by Francis Ray
Surprise lifted her brow. “How did you know?”
“He stopped by to assure me he’d take care of you,” Max said. “I told him I’d be watching.”
Sophia started to laugh, then saw Max’s serious expression. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“Which part?”
“Both,” she said.
Max’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “He seemed all right or I wouldn’t have invited him to dinner, but that was before I knew he wanted to date you. I don’t want some man taking advantage of you.”
“And I don’t want to die an old maid who’s never been kissed,” she said, silently adding among other things.
Max shifted restlessly and refused to meet her gaze.
Sophia touched his arm. Since her nephew was a smart man, he was probably thinking about those other things. “I love you for wanting to protect me, but don’t you think it’s time I get a chance to experience what other women have? Even if it doesn’t turn out the way I’d like, I would have had moments I could look back on and not feel odd and unlovable.”
Max took her shoulders. “You’re neither.”
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “But I’ve felt that way. I want this chance.”
Max nodded. “But if he messes up or crosses the line . . .”
Sophia would be disappointed if Albert didn’t at least try to cross that line. “If that happens, I have a way of taking care of him. Now I have some shopping to do.”
Thursday afternoon, Celeste stood on the threshold of the suite, her critical eyes examining every detail from the beautiful curtains to the scrumptious bed waiting for the newlyweds. Simon and Maureen had fought for and found their happiness; she and Alec wouldn’t be so lucky.
Closing the door, she went down the stairs. She wanted the newlyweds to open the door and be enchanted; she wanted the bedroom to be their place of refuge and passion. Her steps quickened on the stairs. They’d have what she couldn’t.
Opening the front door for the last time, she went to her van and started the motor. She’d left the key on the nightstand as they’d discussed. Refusing to look at the side of the house for Alec, she put the vehicle into gear, glanced into her rearview mirror, and saw Alec’s truck drive up behind her. Her heart raced in spite of her good intention not to hope, not to feel.
In the mirror, she watched him get out, his long-legged stride bringing him closer and closer. She rolled down the window.
“Hi. Glad I caught you.” He held up the handled bag from Sticky Fingers. “I figured you’d be tired, so I picked up your dinner. You have time to see the gazebo before you leave? I’m finished except for coating the floor and steps with a clear varnish.”
He was nervous. He’d never talked that much or that long. He was giving her all he could. She shut off the motor. “I hope you didn’t forget my double fudge sundae.”
“I’ll never forget anything about you.”
The depth of emotions in his words caused her hands to clench. “Neither will I about you.”
He opened her door. “It won’t take long.”
Because otherwise it would be too painful for both of them. She stepped down and stared up at the only man she’d ever wanted, the man her heart had chosen, the man she would never call her own.
He put the take-out bag on the seat and closed the door. Without touching or speaking, they took the same path they’d taken weeks ago. Only this time they walked side by side, careful not to touch. This time it was Alec who paused by the camellia bushes.
“Are you going to keep trying to get them to grow?”
“I don’t know.” She glanced at the lush pink flower, then him. “I don’t like giving up on something I want, but sometimes you have no choice.”
“No, you don’t.” He continued on the path.
Celeste took only a few steps before she saw the gazebo against the backdrop of the flowering trees and vines in the garden. “It’s beautiful, Alec. They’ll love it.” She went up the steps, looked up at the rafters.
“You helped.”
“You did the hard work. You should be very proud.”
His eyes narrowed on her face. “You’re a very special woman.”
She reached for him. He stepped back, regret in his eyes. “Sometimes the choices you make aren’t the ones you want, but you have to live with them. Be happy, Celeste.”
Despite the pain in her heart, she smiled. He didn’t need any more guilt. “You, too, Alec. Good-bye.”
Stepping past him, she continued to her van. She was almost there when he passed her. Once inside the truck, he backed out of the driveway. Celeste did the same, refusing to cry again. At least not until she reached home.
“Are you all right?” Max asked Gina. They were seated in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city, with a view of a beautiful courtyard, yet Gina seemed distracted. She’d only picked at her lobster and steak. “Is it Gabrielle?”
“No. I’m sorry.” She bit her lip. “My best friend is going through a rough time.”
Max placed his hands on hers. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No.” She placed her other hand on top of his. “Thanks for asking. I wish I could have seen Sophia before she left on her date.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy.”
“The right man can do that for a woman.”
He leaned closer. He certainly hoped she included him. “Would it appear too forward if I said I wanted to be alone with you?”
She briefly tucked her head. “We could have dessert at my house.”
“I’ll signal the waiter.”
In a matter of minutes, they were on their way. Max planned on waiting at least until they’d eaten dessert before kissing her, but when Gina dished up ice cream over the pecan pie the image of her tongue swirling the ice cream the other day hit him hard and he got hard.
He might have made it if she hadn’t gotten ice cream on her finger and stuck it in her mouth to lick it off. He groaned. Her startled gaze flew up to him. Embarrassment flickered in her eyes. She reached for a napkin. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” Taking her hand the same way she had his the day on the pier, he smeared it with ice cream, then licked it off, all the time his eyes on her, watching hers grow larger, her breathing labored.
“That was good, but I can think of one thing that tastes better.” Putting her hands on his shoulders, he pulled her into his arms until their bodies were flush.
He breathed a sigh of relief when she came willingly. “I need to kiss you.”
“Then don’t keep either of us waiting.”
His mouth closed over hers. Hers opened willingly. He’d been right. Nothing had ever tasted so right. His arms held her closer, reveling in the softness of her body pressed against the hardness of his. One thing he hadn’t counted on was the desire for the growing urgency to take, to give, to make her his in every possible way.
He started to ease back. She moaned into his mouth, hers greedily taking from his, her hands clutching him closer.
Caught up in the swirling vortex of her opening for him, giving to him, he pulled her closer instead of letting her go. He couldn’t. Not yet.
His hand closed over her breast, felt the nipple tighten, push against his hand. Gina arched subtly, asking for more. Catching the tab of the zipper of her dress, he pulled it down as far as it would go, to the small of her back. With a brush of his fingers, the lightweight black material slid off one cinnamon-hued shoulder, then the other. He stepped back. The dress fell to the floor.
Gina stilled as if she just realized what had happened. Max dipped his head, his teeth closing on the distended nipple through the lacy bra.
“Max,” she moaned, her hands pressing his head closer, her body trembling.
He wanted to feast on her, pleasure her. “Bed,” he rasped; picking her up, he hurried toward the bedroom. A dim light shone on the nightstand, illuminating the turned-d
own bed. Sitting her down, he quickly divested himself of his clothes and put on the condom he’d earlier slipped into his pocket, then picked her up again, felt her shiver.
Concerned, unsure whether her reaction was fear or arousal, he sat down, then tilted her face to his. “This won’t go any further if that’s what you want.”
She tucked her head. “I—”
His fingers lifted her head again. “Is this one of those times I shouldn’t ask what’s the matter?”
“The sheets are new.”
He wanted to shout, to strut. He caught her face with both hands. “I want you, Gina. You don’t know how much it pleases me to know you want me, too.”
Her hands lightly clasped his wrists. “I figured you’d show me.”
He laughed. Hers mixed with his. He tumbled back in bed, taking her with him. Before the sound died, his mouth was on her, showing her the depth of his desire, how much she meant to him. His mouth traced along the delicate curve of her throat, the beckoning swell of her breasts.
“You’re beautifully made.” His tongue laved one turgid point, then the other, his hand sliding over her stomach, finding silken skin, the elastic top of her panties. He slipped his hands underneath, felt her desire.
“Max.” She trembled in his arms, the aching hunger in her body growing each second. Restlessly she moved her hips, wanting him there.
The heel of his hand pressed against her, somehow making the ache better and worse. She burned for him. Her legs closed, shamelessly trapping his hand there.
His mouth came back to hers, his tongue flickering against hers. She relaxed her legs, then felt his finger stroke the most intimate part of her, once, twice. Her hips moved against his hand, reaching, searching; then his hand was gone, and she wanted to cry out.
But then Max was looming over her, his face tight with desire. “The first time I want to be inside you.”
Slipping his hands beneath her hips, he brought them together. Gina closed her arms around his shoulders, her legs around his waist. Unimaginable pleasure spiraled through her.
He began to move, his hips surging into her. She met him thrust for thrust, reveling in the delight of being in Max’s arms, their bodies locked together in passion and need. Soon she felt her body tighten; she thought fleetingly of pulling back to prolong the ecstasy she’d only dreamed about, but her hunger was too fierce, the pleasure too great.
With a hoarse shout of her name, Max took both of them over. For endless moments she lay beneath him, content as she’d never remembered being.
Lifting his head, he stared down at her. “I always knew you were amazing.”
She kissed his chin, stroked his chest lightly dusted with hair. “I don’t have to pick the children up until the morning.”
His eyes devoured her. “Absolutely amazing,” he said, taking her mouth again.
Alec couldn’t sleep. He’d only been able to sleep in short intervals since he’d said good-bye to Celeste on Thursday. He’d tried to fake it for Simon and Maureen’s homecoming party Saturday night with all of his family and the Invincibles but knew he’d failed. He missed Celeste.
Oddly, Rafael didn’t tease him, just handed him a slip of paper with the names of a florist, a swank restaurant, and a jeweler and said, “You’ll figure out which one you need or maybe all three.”
Alec had shoved the paper into his jeans pocket and tried to keep a smile on his face. He didn’t need any of them.
Pretending became even more difficult as everyone came back to look at the gazebo. He’d accepted Simon and Maureen’s praise, their hugs, watched them walk to the center and “christen” it with a kiss. He cheered with the rest of the family, despite the misery he felt.
He’d gone to bed early to leave the house to Maureen and Simon, but he didn’t even think of closing his eyes. Therefore, he was awake when an electrical storm blew into Charleston shortly around four Sunday morning.
Through the window he saw the fierceness of the lightning lighting up the sky. The lamp on the bedside table flickered. “Celeste.”
Sitting on the side of the bed, he reached for his cell phone, punched in five numbers before he aborted the call. What if she was asleep and he woke her up? Standing, he went to the window. Rain lashed against the pane; wind viciously swayed hundred-year-old trees.
The light flickered again. I’m afraid of the dark.
He punched in her phone number and paced while he waited for an answer.
Her flashlight and cell phone beside her in the bed, Celeste tried to read Sudden Prey. Ashton and Gabrielle were asleep in the separate guest bedrooms Celeste kept for her parents and sister. Gina had called twice to ensure that Ashton and Gabrielle were all right, to ask if she should come get them.
Since it was four in the morning and Celeste heard Max’s voice in the background and the weather was so bad, Celeste had forbidden her from needlessly endangering herself when the children were fine. She had the electric company’s emergency repair number on speed dial; she’d checked her home generator and her flashlights.
She was fine physically. Emotionally was another story. After reading the same paragraph for the third time, she placed the book on the bedside table. Usually she devoured Dalton Ramsey aka Edgar Gunn books. Tonight she was too restless and too consumed with thinking about devouring someone else.
The ringing of the cell phone was a welcomed distraction. “Gina, Ashton and Gabrielle are fine.”
“It’s Alec.”
Clutching the cell phone, Celeste sat up straighter. “Alec, are you all right?”
“That’s what I called to ask you. Your lights on?”
“Oh, Alec.” She didn’t even think of lying, because she knew he’d come. The weather was too bad to drive in. “I’m fine. The generator is working, and I have a flashlight with me.”
“Smart. Sorry I disturbed you.”
“You didn’t,” she told him, wanting to prolong the conversation. “Maureen and Simon called earlier. They had fun at the party, and really liked what we did.”
“They’re happy.”
“When are you leaving?” she asked, sliding her legs over the side of the bed.
“Early this morning. I report for duty at eight Monday.”
There was a tightness in his voice that hadn’t been there earlier. “You can do it, Alec. I believe in you.”
“No matter what, knowing that helps. Good night, Celeste.”
“Good night, Alec. Safe travel.” Celeste hung up the phone and knelt at her bed to say a prayer for Alec.
. . .
Gina couldn’t stop smiling. She practically floated up Celeste’s walk Sunday morning and rang the doorbell. Making love with Max had been . . . fantastic. She now knew what women were talking about when they whispered about curled toes and off the chart.
Celeste opened the door; her usual smile wasn’t there. Gina’s happy mood took a nosedive. “Are you all right?”
“I’ll get there.” Stepping back, she closed the door after Gina entered. “Ashton and Gabrielle just woke up. I thought it best to let them sleep as late as they wanted.”
Gina flushed, her smile returned. “Thank you for taking care of them.”
“No problem.” Celeste leaned in closer to whisper, “I want details later,” then she straightened to say, “They enjoyed the wide-screen TV and cable, and I enjoyed them.”
“Hi, Mama,” Ashton greeted, running to her. “Celeste let me help bake chocolate-chip cookies and we watched her TV.” He spread his arms wide. “Can we get one that big?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the size we have.” She hugged him to her just as Gabrielle came into the room with her backpack dangling from one shoulder. Gina hadn’t been prepared for her daughter’s close scrutiny but met it with a smile, refusing to feel regret or guilt about her night with Max.
“Good morning, Gabrielle.”
“Good morning,” Gabrielle greeted.
“I’m hungry.” Ashton stared up at Gina. “Ca
n we go to Max’s house and eat and play soccer?”
“We’re going home.” Gina steered him toward the door. She wasn’t sure if she was sophisticated enough to be around Max and the children this soon. “Thank Celeste and let’s go.”
They did as requested and Gina opened the door; then she looked back at Celeste and smiled. “You have another visitor.”
Celeste stepped around Gina and the children and stared at Alec, who stood a few feet from her porch with a blooming pink camellia in a large terra-cotta pot. “Alec.”
“We’ll get out of your way. Nice seeing you again, Alec.” Gina hustled the children down the walk.
“Morning,” Alec greeted the passing trio, his gaze snapping back to Celeste.
She came down the steps. “Is that for me?”
He shifted, a bit embarrassed. “Yes. I didn’t like the idea of you giving up. You’re too brave.”
Her fingertip gently touched the blossom. “Thank you.” Her voice quivered. “Please put it on the porch. I never thought of one in a pot.”
Putting the plant down, he straightened and handed her the magazine he’d stuck in his back pocket. “The man at the nursery said this would help.”
Celeste accepted the book, folded her arms around it. “I thought you’d be home by now.”
“I couldn’t leave.” He shifted again. “I didn’t like the idea of you giving up. You deserve all the good things life has to offer.”
“So do you.” She took his arm, felt his muscles bunch. “The least I can do is serve you a cup of coffee.”
“I—”
She talked over him. “You’ll be on your way in less than five minutes.” Ignoring his resistance, she led him into the house and to the kitchen. “Have a seat.” Filling a coffee mug, she turned. “Alec, sit. I won’t bite.”
“That’s the problem. I dream of you doing just that.”
Her hand trembled. coffee sloshed over the side of the red mug.
“Careful.” Quickly crossing to her, he took the mug. Grabbing a paper towel, he took her hand in his, turning it over. “You didn’t burn yourself, did you?”
