What the Heart Wants

by Kelli McCracken

  If she only knew what that song was about…

  She’d never believe him. Never believe he’d woken from a dream of her and written the lyrics in five minutes.

  “That song is very personal to me. It barely made it on the album. I convinced the powers that be to add the song last minute.”

  More like called in a last minute favor. To Nathaniel. At least his dad had a good sense of judgment when it came to music. Too bad he couldn’t apply that same good sense to his relationships.

  “Luckily, they liked the song and agreed to release it first.”

  “I knew you wrote it, but I didn’t know why.”

  He saw the question dancing in her eyes. She wanted to know more, but should he tell her? Could he explain it without revealing too much?

  “The song is about fate. About two people meant to be together. I wrote the song one night when I was trying to work through some issues.”

  Great. Why the hell did he just say that? She probably thought…yep.

  The sparkle in her eyes dimmed. As did the humming of their bond.

  She looked as though she wanted to say something, even parted her lips to try. But then closed them.

  Dylan’s heart sank into his stomach.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Idiot. He kept screwing this up. Now she thought he was interested in someone else. Or had been. But it was only her. Had been her for the last six months. Since childhood even?

  “I’m fine.”

  Okay, he sucked at connecting with women. But he did have a mother and the one thing she’d taught him…Fine never meant fine. That word mumbled through the lips of a woman was a mystery itself. A man needed a special decoder just to decipher the true meaning.

  Regret played across her face. The way she focused on the rail and bit her lip.

  He had to fix this. Now.

  His voice dropped. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  He stepped toward her, closing the gap between them. His fingers remained laced with hers as they continued to hold hands.

  She nodded. “I just feel bad for bringing up a bad memory for you.”

  “You didn’t. Trust me. What I said earlier…it wasn’t about another woman. It was about finding the right woman.”

  Her eyes rose to meet his. The pull between them grew vibrant, unyielding. Like a hurricane building over an ocean, waiting to make landfall.

  Dylan reached for her, then hesitated.

  What the hell.

  He cupped Heaven’s face. The warmth of her skin radiated up his arm and over his body. Electric pulses spread through him.

  “My God, Heaven,” he whispered as she gazed in his eyes. “You take my breath away, every time I look at you.”

  That got him a wide-eyed glance. He watched, speechless as her eyes fell to his lips, lingered a moment, then met his, again.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  She took a step closer. The heat of her breath caressed his jaw.

  He fought against the urge to kiss her. It would be a short-lived battle if she kept minimizing the space between them.

  Her eyes fell to his lips, again. Something inside his chest snapped.

  Then she did it. She pressed up against him.

  And his resolve crumbled like a cookie.

  His arms went to her waist. He pulled her close. She obliged him. Her arms curled around his neck. Her skin scorched his. His body surged with heat, as though lightning had struck every nerve and burned him past the point of recognition.

  He leaned his weight into her, cradling her back as he pressed her against the rail. Her body molded to his, like it was created solely for him.

  His lips parted. Her eyes closed.

  And their lips brushed together.

  He’d died. He was sure of it. Angels sang somewhere in the distance. Her lips were a teasing inferno. They burned him to the core. Every ounce of rationality stripped away until his soul was bare.

  She grasped his arms. Squeezing…releasing…pulling.

  Fingers raked into her hair, tossing her curls about.

  Need wavered between his hips. His body begged for release. Ached to know the inside of her thighs. Their eyes met. Her breath beat against his cheek as he cupped hers. He pressed his lips hard against hers.

  Silky skin teased his fingertips as he moved his hand from her waist, up her arm, to her shoulder.

  If things continued to heat up between them, he wasn’t sure how this night would end.

  He shouldn’t have let his mind wander to such thoughts. It jinxed the moment.

  A throat cleared behind them. A snicker followed.

  Dylan relaxed his grip. He pulled away from her lips, savoring the heat that lingered in her eyes.

  Whoever stood behind them better have a good reason for interrupting. The feeling was mutual for Heaven. Their connection radiated frustration. She was into their kiss as much as he was, and that meant one thing. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

  When both had regained their composure, Dylan turned to see who was waiting for them.

  He wasn’t surprised to see the faces gazing back at him.

  Faith and Layne.

  Christ.

  What the hell did they want?

  “Pardon the interruption,” Faith said. Her eyes trailed from his to Heaven’s. Judging the look on her face, Faith was taunting her sister.

  Dylan wrapped his arms around Heaven’s waist and pulled her back against him. He could sense Heaven’s embarrassment, but he’d be damned if he let Faith get away with tormenting her.

  He glanced over at Layne, wondering why he and Faith found it necessary to invade their privacy. His best friend stood behind Faith, like a statue. Stiff. Unmoving. Had something happened between them? Layne wore a smile on his face ninety percent of the time. But not now.

  Was there trouble in paradise?

  “Mind if I steal my sister for a few minutes? I’ll bring her right back.” Faith asked. Her voice was steady. Not stern, but curious.

  Dylan nodded. He couldn’t speak for fear his voice would show his anger. When he released Heaven from his arms, she gazed back at him.

  He didn’t need words to know what her eyes spoke to him. Apologies. A promised return.

  She wouldn’t keep him waiting.

  Faith’s smile waned. “Thank you. I won’t keep her long.”

  When they were out of sight, his eyes moved back to Layne. Why was his best friend looking at him like he’d stolen his drumsticks?

  “You okay?”

  “Having a blast.” Layne answered, but no humor filled his words. Piercing eyes pulled away the remaining fragments of Heaven’s energy. “Looks like you’re enjoying yourself this evening.”

  Dylan’s skin chilled.

  “I was.” The light from the kitchen drew his attention to the door. “I almost did it.”

  “You almost did what?”

  Dylan squeezed the nape of his neck. Was his head still attached? If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear Layne was picking parts of it from his teeth.

  Maybe Faith didn’t give him enough. Or maybe he had sand…never mind.

  Dylan blew out a sigh. “I almost told Heaven about the dream.”

  Layne’s neck snapped back. “Really? What stopped you?”

  French doors filled Dylan’s vision. What were Heaven and Faith doing inside? He wanted Heaven with him. His chest kinked. Nothing would compare to the way her body felt in his arms. Nor would anything comfort the longing her absence caused.

  How did he get this wrapped up in her already?

  Impatient eyes weighed on him. “Well? What stopped you from telling Heaven about the dreams?”

  Dylan cracked a smile at Layne. “Something I’ve waited on for six long months. A kiss.”

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER 15

  Heaven grabbed a beer for Dylan from the fridge while Faith mixed the vodka and cranberry juice in their glasses. This would be Heaven’s last dr
ink. She’d lose all inhibitions if she kept drinking.

  Unlike Hope, she knew her limits.

  “Looks like you’ve finally decided to break loose and have some fun,” Faith said from behind her.

  Heaven turned to meet her sister’s devious gaze. Faith was plastered. Her glassy eyes said as much.

  “I guess you could say that.”

  “Well, it’s about time. Layne’s driving me nuts about Dylan and his whole obsession with you,” Faith continued. She grabbed the glasses holding the crimson fluid and handed one to Heaven.

  Obsession?

  Heaven’s eyes locked onto Faith. “Dylan’s been obsessing? Over me?”

  Faith put her mocha tinted lips to her glass and sipped. Heaven knew she was drawing things out. Faith loved making her squirm. After taking another sip, Faith met Heaven’s eyes. Her lips pressed tightly.

  “Since you and Dylan met, he’s been obsessing over you. You are all he talks about, and it’s all Layne talks about. I don’t like it when a guy I’m with talks about you all the time.” No kidding. They’d spent how many years working around that? “Now that you’re finally taking an interest in him, maybe Layne and I can focus on each other.”

  “We wouldn’t want you to go without a man’s attention. Would we?

  God forbid.

  Faith’s lips stretched wide behind her glass. “I’m glad that we see eye to eye on this. Okay, enough about you; let’s talk about me. There is a reason I dragged you in here.”

  “What is it now, Faith?” Heaven asked as she took a sip of her drink. She braced herself for whatever her sister was about to say.

  “I just wanted you to know that I won’t be sleeping in the room with you and Hope this evening.”

  What the heck was she up to now?

  “Then where will you be sleeping?” Heaven asked as she clenched the glass in her hand. She scanned Faith’s eyes for answers.

  “Brooke told me that there is an empty bedroom here on the main floor. Layne and I will be staying in it.”

  Of course. Faith had to get her freak on. Hopefully, they wouldn’t wake the house.

  Heaven shook her head, sucking her tongue until it clicked loudly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Faith. Enjoy your evening with Layne.”

  “I plan to,” Faith purred. “Come on, let’s go back out. We have two very hot guys waiting for us on the deck.”

  “After you, Sis,” Heaven said, stretching her arm forward.

  Once the door opened, Dylan and Layne’s eyes went to them. Their conversation came to a halt. Tight jaws. Slanted brows. Rigid bodies. What in the world had they been discussing?

  Her? Faith? It had to be one of them. Or both.

  “I guess we’ll catch up with you guys, later.” Faith said as she slid her hand across Layne’s shoulder. When she tugged on his folded arms and turned the other way, Layne looked toward Heaven.

  Heaven’s chest ached, like someone had knocked the wind out of her. Why was he looking at her as if he hated her?

  He stared at her a moment until Faith tugged on his arm, again. Shifting his glare to Dylan, he unfolded his crossed arms and stepped back. “Enjoy your evening,”

  “Later, man.” Dylan answered. His eyes trailed after the couple until they disappeared down the steps.

  Okay…

  When both were out of sight, Dylan looked toward Heaven and smiled. “Is everything okay?”

  Heaven nodded. Step by step, she closed the distance between them. “Everything is fine. Faith was just filling me in on her plans for this evening,” She raised her hand, offering him the beer.

  “Thanks,” he said as he took the bottle from her. “I get the feeling you’re your sister’s keeper.”

  More like warden. Or parole officer.

  She nodded. “Hope and I try to keep her out of trouble. It doesn’t always work. As you can see.”

  “So what is she up to this evening?” he asked. His muscles rippled as he leaned his back against the rail, his elbows resting atop the wooden plank.

  Heaven mimicked his moves. “She was just informing me that she will not be sleeping in the room with Hope and me. She and Layne will be spending the night together, in a different room.”

  Dylan laughed in a deep, sexy voice. Heaven’s body heated. She watched him swing his bottle back and forth. “Well, that’s one less person in the guesthouse. I’ll kick Scott to the sofa and steal the bed.”

  A vision of Dylan sprawled out on the bed worked through Heaven’s mind. His hands folded at the back of his head. Long tresses contrasting against white sheets. Shirtless. Smiling. Nothing, but a thin sheet spread to his waist.

  Liquid heat shot to her thighs. She turned away as her face flushed. She hoped he hadn’t noticed. Thank God he couldn’t read her mind.

  “Looks like Hope and I will have that king-sized bed to ourselves.” She felt him lean into her.

  “I’m sure that will be more comfortable for you.” The warmth of his fingers stroked her arm.

  Heaven closed her eyes, losing herself in the tenderness of his touch. The beat of her heart had her breathing hard. Or maybe it was Dylan causing that. She allowed him to turn her back around. Her eyes met with his as their fingers laced.

  “Are you tired yet?”

  Heaven shook her head. The breeze coming from the ocean caught her long locks, suspending them in the air. She inhaled the salty air before releasing it in a sigh.

  “I don’t feel tired. I thought I would be after spending the day in the sun. I still have a few hours left in me before my body tells me to go to hell and crashes on its own.”

  He laughed. “I know exactly what you mean.”

  When she felt the gentle squeeze of his hand, she pressed her body into his. Her head met his shoulder as she listened to the rhythm of his heart. A secret side of her wondered what his bare chest would feel like pressed to her breasts. Or to look up in his eyes as he hovered above, ready to satisfy her every want.

  She cursed their clothing.

  * * *

  Dylan buried his nose in Heaven’s hair and let out a sigh. His fingers stroked her back as he laid his head atop of hers. He wondered if it felt like this for everyone. This feeling that he was where he was supposed to be. That his life had purpose. That everything God created him for made sense.

  Sappy? Definitely. And Layne would give him seven kinds of shit for thinking like this. But Heaven brought out another side of him.

  Yeah, he wanted her. Wanted to touch every inch of her. Wanted to feel her body under his. Wanted to hear his name shouted from her lips.

  Maybe it was their connection causing these other emotions. Her femininity brought out a softer side of him. Maybe his artistic gifts helped him see the beauty in life.

  Didn’t mean he couldn’t kick Layne’s ass.

  It wasn’t long before their sweet moment passed. A low voice drifted up the beach stairs. A couple of giggles followed.

  Heaven heard them, too. She turned around to face the top step. But she didn’t back away. Her back pressed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and waited to see who was coming.

  Scott and Hope finally made their way to the top of the steps and onto the deck. Scott’s eyes lit up when he noticed their embrace. He flashed his pearly whites toward both before looking Dylan in the eye.

  “What’s up?”

  “Not much,” Dylan grinned. His eyes switched to Hope, who was struggling to focus her glassy eyes.

  “Hey, Sis, where have you been?” Hope cackled.

  “I’ve been here on the deck, talking to Dylan.”

  “You’re talking to Dylan?” Hope’s smile waned. “See, I told you not to worry,” she slurred. “He likes you. You like him. Have fun.” She leaned into Scott as she lost her balance.

  Heaven’s body stiffened like a starched shirt. Her vibes hammered through Dylan’s gut, pounding away the peaceful feeling that once encompassed them. When he tightened his arms around her, he
r body softened and relaxed against his.

  “Thanks, Hope. Dylan and I are having a good time.”

  Dylan leaned in to whisper in her ear, hoping to ease her tension. “I don’t think she’ll remember this conversation tomorrow.”

  “I know for a fact that she won’t remember.”

  Scott could only smile and nod as he mouthed the words, “She’s wasted.”

  “I’m glad you and Dylan are having fun,” Hope continued, oblivious that they were amused at her intoxicated behavior. “I am going to bed.”

  “Okay, Sis. Sleep well,” Heaven called to her.

  Hope beamed while hanging on to Scott. “Good night, Sissy.”

  “She’s in good hands,” Scott chuckled. He pulled Hope closer. “This is what I live for—taking care of others.”

  “Thanks, Scott,” Heaven called to him as he and Hope walked through the French doors.

  As soon as they were out of sight, Heaven turned to look at Dylan. “Sorry about that. I have one sister who could out drink the Navy. The other can look at alcohol and get a buzz.”

  “Scott will take good care of her. He’ll probably stay with her until you come up.”

  “I like Scott. He seems like a sweet person. Hope really likes him.”

  “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”

  Their eyes locked for a moment. Neither said a word as Dylan stroked her cheek. He wanted to ask her about Hope’s comment. Had Heaven been worrying about his interest in her?

  If she only knew…she’d never doubt him because he was…

  “Do you want to go check on the others?” she asked.

  Not really, but whatever she wanted, he’d do it. He nodded and followed her off the deck.

  * * *

  Dylan glanced down at his watch. Had an hour passed already? He didn’t want his time with Heaven to end. But it had to at some point. Most of the other couples had gone to bed. Brooke and Jerry were the last couple to call it a night. They said goodnight to Dylan and Heaven before disappearing into Jerry’s room.

  Heaven led the way up the staircase. Dylan followed close behind. He watched her hips sway back and forth just a foot from his face. His palms moistened with an urge to cup his fingers around her curves.