“Yes, it has been a heavy week,” Anya agreed with a sigh. “So many things inside my head…so much to think about.”
“For this moment…” Ian moved to sit at her left side. “Do not move your arm. Let me manipulate it…just let it float…good girl…” He watched her face, a wince now and then showing in her eyes. “I think it’s healing well.”
“It does not hurt so much now,” Anya let her head go back against the edge, eyes closed as he moved and massaged her shoulder. “You are very good at this.”
“Only because it’s you…I never got good marks in physical therapy,” Ian continued to move her shoulder, his fingers guiding and feeling the muscles react. “My instructor said I was too heavy handed.”
“It is so beautiful here,” Anya stared out into the horizon, pinks and golds melting together with the blue of the sky into the sunset over the mountains.
“Where did you go, Anya?” He met the eyes that turned to his. There was an instant and unnamable thrill when he saw honesty in her gaze. She wasn’t going to pretend not to understand his question.
“To our apartment. I threw all the personal things I could carry into a suitcase and put it in the van. I…I could not stay there, Ian…there was so much in the rooms that…so much that was Will…in my head…there was screaming…so much screaming and anger,” dark lashes closed, her right hand up and swiping the tears away. “I drove…I just drove…I went to the military base and answered questions. Processing, they said…and I was on a flight to Seattle, his home of record.”
“I talked to his parents,” Ian said, letting her arm relax and moving to sit beside her, his legs stretched out across the tub. Their toes touched. “I talked to them the other day. Will told me many times that he didn’t get along with them. They’re very…”
“They were against him joining the military,” Anya filled in for him. “They do not like foreigners, he said. Then he laughed and said maybe he was adopted because he found learning about other cultures fascinating. They blame me because he is gone, I know this, Ian.”
“When I spoke to them five years ago, they made it sound like you didn’t care enough to be at the service,” Ian saw her nod.
“I know. They said I attached myself to Will and married him just to get free access to the United States,” Anya could still hear their harsh words in her mind, in her heart. “I hoped…I so much just wanted someone to talk to about him.”
“I know,” Ian nodded.
“But they did not know their son. Not as well as you and I,” Anya told him with a long sigh, eyes opening slowly when he took her hand, tugging gently.
“Sometimes parents act in a way that they believe is good for their child, but they really should just talk and listen to the child,” Ian sat upright, placed her palms on his shoulders and urged her to his thighs. He let his hands go to her waist, holding her steady and staring at her.
Anya felt herself caught in a stream of magic floating in the colorful sunset and steam rising from the tub around them. She brought the fingers of her right hand to his face, brushed the stray hair from his forehead. She fit her palm to the side of his face, her thumb rubbing softly over the fullness of his lower lip.
“I think I do not want to talk.” Anya slid along his thighs, one knee on either side and both palms on his face.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all week,” Ian closed the distance between them, his hands gliding over her back and urging her against him. His mouth covered hers, drinking in the heat and sunset hungrily.
She knew it had nothing to do with the steamy water, but Anya was certain she melted against Ian. She used his shoulder to support her weak arm, fingers of both hands twined in the thick hair at the back of his head. She didn’t know if it was years of celibacy or the past week of confusion, but losing herself in his kiss made it all fade away like the mists around them.
His mouth moved against hers. Their kiss far more satisfying than he dared imagine it would be. He remembered the fire and passion in their only single kiss before, positive it was caused by the emotion of the moment. But here…now…Anya was in his arms of her choice. Her decision to be there with him. An exciting, intoxicating hunger fueled them both. Ian pulled back, staring for a long minute into the half open dark lashes. He knew it was a reflection, but the firelight from the sunset seemed to burn in her eyes for him. He felt the edge of her teeth against his lower lip, his body absorbing the soft feminine tremble.
Warm, exploring palms pressed from her hips, along her spine, over her sides and back to pull her hard against him. Ian was positive he couldn’t get her close enough! Slender arms wrapped around his neck while her mouth explored his, tongues teasing before she broke their kiss to allow her teeth to nibble along his throat.
“We need to get out of here while I can still walk,” Ian set her away from him, his hands firm at her waist and head shaking when his mouth swooped down to cover hers, hungry for more.
“Ian…” Anya breathed his name when he lifted her to the edge of the tub, her legs sliding over and landing on the ground.
“Home…” Ian jumped up and out of the tub, put his glasses on and wrapped her in a towel before putting the other one loosely around his waist.
Laughter bubbled from Anya. “You are grumbling.”
“Yeah…no kidding…guys don’t walk well with…” Ian continued grumbling, stopping her outside the house. He dropped the towel over one of the chairs and took hers to join it. “Take the swimsuit off and hang it on the chair.”
“Here? Outside?” Anya looked around them. No one could see, she decided, peeling the wet suit down and bending to pick it up, very aware of Ian following her with his eyes. “You are doctor. You have seen it before.”
“Not in such a delectable package, I haven’t,” he assured her reverently, kicking his trunks to the chair and following her into the house, latching the door behind him.
Anya faced him, walking slowly backwards. “You are very good with those words.” She allowed her gaze to slowly drink in the masculine form, her hands up and taking his, guiding him to stand by the large bed. “You are beautiful,” she whispered, her palms gliding up his arms to his shoulders.
“Guys aren’t usually considered…”
“Shhh…” Anya closed her eyes, allowing her hands and finger tips to take in the strength beneath them. “In sculpting class…we learned to see with our hands, to not rely on what we see with our eyes…you are soft and hard at the same time,” she stepped closer, her head reached his chin. Her hands continued their study, palms flattened over his shoulders and pressing down his chest to the flat of his abdomen. Lower, her thumbs brushed the softness at the head of his erection.
Ian felt his breath drawn in sharply, his hands frozen on the narrow indent of her waist, fingers tightening at the softness of her palms stroking along him.
“Anya…”
She seemed to snap out of her dream, dark lashes opening slowly to peer at him. She liked the feel of his palms as they moved over her back, his fingers pressing into the curve of her spine and her body arching greedily toward him for more.
Ian moved them to the bed, amazed at the power in the passion he felt for her. Amazed at the passion her kiss was capable of evoking within him. He wanted more, reaching up and cupping her face in his hands, he drew her to him. She half lay on him, firm breasts pressing against his chest, one leg on his. He felt the soft, damp center of her against his hip at the same time she initiated a long seductive kiss. Her tongue toyed with his, teasing and inviting him out to play with a tender nip before her kiss ranged along his jaw and onto the soft flesh of his throat.
Ian soaked up her soft laughter when he tipped her to the bed, dark hair a gentle halo around her head against the sheets.
“My turn, woman,” Ian swept in, capturing one breast in his palm, fingers teasing and stroking until his mouth covered the tiny marble like peak. He learned her shape with his tongue, caressi
ng and suckling until the sweet sounds of her desire began to vibrate in his mind.
His palm pressed along the flat of her stomach, fingers caught in the downy softness, coils teasing his hand as he parted them, searching.
“So sweet…” He caught the taut nipple between his teeth and felt it firm up even more under his attention. His body tightened a little more with the knowledge that she wanted him.
“Ian…you are making me feel so alive…ohhh!”
Her soft gasp broke free when his fingers found the hot center of her, sliding on the moisture their foreplay was creating.
“Oh…” Her leg pulled itself up, out of his way. He could smell her desire as he stroked through the swollen female center. “Please…Ian…”
Ian broke his exploration, her scent calling him as his hand went to the nightstand, rummaging in the draw.
“Anya…you’re so hot…so sweetly ready for me…” Ian moved between her legs after he’d sheathed himself in protection. He groaned loudly when her hand went to him, guiding him. She did this to him, he realized. Made him glory in his own masculine power and strength. Just for her, he thought passionately.
He pushed slowly when she seated him at the tiny, hotly moist opening. Her silent invitation was the most sensuous act he’d experienced. Her sharing of herself, giving and taking of his own passion, was what had always been missing from other relationships. With a short, muttered exclamation or hunger, he slid closer, astounded at the silken feel of her thighs against his hips.
His fingers found the swollen nub at the same time his body lodged more firmly inside her, an inch at a time. Part of him was afraid of hurting her, afraid that she was so very small. He pushed slowly against the hot dampness, wanting to move carefully, wanted to avoid hurting her. But his fingers had been strumming over the nub and her body wanted more.
Anya felt the beginning…felt the stirring of that mysterious whirlpool a woman wanted to always drown in and pushed her hips up against him, seating him. Guiding him. Urging him and calling him in deeper and further. A siren’s song that mesmerized and aroused and it was playing only for him.
Holding himself up on one arm, Ian lowered his head, taking one nipple between his teeth at the same time her hips surged upward demandingly. He lost to the battle with a loud groan. Her body pulled him deeper, surrounded him, enveloped him with walls of melting hot gold. It had evidently been a long time for both of them. He heard his name shortly before he felt his own body exploding, pounding and sinking over and over into her warmth. He rolled to his back, taking her over on top of him and allowing her to completely capture him inside her. Her hips moved, rotated and swallowed him whole.
Ian watched the glow radiate off the sheen of moisture across her chest and throat, her palms small against his chest, her head back and body wracked in savage shudders that pulled him along like a boat in a storm. His shout filled the room and echoed in their senses as she collapsed on top of him, dark hair damp and fragrant. She lay on him, breathing raggedly. Her head lifted to peer into his face, wincing as she shoved her elbows on either side of his head.
“That was incredible, Ian Sheffield,” Anya whispered against his chin, kissing him softly.
“I agree,” he said, trapped by the soft glow in her eyes. But he had seen the wince and gently gripped her waist, setting her to the side. “I’ll be right back,” he promised, exhaling deeply when she stretched in all her feminine glory. Part of him whimpered, another part of him shouted with power.
Ian knelt on the bed, sleep shorts in place. He took her right hand and helped her sit upright. “Hold still, Anya…” He peeled the waterproof patches free, nodding at her grumble. “Yeah, yeah…be glad you don’t have hairy shoulders.”
“I think it is fine, Ian…I feel marvelous,” she whispered drowsily, curling against a pillow with a satisfied mew.
“Glad to be of service, honey,” Ian climbed into bed, pulling the blankets over them. His palm moved on its own, stroking along her side, into the narrow dip of her waist and onto her hips. She snuggled back against him, sighing thickly.
“Ian…can we just pretend there is no tomorrow and no yesterday,” Anya turned carefully to look at him, her palm up and stroking over his face. The barest hint of growth tickled her palm and made her smile.
“I think I’d like that,” he whispered in agreement.
“I want only you…” She pressed gently against him, her kiss soft and tentative, still feeling her way in this well of emotion he had awakened.
“Anya…” Ian wrapped her close, meeting each kiss with one of his own. He could see the magical web surrounding them, keeping them from the outside world. If only for a time.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Anya opened her eyes slowly. Morning had come, she thought with a sigh. Wishes and dreams, she mused. Morning always comes. She lay on her stomach, her left arm carefully braced against a pillow to keep it from moving while she was asleep. Her right arm cradled her head, eyes gradually focusing on the soft light outside the large windows. Fog kept the morning sun at bay, if only for a brief time. A giggle from a long past girl broke free when she felt the very warm possessive palm gliding over her behind.
“I thought it had all been a glorious dream,” Ian murmured, his mouth moving over her shoulder and onto her ear.
“You cannot fool me…you are merely examining my wound,” Anya worked to keep her tone serious.
“Hmm…now my girl wants to play doctor,” Ian couldn’t stop the grin when she laughed and let him roll her to her back. Careful of her shoulder, he leaned over, kissing her with as much hunger as they’d shared through the night.
“No work today,” she murmured against his mouth.
“No work today…I think I’ll take you on a long drive and a picnic on the beach.” Ian saw the instant approval in her eyes. “No seduction, lady,” he reached to the nightstand and came up with an empty packet.
“Oh…then we must go shopping,” she whispered hotly against his mouth, sending her tongue out to stroke over his lip. Anya saw the fire flare in his eyes, and let her mouth travel hotly over his chest. She felt his breath catch as her tongue drew a tantalizing circle around his navel, the soft feathers of her hair teasing the growing erection.
“You are a wicked woman,” Ian growled, sitting upright and leaving the bed, the bathroom door closing firmly behind him.
Anya gathered some clothes and went to the other bathroom. A quick shower and she stood before the mirror, turning slightly. The dress was a snug halter type in apricot and lime flowers. It stopped just past her knees and swirled slightly when she walked. She had been looking down when she entered the bedroom and suddenly knew that whether in a dress or her tee shirts and jeans, Ian would have that same gleam in his eyes and it made her smile.
“Wow…” Ian walked slowly around her. “I…ahhh…feel woefully inadequate,” he glanced down at his tee shirt and jeans.
“I have cargo pants and tee shirts…would that help your ego?” Anya peered up through teasingly lowered lashes.
“As beautiful as you are…I’m going to have the most inflated ego imaginable just being with you,” Ian saw the tears well in her eyes and kissed her. “Compliments make you cry?”
“I think it is the dress…” She swiped at the tears. “Or you…or perhaps both.”
“It’s tough being a girl…” He led her toward the front. “Grab whatever you need…we’re going out.”
“I would like that,” she gathered her phone and wallet, dropping them into one of the small purses Chloe had brought with the clothes. Tiny bells tingled on her sandals as she walked to accept the palm he held out to her. “Are you going to stare all day?” She stood next to the car, her toes tapping on the concrete but there was a smile in her eyes.
“I might…” Ian moved forward, backing her against the car. “Just stare for the rest of our lives, Anya. Let’s find a breakfast place,” he swept in with a hard kiss before opening the door for her.
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sp; “You will drive me mad,” she murmured, shaking her head but gladly sinking into their own world.
Ian couldn’t remember a more relaxing, comfortable time in his life. Breakfast and a long walk along the beach front and two boxes of popcorn tossed to seagulls. He saw her wince as they walked to the car and stopped her from opening the door. He had her backed against the fender.
“Does your shoulder hurt, Anya?”
“It is throbbing,” she admitted. “It is normal as things get…Ian!”
“Shh…I’m Dr. Sheffield…Ian has stepped out,” his fingers moved carefully, prodding and checking closely. “Nothing looks stressed and there’s no bleeding, but the sling goes back on when we get home. No objections. A little use with it is good, but don’t overdo it, Anya.”
Dark eyes rolled as they drove to the drug store, Anya still mumbling to herself when they entered. She lifted a small basket and held it with both hands as she strolled the aisles. A bottle of shampoo was placed inside, rounding the corner and stopping before the large display of condoms.
“I had no idea there were so many,” she announced in amazement, reading over the labels and dazzled by the bright colors. She began putting boxes into the basket.
“Anya? What the…we don’t…”
“Do you plan to give up sex?” She asked curiously, adding another and then another before stopping.
Ian was positive the store clerk was hiding her amusement at the purchase, he paid and Anya took the bag with a bright thank you.
“That’s probably the biggest sale she’s had in days,” Ian remarked.
“I offered to pay half,” Anya looked at him, her gaze swept to the smoke and noise off the corner of his shoulder. “Ian…” She tossed the plastic bag into the car and began walking toward the gathering children and teachers. She knew instinctively that he was close behind her.
Coincidences: #3 Diana & Anya Page 20
