by Hope Navarre
She stiffened, unsure. “Safer?”
“Sure. Think about it.”
She relaxed her shoulders, honoring the truth in his statement. “Easier, for sure. Once you build a wall, it’s easier to stay behind it.” Cassie tilted her head, studying Peter’s forehead and tracing the hint of his scar with the pad of her thumb. “Until you drove into Montauk in that big truck of yours. I haven’t been the same since.”
“I’ve never been so grateful for a car accident in my life.” Peter brushed a curl off her shoulder, the light touch sending chills over her body.
“Why?” She sounded breathless to her own ears.
He shook his head. “You captured my heart from the first glance. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t get you out of my mind. All I want to do is touch you, talk to you, be with you.”
Cassie pressed her lips together, not wanting to reveal the depth of her attraction for him, though his honesty demanded it. His strength lay in daring vulnerability, a willingness to take rejection.
She laid a hand on his chest. “You make me feel things I’ve never felt before, not even with Kyle.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “I won’t hurt you.”
“How do I know?”
He smoothed her hair and cupped the nape of her neck. Desire and hunger filled his gaze, setting her pulse racing. He whispered, “Trust me, Cassie.”
* * *
THE DRIVE THAT Peter felt to keep Cassie safe in his arms practically overwhelmed him. His chest ached with compassion for Cassie’s suffering, her heartbreak and, worse, how her pain had formed her core belief about love. Sure, he and Gil had hunkered down and protected each other through their childhood and formative years, but they always had each other. For him, girlfriends came and went. Broke his heart now and again, but nothing as earth-shattering as losing a lover to the sea and not even being able to bring his body home.
An indescribable surge of promise filled him when, through the last of her tears, Cassie managed to smile when he asked her to trust him. She whispered, “Okay. Let’s see where we go with this crazy attraction of ours.”
Slowly, his mouth descended toward hers. “I want to lose myself in your kisses, Cassie. I want to make love with you.”
She caught a breath. “What if we’re making a mistake?”
He pulled her tighter against him. Making sure every ounce of his desire was reflected in his answer, he said, “Believe me when I tell you that loving you is a very good idea.”
A small tremble crossed her lips, but she lifted her face, her gaze focused on his mouth. He didn’t wait for her to reply, and teased her mouth with a gentle brush of his lips. Sipping. Tasting. Her lips were soft, warm, giving. Salty from her tears. Oh, God he wanted more.
Capturing her face with his palms, he deepened the kiss. The press of her mouth against his, the hunger in the way she returned his kiss, shot all thought from his head. She smelled great. Tasted amazing. Her tongue wreaked havoc on his senses as she tightened her hold around his neck, meeting his deep kisses with a want of her own.
With Cassie in his arms, he lay back on the couch. She didn’t resist. Instead, she turned into him, not breaking the kiss. A small sigh rose in her throat as he pulled her closer, molded her body to his in the narrow, cramped space. She felt perfect in his arms.
He broke the kiss and waited until she opened her eyes. The need he saw reflected in that sky-blue gaze melted his heart.
“Peter...”
He smoothed her hair. “If you make love like you kiss, Cassie, I’m a goner. Please don’t break my heart.”
She slowly shook her head. “What is this between us? We hardly know each other.”
“I know.” He released a slow, steady breath. This was all happening so very fast, but like a runaway train, he couldn’t stop. He had to know this woman more and more and more.
“Will you promise me something?”
She bit her lip. “Promises are dangerous.”
“This one will be easy.”
She wrapped one leg over his, nuzzling closer as if they’d been intertwined their entire lives. The small smile that broke on her lips gunned straight for his groin.
She whispered, “Ask away.”
He tapped her chin. “Promise to always be honest with me. Talk to me. Let me know what you’re thinking. Let’s be careful with each other because I can promise you that I’ve already fallen for you. Hard.”
Her smile widened. “That is very good news.”
He kissed her. “Promise me.”
She released a long breath. “I can promise to be honest with you. Always. It’s how I operate.”
He caressed her side. “I’ve been imagining you naked since first laying eyes on you.”
She chuckled. “Now that’s being honest.”
He kissed her neck. Gently kissed each cheek, her chin, her mouth. “I want to make love with you more than anything in the world.”
“More than eating Mom’s lasagna?”
He laughed. God, he loved her humor. Her kindness. The heat of her body against his. He wanted to wrap himself around her like a blanket and keep her here all night. He kissed her again. Against her lips he whispered, “What lasagna?”
Cassie broke into a fit of giggles. Nerves. For sure. He stole the moment to pull her on top of him and settled her into his arms. She seemed content to comply and looked like an angel with her blond curls spilling on her shoulders, her chest pressed against him, exposing the soft tops of her fabulous breasts in the navy tank top. He was rock-hard for this woman, feeling a need stronger than reason. But he hadn’t been prepared for making love and now this. He’d go slow...he just couldn’t resist her. Not now.
Growing bolder, she ran her hands across his chest, her touch like electricity through his body. “I have an advantage over you.”
He nuzzled her neck, trailing whisper-light kisses along her throat. “And what is that?”
A mischievous look filled her eyes. She sat up on him, grasping the hem of his shirt. Pushing it up his chest, she followed the motion with kisses along his abdomen up to his solar plexus. With each kiss she said, “I have...already...seen you naked...and liked...what I saw.”
The hum of satisfaction rising in his throat seemed to spur her on. She pulled the shirt over his head. The fire in her eyes ignited a response in him that he’d never felt. In. His. Life.
The urge drove him wild to find out what about Cassie Michaels made him want her so, but no. Safety first.
He caught her wrists. At the questioning look on her face, he released a deep breath. “Cassie, when was the last time you made love?”
She frowned. “I can’t remember.”
He kissed her forehead, brushed back the hair that had fallen against her face. “Me neither. As much as I crave having you, I didn’t want to assume it would happen. I’m not prepared.”
A devilish grin creased her lips. “Wait here.”
She rolled from the couch and headed for her purse, pulling out a familiar black-and-gold box. She shrugged, her bashfulness sexier than the blush rising on her cheeks. “I took the chance and stopped before coming here. With how fast my world is changing right now, I’m a fool if I don’t take what you have to offer and not look back.”
Peter sat up. Oh, yes. Cassie Michaels was an exceptional woman. Vulnerable. Daring. Truthful. Exquisite. Sexy as hell. She held out the condoms like a siren in the lamplight, her lips kiss-swollen, her honey-colored hair in wild disarray. She possessed the solution for this very awkward moment, and at her seductive grin, he wanted to howl.
He stalked over to where she stood and caught her mouth with his in one more lethal kiss that stole both their breaths. Words escaped him, but he could show her how he felt with actions.
When he broke the ki
ss, he shook his head in amazement at the desire clouding her eyes. She was surrendering to him, and the realization drove him wild. Heart pumping, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the couch. His voice low with need, he said, “I wish I’d stopped and bought that damned bed.”
She laughed. “I see nothing wrong with the couch. For now.”
A moan caught in his throat as he pulled her back onto the cushions. “I want to love you like you’ve never known.”
She stretched herself full-length against him, shuddering beneath his searching hands as he feathered her with kisses, her sighs spurring him on. His fingertips explored her through the soft fabric of her top, his palms caressing her belly beneath the silky material. His hands trailed up her torso, pushing up her tank top to reveal her soft, natural breasts captured in a black lace bra. The bra’s little pink bow at the valley of her breasts left him needing more. He kissed the top of each soft mound, inhaling the powdery scent of her skin. His fingers begged to touch the ivory flesh spilling from the sheer lace. She lifted her arms as he slowly worked the top over her head. Her blond curls fell haphazardly on her shoulders, driving him deeper into ecstasy.
He caught his breath for a moment at the sight of freckles dusting her skin above the bra line. His mouth drew towards hers, capturing her lips in another deep, heated kiss. Trailing kisses down her neck, he pressed his face onto her chest, nipping his way down her soft flesh. His hands cupped her. She let out a sigh. He kissed her more as he reached behind her, searching to unlatch her bra. The fabric fell slowly as his mouth grazed her mounds. He pulled the straps along her arms until she was released from the black lace. His face fell into her, capturing her taut, pink nipple between his lips. One, then the other. Cassie groaned as his tongue explored her aroused flesh. He held her back with both hands as he kissed his way down her belly, taking a moment to explore her navel with his tongue. He caressed her belly with his cheek. His hands pulled at the waistband at her jeans, wanting more. His mouth latched onto the top of her waistband as he unfastened and unzipped her. Her back arched as he slipped the jeans over her hips and kissed his way along the lace of her panties. He pressed his mouth against her, breathing in her scent.
He groaned as he pulled himself tight against her, revealing his arousal. She let out a sigh. He wanted to learn, feel, taste every inch of her over and over again. He sought her reaction to be sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He lost all thought when, eyes drugged with desire, she whispered, “Oh, God. I believe you. Don’t stop now.”
CHAPTER TEN
THE NEXT MORNING, Cassie sat on the edge of the examination table in Doc’s office dressed in a patient gown feeling every jitter imaginable churning her gut. Cancer had been real in her world, the word tossed around her house like another member of the family. She had been warned that the day might come when she’d be challenged with the C word, but she never truly anticipated how she’d react should it come to pass.
Beth had driven her to the hospital, insistent on being with her, and now stood near Doc to assist in the biopsy, labeling the containers they’d use while chatting like the old friends they were.
Cassie listened with half an ear, her knee jumping with nerves as she watched Doc prepare. The moment was surreal—the swollen node on her neck had never hurt, so it seemed odd that the tiny gland was now the flag for a potential problem. Cassie had thought to tell Mom to stay home because Peter had said he’d be there, but she decided against it. Mom was family—the lead in that tight network of reliance she cherished. Peter would understand.
Cassie inhaled a calming breath, consciously relaxing the muscles in her shoulders, back, thighs and toes. She concentrated on making her body loose like putty. No need to anticipate the worse. She’d watched her mother and Aunt Judy combat and win their brushes with cancer. All could be fine. If not, she’d fight the good fight if her time had come.
The other major distraction that made this event surreal was that her heart-stopping, mind-blowing, erotically bonding night of lovemaking with Peter kept circling her mind. It was as if those moments with him when they’d toppled off the couch onto the rug—and her lingering feelings this morning—were more real than this biopsy.
If she’d been attracted to Peter from the start, making love had shattered the aloofness she’d held on to for the past couple of weeks. Like an addict with a new drug, she wanted more. She could hear Peter’s voice in her ears, feel his oh-so-amazing hands caressing her skin. And when she closed her eyes, she became lost in the memory of his eyes locked on hers while he moved deep inside her until all reasoning faded. She’d never experienced a more sensitive, intuitive lover than Peter, and she was pissed!
The timing for starting a new romance sucked! She’d decided to trust Peter, had taken the leap and fallen hard and fast. Now, with this possible medical trauma about to fall on her head, keeping a new lover didn’t fit into the equation. Watching Doc preparing the needle for the biopsy reinforced that cold, hard truth.
Last night had caused an internal shift within her that smacked of falling in love. It had taken every ounce of willpower to leave Peter’s side in the predawn hours. They’d taken the blanket and pillows and made a makeshift bed on the rug. Only after he had fallen asleep had she been able to pull away from his wonderful, warm and loving body. She had left him in repose with his hair messed, sun-streaked locks falling over his forehead, and lying on his back beneath the sheets, where he’d held her until drifting into sleep. The visual had etched a memory like a tattoo in her mind. The hunger in his eyes when they had made love had done something to her soul. It was as if her own deeply buried need was being reflected back at her. The fire behind his touch. His endearing words. His vulnerability. The sea-salted scent of his skin, tanned, hot and smooth against her body, imprinted on her senses so profoundly, she wanted to simply lie there and breathe deeply. Forever.
Oh, God! What was happening here?
Was she ready to move away from her memories of Kyle and invest her dreams in another man? Was she willing to take that risk? She hadn’t even known Peter that long. Entertaining such a notion was sheer insanity.
Yet, she felt herself yielding to the possibility of crazy. She’d met plenty of men since Kyle. No one—absolutely, no one—had touched her heart as Peter had. She promised she’d trust him. She was willing, God help her, but wasn’t quite sure what she’d say when he arrived this morning. The thought of seeing him when they hadn’t spoken since last night caused her heart to skip around in her chest. It was like being a teenager all over again.
And it would mean nothing if she had cancer.
Recovery would be ugly, perhaps realistically impossible. Did she want to drag him through this mess?
Cassie remembered the mental and physical toll cancer had taken on her mother and Aunt Judy. Both women were so weak, like helpless newborns, only more fragile, and sick beyond anyone’s comfort level. She’d seen Beth’s ardor toward Bobby cool. She’d witnessed Judy’s unwillingness to accept anyone’s lame excuses for not being responsible for their lives. Uncle Micky was a fun-loving, gregarious man. There was a time when Judy used to laugh as hard as Micky at his silly jokes, but something had shifted in her since her ordeal. Judy had become too serious. She needed to learn to laugh at herself again and appreciate the simple things in life so Micky could get that light back in his eyes.
It had been tough enough finding her own way back after losing Kyle. She’d given up on love, and it was now just finding her again. If this stupid little node turned out to be the red flag they suspected, would her worldview change once more? Would cancer destroy the fragile bond she was willing to rebuild with a new man?
She had no answers because she didn’t know what the outcome was. Yet. But her inner voice screamed that she should keep Peter out of this. She didn’t want something so beautiful to fade before it even had a chance to bloom.
Doc patted the table for her to lie down. “I’m ready if you are.”
She laid back, meeting the concern in Doc’s eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for this.”
He swabbed alcohol over the node. “You’re awfully quiet this morning.”
“Nervous, I guess.” Although she figured Mom realized how her night had unfolded with Peter, she didn’t want Doc to know she was exhausted from hours of lovemaking with his newest employee—or that, God forbid, she was worried she’d made a mistake. She frowned to hide her thoughts. “So, that wretched needle is going to determine my future?”
“It’ll definitely put us on the right track, my dear.”
She turned her head toward the door as Peter stepped through. Wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, his hair still damp and brushed off his forehead, his gaze immediately assessed everyone in the room, then sought hers as if already knowing that she was stressed over her night with him and nervous about the biopsy. Amazing what his eyes could communicate. Did everyone read him like she did? He pulled a chair to sit in her line of vision.
“Hi, beautiful.”
Cassie ignored Beth’s grin and Doc’s raised brow at Peter’s greeting. Peter took her free hand. The warmth of his touch seeped in, giving her strength. His smile and the light in his sensual dark eyes seemed to be harkening back to all they had done last night, like some great secret between them.
She couldn’t keep the grin from breaking on her face and wanted to laugh. Not only did she know what he looked like naked beneath those clothes, but she also knew exactly what that body could do.
She squeezed his hand. “Hi. How’s your morning?”
He gave her a thumbs-up. “Better now that I’m here.” He nodded at Doc. “Looks like I’m right on time.”