Oberon Boxed Set (Books 1-3) Welcome to Oberon

by P. G. Forte

  “Go sit down,” he urged over his shoulder. “Pour yourself some tea. It should be ready now, I think. I don’t know what you thought you were doing staying out there in the cold, all this time.”

  She laughed at that. “Well, I told you what I was doing. And anyway, it’s not that bad. It’s actually... kind of invigorating. Like a cold shower or something.”

  He turned and stared at her, one eyebrow lifted in a sardonic expression. “Really? I wasn’t aware you were in need of anything along those lines. Have I been missing something?”

  “Oh, I doubt that,” she teased, “I get the feeling you don’t miss much.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so either. But maybe I’m losing my touch after a couple of weeks in the sticks,” he answered as he went back to work on the fire.

  “Huh. No need to worry about that,” she muttered under her breath as she took a seat on the couch and stared at him longingly. Nope, there was nothing wrong with his touch. Absolutely nothing at all.

  Celeste’s tea set had been placed on the coffee table. There were two cups, but neither had been used yet. So if he hadn’t been drinking tea... what had he been doing in here all evening? She poured out some tea for both of them, and then sat back, letting her eyes wander around the two rooms. There was a wineglass on the dining room table; it drew her eyes like a magnet. It had always been such a nice, warm, intimate little room. She remembered so many evenings she and Celeste had spent in there, lingering over dinner, over one more glass of wine and then another, just talking and talking and—

  The curtains had not been drawn across the bay window.

  She had often sat on the window seat there herself. It was cozy and comfortable and it offered a perfect view of the glade.

  He turned from the fire then and saw the direction of her gaze, and she sensed the sudden rush of tension in him. Oh. Of course.

  She leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. “You were watching me, weren’t you?”

  “Does that bother you?” His voice was gentle, maybe the slightest bit hesitant, but thoroughly unrepentant. She opened her eyes and looked him full in the face as she thought about it. She saw nothing there to make her uncomfortable. No self-consciousness, no derision, no disdain.

  She shrugged. “No, not really.”

  “Good.” He smiled then, his eyes gleaming wickedly as he came to sit beside her. “Not that I could see much of anything, of course. But I did have a few questions I wanted to ask.”

  He’d had more than a few questions, Marsha reflected an hour later. A lot more. The teapot was empty and she was feeling warm and relaxed, but the idea of that long trip back through the dark canyon was hanging over her head. She put her cup down on the table.

  “I should get going,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to suppress the pleasure she took in the disappointment that flashed across his face.

  “Now? But it’s still so early,” he protested. “I thought—”

  She sighed wearily, leaning forward a little and propping her head on her hands. “It’s not really that early, Sam, and I have that long drive home. It’s making me nervous, thinking about it. I just want to get it over with.”

  She felt his hand glide through her hair then, and settle, a little tentatively, on the back of her neck. Uh-oh. Not a good idea, something inside her warned, as he began to gently massage the tightness there, but it felt so very wonderful she couldn’t bring herself to pull away. She closed her eyes and relaxed into the warmth his hand was rubbing into her.

  “So... if it bothers you this much to drive at night, what do you usually do when you come out here like this?” he asked.

  She chuckled, “Well, usually, I’d spend the night here, but obviously I can’t do that this time, can I?”

  She felt his hand come to a sudden stop, and she shook her head, interrupting him before he could speak. “It’s okay, really.”

  She twisted around to look at him. “The moon is full. You’d be surprised how well you can see by moonlight. I’ll be fine, as long as I leave before it starts to set. It was important for me to come. So, thank you again. I feel much better than I did earlier. Really. I needed this.”

  “I’m glad you came,” he said quietly as his hand resumed its gentle motion, “But what I was going to say is... there’s no reason for you to go, if you don’t want to, is there? I certainly wouldn’t raise any objections if you were to spend the night here.”

  Oh, he wouldn’t, huh? She smiled. “Thank you, but I think that would be a really bad idea.”

  His eyes gleamed and there was an odd little smile on his lips. “Don’t trust me? I promise you’ll be safe. After all, I wouldn’t want to risk my security deposit by breaking down your bedroom door. Unless you’re afraid you won’t be able to resist jumping me? If it makes you feel better, you take the couch and I’ll lock myself in the bedroom.

  “Oh, I see. Meaning it’d be no trouble for you to resist jumping me, huh? Thanks a lot,” she spoke lightly, with a mocking smile, but deep inside something twisted like a knife. It looked like Alex was right after all. After a week of acting as if he might actually want her, Sam had watched her from the window tonight, he’d seen her naked, and now—

  He stared at her for a moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then his fingers tightened on the nape of her neck and he drew her in closer.

  “Now... why would you say something like that?” he growled softly. He laced the fingers of both hands in her hair and stared grimly into her eyes. “Believe me, lady, you’ve caused me no end of trouble in that regard. All week long.” He brushed his lips across hers, lightly. “But never more than tonight.”

  She felt his breath quicken. Heat shimmered in his eyes. “It’s just lucky for you I have enormous amounts of self-control,” he murmured just before his mouth clamped down on hers.

  Marsha hesitated for just an instant, and then she was kissing him, too. Thrusting her tongue into his mouth when it opened on hers, and then shuddering at the feel and the taste of him. His hands slid down to grasp her shoulders and she felt herself pulled hard against his chest as he altered the angle of his head and deepened the kiss.

  Blood pounded in her ears, and she was only vaguely aware that she was reaching for him, too, driven by a desperate need to cling to something, if only to steady herself in a world gone suddenly dizzy. Her hand settled on his thigh, she felt the muscles in his leg tense. Her whole body reacted then, as if to an electric shock. Her fingers tightened on him, convulsively, and he broke off the kiss on a gasping, ragged breath.

  “Damn.” he whispered harshly, “I think I may have overestimated my abilities here.”

  She burst into startled laughter, and hid her face against his shoulder, feeling embarrassed and happy, and warm through and through. He still held her tightly, and she could feel the pounding of his heart.

  Gradually, his breathing slowed, and his grasp on her shoulders loosened. He collapsed back against the couch, pulling her down with him and keeping one arm wrapped around her. She relaxed into his embrace, trying hard to remember why it was so very important that she leave.

  “You’re absolutely certain I can’t talk you into staying?” he whispered, lightly kissing the top of her head.

  “I can’t stay.” She closed her eyes tightly against the tears his unexpected tenderness had surprised. She couldn’t remember why, exactly, but she knew she had to go.

  “Right.” He sighed. “How about I drive you home, then?”

  “What?” She sat up and looked at him in alarm. “No. I can’t let you do that. You’d have to drive all the way back out here again and, and I’d be stuck without a car.”

  “Well, it’s either that or sit around worrying about whether you’ll get into an accident on the way home. Maybe I could spend the night at— No,” he didn’t even wait to finish the thought. “I know. Also a bad idea.” He looked thoughtful for a long moment. “Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. I can see you out of the canyons, at least.
I can drive in front of you, and light your way. Once you’re back on the main highway, you should be okay, right?”

  “Yes, but... Sam, really, I can’t ask you to do that. It’s late. And it’s cold. And—”

  He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “You’re not asking,” he said, softly kissing her palm. “I offered.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” he insisted, getting to his feet. “I don’t mind. In fact, I want to do it. I could really use some of that invigorating cold night air you were telling me about.”

  He smiled wryly. “Just give me a couple of minutes to dress in something a little warmer.” His eyes slid over her. “I’m telling you, I do not know how you stood it out there. I don’t care what you say, it’s freakin’ cold out!”

  “Oh, you’d get used to it,” she answered. She could feel her cheeks grow warm, though whether she was embarrassed at the thought of his having watched her earlier, or aroused by the way he was looking at her now, she couldn’t have said for certain.

  “Uh-huh.” He looked at her consideringly. “I’m sure there are some aspects I could get used to, easily enough. But not tonight, I guess.”

  She watched him go, and then got up herself, driven suddenly by the need to move around. This was stupid, she thought, as she paced restlessly around the living room. She shouldn’t be dragging him out into the cold, when they both knew he would rather not go. She shouldn’t be causing him any more trouble.

  She should have just stayed home, she knew that. But oh God, she had really needed this. She needed the comfort of the familiar ritual. She needed to re-establish her feeling of being connected with the earth, with the powers of nature, and with this place. And she needed this last hour, too. Maybe even more than the rest. She had been feeling so very awful earlier tonight – ugly, and alone. Anguish threatened to overwhelm her again and she struggled for control.

  Alex was wrong, she told herself fiercely. No matter what he thought – or maybe he didn’t even think it. Maybe he only said it to hurt her. That would be just like him, wouldn’t it? But either way, it wasn’t true. Because, apparently, Sam did find her desirable. Even after he’d seen her naked.

  They’d sat here for over an hour, just talking. He’d asked her questions, and listened – really listened – to her answers. And yet, the way he’d looked at her – surely there could be no mistaking the expression in his eyes. He’d wanted to do more than talk. She hugged the feeling to her, enjoying the warmth and happiness it brought. It had been such a long time since a man had looked at her that way. It had been a long time, too, since she’d felt anywhere near this good.

  So, why are you leaving, then? a mutinous little voice inside her head whispered. But of course she was leaving. She had to. It was the smart thing to do. The only thing to do.

  You mean it’s the chicken-shit thing to do, don’t you? You’re just running scared.

  Hell, yes, she was scared. She had every reason to be. How could she even think about getting involved with Sam when, in a few short weeks, he’d be gone? If she were honest with herself, she’d have to admit she was already half in love with him. If she allowed herself to get in any deeper, she’d just be opening herself up to a world of hurt.

  Never again.

  However much she wanted to stay, it was still better for her to go home. Now. While she still felt good. Before desire could blossom into neediness. Before the urge to cling became too strong.

  Oh, yes, so much better, the voice taunted. To go back to your cold, lonely house. And crawl into your cold, lonely bed. And get on with your cold, lonely life. How long will that satisfy you, do you think?

  Oh, God. She shuddered at the emptiness of that vision, wrapping her arms around herself as a wrenching pain caught at her chest.

  She couldn’t go home.

  A sudden burst of insight, stopped her in mid-pace. Life was offering her a gift. She could accept it or not, but she couldn’t keep pretending it wasn’t exactly what she wanted. And she couldn’t protect herself from being hurt by walking away from it, either. Walking away was going to hurt just as much in the long run. Or maybe more. Sam had come into her life for a reason. And whatever that reason might be, she didn’t think it was to offer advanced lessons in sublimating her sex drive and resisting temptation. At least, she sure hoped those weren’t the lessons life was trying to give her. Because if they were, she was just about to flunk out – in truly spectacular fashion.

  A sound behind her made her start. Sam was back. She turned to find him dressed and ready to go, tucking his shirt into his pants, not looking even the least bit put out about what had to be a major inconvenience. She gazed at him wonderingly, as if she were seeing him for the very first time. He was a good man; warm, considerate, thoughtful. And sexy as hell. And she wanted him so badly, it was a wonder she hadn’t jumped him already.

  “Listen,” she said, speaking quickly, before her courage failed her. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want—”

  He frowned, silencing her with a glance. “I thought we settled this? I told you. It’s not that big a deal.”

  “I know. We did.” She took a deep breath, uncomfortably aware of the thudding of her heart within her chest. “And it is a big deal, actually, but that isn’t the point. What I wanted to say was... if the offer’s still open, I’d like to stay.”

  “What?” His eyebrows rose, and he looked at her doubtfully. “You’re not going to tell me you’ve decided you can trust yourself to resist me after all, are you? ’Cause I don’t think I like that idea very much.”

  She laughed nervously. “Actually, I… I guess I was hoping that it was you I couldn’t trust?” She shook her head. “I don’t think this is coming out right. What I mean is...” her voice trailed off into silence as she caught sight of the look on his face.

  He looked... perplexed, she finally decided, and maybe a little startled.

  “What do you mean?” he asked guardedly.

  She swallowed hard. His voice sounded so cool. Was it possible she had somehow misread the situation? What if he didn’t want her, after all? What if he had only been kidding around when he said... shit, what had he said? She frantically replayed the conversation they’d had. Something about... oh, dear God... something about her being safe from him, wasn’t it? She felt the blood rush to her face so fast it made her ears roar.

  “I don’t know, Sam. I… I don’t know what I mean. I’m sorry. I should go. Forget about—”

  “Marsha, wait.” He was suddenly right in front of her, and her breath caught almost painfully in her throat as he lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. His own eyes glittered, fiercely questioning, but his hands and his voice were gentle. “Is this what you want?”

  Like the other kisses, this one swept her up almost immediately on a raging wave of desire. But there was also a difference this time, she quickly realized. This kiss was infinitely hotter, inexplicably more erotic. As if he wanted there to be no mistake, wanted her to know exactly what she would be getting into if she stayed. She was trembling with need when he raised his head finally to look at her.

  “Well?” he asked so softly, she could barely hear him over the pounding of her heart, but there was no mistaking the question in his eyes. “Is it?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Please.”

  An eager, exultant smile swept across his face then. She tried to return the smile, but her lips felt shaky. He must have noticed, because his face turned suddenly serious. “Are you sure?” he asked, gently cupping her face in his hands.

  She shook her head, as much as she was able, and her smile was firmer this time. “No. Not really. But I’m not going to change my mind again, or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. I want this, too, Sam. I do. I’m just... I don’t know... scared, I guess.”

  His arms closed around her and he held her tenderly against his chest. “Don’t be scared, angel,” he whispered against her hair. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I promis
e.”

  She nodded, accepting his intentions, but knowing all the same that there was no way he could keep that promise. She knew it with every fiber of her being, beyond any possibility of doubt.

  But she went with him anyway.

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  * * * *

  Chapter Twenty Three

  * * * *

  Sam turned on the bedside lamp. He dropped her hand only long enough to kick off his boots. And then, taking both her hands in his, he gently pulled her down to lie with him on the bed. She was trembling, he realized as he stretched out beside her, but whether from nerves or desire, he couldn’t be sure.

  He wasn’t sure how to proceed with her, either. He’d never attempted to make love to an angel before. And he’d been so certain, only a few minutes earlier, that she was leaving.

  Although he definitely knew better than to question her sudden change of heart, he was puzzled by it. He knew he hadn’t seduced her into staying. He didn’t even know whether to be heartened or discouraged by that.

  He brushed his fingers through her hair, watching it spread across the creamy bedding like a sea of flame; as glorious as he’d been imagining all week. The whole room might have been designed with her in mind. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything look as wonderful as she did right now; all pink and gold, with only her radiant hair, and the green gems of her eyes standing out.

  He ached to remove her robe – right now – and feast his eyes on the rest of her, but something held him back. He wouldn’t rush her. He’d take things slow, and give her all the time she needed.

  He let his hands move lightly over her body, stroking and caressing, until her trembling ceased. And then he carefully gathered her into his arms and finally let himself kiss her the way he’d been wanting to since they’d met. Slowly. Thoroughly. Tasting every part of her mouth, every nuance of her flavor. Holding nothing back, and demanding the same in return.