Nedra smiled. “I was just thinking about you.”
Sin hugged her to him, nuzzling her neck. “I’m glad.”
“I thought you were asleep.” She snuggled against him, unable to get close enough.
“Who can sleep with you here?” He grinned down at her. “I’m surprised you let me get a cat nap, the way you’ve been all over me.”
Feigning insult, Nedra wiggled out of his arms and swatted at him. “I was what? You take that back!”
Sin chuckled at her antics. “No, I won’t!
Nedra grabbed her pillow and held it above her head. “No? Don’t you ever say no to me!” She was ready to continue their merry romp until she noticed the gleam of humor in his eyes change to one of stark desire.
Plucking the pillow from her, he tossed it aside, took her hand and placed a tender kiss in the palm. “I could never deny you anything. I love you too much.”
His words raced through her like a forest fire. She lowered her body to cover his, feeling completely content. If only it could always be like this.
Sin gave a satisfied sigh. “Oh Nedra, there’s so much in my life that I regret, but I know that I will never regret loving you.”
With those words, he claimed her lips, and, once again, she rode the storm of passion with him into safe harbor.
****
Hours later, still aglow from the power of the connection between them, Nedra and Sin went out to a late dinner. This evening belonged to them.
They dined in a candle lit restaurant overlooking Monterey Bay, a quiet little spot known for its jazz trio. Nedra had changed into a colorful pants suit she had never expected to wear for her trip to Tahoe, but had packed anyway—thank goodness. She had styled her hair so that it hung loosely on her shoulders, framing her face and accentuating her eyes. Sin was entranced.
Before going to the restaurant, they stopped by the hotel in which he was staying. He changed from jeans into one of his many custom-tailored suits. This one he accented with a red tie and matching handkerchief tucked in the breast pocket. The color against his chocolate brown skin was striking. Nedra smiled appreciatively as she gazed at him against the flickering candlelight. This man was truly fine. He was living up to his nickname this night.
Sin was ecstatic. From the moment he jumped into his car and headed toward the Peninsula, he had berated himself for coming here. There were so many reasons not to be with Nedra that he couldn’t remember them all. Yet, the sound of her voice each time he spoke to her overshadowed all of those concerns. He had forced himself to stay away from her for as long as he could. But the urge to see her, to be with her, had been so intense that he had finally stopped trying to fight the urge. He was here. So was she. They had found the elusive connection for which he had longed. At this moment, nothing else mattered.
After dinner they joined the other patrons on the dance floor. Any pretense of being anything but enamored with each other was totally abandoned. As they danced, he pressed her to him, fitting her form snugly into his body’s nooks and crannies as if that was where she belonged.
Nedra laid her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beat uncontrollably. There was no doubt as to who was controlling its rhythm. She beamed, enjoying her newfound power.
Tilting her chin, Sin planted a tender kiss on her lips.
“What was that for?”
“You.” He was pleased that she appeared comfortable with his public display of affection. “I want you to know how much you are cherished.”
Nedra was choked with emotion. What a man!
The song ended. The band went into a second number as slow and romantic as the last one. They continued to dance, the heat radiating between them smoldering.
“This is as good as it gets,” Sin whispered. He could think of only one thing that could make it better. Glancing down at her, he looked into knowing eyes. She raised a questioning brow. He grinned sheepishly. “Wishful thinking,”
“Uh huh.” Nedra chuckled.
They left the restaurant, eager to continue what they had found between them. Outside, a line of patrons stood waiting to enter the restaurant. As the valet brought Sin’s car to the front entrance, Nedra climbed inside. She didn’t hear her name being called from the waiting crowd.
The woman who had vied for her attention from the back of the line turned to her dinner companion. “That looked like Reverend Davis. My next door neighbor, Esther Costello, goes to her church.” She watched the car until it disappeared into the night.
CHAPTER 12
In the morning Nedra awakened before Sin and slipped from his arms. As she made her way to the bathroom for a shower, her legs still felt shaky and her body tingled from their evening of passion. After returning home from the restaurant, they had made love until they both fell into a stupor, too exhausted to continue. According to the clock sitting on top of the marble sink, it was ten o’clock. They had fallen asleep at six.
After saying her morning prayer, she peeked into the mirror that stretched across the vanity, wondering if she looked as different as she felt. She felt rejuvenated. She felt alive! She also felt like a hypocrite. It was amazing how the light of day could make everything appear so different.
She had indulged, luxuriously, in the pleasures of the flesh without the sanctity of marriage. In her position she knew that was something that she could not condone.
As a minister she had never condemned couples for the ways in which they expressed their love. Instead, she had counseled them to love wisely, to love responsibly. God’s gifts were to be treasured. They were not to be treated lightly and the gift of love was the greatest one of all.
Her views were not shared by everyone in the church. She had been chastised more than once by church elders for her less restrictive views. There were those who felt that she should rain fire and damnation on those in the church who committed sexual indiscretions. She had respected those opinions but held to her convictions. She was not put on this earth to judge others. That was God’s job. It was He whom all would have to face, including her.
She could only guess what the church elders might say about her indiscretion. Would they forgive her? Could she forgive herself?
Nedra lifted her eyes to gaze past her own reflection in the mirror to that of the man standing in the doorway. His naked body rested casually against the door frame, a sexy smile on his ample lips.
“Good morning.” His voice was still husky from sleep.
“Good morning.” Acutely aware of her nudity, she removed her robe from a hook near the sink and slipped into it as Sin stared at her through the mirror.
Pushing himself away from the door frame, he sauntered up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. “I wish you hadn’t done that. You were quite a sight for sore eyes standing in here naked. I nearly had cardiac arrest.”
He planted a kiss against her temple. Nedra could feel his arousal pressing against the small of her back. She tied the robe more securely before turning in his arms.
“I could have one too, Mr. Reasoner. I’m not used to a naked man standing in the bathroom first thing in the morning. It’s a shock to the system.” And much too tempting. She took a step away from him.
Sin pulled her back to him. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he whispered seductively, “And what do you want to do about it?”
Nedra grabbed a large towel from the rack and wrapped it snugly around his waist. “There.”
She turned to exit, noting the puzzled look on his face. He caught her arm before she could leave the room and looked from the towel to her.
“What’s this about?”
“Modesty.” With a quick peck on his lips, Nedra left the room.
Sin looked after her. Modesty? It was a little late for that. He scowled. Something was wrong, and it didn’t take a genius to guess what it was. He had hoped that they would have more time together before the guilt and regrets began.
It was noon by the time they both showered an
d dressed. Sin had fixed pancakes for breakfast, dripping with butter and blueberry syrup. They ate in silence, each with a section of yesterday’s paper propped in front of them, keenly aware of the other’s presence. Their camaraderie was reminiscent of the time spent together in Tahoe.
Sin would give anything to have that precious time back. This was Saturday, and tomorrow would be the last day of her vacation. Monday she would be back in Oakland where her life was still in danger.
He stared at the words on the newspaper without seeing a thing. Outwardly, he appeared calm. In reality, he was uneasy. There was someone out there who wanted to take her life, and he would not let them have it.
The problem was, he didn’t have a plan. He had known from the beginning that hiding her away was only a temporary solution. His hope had been that progress would have been made in finding out who was after her. That hadn’t happened. His contacts had been of no help, and his calls to the authorities had proved fruitless. Nothing had been resolved.
He had been willing to die for her even before they made love and confessed their feelings for each other. Now, he was willing to kill. But who? He was no closer to that answer now than he had been in the past.
There had to be a solution. Maybe they could go away somewhere, perhaps to one of the islands, Fuji or Tahiti. There he could keep her safe with him, loving her with everything in him. He wouldn’t have to share her with anyone—not her friends, not her congregation. Perhaps there, she would feel no guilt or regret. It would just be the two of them, living their lives, loving each other, making love as fervently as they had last night.
He could start a whole new life and become the kind of man she deserved, the kind she could be proud of. He would confess all that he had been about, and she’d forgive him for his deception. Nedra had a kind heart and a gentle spirit. Maybe she would forgive him, absolve him of his sins. She could convert him, make him new again. He had been told that ministers could do that sort of thing.
Glancing up, he expected to find her preoccupied with her reading. Instead, she sat looking at him pensively. He raised his eyebrows in silent question.
Her gaze was piercing. “Okay, what’s wrong?”
Sin sighed in resignation. Was he that transparent? If so, he needed to be as honest with her as he could be.
“I don’t want you to go back home.”
Her face softened. “I know how you feel. I could stay here with you, like this, forever. But—.” She shrugged. “I’ve got responsibilities.”
He knew that she would misunderstand his meaning, and understood what she meant, but first things first. He had to tell her.
“I believe that your life is in danger in Oakland.”
She thought he was joking. She joked back. “Everybody’s life is in danger in Oakland.” Her eyes shifted back to the paper, dismissing the subject with one gesture.
He tried again. “About two weeks ago, I received some information that made me believe that somebody’s trying to kill you.”
That got her attention. She looked up.
“Kill me?”
“Yes. I heard that some drug lord is very unhappy about the work you’ve done in East Oakland to remove drugs from the area around the church,
“I bet.” She returned to her newspaper.
Sin frowned in annoyance. “I’m serious, Nedra. The information I’ve received indicates there’s a contract out on your life.”
Nedra looked up at him again. Two weeks ago?
She folded the paper neatly and laid it aside. Sin’s expression was as serious as his tone. She recalled her initial feeling that their meeting in Tahoe had not been an accident. That had been nearly two weeks ago. Was that the reason he came to Tahoe? Did he come to protect her?
“How do you know there’s a contract out on me? Who told you? We haven’t put a dent in Oakland’s drug trade. The dealers just move to new locations. What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.”
Sin could hear the doubt in her voice. He could see the denial in her stance.
“I heard that some drug dealers—I don’t know who—had put a contract out on some do-good preacher who was making them lose business.”
Nedra’s body relaxed. Her tone remained skeptical. “And you assume that I’m the ‘do-good’ preacher?” She chuckled.
Sin fought to keep a rein on his temper. Didn’t she understand? He could lose her! Pushing away from the table, he stalked across the kitchen, the very thought of living without her tore at his heart.
“Nedra, all signs point to the fact that you are the preacher in question. You are in danger. This is not a joke, and I don’t find anything funny.”
The anguish on his face propelled Nedra out of her seat. She walked over to where he stood, leaning against a counter glaring at her. True or not, it was obvious that he believed what he was telling her, and, of course, there was always the possibility that he might be right.
“Well, if that’s really the case, after you heard this, why didn’t you go to the police?”
Sin hesitated. How much could he tell her without revealing too much? “I did call the police, but I don’t think they believed me.” He left out the part about calling anonymously. It would raise too many questions.
Nedra nibbled on her lower lip. Could this be true? “I’m not the only minister in Oakland who has interfered with the drug trade. Not that my church has done much to stop anything.” She forced herself to swallow any uncertainty. “Anyway, if they didn’t say my name, how do you know they were talking about me?”
Sin reached out and pulled her into his arms. He could tell that the possibility of truth frightened her. That hadn’t been his intent. He stroked her back soothingly.
“It was pretty clear that it was a woman. Anyway, what other female preacher in Oakland is raising as much hell as you?”
Sin was teasing her, but if what he was saying was true, how fearful should she be? She knew he was there for her. He had been there from the beginning, watching out for her, protecting her. It was now clear that she was here in this house because of his fear that she might be in harm’s way.
“So, if it is me, what would you suggest that I do? Hide out forever?”
Sin’s hold tightened. “If I could keep you safe with me, forever, I would. For now; if you could stay here in this house a little longer....”
“Sin....”
“At least one more week.”
“But, I’ve got too man….
“I know, responsibilities.”
“It’s true. I can’t stay longer.”
“Can’t or won’t. Please, Nedra. I know I’m asking a lot.”
“Yes, you are.”
She tried to draw away from him. He wouldn’t let her. Taking her face in his hands he looked into her eyes.
“Are you sure that’s the only reason that you won’t stay?”
Nedra was unable to hold his gaze. “This is unreal, like some TV show, or dime store novel. What can you do in a week?”
Sin relaxed his hold on her. He had forgotten how good she was at avoiding questions that she didn’t want to answer. He gave her a temporary reprieve.
“If I can find out who’s behind this, then maybe I can get the law involved.” With their dead bodies, he wanted to say, but how could he tell her that he was willing to kill for her?
Fear crossed her face. “No! That’s too dangerous. I’ll go to the police myself.”
“And say what? That you heard that I heard somebody say there’s a contract on you? Even I’ve got to admit it sounds vague. But, as long as there’s the possibility, I want you safe. Stay here.”
She shook her head. “I can’t”
“Why not?” He was impassioned. “I asked you to be sure.”
Her eyes met his. The heat emanating from them singed her. “I’m sure that I love you.”
“Then prove it.” He kissed her brow. “Stay here.” He kissed one eyelid. “Please.” He kissed the other one. “For me.” He kissed her mouth
and her resistance began to wane.
****
They were on the Monterey Boardwalk when all discussion about her prolonged stay on the Peninsula ended. Nedra and Sin were strolling along, hand in hand, playing tourist, when she recited a list of calls she would have to make if a prolonged stay was to be possible. The first call was to Carla whom she hadn’t contacted since leaving a message concerning her whereabouts.
Assuring Sin that she wouldn’t share the real reason for extending her vacation, she placed her call. She watched him fondly as he sat perched on a nearby bench, enjoying an ice-cream cone. Carla answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Girl!” Nedra grinned at the sound of her voice. “What’s up?”
“Nedra! Thank, God!” Carla’s voice bordered on hysteria.
Nedra snapped to attention instantly. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Sin looked up at Nedra and noticed the change in her body language. He dropped the unfinished cone in the trash and started walking toward her.
“It’s Sharon. She’s in the hospital.” Carla started crying. “It was that bastard brother of mine! Richard hit her.”
“Nedra gasped. “Hit her?”
Having reached her side, Sin was disturbed at her distress. “Who got hit?”
She mouthed Sharon’s name.
“Yes, he hit her!” Carla repeated. “He beat her when she told him about the baby!”
Nedra choked. “Baby? What baby?”
“Sharon’s pregnant. She told me the other day. It’s insane! Richard’s too irresponsible to take care of a child. She told him she was pregnant, and he went crazy. She said he started breaking things, cursing her, accusing her of trying to trap him.”
“Is she okay?” A chill ran through Nedra. Sin pressed closer to her, silently offering his support.
“No, she’s not! Her lip is swollen. Her face is bruised. She’s got a broken rib!” Carla’s voice broke. “He could have killed her. He could have killed his own child! I told her to put him in jail. You should see her, Nedra. You should see her! Jacob was so mad he went to find Richard to kick his ass!”
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