He rolled over on his back to the edge of the bed, taking her with him. She flung her head back, the long, damp, silky length of her hair gliding against his skin as he let his strong hands settle on her narrow hips to teach her the motions. He knew the sensations were intense and she tried once to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. He rolled back and she bit his shoulder as he felt her come apart in his arms. She clutched his rigid body as he followed her.
Tremors racked her body. She had Luke. Sweat-slicked. Shuddering. As breathless and stunned as she was. “Mine,” he had whispered at the end, over and over.
Mine, she thought, holding him tighter.
Chapter 20
Luke couldn’t summon the strength to move. He knew he should, he was too heavy for Domini. But he’d never felt so complete, so at peace. The feelings were heady.
Domini. He closed his eyes, not that he needed to. He would hear and feel her no matter how far he ran. Domini, all soft moans and sighs, trembling, frightened, but reaching for him with desperate hands. Hesitant, innocent, arousing him until he thought the fire would burn him to ash. She’d given him everything, nothing held back. And he’d been savage with her. Losing his control, plunging deep and…
Christ! Luke tensed. He’d lost himself in her hot, clinging tightness. Lost himself in every tremor he called forth, tremors that stroked him and lured him deeper. Lost himself until he forgot to pull out and spill his seed where it couldn’t come back to haunt him.
“Luke?”
The uncertain whisper gave him the strength to move. He rolled off her, left the body that still tempted him to begin all over again, to repeat the one mistake he’d never, ever allowed himself.
The feeling had been incredible. Despite the panic trying to take hold, despite feeling trapped by his own unruly passion for her, he wanted to know again the one pleasure he had denied himself. Hell, who was he kidding? He wanted Domini. Again. And again. She left him raw and aching. Once more making him want too much.
But he couldn’t force himself to get off the narrow bed. Tearing his body away from hers was enough punishment for any man.
Bewildered, hurt, Domini lay there beside him for long minutes, listening to their harsh breathing. She opened her eyes and turned her head. Luke was a pale outline in the darkness. Whatever light the moon provided filtered through thick-leaved trees outside the cabin. Very little light entered through the open windows. She sensed him withdrawing from her, even if he didn’t move, shutting her out as only Luke could do.
She was still held in the throes of passion’s aftermath and had to fight the trembling to force herself to move. Rolling to her side, she raised herself up on one elbow and tentatively reached out with her other hand to touch his hard, sweat-sheened chest. It took all her courage not to flinch when his breath hissed out.
“L-luke? W-what’s wrong?” Domini hated the betraying quaver in her voice. She swallowed and tried again. “Did I do something wrong? Didn’t I … please you?”
“Honey, if you pleased me any more I’d be dead.”
Honey. She almost hit him. As it was, her hand slid down and away from his tempting skin.
“Are you sorry, Luke?”
“Yeah. That about sums it up.”
Shadows. Hate and anger. Domini leaned down, her long hair brushing against his skin, and kissed him. Sweet and chaste, and far too brief.
“Are you going to run away from me, Luke?”
“I’m thinking about it. Only it’s not…” He took a deep breath and released it. His hand caught hold of her hair, crushing the straight, damp, silken strands. “It’s not you. It’s me, Domini. I keep running away from myself. I made a mistake—”
“Loving me was a mistake? Giving me more pleasure than I’ve ever known was a mistake?”
“You’re pushing me.”
“Yes.” She smiled, but doubted that he could see it. “I won’t let the past come between us.”
His arm rose between them to slide around her neck, but he didn’t release his hold on her hair. “Don’t you understand what happened? I spilled my seed in you. I’ve never done that with a woman. You know how babies—”
Her fingertips silenced him. “I know, Luke. Once before you said you could walk away. Will you do that now? And before you answer me, I want you to know that isn’t what I want to happen.”
“What in God’s name did I ever do that was so good to deserve you?”
She leaned closer, her sigh of longing whispering over his mouth. “You loved me. Here and now. And you will believe how much I love you.”
“Domini?”
“Kiss me.” But she took the choice from him. From Luke she had learned to tease, coax, and sweetly torment with a gentle ply of her lips on his. And when breathing was a ragged effort they both had to make, she lifted her head.
“Stay with me, Domini,” he said, drawing her up to cover him. “I don’t want to face another night alone.”
“I’m here, Luke. I’ll always be here for you,” she answered, loving the feel of his hand on her hair, loving the feel of his body wrapped around hers. She was safe in his arms, the slow, burning tendrils of arousal blazing inside again.
Domini tasted his slow smile as she straddled his hard body. His strong hands took her hips to lift her over him, pulling her down onto him, filling her. The shattering began almost immediately for her, sensations shimmering as he arched up into her. She put her hands on his sweat-slicked shoulders, leaning forward to brace herself, her long, straight hair a curtain of black surrounding and sheltering them.
Sultry heat and Luke’s whispers beckoned her with each surging motion he made.
“That morning at the stable, Domini, I wanted to set you on Devil facing me and slide into you like this. I couldn’t stop thinking about your sweet body that didn’t know when to quit teasing a man.”
“I wasn’t—”
“I know. That’s what made it so hard … oh, Christ…” He lost his desire to talk as the heated tremors began again for her. And he knew he wouldn’t stop this time, either. She was his. And no one could tear them apart.
“Luke?”
“I’m right here. I’ll always be here for you.”
She was lost in the spiral of blazing passion, lost in the haven of the strong body that left her dazed and shaking. She didn’t know how long she lay on him before he tenderly lifted her to her side and wrapped his arms around her, sheltering her, whispering to her until sleep claimed her.
At first Domini wasn’t sure what woke her. The air was still, almost suffocating. She opened her eyes, her fingers curling against Luke’s skin. His body was rigid, drenched in a cold sweat. She lifted her hand to touch his mouth and found his lips pressed tightly against his clenched teeth as if making an effort to still a cry.
Tears filled her eyes, in despair of whatever demon held him. She hated Toma, Amanda, and Matt at that moment as she had never hated anyone.
She wasn’t going to let them win. She’d fought Luke awake, she’d fight his night demons, too.
“Love,” she whispered, cupping his cheek, stroking the rough stubble that darkened his face. “Luke? Wake up.”
Soft as her whispers were, light as her touch had been, she knew by the new tension gripping him that he was awake. She closed her eyes, praying for guidance, and lay her head on his shoulder.
Domini’s soft, murmuring voice had called him from the darkness. He lay bathed in a cold sweat, afraid to move, afraid to close his eyes again. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, burying his face against the curve of her neck.
“Do you want to tell me what you dreamed, Luke?”
“I can’t. I don’t know.” The admission should have shocked him. He’d never told anyone about the strangling blackness that came and held him but never let him remember what it was. The even rise and fall of her chest soothed him, and he snuggled lower, his cheek resting on the upper curve of her breast.
Domini held him against her, wishing she was wiser, wishing there was something she could do to make him trust her.
The answer came immediately. And before she thought about it, she began telling him of her own nightmare, of the attack and the murder that still haunted her.
And when she was done, Luke whispered, “I’ll make you forget anyone ever touched you but me.” He made love to her, sweetly and slowly, cherishing her with his mouth and hands and body as he couldn’t do with words. He took her with the tenderness he had never given to another, and found a balm for his soul within her.
In silence he cradled her against him, feeling the glide of hot tears that she cried for both of them. And he stayed awake, guarding her against the dark places that hid their memories from him.
It wasn’t only protection he offered. He was protecting himself from Domini ever finding out that the nightmare which haunted him had begun the night after her father died.
Dawn crept on cat’s paws into the cabin as Luke kissed Domini awake. He helped her dress, reluctant to part from her just as she was reluctant to return to the house.
He held her close at the bottom of the path, forcing himself to be the first to walk away. He could feel her watching him until he disappeared behind the barn.
Domini touched her lips, regret deep in her eyes. Luke’s kiss had tasted of good-bye. A foolish notion for her to have after the night spent making love, but one that stayed with her as she went into the house through the back door. There was no point in hiding. She couldn’t disguise lips swollen from his kisses, nor did she want to.
Thankfully, Ellamay was alone in the kitchen, but Domini didn’t linger after wishing her good morning. She headed straight to her room.
The curtains were drawn, but she was sure that Meta or Lucy had discovered by now that she hadn’t slept in her bed. They’d likely told Amanda, and Toma, too, if he asked. With a shrug Domini dismissed worrying about it. They would all know soon enough that she had chosen Luke.
“I don’t need to ask where you were last night, do I, Dominica?” Matt rose from her bed and came toward her.
“What are you doing here, Matt?”
“I came back last night, rather late, but I’d hoped to surprise you this morning by asking you to ride out with me.”
She refused to let him see how his presence upset her. She hid the small wince a normal walk cost her, and went to stand closer to the fireplace.
“Does your father know that you waited in my bedroom?”
“My father wouldn’t care if I spread you out on the dining room table and—”
“That’s enough! Leave my room, Matt.” She turned her back on him, gripping the edge of the mantel, willing him to leave. She wasn’t ready for a confrontation with him.
When he wished, he could move quietly. He came up behind Domini, grabbing hold of her shoulders to spin her around.
“Don’t you ever dare order me in this house. You spent the night with Luke, didn’t you?”
His hateful voice penetrated the mist in her mind. Domini didn’t struggle against his punishing grip. She already sensed that Matt would like nothing more than a reason to physically hurt her.
“Since you already know the answer, Matt, why ask me?”
“Answer me!”
Her head rocked from the force of his shaking her. “Yes. I was with Luke. And I’ll be with him—” She cut herself off. His eyes blazed with fury. In the next moment Domini blinked, wondering if she had seen that much emotion in his eyes, for he had mastered whatever rage he felt.
His grip gentled and she steeled herself for the stroking of his hands where he had bruised her shoulders.
“I’m sorry. Truly, I am. I didn’t mean to hurt you, again, Dominica. You can’t know how difficult … no, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
He released her and stepped away to open the drapery on one window. Domini stood where he left her, only turning to stare at his back. Don’t listen to him. He hates Luke. He’ll try to poison you against Luke if he can.
She wanted to listen to wiser counsel, but sensed that Matt knew something about his brother that she needed to know, too.
Don’t!
I must.
“What is it that you know, Matt? You’ve hinted at some secret—”
“Forget I mentioned it. I have no right to tell you. Blame it on my being upset that you never gave me a chance, Dominica.”
“Toma was wrong to pit you against each other. He had no right to force me to choose between you. I was half in love with Luke before I came here, Matt. I—” She stopped, sensing that he wasn’t listening, or if he was, she wasn’t saying what he wanted to hear.
“I think it would be best if you leave, Matt.”
He turned and with his back to the light, his face was shadowed. “Answer me one thing, Dominica.”
“Matt, please.”
“Just one question. Did he hurt you?”
“Luke? Luke would never hurt me. He’s not what you and your parents think. There’s goodness in him.”
“I’m his brother, Dominica. I’ve known Luke longer than you have. I’ve protected him and lied for him.” It took a great deal of effort to stand and plead with her, but Matt knew he had no choice. He could see everything he wanted, everything that should by rights be his, slipping out of his grasp. Violence seethed inside him. But he didn’t dare make another mistake in letting her see it. She was wary of him. He had to change that. Raking one hand through his hair, he used the charming smile that had never failed him.
“I truly can’t apologize enough to you, Dominica. I wish you would trust me. But I also know that I must redeem myself in your eyes. Despite what you believe, Luke is my brother, and I want him to have everything that is coming to him. But before you tell my father of your decision—you did make one, didn’t you?”
“Yes. You know I wouldn’t have spent the night with Luke if I hadn’t, Matt.” He nodded as she watched him, a strange dread forming inside that she didn’t want to hear what he was going to tell her.
But you asked him.
Yes, she had asked.
“I don’t quite know how to tell you this. Unless Luke already confessed to you about his nightmares? The ones that he claims he can’t remember when he’s faced with the evidence of what he’s done?”
Domini was too shocked to speak.
“I’ve taken you by surprise, haven’t I?”
She was too shocked to answer and too stunned to catch the gloating tone of his voice. Domini grabbed hold of the mantel while the room appeared to tilt and swirl around her. Matt was lying. But why? Why would he lie about this, something so easily disproved? Or proved? a small voice countered.
“I might have known that he wouldn’t tell you.” He stared at her pale face, her glazed eyes that lifted in mute appeal for denial. He shook his head. “Dominica, why would I lie? We’ve found everything from small dead animals to fires. When confronted, he denies he had anything to do with them, even when he reeks of blood and smoke. It’s one of the reasons that my mother refuses to allow him to live in the house. She’d afraid she’ll wake one night and find him in her room.
“I can see that you still don’t believe me. But ask anyone here.”
A knock and Lucy’s voice calling Domini stopped her from answering him. Matt went to the door. Domini saw that he was beckoning Lucy to come inside.
She closed her eyes briefly. It couldn’t be true. Luke would have told her.
“Lucy, tell Dominica about Luke’s nightmares.”
“Tell her, Mr. Matt?” Confused, the young woman looked from Domini to Matt.
“Yes, tell her,” he repeated impatiently. “Tell her about the nightmares and what happens when he has them.” Matt directed his piercing gaze at Domini. “You realize she has no reason to lie to you?”
All Domini could do was nod.
“Mr. Matt, you know your mama don’t like us to talk about that. Sh
e’d take my place from me—”
“Tell Dominica, Lucy. Let me worry about my mother.”
Twisting the edge of her apron, Lucy stared at the floor. Very softly, she said, “Mr. Matt, I can’t say it. If your mama don’t find out, your daddy will. He never wants anyone—”
Matt grabbed the girl’s upper arm. “Listen to me once more,” he said, the words slowly pronounced as he fought to keep his temper. “I want you to tell her why he’s forbidden the house.”
Lucy’s wide, frightened brown eyes locked with his.
“Tell her!”
“Matt,” Domini protested, starting toward them. “Stop this. Can’t you see that you’re hurting as well as frightening her?”
“Stay where you are,” he ordered. “You won’t believe me. Lucy has nothing to gain by telling you the truth. Do you, Lucy?”
“No, Mr. Matt.” She held his powerful, frightening gaze a few seconds longer, then looked at Domini. “He left dead rabbits near Miz Amanda’s door. Sometimes she’d find blood smeared on the handle.”
“Finish,” he demanded, giving her a little shake.
“She found a fire burning a hole in her drawing room carpet. And—”
“That’s enough, Lucy. I don’t want to hear any more.”
Lucy stopped, but she didn’t move until Matt released her and told her to leave them.
Matt smoothed down his hair. His expression was contrite. “I’m sorry you forced me to go to such lengths to make you believe me, Dominica. If you still have any doubts, I’m sure I can supply others who will tell you the same story about Luke.”
“No. That won’t be necessary.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. She had known from the first that Luke had secrets. It hurt that he couldn’t trust her enough to tell her. Hurt so much that when Matt came and put his arms around her, Domini didn’t even notice him until he spoke.
“I keep saying that I’m sorry for hurting you, when it’s the last thing I want to do. But you must admit that I had no way of making Lucy lie to you.” He ignored her push, and stroked her hair back from her face with one hand and kept the other wrapped around her shoulders. “Stop fighting me.”
Whisper My Name Page 21
