by Adam (lit)
“Damn,” he muttered. Damn her; damn him. What the hell?
His arms went around her, and one leg moved across hers, pinning her to the couch. He took her hand and placed it on the thick arousal that pressed against her thigh.
“Does that answer your question: Do I want to make love to you?”
She couldn’t answer because he was kissing the devil out of her, his tongue thrusting inside the deep warmth of her mouth. He wrapped her tongue with his and sucked, hard. She trembled and he thought she whimpered, but he was too far gone to care.
He freed her mouth and buried his teeth in her shoulder. “Are you able to take me?”
“I don’t know, but I want to.”
After a moment, he raised his head to look down at her. “If I hurt you, will you tell me to stop?”
Her lips trembled with her smile. “I don’t know. If it feels good along with the pain, maybe I’ll just put up with you.”
“That’s a deal. Hold on.” Carefully, he moved, bent and slid his arms beneath her and lifted. “Okay so far?”
“Yes.” She reached and kissed him.
“Don’t do that anymore until I get you to bed.”
She giggled. “All right.”
He stared down at her. Had Kara ever giggled? He couldn’t remember her laughing except today and giggling just didn’t fit with Kara’s personality.
“Behave.” He bent and kissed her hard and strode down the hallway to the other suite. Once inside, he nudged the door closed with his hip.
With her mouth against his throat, she murmured, “I don’t think you want me to behave, do you?”
“Not really.” He was careful as he placed her on the bed and stretched her legs out. “Which leg has the most bruises? Which side are the bruised ribs?”
“Both on the left side.”
“Slide over.”
She did, and he sat on the side of the bed. He had kicked off his boots before looking back at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He undressed both of them. When the pants slid off her, he frowned at the blue and green marks on her sides and legs. Questing fingers moved over what looked like sore spots.
“This might hurt, Kara.”
“It might.” She didn’t recall seeing doubt on Adam’s face before now. But, of course, she didn’t remember him much at all. Except she’d dreamed about him. Even under heavy sedation in the hospital, she’d dreamed about this tall, lithe, serious faced man who never smiled. She’d wondered about his inability to laugh and smile but supposed it was because he had worried about her. And she hadn’t even known who he was. Still didn’t, did she?
Had she ever had anyone worry about her? She didn’t know.
“Honey.” He leaned and kissed her. And groaned. “We’ll take the chance.” He lay beside her and pulled her to him. The kiss was gentle, almost questioning, before he slipped his tongue inside and tangled with hers. His hand moved over her, touching, petting, stroking, until long fingers cupped a firm breast. He pinched the nipple and it grew rigid in his fingers. He bent his head and pulled it into his mouth and wrapped it with his tongue.
She whispered his name and held his head to her. Her hands roamed his body, touching him in places she didn’t remember but had instant recall. He pressed against her hand, moaning as she circled him with those long fingers. He moved to the other breast, sucked and licked, then explored her belly with his tongue.
Desire. For the first time, he knew what the word meant when it came to a woman. A strong craving, a deep yearning to possess. That was the feeling he had now as he rose back to find her mouth. His hand remained at her warm center, and he played with the soft curls there. The kiss deepened and he pushed his finger into her warm moistness.
She trembled and arched her hips toward him.
“Now, Baby. If I hurt you, tell me.”
She couldn’t have protested for any reason as Adam eased himself into her. He kept himself propped over her so as not to cause her pain. He watched her eyes widen, her lips part on an intake of breath, and he sank deep into her.
“Okay?”
She nodded and her hips moved beneath him. He wanted to hurry, slam deep into her, take her fast and hard. He forgot her injuries, forgot she was bruised and sore, forgot everything except the driving need to possess her, to own her completely, to make her think only of him. Only of him going in and out of her, buried deep inside her. Was this what was called seventh heaven? This bliss that was pain and agony? He didn’t know, didn’t care. Feelings built and built as he pumped in and out of that silken glove so hot he knew he’d burn. There was no holding back as Kara twisted beneath him, her breath hard and sweet in his mouth. He kissed her, thrusting his tongue deep as he drove into her. With a final plunge, he poured himself into her, shuddering and shaking until that last powerful thrill faded.
She wasn’t sure if she hurt or not, but she had never been loved as she had tonight. She might not remember who or what or when or where, but this was her first real lovemaking.
“Kara?”
Her eyes were closed, but she smiled. “I’m fine.”
“I’ll move as soon as I can,” he said.
“No hurry.” She turned her head and kissed him on the lips. His eyes had been closed but now he opened them.
“Would you mind?” He began moving, slowly, watching her all the time.
Her eyes widened. He was awakening that part of her again, that part that wanted him inside her, pumping and plunging his hard body into hers. The sweet agony rolled through her, meeting his orgasm with her own. They breathed hard and locked together, went over that cliff as one, their bodies screaming with pleasure. A soft blissfulness settled over her, and she sighed.
“Christ,” he said. “What got into us?”
Eyes closed, she smiled. “Whatever it was, can we patent it?”
He laughed, made sure he didn’t get too rough as he rolled off her, and pulled her close. “I’ll work on it,” he said. He held her until both fell asleep.
* * * *
She tried to move but was pinned down by something heavy. Her hand found the long leg slung across her. That leg was bare and covered with coarse hair.
Adam. She smiled and sleep vanished. Already, she could feel the gentle ache caused by the lovemaking a couple of hours before. She looked at the clock by the bed: seven o’clock. It must be evening, not morning.
“Kara.” His voice was rough with sleep. “How do you feel?”
“Hi.” She raised up to look into his face. “Sore.” At his exclamation, she went on. “Just a little. I know I’ve been had.”
“Had?” His head thumped back on the pillow. “That’s a weak meaning for what happened.” He watched her expression. “Truth, Kara. Tell me I didn’t undo all the doctor has done for you.”
“All those bruises just blended in. I can’t tell one from the other, but I have to admit, I’d rather have the ones you put on me than the ones from the car.”
His expression darkened. He couldn’t forget that moment when he realized the car was headed straight for the spot where he had demanded she stand and wait for him; the instant he knew it was his fault she was in the car’s path. If his life didn’t flash before him in that moment, the mistake he’d made did.
“Kara.” He picked up her hand. “Kara, I want so much for you to regain your memory. Not only for your sake, but there are a lot of questions you can answer when you do.” And before he did something foolish, such as beginning to like her. He couldn’t. Not only was she Aaron’s wife, but she was not his type. He had never cared for women who could move from man to man and back again without batting an eye. Kara was good at that, from all he’d heard.
Was he any better? He winced, thinking of who the woman in his arms belonged to.
“I imagine so. Is worrying about it going to prod my brain into waking up again?”
“No, I’m sure it won’t, but still, I’ll worry.” He brought her fingers to his mouth a
nd kissed them. “Right now, however, if you can shower alone, I’ll leave you, but if you need help, I’ll stay.”
“I’ll manage.”
“I’ll see if Hana left us anything to eat.”
“If she knows you’ve been in here with me, she might not give me anything.”
He grinned. “I’ll make sure you eat so you’ll have stamina. For later.”
“Are you insatiable?”
“Looks like.” He hated wanting her, railed at himself for taking her not only so soon after her injury, but because she was married to his twin brother. He had always prided himself on his moral character. What had happened to it? Kara had happened to it. He could hate her for that alone.
“What’s wrong?” She had seen the wariness and puzzlement in his face.
He sat up, swung his feet to the floor, pulled on his pants, and turned. “Nothing. If you need me, call.” He picked up his shirt and left the room.
She lay back on the bed and for a moment, she was dizzy. Fuzzy thoughts pricked at her mind, faint pictures appeared and faded before she could decide what they were. She blinked and the images disappeared. After a moment, she rose slowly, tested her steadiness with both feet flat on the floor.
She made it to the bathroom, surprised at how breathless she was with so little effort. And, yes, there were sore places she hadn’t noticed before. The mirror reflected her slender body with its share of blue, purple and green-tinted marks.
“Technicolor,” she said. “Not a good paint job, either.”
She turned the water on just warm enough to be comfortable and stayed long enough to relax a little. In the bedroom again, she found a long, flannel gown and a long furry robe. Going to the dining room was out of the question. If Adam wanted her to eat, he could bring it to her. She wandered to the glass doors and stared out. A security light off to the side cast shadows on the snow. It looked cold.
She shivered, closed the blinds, and sat curled in the chair near the sliding doors. The closed curtain reminded her that her life, former life, was closed away from her. She didn’t know how to open it.
There was a knock, and Garth stuck his head into the room.
He grinned. “You coming to eat?”
“No, thank you, Garth. I’m not really hungry.”
“Boss says you’re to eat.”
“Then Boss can bring me a sandwich or whatever he wants me to eat.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” She was tired, yes, and sore. They had made love, slept, and made love, and it had really worn her out. Her injuries had played a big part in the exhaustion, she was certain.
Garth disappeared, and a few minutes later, Adam came in. He carried a tray with a cup of soup and a sandwich. He placed it on the side table and bent to kiss her.
“Hana’s extraordinary potato soup and a turkey sandwich on rye. And hot tea. Eat.”
“Stay with me?”
“I have some calls to make to the west coast before they close. I’ll see you before bedtime.”
She watched him leave, and then tasted the soup. It was indeed extraordinary. She drank the hot tea, ate all of the soup and half of the sandwich.
Restless, she walked around the bedroom and then into the larger sitting room. She turned on the television and caught the end of a missing persons broadcast.
“… Missing for more than a week. Police have no leads in the case.”
There were so many reports of missing persons. It seemed that every week, there was another report.
How do I know that? I can’t recall one report of a missing person, but I know there are a lot of them. How can I be sure when I don’t even know who I am? But I’m not missing. Adam knows me and knows I’m right here in his home.
Where is his home? The mountains of New Mexico, he said. But where in the mountains? Where am I?
Brooding, she turned off the television and went to the door, thinking it probably led to the great room where she and Adam watched the movie. Surprised, she found the door locked, and checked to see how to unlock it. No way to unlock it because it was locked from the outside.
She frowned. The door in the bedroom opened into the hallway, so she could go that way. Except that door, too, was locked. Was Adam so certain she’d try to get up and move around too much that he’d lock her in? Certainly not. Sure, she was sore, but she could still navigate without doing any more damage.
Well. Accidents will happen, and Adam must have locked it without realizing it. She looked for a phone to call someone to come let her out. There was no phone in either room. Strange, a suite this size without a phone to contact someone in another part of the huge house. Thoughtful, she went to the bed and stretched out on it. Someone would come to rescue her, sooner or later and rescue her.
Chapter Fifteen
Impatient to be finished with the report, Adam drummed fingers on his desk and wished Iverson would find what he was looking for and fill him in on what he’d found. Or actually, what he hadn’t found.
“Here it is, Mr. Mabry,” Iverson said. “There have been no charges on your brother’s credit card or on his cell phone since 27 November, this year.”
Stunned, Adam tried to realize what that might mean. Aaron used that credit card and cell phone like he used his breathing: Always.
“Where was he when the credit card was last used?”
“Albuquerque at an Exxon gas station.”
“The cell phone?”
“The same day. He tried to call you, but you were in New York.”
And he had just arrived that day and hadn’t had time to call anyone to let them know where he was. During the flight and until he was out of the air terminal, he had his cell phone turned off.
He groaned in frustration. “Thanks, Mr. Iverson.”
“Sorry the news isn’t better, Mr. Mabry.”
Adam accepted the apology and hung up, thoroughly disappointed.
If Kara didn’t hurry up and regain her memory, he didn’t know what he would do. Not that she’d been very helpful, but he felt if he kept at her, made love to her often enough, she’d eventually break down and tell him where Aaron was. She’d have to regain her memory first.
He wanted to go to her, hold her, make love to her, forget she was Aaron’s wife, forget she was a liar, not much more than a paid prostitute, and as untrustworthy as the mafia. Forcing himself to stay away from her suite, he went instead to the wet bar in the corner, took a snifter and poured a hefty shot of brandy. The sharp flavor might get her taste out of his mouth – but he wouldn’t bet on it.
* * * *
Tempted to bang on the locked door, she denied herself the satisfaction and found a magazine to thumb through. It was a Log Cabin Catalog featuring the newest and most expensive of the homes being built throughout the northwest and southwest. She loved the designs and wondered what it would be like to own a place such as Adam’s. What would one like this cost? Upwards, she guessed, of a quarter million dollars. More, maybe. She didn’t have any idea the value of real estate.
Just for the heck of it, she tried the door one more time. Still locked. Why? Surely, he didn’t think she needed to be locked in for her own safety. Refusing to scream her frustration, she finally went to bed. In spite of the feeling that something was wrong somewhere, she was soon sound asleep.
* * * *
“Wake up, Sleepyhead.”
She rolled over, hit all the sore places, and groaned.
“Someone beat me while I was asleep.”
“I’m sorry, Kara. I was afraid you’d be sore after, well, after your activities yesterday afternoon.”
“Activities?” Is that what he called their making love?
He sat on the bed. “Do you hurt anywhere? Dr. Jakes will disown us both if you end up with infections that could be prevented.”
“Is it morning?”
“Yes.”
“Why was I locked in my room, Adam?”
“To make sure you stayed here unless I was with
you, Kara.”
“That pissed me off.”
He cocked an eyebrow. A phrase like that was odd coming from Kara. She was so proper. “Did it now?”
“Yes. Did you think I’d run away or what?”
As a matter of fact, I did, he thought, but he didn’t say it. “If you had wandered around alone and fallen, you could have hurt yourself all over again. You must be careful of the ribs and the legs. You have internal bruises you can’t afford to ignore.”
His explanation didn’t make especially good sense, but it was all she was going to get, she was certain.
“How about joining us for breakfast? Get your shower, and I’ll find you something loose and comfortable to put on. You aren’t going outside, so what about the blue silk pajamas and velour robe to lounge in?”
“Silk pajamas? Isn’t it a bit chilly for that?”
“As long as you have the heavier robe, they’ll be warm enough.”
“All right.” She walked away from him and into the bathroom. He was still standing by the bed when she finished her shower and returned to the bedroom.
He held out the pajamas.
She quirked her eyebrows in the way he’d become accustomed to when she wanted to appear disdainful or if she questioned something.
“I’ve seen you with nothing on, Kara. Why are you playing bashful now?”
“Sometimes, I want privacy. This is one of those times.”
“I’ll turn my back.” So saying, he did turn away and walk to the sliding doors. He pulled the blinds back and gazed at the pale dawn. It was snowing. Again.
He was aware of the sound of material gliding on skin and could imagine what Kara’s firm body looked like, fresh from the shower. He had imagined himself in there with her, holding her slick body ready for his entry into her silken sheath and had a swollen, thick arousal to show for it.
He grimaced. It would certainly show if she happened to glance in that direction.