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Stranger in My Arms

Page 8

by Madeline Harper


  He put his arm around her and led her up the stairs to the street. “We’ll be home soon, Kasey. Then you’ll be safe. Nothing will happen to you. I swear.”

  * * *

  WILL TOOK Kasey’s key from her hand and opened the door. “I’ll come in with you if you don’t mind, just for a moment.”

  “For a little longer, if you don’t mind,” she said. “I don’t want to be alone.”

  “I’ll stay as long as you’ll let me stay,” he replied with a smile.

  Kasey turned on the light and led Will down the hall to her living room, flipping on more lights as she crossed the room, comforted by the familiarity of her apartment.

  “Would you like something to drink? Coffee—or wine? I think I have a bottle over here.” She moved toward a black lacquered cabinet in the corner of the room. Adrenaline still pumped through her body. She couldn’t forget the terror of teetering on the edge of the platform. And she couldn’t ignore the excitement of having Will in her apartment.

  “Nothing to drink,” he replied, glancing around the apartment. “The place looks like you. Bright and modern. Makes a statement and stands by it. Sound familiar?”

  “Thanks for the compliment, but right now all that matters is that I’m here and not on the subway tracks—” She felt a tremor in her voice and was afraid she would break down again, when he caught hold of her hand.

  “Come and sit by me. It’s time to relax.” He settled her on the sofa and sat down beside her.

  “I can’t forget that you saved my life, Will.”

  He put a finger across her lips. “It’s over, Kasey. Don’t think about it now.”

  “I can’t help it, I—”

  “Think of something pleasant,” he insisted. “Think of the fun you had at the party.” He smiled slyly, adding, “Dancing with me, of course.”

  She returned his smile, and as she remembered being in his arms, he held her close. She blocked the subway incident from her mind and filled her thoughts with Will. She wanted him to stay here with her, holding her, not just for a few minutes, but for the rest of the night.

  “Are you thinking good thoughts?” he asked softly.

  “Yes.” Suddenly, she shivered involuntarily, reminded of the incident.

  “Sorry,” she whispered.

  “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s all right. It’s normal. We just have to get you totally relaxed. Lean forward,” he ordered in a gentle voice, “and I’ll massage your neck. I bet your muscles are as tight as piano wires.”

  Obediently, Kasey dropped her head and felt Will’s thumbs at the base of her neck. He moved them in a firm, circular motion that sent tremors racing along her nerve endings.

  “I was right,” he murmured. “Your muscles are in knots, but I can take care of that.”

  The pressure of his fingers and thumbs increased, and the tension began to flow from her. Safe beside him, the memory of what had happened started to fade.

  “Better?”

  “Yes, much.”

  As he moved his hands over her upper body, Kasey’s skin grew warm and pliant, and slowly the heat of his touch melted through the tenseness of her muscles. The delightful warmth spread along her neck, across her shoulders, down her back. Everywhere that he touched her. She let out a deep sigh of contentment. The scene at the subway blurred some more, then disappeared.

  “Mmm,” she said with a moan, rolling her head in a lazy circle. “Don’t stop. This is wonderful.”

  She leaned back against him, amazed that she’d ever been wary of him. His sense of authority, the coiled power beneath his smooth image and the whisper of arrogance in his voice were all things that had made him seem dangerous. Now, those were the very things that gave her a deep sense of security. High in Bartow Tower, with the rest of the world far, far away, she felt completely safe.

  His fingers touched a tight spot on her shoulder, pressed and massaged until the tightness vanished. She made little mewing sounds of pleasure at the release of tension. “Oh, oh, oh.” She sighed. “Mmm. That feels so good.”

  He leaned close, his breath warm against her neck. “I’m crazy about the sound effects.”

  She flushed and turned to look at him. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

  “Don’t say you’re sorry, not ever. I want you to be carried away. Oh, how I want that.”

  He took her face in his hands, devouring her with his eyes. His gentle, practiced thumbs made tiny circles on her temples. Kasey was caught up in his eyes, drawn into their dark depths. Her heart started beating erratically as a delicious warmth shimmered over her skin. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, melting into his arms.

  Will bent forward and kissed her, giving himself over to the feeling of her mouth against his. What was it about her that made him forget all the rules he’d set up? She gave another of those delicious little moans and moved toward him, and Will understood exactly what it was. It was her candor. Her eager response to his touch. The way she returned his kisses.

  He pulled her across his lap and felt her softness against him, felt the need and desire in her body that mirrored his own. He traced the soft skin of her leg with his fingers, along her smooth calf, across her knee, under her short skirt. His hands moved as if on their own, hungrily, almost desperately, over her body.

  The blood pounded wildly in Will’s head, and desire flowed through him hot and hard. Being with Kasey was like a tug-of-war, a battle to maintain control. A battle he was losing.

  In his arms, Kasey was washed by a wave of dizzying pleasure. As his mouth captured hers, firm and demanding, the sensations became too powerful to resist. Kasey knew she was at the edge of something wonderful—and dangerous. The danger came from her feelings for Will, feelings so intense, she knew acting on them would change her life forever.

  “I want you, Will,” she whispered. She couldn’t stop the words any more than she could stop her feelings. Life was so precious; she wanted to reach out for it. Greedily. Hungrily.

  “My Kasey,” he murmured. “So open and honest. I love that about you.”

  She pulled at the buttons of his shirt and fumbled with his belt and zipper.

  “And I love your actions as much as your words.” He sought her lips again.

  Their kiss deepened and they tasted each other hungrily. She felt his hardness through the fabric of his linen pants, and she wanted to touch him, really touch him, needing to feel his flesh beneath her fingers.

  She unzipped him and touched him there, where she’d ached to caress him. She heard his gasp of pleasure.

  He looked down at her, his eyes dark with passion; his voice was hoarse. “I want to touch you, too, Kasey. I want to undress you and make love to you, and—”

  Kasey’s kiss stopped his words, and as he kissed her back, he fumbled with her dress, which was nothing but an encumbrance, and she pushed away his silk shirt. Frantically, breaths coming in short gasps, they pulled off their clothes, leaving a tangle of lace and silk forgotten on the floor.

  Her hands were insistent and seeking across his chest. She kissed him, inhaled his heat, tasted the saltiness of his skin. Her lips sought his flat brown nipples, her hands splayed across his back. She put her face against his chest and pressed closer to him. She wanted to become one with him, to merge with him. She wanted her breath to be his breath, his heartbeat hers. Her pulse beat urgently, as out of control as Kasey herself.

  And she didn’t care.

  They were on the floor now, Will bending over her, licking her neck, kissing her chin, brushing her lips with his, tasting, releasing, tasting again.

  His gasps of pleasure fanned the flames of her need, and she shifted so that she could touch the hard shaft of his manhood, and feel him grow beneath her fingers.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” he cried.

  “Then make love to me, Will,” she answered. “I can’t wait another second.” Could that possibly be her voice, Kase
y wondered. It seemed so far away, so desperate with desire. Yes! It was her voice, begging him for the intimacy that would make them one, frantic to be joined with him when she sought closeness as never before in her life.

  “We won’t wait, Kasey,” he whispered in a voice heavy with desire.

  She guided him into her warmth, arching her back, straining to meet him. He filled her inch by inch until she thought she would scream with pleasure. They moved together in a kind of primitive rhythm, with no hesitation, no holding back, a ritual of desire that brought Kasey to the edge of ecstasy.

  She dug her fingers into the smooth muscles of his back, wrapped her legs around him, moved with him and breathed with him. Their eyes met and locked. Every part of her melted into him, and as the exquisite pressure within her built, grew, twisted and threatened to explode, he thrust deeper and deeper, taking her to the brink of something wonderful.

  Then the moment of highest pleasure was upon them, and they held on to it as long as they could until it exploded for them in shimmering waves of passion.

  Will wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. She could feel the thudding of his heart, as wild and out of control as her own. She listened as both heartbeats began to slow a little and finally near a normal level as he kissed her forehead and pushed her damp hair away from her face. “Next time, I’ll take my time and love every inch of you,” he said softly.

  She pressed against him, wishing she could become a part of him. But the next best thing was simply to lie next to him, her body touching his, bathed in the afterglow of love.

  “It was perfect,” she whispered. “Perfect.” She didn’t add that he was her fantasy come true.

  He chuckled low in his throat. “We can improve, even on perfection, Kasey. And we have all night to do it.”

  6

  WITHOUT OPENING her eyes, Kasey rolled over in bed and moved her hand along the rumpled sheet beside her. Empty. Then she remembered. She and Will had slept in each other’s arms, wakened at dawn and made slow, languorous love as the sun rose over the city. Then he had kissed her lightly, promised to see her later, given her bottom a pat and told her to go back to sleep.

  She’d taken that advice and then some, Kasey realized as she finally opened her eyes and looked at the clock.

  “It can’t be ten o’clock,” she said out loud. But it was. She’d slept like a baby. No wonder, Kasey thought as she gave a sigh of satisfaction and snuggled against her pillow. Last night had been the most intense experience of her life. In a few short hours, she’d felt the chill of fear and tasted the sweetness of joy.

  Kasey truly believed that she’d faced death in the subway station, but she had never felt more alive than when Will had made love to her. Spine-tingling, earth-moving, heaven-shaking love. She stretched voluptuously and let her mind dwell on each episode in his arms. After the almost frantic lovemaking on the floor of her living room, he’d carried her to bed where they’d taken their time exploring, getting to know each other’s bodies before making love again. They’d slept for a while, awakened before dawn and surprised themselves with the renewal of their passion. And then, before Will left...

  “That’s four times!” Kasey said as she sat up in bed. Never had she even imagined such sexual saturation, and judging by the feelings that were coming over her now, if Will were anywhere near, she would have done her best to seduce him back to bed. She was obsessed; no doubt about it. With the mysterious man next door. With a stranger. Well, not quite a stranger. She smiled slyly.

  It sounded crazy, but in fact it was wonderful, Kasey thought as she closed her eyes and fell back on the pillow. So what if she’d known Will for barely ten days. So what if she’d dated him once—twice, if she counted the picnic. What did time matter when they were so perfect together, when he made her feel so free? Last night, time certainly hadn’t mattered; nothing had mattered except being with him.

  She hadn’t thought about why it was happening. She’d just given herself over to her fantasy, experiencing with her senses, not her mind. And what she’d experienced was joy, pleasure and wonder.

  If she was crazy, then hats off to craziness, Kasey decided, pushing away dark thoughts as she gave in to the memory of kissing Will, touching him...

  The jarring sound of the doorbell roused Kasey from her daydreams. She hit the floor running, pulling on her robe as she headed down the hall. Will had decided to come back for coffee, she imagined. To bring her a pastry. Maybe breakfast in bed. She threw open the door. And tried to hide her disappointment when she saw Glenna standing there.

  Her neighbor was dressed in her work uniform, as Glenna called it: suit, blouse and jogging shoes for the walk to her office.

  “You didn’t ask who was at the door, Kasey,” Glenna chastised. “That’s dangerous.”

  “I know. I was thinking—well, about something else.” She smiled at Glenna. “Come on in. Coffee?”

  Glenna stepped inside, closed the door and followed Kasey down the hall. “Don’t have time. Unless you have that vanilla-flavored—”

  “All out,” Kasey told her.

  “Oh. Then I don’t really have time,” Glenna said with a laugh. “So I guess I’d better ask my favor. Lo Mein, this weekend?” Glenna ducked her head.

  “Don’t look so sheepish,” Kasey said. “I’ll take care of the cat.” She poured herself some coffee and looked at Glenna questioningly.

  “Okay. Just half a cup.” Glenna leaned against the doorjamb, watching Kasey. “You look—different,” she said.

  Kasey tried not to react. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not sure. Just a feeling. Did you know that I met our sexy new neighbor?”

  The sudden change in conversation startled Kasey. Already caught off-balance, she forced herself to concentrate on pouring the coffee.

  “He’s nothing like Count Dracula, by the way,” Glenna went on. “He’s about as hunky as they come. He came over to my apartment,” she added, raising her dark eyebrows suggestively.

  Kasey stopped in midmotion. “Oh?” She was stunned at the stab of jealousy she felt, sharp and primeval.

  “Yep, he returned Lo Mein one night. You know how he crosses from balcony to balcony? The cat, not the hunk,” she added with a smile. “Anyway, you were right about one thing. He’s sooo good-looking and—”

  “And?” Kasey managed to ask.

  “Totally impervious to my charms.”

  Kasey let out the breath she’d been holding. “What happened?”

  “I asked him in and he declined.” She formed her bright red lips into a pout. “Have you had any better luck?”

  Kasey hesitated. She didn’t want to lie, and yet she wanted to keep her relationship with Will personal and private. Something special. She compromised. “I’ve seen him a time or two.”

  Glenna looked surprised. “Really? Well, a little summer fling with the man next door...”

  “I didn’t say that,” Kasey objected.

  “You didn’t have to. I see the blush.” Glenna narrowed her eyes and peered at Kasey more closely. “Or is that whisker burn on your cheeks?”

  Kasey couldn’t keep her hand from flying to her face.

  “So, I’m right,” Glenna said. “And green with envy.”

  Kasey realized with surprise and concern that Glenna’s voice echoed her words. She was jealous! Kasey looked away and said nothing.

  “Well, I’d like to hear all about it,” Glenna said, glancing at her watch. “But I’m late, so—” She walked toward the door, adding over her shoulder, “Thanks for taking care of Lo Mein. Again.”

  As Kasey watched Glenna leave, she found herself thinking about her neighbor’s comments. She’d referred to a “little summer fling with the man next door.” Probably that’s what others would assume, too, that Kasey was an impetuous fool, acting out a fantasy with a mysterious stranger.

  She leaned against the kitchen counter and sipped her coffee. Okay, she’d admit to the fantasy of making love to a stra
nger; she’d even plead temporary insanity brought on by an excess of passion, but she wasn’t going to dismiss the way she felt about Will. He made her laugh, and he made her feel as never before.

  She was falling in love!

  Then she stopped her fantasizing and scolded herself aloud. “You’ve got it bad, Kasey. Slow down. Take your time.”

  But she didn’t want to slow down. She wanted the hours to fly by until the night—when she would see Will again.

  The ringing of the phone interrupted her reverie, and she picked up the receiver abstractedly.

  “Hello,” she said, suddenly thinking the call might be from Will.

  There was no response.

  “Hello,” she repeated. Again, no reply, but Kasey was sure she could hear someone on the line, listening, waiting.

  “Hello. Who is this?” Her voice became sharper.

  The line went dead.

  Kasey frowned and hung up. Someone with a wrong number and no manners, she decided. She poured another cup of coffee and headed to the bedroom. The phone rang again.

  Once more, when she answered, there was the eerie silence on the other end. But this time, she was sure she heard slow, steady breathing. It must be someone playing a game, she told herself, a sick game that she wasn’t in the mood to play.

  She hung up, turned on her answering machine and headed for the shower.

  Later, before she left for an early staff meeting at Windows, she checked her messages, hoping for one from Will. Instead, she heard three more hang-ups. And now, they did more than irritate her; they frightened her. She felt the hair along the back of her neck prickle as she listened to the breathing. It was ominous and threatening.

  Then she realized, suddenly and clearly, what was happening. Carl Dandridge was harassing her again! It had to be Carl. It was just like him to use a sneaky, irritating method like anonymous phone calls to get to her.

  Once Kasey figured that out, the fear passed and she became angry. She wasn’t going to take it. If he didn’t tire very quickly of this little game, she’d simply change her number. She wouldn’t let his childish tricks ruin her day. It was a day when she wanted to do nothing more than bask in the memory of her night with Will.

 

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