What the Heart Wants

by Kelli McCracken

  His fingers retraced a path until they reached the bottom of her dress. Her skin, as silky as rose petals, sent chills over his body. His hand continued up her leg, going underneath the dress, coming to a halt at her hip, again.

  A cotton barrier snagged his calloused fingers. He wanted to rip it away, remove anything that prevented him from touching every inch of her body. From giving her the pleasure she wanted, and he needed.

  Damned clothes.

  Then her body stiffened against the bed.

  Christ. She’d changed her mind.

  * * *

  Heaven wanted Dylan to go further. She needed him to satisfy this newly formed ache building in her body. When she gazed into his eyes, her belly warmed, spreading a throbbing heat between her legs.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  She nodded, but held her breath. “Yeah. Fine. Just…nervous.”

  “I can stop.”

  God, no. Not now. Not when every part of her body felt like it could burst if he didn’t touch her. She shook her head.

  “God, I want you so much,” he whispered.

  “I want you too, Dylan.”

  He leaned in to give her a short, yet tender kiss. “If we…keep this up,” he snorted. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I can’t promise that I will maintain my composure.”

  Good. At this point, she didn’t want him to. Her eyes danced over his face as she weighed the consequences of moving forward. The one thing she’d feared about getting involved with him was this. This fear of thinking maybe she was just another conquest. But when he looked at her with those eyes, something said she’d been wrong. This was more than a conquest to him. This was deeper.

  If they went forward, Heaven’s life would change. Forever. More than he knew. They barely knew each other, and yet she was willing. Willing to take that next step. Willing to give a part of herself she’d never given to any man.

  He smiled down at her. He kissed her forehead, her cheek, and even the tip of her nose, before pressing his lips softly to hers. She decided she didn’t care about anything else, but satisfying the want—the need.

  He pulled away, again. Gazed at her with those dark eyes. But they weren’t as mysterious as they had been. They spoke to her. Told her he has dying to give her pleasure like she’d never known. But he was waiting. For permission. Her permission.

  Sweeping a finger across his lips, her soul smiled when he closed his eyes. “There is something I need to tell you,” she said, her voice shaky.

  Dylan opened his eyes and looked into hers. “What is it, Heaven? You can tell me anything.”

  She exhaled. If she told him, it might change things. She wasn’t sure. Would her naiveté turn him off?

  He had a right to know.

  * * *

  Dylan watched as the crease in Heaven’s forehead deepened. Worry covered her face as she broke eye contact. She bit her lip. He’d been around her enough to know that this was a habit brought on by nervousness. But he thought it was cute—sexy, even.

  “What’s worrying you, beautiful? Don’t be afraid to talk to me,” he pleaded.

  She sighed. “All of this is new to me.”

  “It’s new to me, too. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I swear I haven’t.”

  “It’s more than that, Dylan.” Her eyes dropped down to his lips a moment and then rose again. The hum of their bond quavered. It wasn’t until he stroked her cheek that her shaking stopped. “Um…I’ve never….”

  Dylan’s eyes widened as he realized to what she was referring. “Oh. So you’re a…” His voice trailed off as she nodded her head.

  “Yeah.”

  He wasn’t expecting to hear those words. He was shocked, but delighted. Still, he couldn’t push her into anything. Didn’t want her to think that all he wanted from her was her body.

  He wanted her soul—bound to his.

  “I won’t ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. I have more respect for you than that. If this is too much—” He stopped speaking and pushed up on his arms. The heat of her body drifted, then returned when she locked her arms around him.

  She shook her head. “No, it’s not too much.” Her voice wavered. “I want you, Dylan. I’ve never connected with anyone the way I have with you.”

  “You feel connected to me?” He couldn’t believe it. From the moment they met, he wondered if she felt the force drawing them together. But could she sense his emotions like he could hers?

  “Something inside me is drawn to you. It’s hard to explain. It’s like a pull. Like all the Earth’s gravity is wrapped inside you. The more we’re together, the stronger I feel it.”

  “I feel it, too. Since we met, you are all I’ve thought about. When we’re apart, it’s like part of me is missing.” He should tell her now. About the dreams. That the pull he felt went deeper. That he could feel her emotions.

  But the words failed to form. Maybe this wasn’t the right time. He didn’t want his deepest secret to sound like an excuse for her to give in to him. And explaining the depth of their connection would break the spell. How could he think of anything when cauldrons of gold burned into him? He leaned in to give her another quick kiss and then pulled back.

  “I meant what I said. I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. If things get too awkward, all you have to do is say so. I promise I will stop.”

  Heaven nodded, her fingers stroking his jawline. “I know you will. I trust you, Dylan.”

  He said nothing else as their lips met in another kiss. Every ounce of passion resumed.

  His hand touched her hip, underneath her dress. It lingered there, caressing the skin beneath it. He pulled his lips from hers, planted them on the soft spot under her ear, near her jaw. Sweet sandalwood rushed through his nose. He wanted her right now, fought the urge to rip the panties from her hips and plunge into her.

  Warm palms glided up his body, under his shirt. He bit her neck and smiled to himself when she moaned. He grasped her hips, causing them to rise toward his. Her legs parted further.

  He tried to ignore the throbbing in his jeans. This was supposed to be slower, sensual. He wanted to make love to her. Wanted to feed every hunger pain her body had until she reached satiety. But each time she writhed beneath him, each moan that passed through her lips made it more difficult. Made him pulse harder, need her more.

  How could he hold back when every ounce of him begged for release?

  He sneaked a glance at her, but her eyes were fixed on him. She stole the air from his lungs. If she kept looking at him like that, it would be over before it started.

  He throbbed harder, rolled his hips against her, trying to satisfy his ache, and hers. She gasped. His lips rose to her ear.

  “God, you are driving me wild,” he whispered.

  Heaven’s hands slid up his sides, bringing his shirt up with them. He broke from their kiss; his eyes gazed into hers. “Heaven?” he questioned in a raspy voice.

  She brushed her lips across his. “It’s okay. I want you. Don’t make me wait.” She resumed what she was doing. When she reached his shoulders, he leaned back to pull off the shirt and toss it to the side.

  Her eyes fell to his chest. His cheeks heated. Did she like what she saw?

  She licked her lips.

  Holy hell!

  * * *

  Heaven couldn’t resist staring at his body. Every perfect groove of his muscles deepened each time he moved. The way his eyes penetrated her made her stomach knot.

  Her body ached with want.

  Dylan leaned in for another kiss, keeping his body just above hers. His hand went back to her hip, teasing it with his fingertips before sliding upward. He gathered the hem of her dress, pushing it up past her waist until she helped him remove it.

  After he tossed it in the same direction as his shirt, his eyes scanned her body. He stroked a finger across her bra, down the valley of one breast. He didn’t stop. His finger trailed across her belly, around
her navel until it stopped at the lace trim of her panties.

  Her heart pounded.

  She reached up to his waist, her fingers fumbling with the button on his jeans. He helped her unbutton them and pull them off. Once they were kicked to the side, he nestled himself between her thighs, again. They were practically skin-to-skin now, with nothing but a thin layer of cotton between them.

  She inhaled his spicy scent as he pressed his lips to hers. Liquid heat pooled beneath the cotton barrier that separated their bodies from joining into one. She could feel him. His want for her pulsed against her.

  She closed her eyes. Waited, with bated breath, for him to continue. To fill her with the hardness pressing against her. He had to end this ache. Had to fill the void that made her want to cry out his name and work her hips with his.

  “Heaven,” he whispered between kisses.

  “Yes?” she questioned in a low voice. Her eyes remained closed as she enjoyed the way his breath caressed her skin.

  “I need you,” he answered as he brushed his lips against hers.

  His words sent a wave of heat cascading between her thighs. The moisture foreign, yet familiar to her. She opened her eyes slowly and gazed up into his.

  “I need you, too,” she whispered, pressing her lips hard against his until his mouth covered hers. Her breath caught as cotton slipped further down her thigh.

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER 17

  The look in Dylan’s eyes spoke of more than desires of the flesh. They spoke of passion. Sweet passion. Of a craving that went beyond the physical wants of the body. The body wanted pleasure. That was human nature.

  But this was more. This was a need to connect with someone. To fill a void that her soul knew was missing, but didn’t know how to fill. His eyes said he wanted to give everything in himself to her. To place his heart in her hands and trust she would protect it.

  And she would protect it.

  His soul reached out to hers, begged her to embrace his. Each time he pressed his body into her, need sprang up from somewhere deep within her. This foreign craving was one she hadn’t known existed. Though the origin made no difference, to leave the yearning unattended would be the death of her. Or at least, she thought it would.

  His lips hovered over her mouth, just far enough away to increase her desire, yet close enough to stoke the passion between them. Each kiss infused an itch in her that only he could scratch. Her body begged for his touch, for him to satisfy the itch.

  When he pressed into her, again, the lace on her panties brushed against her thigh in their descent. Her stomach knotted with anticipation.

  He tugged.

  She whimpered.

  And then a knock resonated on the door.

  No! Hell, no!

  His body stilled against hers. She could feel how hard his lungs struggled for air. Could feel how fierce his heart pounded. He broke their kiss as his eyes met with hers. The look on his face mirrored the one she knew was on hers. Brows creased, nostrils flared, begging for air. Lips pressed tightly.

  “I wonder who that is?” he asked in a whisper.

  “I have no clue,” she said, trying to laugh quietly, “but their timing is horrible.”

  In spite of his annoyance with whoever was at the door, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right about that. Damn it!” he growled.

  The knock came again, but this time a voice came with it.

  “Dylan, are you in there?”

  “Layne,” he grumbled. He dropped his head to her breasts and sighed. “I'd better go see what he wants,” he whispered, meeting her eyes, again. “He’ll barge in, if I don’t.”

  Before he left their embrace, he gave her another kiss.

  Heaven watched in silence as he dressed in a hurry. “Should I get dressed, too?”

  “It probably wouldn’t hurt, just in case it’s something important,” he said, walking toward the doorway. She watched as he flashed a smile in her direction before disappearing into the other room.

  The coolness of the hardwood floor soothed her feet. Not one inch of her body wasn’t on fire from Dylan’s touch. She found her dress sprawled out on the floor, just beyond the edge of the bed. She bent to pick it up and pulled it over her head. Her skin, still tingling from Dylan’s touch, made the cotton fabric feel more like sandpaper. The only thing that did feel good was Dylan’s skin next to hers.

  She shook the thoughts from her mind, waiting to see if Layne was there for a certain reason. She hoped Faith wasn’t with him.

  * * *

  Dylan reached for the doorknob, but hesitated. He did a quick body check to make sure he hadn’t left any of his clothes on the floor. He’d rushed to dress and get to the door before Layne decided to come in. Dylan was surprised Layne knocked to begin with. This was where Layne was supposed to sleep last night.

  But Dylan wasn’t complaining. Not with everything that had unfolded this morning.

  He adjusted his shirt, double-checked that his jeans were buttoned and the zipper was up, and made one last inspection to make sure his intentions toward Heaven weren’t visible.

  Nope. No erection. Thank God.

  When he opened the door, he met his best friend’s curious eyes with a smile.

  “Hey, Layne, what’s up?” Was he breathing hard?

  Layne gave Dylan a quick glance over before staring at his face. “Were you still asleep?”

  “No, I’ve been awake for awhile,” Dylan answered. Images of Heaven’s half-naked body shot through his mind. He swallowed hard.

  Layne’s brows drew down. “I wouldn’t have bothered you, but Faith and Hope are in hysterics.” He stepped inside the door, sweeping past Dylan on his way in.

  “Why are they in hysterics?”

  “They can’t find Heaven anywhere.” Layne answered, working his fingers through his hair. “Have you seen her?”

  Dylan fought the tug at the corner of his lips, but lost. “Yeah, she’s in the bedroom.”

  “No, she’s not in there. Hope said…wait. Do you mean the bedroom here in the guesthouse?”

  “Yes, so let her sisters know that she’s perfectly fine.” Would it be rude if he ushered Layne out the door?

  Layne faced the bedroom. He looked as though he wanted to go inside. Maybe he didn’t believe Dylan. “Am I missing something?”

  Dylan noticed the gruff sound of Layne’s voice. He wanted to know what was going on with his best friend and Faith, but not now. Not when he wanted Layne to go as far away as possible so he could get back to Heaven and finish what they had started.

  “She stayed in the bedroom last night. There was nowhere else for her to sleep,” Dylan began, still noting the disturbed look on Layne’s face. “Hope and Scott were both passed out in—”

  “Jerry has several sofas in the house.” Layne grumbled. “You didn’t think she could sleep on one of those?”

  Dylan had never felt hostility toward Layne until now. He didn’t know what Layne’s problem was, but it was pissing him off. “Why let her sleep on a sofa when she could have a comfortable bed to sleep in? Hell, if you and Faith weren’t sleeping in the same room, she could have stayed in that bedroom with Faith.”

  Layne’s body stiffened. “How did you know about that?”

  “Heaven told me. Faith mentioned it to her last night. Probably when they went into the house together.”

  “I didn’t know that Faith told her we were sharing the room.” Layne clenched his jaw. His eyes went to the floor. “Heaven must think I’m a pig.”

  Wasn’t Layne a pig? He used women for personal gratification. Hell, he’d been sleeping with Faith since the wedding. What was Layne’s deal? He was pissed one minute, then worried the next. It didn’t make sense.

  “She didn’t say anything.” Dylan answered. Layne’s eyes shot back to his. His shoulders released their tension. “Why would it matter what Heaven thinks? If you and Faith are happy with the arrangement, it’s no one else’s business. Heaven knows her siste
r.”

  “So, what did you guys talk about?”

  Dylan knew what Layne was getting at. The dreams. Layne wanted to know if he had told Heaven about them. He shook his head feverishly, hoping Layne wouldn’t mention anything else. “We watched some TV before going to sleep.”

  “How was the sofa?” Layne asked, tilting his head in the direction of the furniture. “Was it as comfy as you thought?”

  “I didn’t sleep on the sofa. Heaven and I fell asleep watching TV in the bedroom.” Dylan knew he was stretching the truth, but it wasn’t any of Layne’s business what went on between him and Heaven. Something would definitely have been going on this moment if Layne hadn’t come to the door.

  “I see,” Layne said. His face tightened

  Had Faith broken things off with Layne or had Layne had his fill of Faith? Dylan knew something was up. “Are you okay? I mean, things are still good with you and Faith, right?”

  Layne hesitated. He looked back to the bedroom door once more. “Yeah, everything is cool.” He swept the hair from his face as he glanced back at Dylan. “She’s just worried about Heaven. So is Hope. I think their edginess is rubbing off on me.” Layne’s laugh sounded more like a cough. Dylan knew he’d forced it.

  It was time to call the bullshit card. Layne needed to talk. Or get the hell out.

  “I guess I'd better go ease their minds,” Heaven said as she walked their way.

  Dylan’s skin prickled at the sight of her. Even fully dressed, he could see every curve of her body. Could remember how hot her skin felt against his palm. Or how her salty skin made his mouth water.

  She barely acknowledged Layne as she passed him. Dylan smiled at the thought. For once in their lives, a woman wasn’t falling all over Layne. Heaven’s eyes focused on one body…his.

  “Hey, there,” Dylan said as she walked over to him. She laced her fingers through his, stood up on her toes, and leaned in for a brief kiss.