by Louise Clark
Faith had passed the first hurdle—she was excited about going. That lifted Cody’s spirits and gave him hope for the rest of the evening, and beyond. His ex-wife would never go to Mountain Madness. She’d said, more than once, that mud and music that sounded like angry cats or loud bands that relied on energy, not talent, were not her thing. She preferred a piano bar and the intimacy of a small, select audience. Those kinds of evenings had bored Cody silly, particularly when they included kissing up to your boss or his wife. Gillian, his ex, never seemed to mind though.
“I’m glad you suggested I wear jeans tonight,” Faith said, breaking into thoughts that were darkening nastily.
His mood lifted at the sound of her voice. “Yeah. I didn’t think you’d want to wear heels if we were going to be tromping through a field.”
She laughed again and he sneaked a glance her way. Her long blond hair spilled over the faded blue jean jacket she wore over a scooped neck knit shirt. His gaze drifted lower, noting with approval the black jeans that hugged her hips and legs. She looked very different from the uptight, put-together office manager he saw during the day.
It took them an hour to reach their destination and another twenty minutes to walk from the enormous parking lot that had been carved out of a farmer’s field to the hillside where the stage had been set up. Most of the distance was uphill. Cody carried the picnic basket in one hand while Faith tucked her hand into the other in a spontaneous action that had Cody’s heart lurching with pleasure.
As they found a place close to the stage, dusk was on the way. They settled into their spot, Cody laying a blanket over the cool ground, Faith unpacking the picnic basket.
They ate while a band consisting of an electric violin, guitar, organ, and a torch singer performed, then swayed along with another group featuring an energetic drummer. As the evening went on the rhythms intensified as the musicians responded to the enthusiasm of the crowd. Cody watched with delight as Faith came out of herself, singing along, clapping and hooting. Her enthusiasm intoxicated him far more than the wine they’d had with dinner. He wanted her—in his arms, in his life—wild and passionate, uptight and businesslike.
He caught her hand, turning it so he could kiss the throbbing vein at her wrist. Her eyes opened wide with surprise. The music flowed around them, exotic and rhythmic. Her lips parted. He took advantage of the moment to bend his head and cover her mouth with his.
Faith stood still. Her eyes slid closed as, tentatively, she responded to his touch. His heart stopped then slammed into overdrive. He let go of her wrist so he could catch her around the waist and pull her close. Then he kissed her with all the feelings that had been growing in him through the evening. Her body quivered, then eased closer.
Elation grabbed him when she stroked his lips with the tip of her tongue. He opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Her body melted into his, relying on him to keep her steady. He was throbbing now, desire licking through him. He touched her tongue with his, reveling in the stab of pleasure that resulted. Faith made a breathy sound in her throat that wasn’t quite a groan, but more a purr of pure pleasure.
The mood of the music changed and along with it the rhythm of their kiss. The singer was a woman, her voice dark and sensual, but the sound was in the background now, no longer the focus of their evening together. With their mouths still hungrily tasting, Cody was lost in desire for Faith. He wanted to lower her down to the blanket that protected their little patch of ground and make love to her right there. But he couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that. If he was going to make love to her it would be in a place where they could be private, where they could savor the feelings they were rousing in each other.
He lifted his head and took a deep breath. Unable to keep himself from touching her, he stroked her hair away from her face as he said, “You’re so beautiful.”
Faith blushed. “Wow, Cody. Where did you ever learn to kiss like that?”
He laughed and kissed her again, this time grazing with little nibbling kisses along the sensitive skin on her neck.
“Oh man,” Faith said as he pushed her jacket and top off her shoulder. She made that little purring sound again as she turned her head so their lips would meet.
This time when they kissed Cody allowed himself to slip his hand under her top. Her skin was smooth and warm, an enticement to explore further.
Faith groaned. She pulled her mouth away from his. “Cody, what you are doing to me.” She moistened her lips.
He couldn’t resist. He touched where her tongue had been with his.
She whimpered. “Oh my.”
“I want to make love to you.”
She went still. “Cody, I—”
He put a finger over her mouth. “Not here. Later. When we get home.”
“I’m not sure. This is only the second time we’ve been out together.”
“Don’t say no.” He kissed her fiercely, hungrily, his mouth hard on hers, showing her his passion, demanding hers in return. She gave it to him, her tongue clashing with his, her body moving sensuously against him. He was on fire, lost in her, lost in his own desire.
He had to come up for air. Faith put her head on his shoulder. She was trembling, her body still soft and warm against his. The woman singer finished her set. The crowd cheered and clapped.
The lights came up. The concert was over.
“Well?” he said.
Chapter 14
Faith could still hear the music in her head when she took Cody’s hand as she climbed out of the car. She danced a little as they walked to her door. The evening had been wonderful and it was about to get even better.
They were on her front porch now and she knew Cody was going to kiss her again. She still hadn’t consciously acknowledged that she was going to invite him in, but she knew, deep in her heart, that she would. Normally she wouldn’t even think about making love on the second date, but with Cody everything was different. Quicker, more intense. All that was keeping her from allowing desire to overcome caution was commitment. Commitment to the new path she had chosen. Commitment to the real world and the man who was so much a part of it. She was alone with Cody, her bedroom within easy reach. They could let the kiss take them to where they both wanted to go.
A week ago—two nights ago!—she had been a Beacon, afraid of inviting her real world friends to her home. Afraid because she couldn’t be sure that Uncle Andrew wouldn’t walk in at any time. She was still a Beacon, and always would be one, but now she had an opportunity to see what life was like without the specter of Andrew’s sudden appearance to hold her back.
She could begin tonight. She could ask Cody in. She could let him make love to her on her own bed, in her own room, without being fearful Andrew would interrupt them. Although, to be fair, she would never have expected Andrew to show up at three-thirty in the morning.
Her body tingled with anticipation. She could ask Cody in. She wanted to ask him in. Did she dare?
Cody’s mouth was on hers, shutting off rational thought. His lips were warm, dry, and evocative as he gave her little nibbling kisses that made her nerve endings tingle. She moved her head, tilting it so she could enjoy his touch more, then put her hands on his shoulders to hold herself upright. She could feel the evidence of his response hard against her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.
“My key,” she mumbled against his mouth, still drowning in his kisses. “It’s here. In my jacket, I think. What did I do with it?” She let his shoulder go so she could reach in her pocket. Her fingers fumbled inside, finding nothing, even though the keychain had to be there. She wasn’t functioning very well at the moment. His kisses were too seductive and she wanted him too much. “Cody, you’ll have to give me a second here. I can’t think.”
“I don’t want you to think,” he said, taking the opportunity to nibble the throbbing artery in her neck.
Faith groaned. “Cody, stop! For a minute. Only a minute. Just till I get my key.”
“Promise?” He kissed his way
up and along her jawline back to her mouth.
This time the kiss was long, intense and deep. Faith surrendered to it, allowed her body to flame with desire. She forgot she was supposed to be hunting for her door key.
He released her mouth. Lifted his head. “Okay. Take a break. Find your key.” He kept her close to him. One hand slid up under her shirt to stroke her body. It lingered at her breast, caressing, teasing. Her nipple came alive, shot sensation through her body, added heat to the firestorm inside her.
Faith drew a shaky breath. If this was taking a break, she wasn’t going to make it. Her fingers trembled as she searched in her pocket. She touched something hard, with sharp edges, but her mind had apparently become incapable of rational thought and she couldn’t identify the object. She closed her fingers over it and pulled it out.
Then laughed with delight. “My key!”
The moment for commitment was very close. With key in hand she could open the door. Then she would have to decide whether to invite him in or say good-night.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him, an invitation in her eyes. He responded, his mouth coming down on hers. His tongue teased her lips, and she opened to him. He probed deeply and she responded, wanting more. The need to be with him, to invite him in and give herself to him, was strong. Did she dare?
Yes. The kiss blazed between them, providing pleasure, offering a promise. When it had burned low enough for Faith to break away she said, in a voice that was sultry with anticipation, “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to manipulate the door. Would you like to do the honors?”
“My pleasure,” he said, his voice as husky as hers. But he didn’t move. He kissed her again and built up the flame that had forged her commitment to this moment.
Faith sighed and moved against him. Her breasts were rubbing over his hard chest, her already sensitized nipples pulsing with arousal. She wanted him, oh my how she wanted him. Nothing mattered right now but Cody and her desire for him. Nothing. He drove her crazy, but he was the most unexpected, the most fun man she’d ever met. “Take me inside.”
He reached up, snagged the key chain that dangled off one finger and reached past her for the door. He fumbled a bit as he turned the key, throwing the deadbolt, but his grip was firm as he lifted the latch and shoved, hard.
A relic of nineteenth century construction, the door was big and heavy, but over the years the hinges had been kept well oiled. Cody’s push, full of pent up energy, contained more force than he needed. The door swept open, hit the doorstop with a thump, then bounced back before it stopped.
“Wow,” Faith said, and giggled.
Cody looked a little surprised for a moment, but it didn’t take him long to recover. He eased Faith into the dark hall. With her back against the wall he pinned her with his body. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.” She reached up to stroke his cheek. “Stay the night.”
“Oh yeah,” he said. He caught her lower lip with his teeth and sucked.
Faith melted. “Upstairs. Now!”
He laughed. Then stilled. “What was that?”
Faith escaped from the sensual fog he’d created, but slowly. “What are you talking about?”
Cody straightened, then stepped away from her, tension in every muscle of his gorgeous body.
Frowning, Faith stared at him. “What’s the matter?”
“A sound, coming from there.” He pointed.
To the living room.
Faith’s heart shuddered. Horror enveloped her.
Uncle Andrew had already broken his promise.
Improbable as it seemed, he’d lain in wait until he’d seen her beacon, then he’d come forward to interrupt her evening. Just to prove he could.
Or maybe he wanted to continue their argument. That would be a more charitable assumption. After all, he’d always respected her privacy in the past. The Friday evening visit was a compromise they’d worked out at the beginning. She’d been in high school then, a gangly girl with little or no social life. Andrew’s regular visits had begun after her father had left, when they were all raw with the pain of his abandonment. Chloe had made Andrew welcome, treated him as part of the family. It had seemed right to see him every week, to talk over her experiences, to hear about his.
They all knew he could come forward any time he could find Faith’s beacon, but he’d always respected her space. Still, there was no denying that it was three-thirty in the morning and he was here. That in itself was an intrusion.
So what was she going to do about it? “Cody, it’s okay. This is an old house. It creaks and groans all the time.”
His body language didn’t change. “That wasn’t a house sound I heard. It was someone moving around. There it is again!”
He was right. The sound was definitely the kind made by a person trying to be quiet but not quite succeeding.
Oh, damn and double damn. Now what was she going to do?
Cody looked around the hall. It didn’t contain a lot. There was a cupboard for coats and shoes and the antique half-table on which she had placed a bronze tray she used to catch the mail, but little else. He zoomed in on the metal plate, the only moveable object in the area. “It’s not much,” he muttered, scooping up the mail and dumping it on the table, “but it will have to do.” He hefted his weapon.
Faith stared at him, aghast. He was planning to do battle to protect her. Though the sentiment was lovely—the thought that he would fight for her warmed her right to her toes—it was totally unnecessary.
Furthermore, she was quite sure Uncle Andrew would not bother to pause for discussion or questions when Cody leapt into the living room brandishing a bronze tray. If attacked Andrew would retaliate. There would be a scuffle.
The thought of two big males fighting for survival in the confined space of her living room had visions of broken tables, shattered crystal, and torn curtains blazing in her mind. She grabbed his arm. “Cody, wait!”
Her voice rang out, loud in the heavy silence. As the sound died off, there was a moment when nothing happened. She and Cody stood frozen, waiting, testing the potential for utter disaster. In the living room, the quiet sounds of someone moving about had stilled. Uncle Andrew was taking stock of the situation.
Maybe, if she was lucky, he’d take the hint that she was with someone and go back to his own time.
He didn’t. He switched on a light in the living room.
Cody shook Faith loose and lunged, clearly intent on doing damage. Faith screamed, “No, Cody! Don’t!” and followed him as he charged into the living room.
Just inside the opening he stopped short. Faith landed hard against his back. Though his body still quivered with the preparation for battle, she could feel the tension easing out of him. She peeked over his shoulder, knowing what she would see. Wishing she would not.
“Oh, my heavens!” Liz said. Her face was puffy with sleep, though her eyes were wild with fright. “I’ve interrupted you. I’m so sorry!”
“Liz?” Faith said, coming around Cody to stand in front of her sister. “What are you doing here?”
“After you and Cody left I sat down for a minute to think. I must have fallen asleep.” She rubbed a hand across her face. “What time is it, anyway?”
Cody glanced at his watch. “It’s almost four.”
“In the morning?” Liz squeaked.
Cody nodded. He turned to Faith. Putting his hands on her shoulders he said gently, “It’s too late for your sister to go home on her own so I’m going to take off.” When Faith opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her with a kiss that left her wanting, but told her clearly that he was not about to change his mind. Moments later the door closed after him.
Liz flopped down on the couch were she’d so recently been snoozing.
“Why did you stay?” Faith remained where she stood, her hands bunched into fists.
Liz rubbed her face again. “I didn’t plan to. Like I said, after you and Cody left I sat for a wh
ile thinking about things. It got dark and I was tired—and unhappy! I guess everything caught up with me.”
Faith sighed and sat down beside her sister. “I was going to go to bed with him.”
“I kind of figured that. Sorry.”
Faith patted her on the knee. “It’s okay. I thought you were Uncle Andrew, you know.”
“Yeah. When I realized it was you and Cody, I thought you’d jump to that conclusion. Just because Andrew has never shown up in the middle of the night and has always respected your need for private times, I knew you’d figure he was far more likely to be here than your sister, who was in the house when you left.”
“Stop it, Liz! I know your opinion.”
“Who embarrassed you tonight, Faith? Your eighteenth century ancestor or your twenty-first century sister?”
“I get the point,” Faith said curtly.
Liz nodded, then stood up. “Okay. Can I crash on your spare bed? Cody’s right. I don’t want to have to go home tonight.”
“Sure.” As she headed out of the room, Faith said, “Liz. What am I going to do? I’m in lust for a guy I work with who comes from the same kind of background Dad does. I like him, a lot, but I don’t even know if we have anything that will last beyond a few nights of hot sex. What if I’m tearing my life apart for a guy I’ll lose eventually, anyway?”
In the doorway Liz paused. “You’re not tearing your life apart because of Cody, Faith. Andrew was right. You’re doing this for yourself, because you can’t accept that you are different. Instead of celebrating that special part of you, you want to destroy it. Think hard, Faith. This isn’t about Cody. It’s about you.”
At nine o’clock on Monday morning Faith settled at her desk with a hot, strong coffee, and logged into her computer. She’d spent Sunday trying to come to grips with her issues, but got nowhere. That had led to a restless night and not enough sleep. She stared at the screen as the computer went through the initialization process. She was so tired she was enjoying watching the various messages flash across the pretty blue backdrop.