Night Moves
Page 16
Liam blew out a long breath. “Look, I know I need to explain.”
“Just tell me if you love her.”
He didn’t expect the interruption. He had his whole speech planned. All the promises about appreciating her, how he would keep her safe and take care of her forever, regardless of what else life threw them.
Dan exhaled. “It’s a simple question, Liam.”
“Not really.”
“What I saw in that building and what I heard—I want to know what it means to you.”
Dan was asking about intentions. Liam stared at the floor and fought off a laugh. “I think I should talk with Maura about that first.”
“I think you should look at me.”
The anger in Dan’s voice grabbed Liam’s attention. He raised his head and watched as Dan tightened his hands on the edge of the couch.
“You owe me honesty on this. She is my sister.”
“She’s also a woman.”
Dan winced but didn’t back down. “Then answer me.”
Liam knew his friend misunderstood his earlier reaction. This one was easy. From the time he tackled her on the deck and realized he had a second chance, he knew.
They’d been circling each other for years, each maturing and learning. Without knowing it, they grew together. Their values matched. Their weaknesses and strengths complemented each other.
And the attraction raged. He ached with the need to touch her, burned with a desire to open up this last part of their relationship.
Loving Maura was the easy part.
“Yes,” he said. “I love her.”
The tension seeped out of the room like a balloon losing its air. Dan’s shoulders even fell in what looked like relief. Liam expected the truth to set off an argument. Instead, it satisfied Dan, or seemed to.
Since Liam wasn’t sure his points got through, he tried again. “She’s more than a smart woman in a lab. She has so much to offer and I want to be there when she realizes it. I want to be the man who experiences the full her.”
Dan nodded. “Okay.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
This time Dan raised his hand. “I said okay. I don’t need the details.”
“Meaning?”
Dan’s mouth broke into a grin. “Call me when you’re engaged.”
The comment didn’t rattle Liam. The idea of waking up to her, having children and planning a life appealed to him. From that, Liam knew he was in love.
Dan pushed off from the couch and started toward the door.
Liam called after him. “Where are you going?”
“Home, and I better hear from you this week.”
MAURA HEARD THE FRONT DOOR CLOSE. She waited for what felt like hours for Liam’s face to appear in her room. Anxiety and hope spun around in her stomach. She had no idea how he’d react to her admission.
The man just saved her life and she hit him with her virginity. Talk about putting pressure on a guy.
She knew he found her attractive. The kisses told her that much. Being serious, taking her to bed, those were separate things. He might want to walk away. She sure couldn’t blame him. Fires and chases and gun battles. What man would want to join her after that sort of welcome into a relationship?
The more she sat there, the worse her nerves jumbled. She worked her mind into a confused frenzy. If he didn’t come in here soon she’d…
“Feeling better?” He slipped in the doorway and didn’t stop walking until he got to her bed.
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Don’t kid yourself. That woman was nuts.”
Maura shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about Patricia Hammer or Langdon Hammer or anything to do with Smithfield Enterprises. I might never step foot in an office building again thanks to that group.”
“Can’t say I disagree.” Liam slid his thigh on to the edge of her bed. The dip in the mattress rolled her closer to him. “What do you want to talk about?”
Men. He was going to force her to ask again.
“Forget that. I’ll start.” He put a hand behind her against the headboard. The other one landed on her blanket gathered on her lap. “I love you.”
She felt her eyes bug out. “What?”
“Everything. All parts. The brain.” He touched a finger to her forehead.
“The heart.” That finger skimmed down her chest, over her breasts.
“And definitely everything in between.”
She wanted to believe, but everything in her life had been so upside down lately. “This isn’t some sort of delayed reaction to the violence, is it?”
He smiled. “No.”
“You said that kind of fast.”
“It’s about falling for you.” He brushed her hair back over her shoulder in a gesture laced with intimacy. “So strong and sexy. Tough and determined. I can’t think of a hotter combination in a woman.”
The steamy heat behind his words kicked up. “I love you, too.”
His smile beamed with satisfaction. “Good.”
She rushed to explain just in case they got dragged into the past and couldn’t find their way out again. “This isn’t the same as before. This isn’t about wanting to be rescued or carried away from a life I don’t understand. I can earn my own money and find my own jobs, although I clearly need a better system for picking bosses.”
“Okay.”
The softness around Liam’s eyes gave her the motivation she needed to keep going. “I’m not a teenager.”
He trailed his finger down her chest and dipped it low into deep vee between her breasts. “Oh, I can see that.”
She swallowed back the rest of her explanation and jumped ahead to the part that mattered the most right that second. “I asked you a question earlier.”
“You’ve actually asked me twice.”
She gnawed on her lip. “Did you understand what I was saying?”
His thumb rubbed the raw spot she just nibbled on.
“What I don’t get is how someone as stunningly beautiful as you, with so much to offer a man, hasn’t experienced lovemaking.”
His voice didn’t carry any judgment. She sensed curiosity and a touch of excitement.
“I was the wrong age at the wrong time. Then I had my work.”
“You deserve every part of life, and you’ve been missing a good one.”
“I only want you.”
He brushed his fingers over the tips of her breasts.
“When you’re feeling better—”
“Now.” The teasing and coaxing set her blood on fire.
She shifted her legs and tightened her muscles to ease the tension stealing over her body.
“You’re hurt.”
“I want my life to start now.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t want to give him a chance to back away or talk common sense. Not now.
Their mouths met in a long, lingering kiss. Energy pulsed between them as their lips traveled across each other. The churning started deep in her belly and begged for release. “I’ve waited long enough for you to come to me,” she whispered.
He fell over her. His chest pressed her against the bed, easing her down until her back touched the mattress. “You do understand that this will change everything.”
“I’ve read books.” She tilted her head to give his mouth better access to her neck.
His eyebrow lifted along with his head. “Interesting.”
“I mean I know the first time won’t be perfect.”
He placed a finger over her lips. “You’re not being graded, but what I need you to understand is there’s no going back.”
Every part of her agreed. “For either of us.”
“I want it all. I’m not in this for sex or an easy score. We’re talking about a future and children and anything else we can build together.”
When he continued to look serious, she licked her tongue around his finger. “Who knew a security guy could be so romantic?”
His other hand slipped down
her body, pushing her nightgown aside and coming in contact with bare skin. “No underwear?”
“Do I need it?”
“Never.”
That was the last word either of them spoke. Between kisses and touches, they learned each other’s bodies. Their hands toured, brushing over skin and caressing until their nerve endings screamed for more.
When he finally came into her, the pinch of pain took her by surprise. He kissed away the tear on her cheek and gave her time to adjust. Then she felt only pleasure. Full and complete, she grabbed on to the mattress and let the waves of pleasure course through her.
A half hour later, lying there in the dark with her arm balanced over his broad chest, she smiled.
“What has you so happy?” he asked in a sleepy, satisfied voice.
“Do you have to ask?”
He pulled back and looked down at her. “Have I thanked you for hiding out at my house?”
“You like a woman who brings trouble to your door step, do you?”
“I love you.” He kissed the top of her head. “Everything about you.”
“While we’re being grateful, have I thanked you for turning me down all those years ago?”
He frowned. “I was just thinking how dumb I was to say no.”
She stretched up on her elbow. “I wouldn’t change anything about that time.”
“You’re kidding.”
“We had to live those lives to earn this one.” She traced his mouth. “This is the one that matters. The one we build together.”
“I always said you were smart.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you.”
His palm landed against her lower back. “Then you should know that anytime you want to ask the special question from now on, the answer is yes.”
She laughed until he kissed her. Then she couldn’t speak at all.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5677-8
NIGHT MOVES
Copyright © 2010 by HelenKay Dimon
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