Enthralled

by Ann Cristy

  They crested together, holding each other so tightly that Teel's bones felt fused to his.

  The planets and stars before her eyes faded slowly. She was glad that Chazz continued to keep her in his strong grip. She had the feeling that her body would fall apart if he released her.

  "Love?" Chazz leaned back from her. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" He wiped tears from her cheeks.

  She shook her head, unable to speak. She saw him clearly in the glow of the lamp, a pale, urgent look on his face that she had never seen before. "You always think of making love in the darkness," Teel said dreamily, her finger traveling down his cheek. "It's nice with the light on, isn't it?"

  "Yes." Chazz's face softened as he smiled down at her. "It is most enjoyable in the light. Looking at your body excites me more than anything." He grinned as her cheeks grew hot. "Still blushing? Will you be doing that when you're an old married lady?"

  Teel yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, and nodded. "Probably. You say the most outrageous things." Her eyes fluttered shut, and she smiled to herself when Chazz folded her close. She fell asleep feeling utterly relaxed and at peace.

  Twice more in the night Chazz woke her, and each time Teel was eager for his lovemaking, each time surprised that he could bring her up to heaven with his touch.

  At last she curled her body into him quite naturally, murmuring, "I'll be a dishrag in the morning." His chuckle was the last thing she heard before a black velvet sleep claimed her.

  When she opened her eyes, sun was streaming through the windows. She sensed it was late even before Chazz poked his head around the door of the bathroom.

  "Sorry, love, it's my fault. I should have left a call with Darby or Mrs. Pritchett. We were both dead to the world." His chin was covered with shaving cream. "Come and take a shower." He smiled to see her gripping the sheet under her chin.

  "I'll use the other bathroom," Teel said.

  Chazz paused in his shaving, his smile slow, making the cream on his face part in an upward curve. "All right this time, but after we're married, we'll be showering together."

  Teel's pulse rate soared, her hands trembling as they clutched the sheet.

  "Maybe."

  "Absolutely." Chazz's head disappeared from the doorway.

  Grabbing the robe that Chazz had discarded the night before in such cavalier fashion, Teel sprinted for the bathroom that connected with Chazz's bedroom.

  After her shower Teel wrapped herself in a bath sheet, cursing her lack of foresight in not bringing clothes with her to put on in the bathroom. When she opened the door to get some, she found Chazz standing there, her lingerie in his hand.

  "Thought you might need these." He chuckled as he handed her the small bundle. "Of course, I'd prefer that you came out here to dress..."

  "No." Teel shut the door in his face, smiling when she heard his laugh.

  She hurried into the undies and stockings, twisted her hair in a loose knot on her neck, and did her makeup right there, impressed with the array of cosmetics. Back in the bedroom, wrapped in her robe, Teel quickly inspected the closetful of clothes, choosing a deep green suit in a silky wool material and a silk blouse with very thin green and pink stripes on an ecru background. She found low-heeled black pumps in soft kid and a matching bag.

  For the first time she noticed the glow in her face, the elusive smile that played around her mouth, the sparkle deep in her eyes. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, but she couldn't mask the warmth that was spreading through her. She was happy.

  "Hey, lady." Chazz's voice rose from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready."

  Teel was emptying the contents of her clutch evening bag into the day bag just as Chazz re-entered the bedroom. He stopped and hitched his shoulder against the doorjamb. "Is this what I'll have to do every morning? Get your lovely rear in gear?"

  "Don't be ridiculous. I'm always punctual," Teel retorted lifting her chin in the air as she tried to sail past him.

  One strong arm hooked around her waist and pulled her against a long, hard body. "First, my kiss."

  Teel opened her mouth to scold him, then changed her mind and stretched up on tiptoe to fix her mouth to his.

  "There," she told him, a little out of breath, watching his eyes turn dark with desire.

  "Ummm, you taste good."

  Chazz made as though to pull her more fully into his arms, but Teel ducked away from him and sprinted down the stairs, calling over her shoulder, "It's late. Hurry up." She laughed when he cursed. She felt as if her feet were touching ground at every other step as she waltzed into the breakfast room and caroled, "Good morning, Mrs. Pritchett."

  "Good morning, miss." The older woman smiled at her indulgently. "You look happy this morning."

  Teel felt the blood rushing to her face, but she smiled more widely. "I am, thank you." She looked past Mrs. Pritchett to the sideboard, her mouth beginning to water at the sight of eggs and ham, kippers and croissants, and silver-dollar-sized hot cakes. Holding a plate in one hand, she paused before the food and sniffed appreciatively of the coffee Mrs. Pritchett was pouring from the silver pot.

  A hand reached in front of her and scooped egg and ham onto her plate. "Toast or hot cakes, love? The jam is homemade."

  "I can't decide." Teel assumed a stricken expression as she gazed from Chazz to her plate. "I can't imagine why I'm so hungry."

  "I can." He leaned over and whispered, "Lovemaking is the next best exercise to swimming."

  "Hogwash," Teel exclaimed, looking sideways to see if Mrs. Pritchett had heard him and feeling relieved when she saw that the older woman had returned to the kitchen. "You shouldn't talk like that in front of Mrs. Pritchett," she scolded as he set the plates on the table next to each other and held out her chair for her.

  Chazz shrugged, watching Teel as he took his seat. "She didn't hear me." He lifted a forkful of egg from his plate and fed it to her, smiling when she, "ahhhhhed" her enjoyment. Even though they were rushed, they took time to enjoy their meal.

  Suddenly Teel clamped a hand to her mouth. "I should have called Nancy."

  "I told your office you would be a little late," Chazz informed Teel, wiping her chin with his napkin.

  "Thank you." Teel felt shy. "I suppose she'll question me unmercifully." She sighed, lifting one shoulder in a fatalistic shrug, not really feeling uncomfortable.

  "Ignore them all." Chazz went with her when she returned to the bedroom to brush her teeth and get her bag. "We'll be married soon," he added.

  "There are a few more things to do first." Teel gulped. Her voice sounded thin and unsteady.

  "Hurry it up then," Chazz told her. "I'm not waiting forever. I want to get married now."

  "Yes," Teel capitulated, absolutely certain for the first time that she was going to marry Chazz Herman. The thought filled her with a quiet, steady happiness, a calm that entered every part of her body.

  They went down the elevator in silence, hand in hand.

  Outside, Darby wished them a good morning, his eyes twinkling.

  Once in the car, Chazz pulled Teel close to him. "Love, I have a meeting, so Darby's dropping me off first. I'll see you tonight at home. All right? Alexander has to fly some of the corporate staff to a meeting in Pittsburgh, so I'll be flying the Cessna to Selby."

  Teel nodded, suddenly sad at the thought of being away from Chazz for a whole day. When the Rolls pulled over to the curb in front of his office building, she clung to him for a brief moment and returned his kiss with fierce ardor. He seemed surprised but pleased, and with a last gentle caress on her cheek and a jaunty wave, he stepped out of the car and disappeared inside.

  The trip back to Selby was uneventful, but Teel's late arrival meant that she was buried in work until after six that evening. She was rubbing the back of her neck when Nancy and Clint Wills walked into the office. She looked up at them, surprised. "Hi. I thought you two had gone home. Are you here to pick me up early for the shower, Nancy?"

  "No." Nancy's voice sounded st
rained, and she sniffed.

  Teel stared at her, alarmed. Nancy had been crying. Teel glanced at Clint. His face had a pinched look to it. "What's wrong?" she asked, wariness assailing her, then panic. "Tell me. Is it Chazz? Tell me!" Her voice sounded shrill in the otherwise silent room.

  "There was a plane crash," Nancy said hoarsely. "The announcement came over Clint's police radio. He called the sheriff."

  "Les Tillman is my brother-in-law," Clint explained. "He said the man's wallet identified him as Charles Herman. Don't look like that, Teel. He's in the hospital. Les said he was unconscious, but that it didn't look bad." Clint swallowed hard and patted Teel's arm as she stood rigidly in front of him, both hands pressed to her mouth.

  "The plane lost power and Chazz crash-landed in a field just short of the runway. He was all the way down and it looked all right, but he must have hit a tree stump or something because the plane flipped over." Clint took a deep breath. "I called Nancy because I thought you would want her along when I take you to the hospital."

  Teel nodded numbly, unable to speak, and squeezed Clint's hand in silent thanks. The car ride seemed to take forever even though the hospital was located only ten minutes from the school.

  Later, Teel had no memory of what Nancy or Clint said to her or what the nurses and doctor told her. She only knew that she had to see Chazz. She would make him get better no matter how bad it was.

  When she stepped inside the door of the private room and saw him lying there, his face white, his eyes closed, she froze. Though her brain registered that there were no tubes coming from his body attached to life-sustaining apparatus, that he was not heavily bandaged, enervating shock coursed through her body.

  To her surprise, his eyes opened and his mouth curved upward in a boyish grin. Was he all right? Suddenly he looked fine.

  She stepped forward tentatively, still unsure. "Chazz," she breathed.” Are you badly hurt?"

  "I'm fine, love. Fit as a fiddle," he replied blithely. "Just resting up a bit is all."

  All at once Teel was angry. "You frightened me to death," she cried, trembling with relief and rage. "I thought you might be dying—or at least have broken bones." She shook a fist at him, tears streaming down her face as she shut the door forcefully behind her and stalked over to the bed.

  Chazz sat up, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down on the bed with him, soothing her as she cried out her fear and frustration. Several attendants entered the room, but Chazz said something to them, and then they were alone.

  "It's all right, love," he murmured. "I made it down just fine, but I must have hit a rock or something as the plane was beginning to stop. No broken bones, nothing but a scratch on my arm and a bump on my head. Don't cry." Chazz held her close, rocking her. "They tell me that I landed not too far from the carriage house." He kissed her forehead. "I guess I was in too much of a hurry to see my woman." He chuckled softly.

  "That's not funny." Teel sniffed and wound her arms around his neck. "I couldn't bear to lose you." She tightened her hold. "I just couldn't bear it."

  The doctor came in just then to talk to Chazz about staying overnight for tests. Teel nodded in agreement, but Chazz shook his head. "Chazz, you must stay—just to make sure," Teel pleaded.

  "I am sure." He kissed her nose, then turned to the doctor.” You’ve run some tests already, haven't you?" At the doctor's slow nod, Chazz continued, "I'm getting married next week, and my fiancée and I have things to do that need our attention. Could you give me an educated guess about the state of my health? I know I feel fine except for the throbbing in my arm and head."

  The doctor stared at Chazz for a few moments. "I'd prefer that you stay, but I feel that you're in pretty good shape and could be released tomorrow with a clean bill of health."

  "Good." Chazz squeezed Teel.

  "But if you feel dizzy or nauseated at all tonight or tomorrow, come back." The doctor shook a finger at Chazz.

  "He will," Teel promised, her voice firm, one arm around Chazz's waist. The two men smiled at her.

  As they left the hospital, they met Nancy and Clint in the waiting room. Teel suddenly remembered the shower, but Nancy reassured her. She had already telephoned everyone and rescheduled the event.

  Chazz was fine. Chazz was fine. The words rang in Teel's head just over a week later as she dressed for her wedding. She looked down at the cream-colored lace that her Aunt Tessa had brought for her from Spain. Her friend Charine had fashioned it into a mantilla-like veil. The ecru silk gown that Charine had made for her swirled out behind her to form a train. Veil lace edged the sleeves and formed a bertha around the low neckline. Tiers of silk material were caught at the dropped waist to create a modified bustle, which made Teel's small waist look even smaller. Her neck rose from the almost off-the- shoulder style like a slender column. Her skin glowed like translucent porcelain.

  Aunt Tessa was giving her away and, though she promised not to cry, she had pushed several lace-edged hankies up the sleeve of her sky-blue dress.

  Nancy was her only attendant. "You're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen," she told Teel, sniffing discreetly.

  Darby drove them to the church in the Rolls-Royce, patiently answering all Aunt Tessa's questions about the limousine.

  At the church Teel looked down the aisle and saw Father Gargan and Rabbi Levine standing side by side. She was very grateful to both clergymen for rearranging their schedules so that they could assist at her and Chazz's wedding on such short notice.

  When the organ played the processional, she walked down the aisle, never taking her eyes off Chazz. He stared back at her, heat leaping in his eyes.

  Later, Teel couldn't remember saying her vows, but she did remember seeing both clergymen lift their hands in a blessing. Vaguely, she heard someone say, and "You may kiss the bride."

  Chazz turned her toward him, and she looked up and smiled. "I love you," she murmured, her voice as clear as a bell in the sudden silence of the church.

  Someone tittered. Someone whispered, "Did she say what I think she did?"

  Teel didn't pay any attention. She only watched Chazz. She felt relaxed and serene as she stared up into his familiar face.

  "Darling." His voice was hoarse.

  "You may kiss the bride now," Rabbi Levine whispered once more.

  As the organ music swelled, Chazz pulled Teel close. His mouth touched hers in a tender caress that held a promise of passion and enough love to last them all their lives.

  The reception was held at the Selby Museum. Chazz had arranged the catering from a New York firm, but when the local ladies asked him if they might bring their own dishes as well, he had kindly encouraged them. Virtually the whole town was invited because Teel couldn't think of one family she could exclude. Few of Chazz's business associates attended, because Chazz had assured them that they would have another reception in New York in the near future. Nevertheless, he took great pride in introducing Teel to the small number of his associates who did attend. And he neither left Teel's side nor let go of her hand the entire time. "How does it feel to be married, Mrs. Herman?" he asked.

  "Lovely." Teel felt unaccountably shy with him. The look in his eye was possessive, but even more than that, she had the feeling that she could step inside his eyes and revel in that golden world.

  When it was time to change, Tilda and Nancy came with her. "I think it's nice that you're going to take a week on the yacht," Tilda said, and she smiled when Teel's mouth fell open. Tilda wrinkled her nose in dismay. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to tell you!" She shrugged, then grinned when Teel and Nancy laughed. "Teel, dear, one of the crew has taken your portrait to the Deirdre, so you'll have your own surprise for Chazz."

  "How can I ever thank you?" Teel asked, hugging the small woman with sincere warmth.

  "You can't," Tilda answered tersely, "so just go and enjoy yourselves."

  In no time at all they were flying southward toward where the Deirdre was docked. "My lovely aunt told you, didn't she?" Cha
zz whispered as he held Teel against his shoulder.

  "Yes." She laughed, hugging her secret about the painting to herself.

  It was a relief to land and know that it was only a short drive to the ocean. With Chazz at her side, the time seemed to fly past.

  "We'll just cruise in the Caribbean for a few days," Chazz said as he helped Teel out of the car and led her down into the forward cabin, looking surprised when she gasped at the size of the room and how it was outfitted. "That's right. You've never been in here before, have you? Do you like it?"

  She nodded, staring around at the oak-trimmed stateroom, which was dominated by a king-sized bed.

  "Tell me again," Chazz's voice demanded, bringing Teel's head around to him.

  She didn't pretend not to know what he meant. She swallowed once. "I love you," she whispered, her eyes steady on him.

  "Thank God for that." His mouth quirked in amusement, but Teel knew that the fire leaping in his eyes expressed his deeper feelings. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. "When you said that at the end of the ceremony, I wasn't sure I heard you correctly. Lord, darling, you choose the most public places to tell me your most important—and most private—thoughts. I almost picked you up then and there and ran out of the church with you."

  Teel smothered a sigh. She would never regret having told him she loved him, but how she yearned to hear the same words from his own lips.

  "I've loved you since I leaned over the side of the Deirdre and saw you lying unconscious in the dinghy," Chazz told her.

  "What?" Teel pushed back from him, her eyes searching his face. "You love me?"

  Chazz frowned. "Of course I love you. I've told you often enough."

  "You've never told me." Teel felt her sinuses open up and her head clear. Her body felt pliant, alive, and strong. Her thoughts seemed to regroup in an intelligible order. She suddenly felt capable of outstanding feats. Her spirit soared. "You love me," she repeated simply.

  "Of course. Everyone knows that. How could you not know it?"

  "Dumb, huh?" "Very." Chazz enfolded her in his arms and slowly began to undress her. "Are you hungry? There's a lovely bridal dinner awaiting us."