job. Keeping Brad occupied for several hours Saturday afternoon and not letting him slip by the hospital before the dinner party so she would have time to get ready.

Finally, Catherine asked, “Alexis dear, exactly how do you plan to get out of the hospital? I doubt the doctor is going to let you simply walk out.”

Alexis let out a grunt, “No, I suppose not but I’ve got it under control.”

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“John…,” her voice trailed off. Based on the wide-eyed expression of the ladies, there was no need for further explanation.

Catherine and Nan decided to finish their visit over lunch, allowing the two young women to finish their planning.

“Monica, may I borrow your phone?”

“Sure sis,” as she handed Alexis the phone.

“This is the dress,” as she turned the phone towards Monica, “what do you think?”

“OMG! Alexis, you have got to be kidding me. You’re not wearing that…are you?”

Alexis blanched, “Do you think it’s too much? Should I find something else?”

“Good God, no…the dress is perfect. I’m just shocked. I would never have imagined you in something so seductive.”

Fits of giggles erupted from both girls. “I hope you weren’t planning to stay long because my brother is going to eat you alive the minute you walk into the ballroom!”

“I certainly hope so.”

“Whoa…too much information!”

Alexis simply smiled. Her mind was filling with her own thoughts…needs…desires.

“You look tired,” Monica observed with concern.

“I guess I am a little tired,” Alexis admitted, “I’m sure you have work to do, why don’t you go ahead and go. I’ll be fine until Brad gets back.”

“Brad made us promise not to leave you alone.”

She tilted her head and smiled in her quiet way, “I promise to rest. Saturday is an important day.”

Deciding that Alexis was too excited about getting to leave the hospital to do anything stupid, Monica stood. “Okay, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

S
i
lence greeted Brad
as he pushed the hospital room door open.

It appeared to be empty as he walked through the door….where on earth could they have gone? Then she came into view, curled up on the bed, sleeping peacefully. He decided to change before she woke. Laying his laptop bag in the chair, he threw on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved polo.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep. How would he tell her about the senate hearings? He had sat in his office most of the day, accomplishing little. His heart was no longer in the game.

Remorse and guilt consumed him. His passion to make a difference—to change the world, had nearly cost him the one person he could not live without. It turned him into a murderer. Not that Stephen was innocent. He and his partners were terrorists, but that didn’t make him feel any less guilty. He wondered how soldiers dealt with the awful things they had to see and do during war? How could they live with the pain afterwards?

Brad placed his elbows on his thighs and buried his face in his hands. He blamed himself—his arrogance for his current predicament. Only this time, he might well take Alexis down the road of self-destruction with him.

He had never wanted to be a passive observer of life. Never wanted to be a pessimist. He was an optimist…the person who believed he might be able to make a difference in this world. Yet, his greatest gift to humankind nearly killed the woman he loved, and the burden weighed so heavy he felt as if he was being crushed beneath it.

The night Alexis died, he promised himself and God that he would find a way to make things right. To keep her safe. How was he supposed to keep his promise and continue doing the only thing he knew how to do?

“Stop blaming yourself, love. This was not your fault,” she whispered as she touched his back.

A deep shudder shook him, “Yes, darling…it is. I am so sorry that you were hurt because of me.”

“I wasn’t hurt because of you. I was hurt because evil people wanted to take what you built for good and use it for evil.”

He turned to her, “Alexis, I’ve been thinking about talking to your dad about terminating my contract.”

“No Brad, you have a God-given talent. He didn’t give it to you to waste on something meaningless.”

“Alexis, I can’t do this. If I continue doing what I do, you become the target, and I couldn’t live with the guilt.”

“Look at me,” she said tenderly as she turned his face toward hers with her gentle hand, “I will not allow you to sacrifice your dreams, your goals, or your destiny. I fell in love with you because of the man you are here,” as she laid her hand over his heart. “I fell in love with your confidence and your boyish charms. Your hopes and dreams, your intellect, your ambitions…and the way you love me so unconditionally.” Her voice deepened into the all too familiar husky tone laced with passion, “And because of the way you make me melt when you touch me. I love the quiet as much as I love to listen to you speak. To change you would destroy the man I fell in love with.”

“Alexis…,” his voice trailed off. Her confession of absolute devotion left him speechless.

Then she spoke even more softly, “Sometimes He says we are more valuable than even we believe and that we are meant to do something bigger than ourselves. This is your destiny.”

“I don’t want to lose you…I can’t,” his chest heaved for air. He struggled to breath—helplessness had consumed him on that dreadful night…the damning loneliness. He promised to change.

She caressed his cheek as she put her lips to his and whispered, “You will never lose me. Our destines are entwined for all eternity. I believe in you. Whatever happens, we will get through it together.”

“How do you know? How can you be so sure?”

“Sweetheart, He told us when you came for me. You know it too.”

His brows furrowed, “Alexis, I have no idea what you’re talking about. No one has told me anything. What do you mean?”

She pulled away and sat up with her legs crossed and her fingers laced together in her lap. When she glanced up at him, she bit her lower lip as if she were unsure of herself.

“Brad, if you don’t remember, you’ll think I’m crazy.”

“No darling, I won’t. Please tell me.”

“The night I died…when you called to me. I remember you kissing me. Remember a loving hand caught your breath and lent it to me. Then the most exquisite bird came for me and brought me back to you. It felt like I was with you the entire time. Brad, we were meant to be together and you must finish what you’ve started. I can help you now.”

Brad gazed at her, transfixed. Her eyes reflected the wonder of all she had seen. It literally left him breathless.

He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “I wished I could be as confident as you,” he whispered.

She stroked his cheek, “Trust Him…trust in
us
, and everything will be all right,” her soft words embraced him with compassion and love.

Her sweet kiss was soft and delicate against his lips. He tentatively returned the kiss, his resolve vanishing. All he wanted was to make love to her, to know everything in his world would be all right. The only way he would find peace would be to love Alexis the way she was meant to be loved, but he couldn’t…not yet. He must wait.

She took his face in her hands as she continued to kiss him and as she released his face. She whispered, “Breathe my air and feel my love for you. With you is where I belong and as long as you are with me, I have nothing to fear.”

She moved her hands down his chest and began to unbutton his shirt. His hands captured hers as he broke away. His voice strained, “No Alexis, not yet.”

“
Shh
love, just relax and let me show you…,” as she kissed him tenderly.

Her eyes so warm and loving, his heart melted. “Show me what?” the depth of his love unmistakable in his hushed whisper.

“There are no stakes so great I would not overcome them to be with you,” as she reached down and pulled his shirt over his head.

“That you are the light when only darkness fills the universe,” as her lips found his neck and ever so slowly began to kiss every part of him.

“That you take my breath away,” as she covered his chest with her soft lips, “that your heart beats with mine,” as her lips found the place where his heart lay.

“That I love you more than my next breath…,” she finished as her gaze met his.

The fire from her eyes burned into his soul. When her lips met his, it was the lingering kiss of love. She kissed him in a thousand places at once. Senses in overdrive, his last bit of resistance dissolved.

There was not a single place she did not caress with her loving hands—nowhere her lips did not touch. She worked her way very slowly down his body. Teasing him beyond his limitation—his body was in chaos beneath her touch. His breath came in short gasps by the time she reached his stomach. He reached for her and pulled her up to him to taste her lips, devouring them.

God he needed her but not this way. Not just for his pleasure. The battle began deep within him.

“Darling, please no. I can’t please you….not yet.”

Breathless against his throat, she whispered, “Hush love…,” as she reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, slipping them off and causing her own body to shiver at the long-awaited sight of him.

She slid down the bed and kissed the tops of his feet, his ankles. Her body quivered against his legs as she worked her way upwards…one leg at a time. She had not touched him. Yet, he couldn’t stand the torture she was inflicting. His body taut with tension, she was killing him with her unconditional love as she took him into her mouth.

He lay spent as she curled up beside him.

“Nothing else matters except moments like this–moments with you. I love you,” she whispered.

“And I you,” his voice broke with such devotion and tenderness she knew he was having difficulty expressing the emotion that he felt.

They lay quietly for a while after that before he spoke, “I should probably dress before one of the nurses comes in to check on you.”

Alexis giggled, “Yes love, that might be a good idea. You are mine and I don’t share.”

She admired his perfect physique as he stood. She loved showing him just how much she loved him, but her actions were taking a toll on her own body. She desperately needed to feel him again.

He slipped on his jeans. Glancing at Alexis, he gazed into golden eyes filled with devotion. He sat on the side of the bed and kissed her sweetly.

“Darling, how is it that you always know exactly what I need?”

She simply smiled.

Brad pulled his shirt over his head and ran his hands through his hair.

Checking the time, he stated, “Dinner should be here in about an hour. Would you like to decide on a new wedding date while we wait?”

“Yes,” she beamed, “I have an idea—I know it will sound a little corny but how would you feel about getting married on Valentine’s Day?”

“Darling, if you want a Valentine’s Day wedding, then you shall have it.”

He tried to smile although he wasn’t sure how he’d manage to wait another two and a half months. But after all the hell he had put her through lately, if she wanted a Valentine’s Day wedding, then that is what she would get.

She sensed slight disappointment in his look. “Sweetheart, if it weren’t for the holidays, we could make it sooner. I just don’t see how we can reschedule everything any earlier unless you want to elope.”

“Alexis, I want you to be my wife. There is no doubt about that, and the sooner, the better as far as I’m concerned. I would even risk your father’s wrath if you wanted to get married tomorrow but your parents have been hurt too. I think it nearly killed Phillip to watch you collapse. I won’t take that special moment from them. So if you want a Valentine’s Day wedding, consider it a date,” his boyish grin spread, lighting up those beautiful blue eyes, his sweet kisses were convincing enough.

“Now, how do you feel about putting the penthouse on the market?”

“What about Nan?” the concern obvious in her soft voice.

“I’ll take care of Nan. I promise.” He loved the fact she cared enough to worry about Nan.

“Then I think we should start building our new home. Perhaps we could build Nan a cottage on the grounds so she would be closer to us.”

Her eyes were full of promise for a long and happy life.

Brad swept her up and swung her gently around in a circle. Her laughter filled his heart with joy. He would give this woman anything she asked for—God, he loved her….

With Alexis, everything was easy. She had a way of soothing his soul. An enormous sense of relief washed over him. He still had to tell her about the upcoming hearings but he was confident she would stand by him.

As they dined, he had time to reflect on her words from earlier. He was curious about the things she had said. His voice gentle, “Darling, we haven’t talked about what happened. How much do you remember?”

“I’m not sure. I have flashes of images but I’m not sure if they’re memories or dreams,” she explained quietly.

“If you think you’re ready, would you like to share what you remember and perhaps we can fill in the blanks together.”

She gazed at him, so unsure of herself—of her memories and of reality.

“I remember opening the package from you and putting on the locket. It felt like something stung me. I wanted to call you and tell you how much I loved the present but I don’t remember making the call.”

“No, you weren’t able to. What next?”

“It seems like I was alone for a longtime afterwards,” sadness seeped across her lovely face.

“Your parents were here with you but I’m not sure how much the doctors allowed them to be with you.”

“Where were you?”

He had been afraid she would ask this question but they needed to get it out in the open. He needed to tell her everything. She needed to know what he had done—the monster he became that night.

“At Andrews.”

“Why didn’t you come?”

He explained about Stephen, the poison, his demand for the drone, and…what he had done to get the antidote. Fear consumed him as he explained how he and Rescue One had tracked down the truck and destroyed ACE along with the two people inside.

Her brow set in a deep frown. He sensed she was trying to process the information, to put all the pieces into place.

“What happened after that?”

“We spent the night in the chapel.”

She mused on his words for a moment.

“That must be when He reunited the flames.”

“What flames?”

She shrugged, “I’m not exactly sure but there were two of them. Both intense. I got the sense they were eternal. They appeared so blue they burned almost white. When they were reunited, there was a powerful explosion that rocked the cosmos. I don’t know that I can explain it very well but the discharge of energy shook the air. It seemed like nothingness, yet it was everything all at once.”

“Can you tell me anything else about the flames?”

“Not really. The sensation was incredible. It felt like I was whole again.”

“Darling, earlier you spoke of a bird. Can you tell me more?”