In the Midnight Hour

by Deborah Cooke

  “You’re good at that,” she whispered when he finally lifted his head.

  “So are you.”

  “Biology classes,” she said, unable to stop her smile. “I know all the good spots.”

  Damon grinned. “While I just had to find them myself.”

  Their gazes clung for a long moment, and she could have drowned in the warm glow of his eyes. She took a deep breath and winced. “But it’s shower time.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” He stood and tossed her over his shoulder like a cave man. Haley squirmed and squealed, kicking her legs because she thought he expected it. Her efforts didn’t slow him down, and she sobered when she realized he might want the second time to be in the shower.

  “Not in the bathroom,” she hissed, gripping his shoulders.

  “Why not?”

  “It’s tiled and the sound carries through the vent.” Haley shook her head. “I know way too much about my neighbors’ sex lives. They don’t need to know about mine.”

  “Don’t worry,” Damon said with quiet confidence and put her down on the bathmat. Once again, he seemed imposing. He’d made her apartment seem small but the bathroom was filled to bursting with his presence. It was kind of nice. Warm. “We’ll figure out a way to keep it quiet,” he promised.

  “But I’m not quiet...”

  “I know.” He shook his head and smiled down at Haley, sensual intent in his eyes. His voice dropped low. “That’s very, very sexy, by the way.”

  It had been a while since anyone had called Haley sexy and no one had ever liked that she was noisy. Aidan had always found it embarrassing and she’d often held back as a result. She eyed Damon warily, wondering if he was teasing her. “It is?”

  “It is.” Damon was definite.

  “Why?”

  “It’s like you just can’t help yourself. Given that you’re so big on self-control, it’s incredibly hot.” He stole a kiss that left her breathless, then whispered in her ear. “Like I’ve gotten to you.”

  Haley shivered. “You have. You did.” He continued to kiss her ear and throat, his hands stroking her and Haley felt flustered. “I mean, you do.”

  Damon growled a little under his breath and pulled her closer. “Works for me,” he whispered before he claimed her mouth again.

  She felt the sign of his enthusiasm against her stomach and reached up to twine her arms around his neck. Being with him made her feel sexy. She touched her tongue to his, feeling bolder, and his hands spread across her back, lifting her to her toes. He slanted his mouth across hers and it was a few minutes before anyone said anything again.

  “But still,” she continued. “It’ll echo if we do it in here.”

  His eyes gleamed as he looked down at her and her heart leaped at his intensity. “You liked when I silenced you.”

  “I couldn’t have let go and come otherwise.”

  “So, let’s work with that.”

  “How?”

  “Kiss me when you’re going to come. Bite a towel when you’re on the edge. Bite me when you’re on the edge.”

  Haley laughed. “No, really.”

  He gave her one of those simmering looks and she felt unsteady on her feet again. “Oh yeah, really. Bite me hard. You can’t hurt me and trust me, I’ll love it.”

  Haley smiled, more than ready to do just that. Their gazes held for one of those potent moments, then she reached out to touch his tattoo. “What does it mean?”

  He shrugged and averted his gaze. “Nothing. I just liked the design.”

  Haley parted her lips to say something, then thought better of it. Damon turned on the water, his back to her, and she understood. If the tattoo had meant something, anyone who saw it would know more about him. He kept his secrets close.

  She guessed he had some big ones.

  Still rivers ran deep, after all.

  She wondered why he’d left the service. It seemed like he would have been a natural for a commando team.

  He stepped into the shower, inviting her to join him with an outstretched hand. “Come here, seductress.”

  Haley didn’t need a second invitation. She backed him into the tiled wall and kissed him, loving the feel of his hands roving over her. His comments made her feel wild and she was determined to give him all she had. She worked the soap into a lather and they began to caress each other all over again, coaxing desire to build while they cleaned up.

  It was perfect.

  It was wonderful.

  And it wasn’t long until she did bite his shoulder, gripping him so tightly that her nails dug into his skin. Her orgasm lasted for half of forever. She’d barely started when he joined her, crushing her against the wall as they both found their release, the warm water streaming over them.

  They leaned there together, entwined and panting, then he kissed her nipple.

  “My friend Kyle would say it was good clean fun,” Damon murmured against her skin and Haley laughed.

  She didn’t want this night to ever end.

  * * *

  Damon didn’t sleep. He didn’t dare.

  They’d pulled out the bed, and Haley had made it up after their bout of lovemaking in the shower. They’d done it for the third time slowly and in the bed. It was as if Haley had been chaste and was making up for lost time. Her passion was amazing and it fed Damon’s own. He held her as she dozed off afterward, watching the light change in her apartment. It crept around the edges of the window shade just as the sound of traffic from the street below began to increase.

  He was amazed to find that he was tired but also at ease. He smiled at the realization that this was how he felt after a good massage.

  He felt restored.

  And a little less besieged by reality.

  Morning would come soon enough. For the moment, he’d enjoy the reprieve. Would they do this again? Maybe not. It had been pretty amazing and he doubted a second night could be better.

  Maybe it was wiser to appreciate what they’d had and move on.

  That was his usual style anyway.

  Haley curled against his side, her hair braided back in a ponytail, her sensible nightgown hiding her seductive curves from view. She was halfway between the nurse he’d caught watching at the hospital and the tigress who had demanded more from him over and over again.

  And she thought she didn’t know how to share her energy. Damon smiled. He could tell that she did it all the time, giving of herself and expecting little in return beyond the satisfaction of having helped someone somewhere. She’d healed him a little with her strength, following her instincts to give. He smiled as he pushed a stray curl back from her brow, then pressed a chaste kiss to the spot.

  He felt protective of her, because she was innocent in a way. She’d seen a lot, but didn’t know so much about herself. She hadn’t begun to guess what she could accomplish, and he wanted to watch her make that discovery.

  He wanted to help.

  But Damon knew his limits. He had wounds that were deep, too deep to expect any one person to heal them. He savored the unfamiliar urge to linger, to be here when she awakened, to entwine his life with hers, but as seductive as the possibility was, he knew better.

  He would suck Haley dry of her giving nature. He would destroy her and it would be for nothing, because he would still be wounded himself. The last thing she deserved was a taste of his hell. That would be unfair and it would be wrong.

  It would be wicked.

  Which was probably why it was so tempting.

  In fact, she’d already given him far more than he deserved. He was going to remember this night for a very long time.

  Haley stirred in her sleep, murmuring something. Damon frowned and leaned closer to listen when she spoke again.

  “Aidan,” she said, then sighed and smiled.

  Damon’s heart clenched at the sweetness of that smile. Who was Aidan? Judging from Haley’s expression, he was the guy she loved. What had happened to him? Damon watched her and wondered.

  He had
no doubt that she was dreaming of Aidan and that it was a good dream.

  Had she been making love to Aidan instead of him? Damon didn’t want to think about that. In fact, her whisper was an excellent reminder that he should leave.

  He slipped from the bed, washed then dressed as he watched Haley sleep. He told himself that it was good that she loved another guy, because then she’d have no expectations from him. It had been sex, just sex. Great sex, but just sex.

  It was simpler when no one expected more, when it was just a transaction.

  He checked the time. He had a class to teach at seven at the club, a kind of punishment from Kyle for taking every Friday night off.

  But Damon didn’t mind the early class. He was the last one to complain about anything about F5, because he felt lucky to be a part of it. He’d work every day and every moment, except that he needed to help his mom.

  He hoped she’d slept well.

  He checked his phone but there was only one missed call, from Kyle at the club, recorded just after Damon had left the hospital with Haley. That the hospital hadn’t called or left a message was probably a good sign.

  He tugged on his jacket, then took a minute to examine the photograph on the fridge. There. That had to be her younger brother in the second row. Same chin. Same coloring. Same smile. Even with a buzz cut, the resemblance was clear. Damon wished the kid well, then turned to leave.

  Haley had rolled into the hollow in the bed he’d abandoned, as if seeking his heat.

  She was still smiling.

  On impulse, Damon tugged a day pass for F5 out of his wallet. He wrote a quick note on it, then left it on the kitchen counter before he could change his mind.

  By the time the apartment door had locked behind him, Damon regretted the impulse, but there was nothing he could do about it.

  In fact, he had to get moving if he was going to get home, change and get to the club before that class started.

  He shouldn’t have left the card.

  He shouldn’t have added the note.

  He shouldn’t have made love to Haley.

  He shouldn’t have taken, even though she had so much to give—but she’d been irresistible. One night would have to be enough.

  Damon hoped that Aidan guy knew what he was missing.

  He listened to Kyle’s message as he walked home.

  * * *

  Haley awakened alone.

  She wasn’t surprised, but she was disappointed. She sat up, sighed, then did her stretches, as if it was a Saturday morning like any other. She had a shift starting at noon and needed to get some groceries. She started to make a list of errands and rearrange it according to importance, her usual mental triage, when she saw the card on the counter.

  Flatiron Five.

  She was on her feet immediately, knowing Damon had left it. Was it his number? An invitation? A suggestion that she call or they get together again? Haley thought of a dozen possibilities, each better than the last, by the time she picked it up.

  It was a day pass to use the Flatiron Five facilities.

  A free sample visit.

  That was useless since Haley hardly ever went into the city anymore. She was a little bit insulted, like he was paying her for their night together, but then she turned it over and saw that he’d written on the back.

  Introductory Massage Class

  on Sundays and Wednesdays at 2 PM

  In case you’re interested in learning more.

  Take care.

  —Damon

  Not exactly a love letter or an intimate message to leave her heart fluttering. Haley supposed it was a warning. Don’t expect too much.

  Or maybe Don’t expect anything else.

  She’d already figured out that part.

  In fact, that was why she’d made her move.

  She had no expectations, either. In fact, he’d exceeded the few she possessed. The sex had been great.

  But why leave the card at all? Did Damon teach the class?

  Haley frowned at his handwriting. Not scrawled. He wrote carefully and clearly. No embellishment or flair. It reminded her of the writing on architectural plans. A draftsman. She smiled at the very idea.

  The last line sounded final, like he had no intention of sleeping with her again, which made sense.

  Sex had been good. It had been great. She’d had her lesson and a whole lot more.

  The strange thing was that even though Haley had known it would only be one night together, she wanted more.

  She thought about that in the shower. Haley usually was content with what she got, but she’d asked for more the night before and it hadn’t been nearly enough. She wanted Damon again.

  Maybe being bold and taking risks wasn’t that easy of an inclination to dismiss.

  Maybe she was becoming insatiable. The very idea made her smile.

  Maybe she could manage to get to F5 for one of those classes.

  Damon had helped her and Haley wasn’t sure she’d helped him. She wanted to even the score. He’d given her more pleasure than she’d ever had before and Haley thought the favor should be reciprocated.

  Maybe that was why he’d left the card.

  There was no way she could go to the class on Sunday downtown and make it back to Queens in time for her shift. She could go Wednesday, though, as it was one of her days off. It seemed like an eternity away, but she doubted she’d see Damon sooner.

  Either way, she’d be in Mrs. Perez’s room on Friday night at midnight. She’d see him for sure then, and find out if there was any chance of a repeat. At least, she’d be able to thank him for the lesson.

  If he wasn’t glad to see her, she’d tell him she was observing his technique, or working out the schedule for her to help his mom. She’d be sure she had a question to ask him about massage. A really good question. Then if he just answered it, she could walk away without feeling like an idiot.

  In the meantime, she had a To-Do list and then some research to do.

  * * *

  Natasha was dreaming of Marco.

  It was a delicious dream. The memory of her husband, of his towering size and protective nature, of his tenderness and the heat of his love, made her smile even through the haze of pain and sedatives. He kissed her cheek in her dream, his fingertips brushing back her hair in the gesture she remembered so very well, and tears sprang to her eyes.

  She’d been without him for so very long.

  Soon, Natasha, he whispered and she knew it was true. Soon, we will be together again.

  Natasha yearned for that reunion.

  The ward was busy with visitors, because it was Sunday afternoon, and the sunlight beyond the windows of her room was bright. Natasha had asked for the shades to be drawn and the door to be partly closed. Her room was a haven of privacy, the real world seeming very far away.

  That brought Marco closer.

  Natasha opened her eyes in her dream and her heart swelled at the familiarity of his features. He hadn’t aged in all these years. He was still the same young and strong man who had stolen her heart, the same watchful carpenter whose gaze she’d felt even when she was on stage. She remembered how she had danced better when he was there, because she’d wanted him to see her at her very best.

  He smiled and she was struck again by the strong resemblance between father and son. But Damon. He’ll be alone.

  Maybe not, Marco replied, his smile turning mysterious. Maybe you can help with that before you come to me.

  She had no chance to ask because he faded from view in the way that was so horribly familiar. He was with her, but out of reach. It distressed her, particularly as she would have welcomed his embrace in this moment. She reached out, her hand wavering in the empty air, and emitted a little cry of pain.

  He had been her everything.

  She missed him so much.

  “Shhh,” a woman said softly, her shoes quiet on the tile floor. “What’s worried you so much today?” She came into view, a small curvy nurse with brown hair, w
ho checked the heart monitor with concern, then smiled at Natasha. “Are you in pain?”

  Natasha hadn’t seen this nurse before, but she supposed they changed all the time. “No,” she admitted. “Just a bad dream.”

  “It’s upset you,” the nurse replied, her manner easy and calm. “Would it help to tell me about it?”

  Natasha fought against her sluggish tongue, wanting to speak clearly but knowing the drugs were impeding that. “You’ll think it’s silly.”

  The nurse smiled. “Probably not. I have a lot of bad dreams myself.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded. “I think everybody does. It’s what we do when we’re worried.” Her gaze brightened and Natasha thought she had the most lovely blue eyes. “Are you worried about something in particular?”

  Natasha knew the nurse expected her to be worried about her own health and prospects, but that wasn’t it. “My son. He’ll be alone when I die.”

  The nurse nodded, considering this. Natasha liked that she didn’t argue or spout a well-intentioned lie. “But we’re all alone in a way, aren’t we?” Before Natasha could think of a reply, the nurse put a tentative hand on her shoulder. “Is it your son who comes to give you a massage on Fridays?”

  Natasha smiled and nodded. “He’s so good to me.”

  “Do you expect him today?”

  “No.” Natasha frowned. “It’s New Year’s Eve tonight, isn’t it?”

  “It is. Are you expected at a party?”

  Natasha smiled. “No. And he won’t be, either. He’ll be at work.”

  “Am I right that you had another lumbar puncture?”

  Natasha nodded. “They wanted to see if there was improvement.”

  “You must be a bit sore,” the nurse suggested. Natasha nodded weary agreement. “I’m just learning to give massages. If you’d like and you think it might help, I could give you one.”

  “That would be nice,” Natasha said. “It always eases the pain better than the drugs.”

  “I always think it’s wise to be less reliant upon opiates,” the nurse said, sounding purposeful. “Let me help you roll to your stomach.”