Feeling the beginnings of another orgasm, Madeline thrashed mindlessly while Russell’s patient gentleness morphed into a desperate hammering. She dug her nails into the center of his back and locked her legs around his waist in order to hold on for the rest of the ride.
Madeline cried out as Russell growled and exploded inside of her. Panting, he pulled her close and then collapsed against her.
Sated, Madeline curled toward him and peppered his face with kisses. “That was wonderful.”
“Yeah?” he asked, shyly. “I am a little out of practice.”
“Trust me. You were perfect.”
Russell cupped her breasts again. “Does that mean we get to do it again?”
She laughed. “As soon as I catch my breath.”
He smiled lazily and then tilted her face so he could kiss her fully on the mouth. When he broke the kiss, she smiled back at him. “I may not remember how we met, or when we married,” he said. “But I do know that I love you.”
Touched by his words, tears shimmered in Madeline’s eyes. “I love you, too,” she said, and she meant it. Even though she knew without a doubt that the man lying beside her was definitely not her husband.
Chapter 20
Dark sky. Angry clouds. Smoke. He could smell smoke. Black smoke.
“Mayday! Mayday!”
We’re going down. Dear God, we’re going down.
He tried to scream but now he couldn’t squeeze air through his lungs. Blood rushed and threatened to burst his eardrums while his body tensed in preparation for the inevitable impact.
A static voice buzzed in head. “What’s your position, Maj. Cougar?” Position. Position? He couldn’t think. They were going to crash. The throttle of the helicopter rattled out of control in his hand while the static voice questioned him again. “What’s your position, Maj. Cougar?”
“I-I-can’t control it.”
“Russell! Russell! Wake up!” Madeline shook his body, frightened that he was having some type of seizure. “Russell, please. You’re scaring me,” she said, desperate to wake him.
Russell continued to thrash and then suddenly his eyes snapped open. He bolted up in bed and Madeline released a startled cry of alarm.
“What?” He glanced around, and panicked when he was unable to recognize his surroundings. “Where am I?”
“You’re in my room,” the woman next to him answered in a small voice.
Wild eyed, he glanced over at her and then slowly relaxed as recognition settled in. “Madeline.”
She flashed him a nervous smile, while her beautiful green gaze filled with questions.
“Bad dream,” he answered the unasked question. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Quite a while. It’s noon.”
Russell blinked. “You’re kidding?”
“No. Judging by the way you were snoring, I’d say you needed it.” She laughed awkwardly.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He collapsed back against the pillows. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping.” He tossed the covers back from his naked body and started to climb out. “Are the kids up?”
Madeline placed a staying hand against his shoulder. “Don’t worry about them. They’re playing at the neighbors. How long have you been having trouble sleeping?”
He couldn’t answer the question. It seemed like forever. When he didn’t answer, he saw worry lines etch into her face. “Don’t worry I’m fine. I’ve been able to operate pretty good with just a few hours of sleep. Sometimes even less than that,” he said.
His words of assurance had the opposite affect.
Madeline’s gaze dropped to his naked body. “How did you get all these scars?” Her fingers traced a long jagged scar on his right side and then leapt to a few smaller ones on the left side. “You have a few keloids on your back, too.”
“I don’t know. It must have something to do with the crash.”
Madeline removed her hand from his scar and glanced up to meet his questioning stare.
“Is something wrong, baby?”
How could she answer such a question? Everything is fine…except there’s this naked stranger in my bed.
“What is it, baby? Why are you crying?”
Madeline touched her face, surprised there were, indeed, tears. “It’s nothing. It’s just that…last night was so beautiful.”
Russell smiled and relaxed. “You mean, whenever I could keep you on the bed?”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. That had never been a problem for her in the past. But there was an intensity and an unbridled passion that had transferred between them last night that she couldn’t hold still and truth be told, her body was aching for another round right now.
“How did you meet Shaw?” she asked instead.
“The detective?”
She nodded, keeping her gaze leveled with his to see if she could read the truth in his eyes. “It was pretty much like he said. At the hospital.”
“Queen Elizabeth?”
Russell opened his mouth, closed it and wrinkled his forehead in deep thought. “Yeah.” He gazed off into the distance for a long moment, and then shook his head as if the question had given him a headache.
Madeline’s gaze dropped and again returned to the scars across his body. Something had happened to him; that was for sure. Then again, what about the blood test? How on earth did he pass a blood test?
“I’m starving. What about you?” Russell said, pulling her body against him. He sniffed the column of her neck and sighed dreamily. “You smell like baby powder. You’ve already hit the shower?”
“Well, we both can’t lie in bed all day,” she teased.
“Why not?” He slid up her pink chemise and exposed her full breasts. “The children are gone and neither of us has to go into the office today. We can play all day if we want to.”
It was true, she realized. Last night, she had been too caught up in the heat of the moment, but now in the light of day, she knew that carrying on such a charade was wrong—wasn’t it?
Russell’s hot mouth locked around a pert nipple while his large hand slid down in between her legs. “Mmm. It seems as if you’re ready to play,” he said.
Madeline closed her eyes and panted, “I thought you were about to get up and get something to eat?”
“I don’t have to get out of bed for that.”
Her panties came off with a firm yank and Russell planted himself between her legs to prove his point.
The war between her head and her heart was probably the shortest war ever fought. There was something about the way his hands roamed over her skin, the way his mouth raised her body’s temperature and just the beautiful way he made love to her that made her feel so complete.
By her second orgasm, Madeline’s voice was reduced to a breathless pant and joyful tears rolled from her eyes and soaked her pillow. Even then, she didn’t want him to stop. Heck, she never even wanted to leave the bed.
Sooner or later she would have to get answers—just not right now.
Russell burrowed deep into Madeline, relishing the way her slick velvet walls lulled him into a peaceful utopia. He loved the way her slim fingers rolled down his back and then settled against his butt in silent urging.
Madeline’s sighs escalated and every muscle in her body tightened. He growled, knowing that she was on the verge of another orgasm. She was wet, slippery, warm and moist. Soon his own breathing came out in short sporadic puffs.
Madeline tossed back her hair and Russell watched, fascinated by her uninhibited response. Her contractions squeezed him and drove him insane. With each thrust, he lost a piece of himself, of his soul, to her.
A grand climatic cry tore from her long, smooth throat and he erupted soon after, his body quaking with violent, intense spasms.
“God, I love you.” He rained kisses along the side of her face, down her neck and across her collarbone. He breathed in the musky scent of their lovemaking. “I love you.”
She curled and snuggled again
st him and pressed a kiss against his sweat, slick forehead. “I love you, too.”
Russell smiled and glanced up, but halted at the sight of her tears. “You’re crying again.” He gently brushed a them away. “Why the tears?”
Her smile flickered briefly. “Because I’m so happy.” She gazed deep into his eyes. “You make me so happy.”
“Then I hope that I will always make you this happy.”
Madeline nodded, but in her heart, she knew this was one promise he couldn’t keep.
The last few days of December flew by in a haze. The children continued their joyous bonding with Russell with plenty of snowballs fights, video-game tournaments and s’mores by firelight. Plus, they seemed giddy about the fact he’d finally moved into their mother’s bedroom.
Madeline couldn’t complain, either. Her nights and mornings were filled with wild, mind-blowing sex that she had only dreamed about. Every time she thought she couldn’t possible stand another round, Russell wrangled another orgasm out of her exhausted body.
When they were having sex, Russell picked her brain about the ins and outs of her job and he really listened, questioned her ideas and encouraged her whenever she mentioned some particular difficulties she was having with distributors, model agencies or just simple fabric decisions.
Once he’d asked what had taken her so long to get started on her dreams and she had to refrain from telling him that he—or rather her real husband—had discouraged her from doing anything other than joining the right wives clubs and posing prettily for the cameras.
Christopher threw an outrageous New Year’s Eve party at his estate and he immediately sensed that something had changed between Russell and Madeline and it made him nervous. Throughout the evening the two behaved more like newlyweds than two people who were on the verge of a divorce…like he’d hoped.
As a result, he hit the bar fast and furious. It didn’t help that Madeline tried constantly to corner him.
Had she finally found out the truth?
If so, he had a lot of explaining to do.
Damn. Why didn’t Madeline file for divorce like a good girl? Christopher slammed back another drink and then scanned the dancing crowd to see his brother laughing at something Madeline whispered in his ear. Christopher’s heart squeezed.
The same face.
The same voice.
The same laugh.
But he was not Russell.
He had been a fool thinking he could pull this off. He was also desperate. So enamored with the similarities that, he convinced himself that he could have his brother back.
However, for the last six weeks the office had been buzzing about the changes in Russell. Where the real Russell had been loud and gregarious, this Russell was more quiet and introverted. The real Russell loved women—often. This Russell only had eyes for Madeline.
Party horns blared and Stone Cold Records newest artist that was working the crowd called for everyone’s attention.
Tiffani clamped a hand around Christopher’s wrist and dragged him toward the stage. Standing before the crowd, his wife grabbed the microphone and glanced at her watch.
“All right, everybody. It’s almost that time to ring in the New Year!”
The crowd cheered.
Christopher caught sight of Russell and Madeline again. He was laughing. She was staring at Christopher.
She knows.
Tiffani began the countdown. “Ten, nine, eight…”
Christopher looked away and chiseled a smile on his face.
“Six, five, four…”
Watching her skittish brother-in-law, Madeline had her answer. And with the holidays drawing to a close, she had a serious decision to make. Uncover the truth about the stranger she had fallen in love with, or go on pretending the imposter was her husband.
“Three, two, one…Happy New Year!”
Glittering confetti, balloons and streamers fell on the exuberant crowd while several blasts from party horns rattled her eardrums.
Russell gathered her close, enveloping her with loving arms. “Happy New Year, sweetheart. I love you.” He leaned forward and planted the sweetest kiss against her full lips.
I love you, too. Whoever you are.
Chapter 21
For the first time in a long while, Russell slept peacefully throughout the night. A great deal of that was attributed to the sex marathon he and Madeline competed in for the last week. He certainly wasn’t complaining. Madeline’s body was a wonderland of smooth curves, jasmine-scented valleys and warm silken caverns. He had been more than willing to lose his mind and soul exploring every inch of it.
The morning’s bright winter sun bathed and warmed his body. With a great sigh, Russell stretched every muscle in his body. Was it possible to feel any more content than he did at this moment? Of course he could. He and Madeline could engage in one more round of lovemaking before having to get up.
Smiling, Russell slid his hands across the bed. “Baby,” he purred. However, his hands never made contact with Madeline.
He snapped open his eyes and then bolted up in bed. However, he wasn’t alone. Madeline sat curled up in the bedroom’s window, watching him.
He laughed and then relaxed back against the pillows. “What are you doing over there?” Russell patted the empty spot beside him. “Why don’t you come back to bed before we’re rudely interrupted?”
Madeline’s face flushed prettily and Russell was instantly hard again.
“Or,” he said, climbing out the sheets, “I can join you over there.”
“No. No.” She threw up her hands, though a smile still hung on her lips. “Stop,” she said.
“Why?” He asked, standing nude from the bed.
“Because.”
“Because why?” he asked, sounding eerily like their eight-year old. Russell reached the window, swept her into his arms and pressed a fervent kiss against her lips.
They moaned together as Madeline leaned slack against him. The feel of her hard nipples against his chest caused Russell’s heart to ram full throttle against his chest.
When his lungs finally demanded oxygen, he broke the kiss, but still kept their foreheads pressed together.
“Because I said so,” she whispered finally. “I can’t think when you do that.”
He chuckled and peppered kisses across her closed eyelids. “Don’t think. Feel.” He inhaled the soft fragrance of her hair and roamed his fingertips lightly down curves of her body. “Can you feel me?”
She moaned again and sighed. “Yes.”
It was a good thing, but he was definitely feeling her, not just physically, but emotionally. They belonged together. It was the one thing he was sure of. He saw them having more children and growing old together.
A part of him didn’t care whether his memory returned because he was no longer the man people talked about. He had no desire to stay out at clubs all night, drape himself with obnoxiously sized diamonds or compete with Christopher on the amount of notches to add on his bedpost.
After work, all he wanted to do was stay home and spend time with Madeline and the children. It sounded cliché, but home really was where his heart lay.
“I have an idea,” he said, stealing a quick kiss.
She lifted her adorable green eyes and stared into his soul.
“Let’s get married,” he whispered excitedly. To his surprise, she stiffened in his arms. “I know that we’re already married but…I’m not that same man.” He stroked a hand through her hair. “And I have a feeling you’re not the same woman.”
“Russell, I-I…”
“We can do it right here at the house. Ariel could be the little flower girl and Russ could be the ring bearer or the best man. Although, he’d probably have to fight his Uncle Chris for that privilege.”
Madeline shook her head and pressed against his chest. “Whoa, whoa. You’re moving too fast here.” She succeeded in escaping his embrace and turning her back toward him.
Confused, Russell fe
lt as if a steel vise had clamped around his heart. Had the last six weeks, heck, the last week meant nothing? Now that the holidays were over, had she planned to take him up on his offer for a divorce? He braced himself, suddenly feeling sick.
“What’s the matter, Pamela? Don’t you love me?”
Madeline whipped around. “Who’s Pamela?”
Russell blinked. Had he said Pamela? “I-I don’t know.” But he did know, didn’t he? He tried concentrating on the name, but after a moment, his head exploded with pain.
“Here, here. Come lie down.” Madeline helped him over to the bed and then limped to the bathroom for a bottle of Tylenol and a glass of water. “Hold on, let me go get you some crackers or something.”
Despite the pain and discomfort, Russell rather liked being taken care of by Madeline. Seeing her fuss over him put his fears to rest. She loved him. It was in everything she did.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, once the pain began to subside.
“I’ll feel better when you agree to marry me.”
Her shoulders deflated and she started to turn away from the bed.
Russell reached out and caught one of her wrists.
Madeline glanced back down at him.
“Say ‘yes,’” he urged, and then pulled her down to lay beside him in bed. “Say ‘yes.’” He curled toward her and once again rained kisses on her face, all the while urging her to, “Say ‘yes.’”
Seconds later, the word yes fell from her lips and Russell made love to the woman who held his heart completely.
The first business day of the New Year, Christopher returned to work. It was before nine o’clock but he had already downed half a bottle of Crown Royal in preparation for the day ahead and a possible confrontation with Madeline. He didn’t know what time she’d show up…he just knew that she would.
Lucky for him, he didn’t have too long to wait. His secretary announced her arrival a few minutes after nine. He could have stalled, constructed some lie, but he wouldn’t be able to avoid her forever.
To Love a Stranger Page 13
