Rebecca. Of course.
So, Carla Emmett had been right all along. Leigh dropped the box back into the bag, her fingers icy, her mind numb. Suddenly her skin prickled.
She looked up. Erik stood in the threshold. He stared at her, his blue eyes dark with an unmistakable emotion. Longing. Outside, the falling snow hissed softly as it hit the ground, adding a provocative aura to the knife-like tension in the silent room.
Finally, Erik spoke, his voice husky, “I'm sorry. I didn't realize..."
Leigh stood and tightened the belt of her kimono. “Erik. What are you doing home from class?"
His face had taken on a pink glow. “Class was canceled because the professor's wife died of her illness last night. I don't have another class until two."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I mean, about your professor's wife...” she trailed off.
His face had changed, gained composure. “I'll let you get back to...” He gave a slight shrug, but instead of moving, gazed at her a moment longer.
Leigh shivered. Stoic as he was, he couldn't hide the fire in his blue eyes. She stared at him, thankful that her near-sightedness veiled the intensity of his gaze. Even so, she felt weak and breathless. For just a second, she considered asking him to stay. But sanity won out.
"Yes,” she said. “I've got a lunch meeting in town.” Leigh turned to her dressing table, running her fingers through her drying curls. When she looked back at the doorway, he was gone.
Chapter 7
Leigh stood at the latticed window staring out at the snow drifting lazily to the ground. In her mind, she saw Erik's face again. His strained longing expression had driven all thought of Bob and Rebecca from her mind.
"He wants me...” Leigh whispered. What a concept. It had been so long since she'd felt desired. A moment ago, when he'd stood in the threshold of her bedroom, Erik had looked different, much older than he had when he'd first arrived. From the beginning, Leigh had berated herself for having lustful thoughts about a man only nine years older than her son. Now, for the first time, she began to think of Erik as a man, one who could make his own decisions. It no longer mattered that he was young, that he was a friend of her son's, that he was a guest in her home. None of it mattered anymore.
He wanted her.
Slowly, Leigh turned from the window and moved toward the door. From Erik's room, she heard the haunting first movement of Vivaldi's “Winter” from The Four Seasons. At the small round window at the end of the hall, she stopped and gazed through the pie-wedged panes of leaded glass, dreamily watching the snow. The flakes were larger now. She hoped school wouldn't be dismissed early. But even with that threat, she turned away from the window and moved to the threshold of Erik's door.
It was ajar. Her heart thundered. With a dry mouth and clammy hands, she stopped in the doorway and watched him. He stood at the window staring out. Her eyes centered on his slim buttocks in the snug-fitting jeans and then moved up to where his blond hair curled over the back of his collar. How strong and broad his shoulders were in his blue-plaid flannel shirt. She longed to run her hand under his silky curls, her fingertips caressing his strong neck, touching the pulse quivering there below his ear.
Out of nowhere, the realization hit her. She couldn't go through with it. She wasn't a seductress. She'd been raised in a devout Presbyterian household. She couldn't do this!
She backed away from the threshold. But at that moment, Erik turned and saw her. A light flared in his brilliant blue eyes. “Kayleigh,” he said in a half-whisper.
In the heavy silence between them, the music of Vivaldi played, achingly sweet. The moment was fragile. Leigh knew any abrupt intrusion from the outside would break the spell forever. I should be praying for a phone call. Instead, she found herself praying nothing would interfere with what she knew was about to happen.
He moved toward her, his face like carved stone, his eyes smoldering. Escape was out of the question now; no longer was it desired or needed. Turning back now would be tantamount to stopping a tidal wave. She could only stare up at him, her breathing shallow, waiting for his touch. He reached out, clasped her hands and drew her into the room. Releasing her, he closed the door. And it was as if he were locking out the other world.
He turned to her. For a long moment, they faced each other, close but not touching. Finally, he reached for her. His hand gently skimmed her neck, trailing down over the curve of her breast and then hesitating at the belt of her robe. He untied the knot, his eyes locked with hers. She felt the fleeting touch of his fingertips at her shoulders and the robe dropped from her limp arms onto the floor. His eyes roved over her, savoring, just before his strong hands moved across her collarbone and slid up her neck under her damp hair.
"Kayleigh,” he whispered. His mouth closed over hers. With a soft moan, Leigh opened to him, allowing him to explore the tender inner flesh of her lips with his warm velvet tongue. After a long moment, he drew away, his fingers brushing the kimono off her shoulders. Immediately, his lips branded her, traveling from her shoulder down to the swell of her breast. Leigh closed her eyes, her fingernails digging into the flannel of his shirt. At the touch of his lips against her skin, her blood had become electric rivers of fire, coursing through her vessels, igniting her body. She felt mindlessly possessed. The world beyond this room no longer mattered. The past, the future. Nothing was real but this moment.
"Erik...” she said raggedly. “I want you."
He drew his mouth away from the hollow of her throat and straightened, gazing at her intently. “I know. I've wanted you since the day we met. Why did we take so long?"
Her gaze dropped to his chest. Slowly, she unbuttoned his shirt and tugged it out of his jeans. A second later, the flannel lay discarded on the floor. She slid her hands beneath his T-shirt to touch him, to feel the crisp hairs under her fingertips, to explore the masculine circles of his nipples. With a soft groan, Erik drew away, pulled the T-shirt up and over his head, whipping it onto the carpet. In a second, she was back in his arms, his mouth plundering hers. Just as she was certain her legs would no longer support her, Erik swept her into his arms and deposited her on the bed. Through half-closed eyes, she watched as he unbuckled the belt on his jeans, his golden-haired chest rising and falling with restrained excitement. His jeans fell to the floor, followed immediately by his Jockey shorts.
"Kjareste...” he whispered, sliding onto the bed next to her, wrapping his arms and legs around her, warming her blood as if he were a protective winter cloak. Between Norwegian words of endearment, he nuzzled her neck while his hands roamed freely over her willing body. Without realizing when it happened, Leigh became aware that her kimono was gone, the last barrier between them melted away. As if reliving one of her erotic fantasies, Leigh gave herself up to the sensation of Erik's hands and mouth as they explored unhindered every inch of her body. Half-crazed with the need to feel him inside her, she sighed in relief when he, after long moments of exquisite torture, rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. With tenderness, he eased into her. Eyes closed, savoring the delicious feeling of his fullness, Leigh was still, barely breathing.
"Sit up...” Erik whispered. “...ja ... det god.” His thumbs gently circled her kiss-swollen nipples. “Open your eyes, Kayleigh. I want to watch your face while we make love."
Leigh gave a soft moan. Her eyes fluttered open to look into the deep blueness of his. Slowly, he began to move beneath her. Leigh caught her breath. How could she have lived this long without ever experiencing anything like this? A moment later, she was beyond thinking. There was nothing else in the world but this encompassing plane of physical sensation. The two of them moved together in the ancient primal ballet ... but for Leigh, a new world of love had opened up, and she realized that until today, she'd been an emotional virgin. Today, this moment, she was making love for the first time.
It seemed to go on forever. Leigh, in the back of her drugged mind, hoped the loving would never end. They moved together in perfect unity, as
if they were programmed for each other by a higher authority. Imperceptibly, the tempo quickened. Erik's eyes darkened, the slight lines around his sensual lips tightened with tension. Finally, with a groan, he arched his back, his eyes closing in astonished exhilaration, and at the same moment, Leigh felt as if a sudden earthquake had erupted deep inside her. A strangled moan escaped her dry throat as exquisite spasms rocked through her core, delivering her to a peak of sensation she'd never dreamed possible.
Gasping, disoriented, she fell against Erik's sweat-dampened body. “Oh, God...” she murmured against his damp neck. “Oh, God ... Erik..."
Still inside her, he caressed her back and buttocks, covering her face with tiny kisses, murmuring in Norwegian. Finally, after a long moment, he rolled her onto her side and withdrew from her, his hands curled tightly in her hair. He searched her face tenderly and then smiled, “Vilter pike...” he said. “Wild girl..."
Leigh blushed.
"No, don't be embarrassed. There is nothing wrong with being uninhibited."
Leigh heard the soft thud of snow against the window, and realized that the music of Bach had ended sometime during their love-making. She couldn't speak. No words would come. Instead, she kissed the salty hollow of Erik's throat as her fingers played with the hair of his chest. She wished she could stay here like this forever. Many thoughts meandered through her mind as she lay against his warm, sated body. Without a doubt, this had been no inexperienced school boy that had just lifted her to the towering heights of passion. How many other women had he been with? she wondered. Dawn, for sure. Leigh felt a wave of jealousy sweep through her.
Uncannily, Erik read her thoughts. “Do not think of her, kjareste,” he murmured, one hand lightly caressing the swell of her left breast. “She meant nothing to me. All I ever wanted from the beginning was you."
"Those nights you didn't come home...” Leigh said.
"I was like a child. I wanted to make you jealous. After the night we kissed down by the lake, I knew you felt as I did. But you were determined that we stay away from each other. When I went home for Christmas, I talked to my sister, Dordei, about the situation."
"You told her about me?"
Erik chuckled and squeezed her tightly. “No, kjareste, I told her about a woman I had fallen in love with who wanted nothing to do with me. So, she suggested that I ... how would Mark say it? Give her the cold shoulder? I followed her advice. And ... well, you know now that it worked."
Embarrassed again, Leigh buried her face in his shoulder. “Yes, I was easy for you.” Erik's finger tipped her chin up so their eyes could meet. “Kayleigh, I was determined to make love to you. I knew you felt the same and I also knew you couldn't deny it forever. But let me tell you about Dawn. I never had sex with her. On those nights I stayed away, I spent the night in the dorm room of a friend. It was you I wanted. Only you.” One hand slid silkily down the curve of her buttock, sending shivers through her hyper-sensitive skin.
The fires inside her hadn't really had a chance to die and now they flared again. Erik moved down her body, his tongue circling her nipple. Her blood stirred. She felt his erection against her thigh and she couldn't wait to feel him inside her again.
The phone shrilled into the empty silence of the house, paralyzing them. Erik drew his lips away from her breast to look up at her.
"We're no longer alone,” he said.
She knew what he meant. The outside world had encroached. “It's Ellen.” Leigh scrambled up from the bed, grabbing Erik's flannel shirt from the floor. She ran down the hall toward her bedroom, pulling on the shirt. The phone was on its fifth ring when she reached it.
"Where the hell are you?” It was Ellen, and she was angry. “We were supposed to meet for lunch a half-hour ago."
Leigh had the phone propped onto her shoulder as she fumbled to button up Erik's shirt, somehow feeling as if that would make her feel less guilty. “Ellen! God, I'm sorry. But this snow! I ... couldn't get the car started.” Amazed that she could lie so easily, she went on, “I tried to call, but I couldn't get through. There must be a problem with the lines because of the snow."
Nude, Erik walked into the bedroom.
"My agent...” Leigh mouthed to him as she listened.
"There doesn't seem to be a problem with the lines now,” Ellen said dryly. “Look, I have the Harper contract ready for signature. We need to get it back to her."
"Can you send it by courier?"
Erik had slipped behind her and was now sliding a hand under her shirt, his fingers searching for the sensitive center between her legs. Leaning against him, she felt the thrusting hardness of him against her lower back. Her breathing quickened. She spoke hastily into the phone, “Look, I can't talk now. Okay. I'll be watching for it.” She waited just long enough for Ellen's disgruntled agreement and slammed down the phone, then turned in Erik's arms.
Their lips met in a fierce, hungry kiss. After a moment, Erik pulled away and slowly unbuttoned the shirt she'd so painstakingly fastened a moment before. Gently, he slipped it off her shoulders.
"Forgive me if I'm too rough,” he whispered. “You do strange things to me.” Her answer was to draw his blond head down to her for another long, drugging kiss. Then, she was lost and could only moan incoherently as he eased her down onto the carpeted floor.
This time, their love-making was tumultuous, almost violent in its intensity. It was over in a few short moments. Incredibly, her orgasm surpassed the one before. Afterwards, Erik got to his feet and drew her up with him. Without speaking, he walked to the bed and drew back the satin comforter. His eyes implored her. Her limbs felt weak as she moved to the bed and slid in. A second later, he was with her, his warm body holding her against him as he gathered the covers around them. Neither spoke for a long time, but finally, in a solemn voice, Erik said, “You know, we can never go back to the way it was before."
"I know,” Leigh whispered. “Why do you effect me the way you do? I've never felt like this before."
He kissed her damp neck. “I don't ever want you to feel like this with anyone else."
Leigh's eyes grew heavy. “No, never."
"Kayleigh,” he said. “Look at me.” His blue eyes were serious. “Do you feel guilty?"
Leigh searched his face, her fingers lightly caressing the invisible whiskers on his jaw. “I suppose so,” she whispered. “But I don't want to think about it now."
"Don't ever feel guilty about us,” he said quietly. “Promise me."
Somewhat bewildered, Leigh gazed into his beseeching eyes. “I promise."
Sighing, Erik allowed his eyes to close, although his arms didn't loosen his grip on her. “I will never forget this day,” he said. “When I am back in Norway on a winter day like this, I will look out at the snow and remember you and our love-making."
With his words, Leigh felt a vague chill creep over her, and even the warmth of his long body next to hers couldn't make it go away.
* * * *
A feeling of alarm woke her. Carefully, Leigh eased away from the heavy weight of Erik's arm to look at the digital clock on the bedside table. She gasped in disbelief. Almost two o'clock! Mel and Aaron were due home from school at two-thirty.
"Erik!” Leigh shook his shoulder gently. “Wake up, Erik."
He groaned and tightened his hold on her. For a moment, she relaxed against him, burrowing her face into the hollow of his neck. Had she ever before felt this warm? With every shallow breath she took, she inhaled his musky fragrance. It was heady, delicious. She pulled away to look at his sleeping face. A wave of emotion washed over her, a feeling that couldn't be attributed to just good sex. But it was so impossible she fought against it. Remembering the time, she leaned down to kiss his bristly jaw. “Erik, love, you have to wake up. The kids will be home from school soon."
This brought a response. One hand moved slowly over the swell of her breast and turning, he planted a succulent kiss against the side of her throat. “See? I want you again,” he whispered, hi
s hand guiding hers onto his stiff penis.
The tell-tale heat suffused throughout her eager body, but this time she knew she had to quench it. She drew away from him and threw back the covers.
"You missed your class,” she said as she walked naked to her closet.
His head propped upon a pillow, Erik's amused eyes followed her every movement. “I would miss a thousand classes for the opportunity to make love to you."
Leigh pulled on an old robe and turned back to him, her eyes soft. “Thank you,” she said. “I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be desirable."
Erik's face hardened. He threw the satin comforter back and swung his long legs over the side of the bed. As he stood up, Leigh suppressed a gasp at the magnificent beauty of his nude body. He stopped in front of her, his blue eyes icy. “Why don't you leave him?” he asked. “He doesn't deserve you. And you know you don't love him."
Leigh stared up at him. “I can't do that to the kids. And I'm not strong enough to make it on my own."
His hand caressed her face and his expression softened. “You are, you know. And someday, you will realize that.” He bent down to kiss her lips lightly. “God, Kayleigh, I can't get enough of you."
Leigh found his lips again, clinging to him longingly, not wanting to let him go. After a long moment, he pulled away with a sigh. “I've got to get to my room and get dressed."
"What will you say to Mark when he asks why you weren't at classes this afternoon?"
Erik shrugged. “I'll tell him I developed one of my migraine headaches.” He grabbed his discarded shirt from the floor and smiled at her. “Tonight, kjaereste? After everyone is asleep?"
A thrill of excitement shivered through her. “I'll come to you,” she said.
He flashed his beguiling grin and disappeared through the door. Leigh walked to the window and stared out pensively. The snow had stopped and a weak sun struggled to break through the clouds.
The deception had begun.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon Page 8
