Captain Wonder

by Anne

  Mike seemed to sense her hesitation. His caresses stopped. He put one finger to his lips and placed a kiss there, then touched it to her lips.

  "Do you know how easy you are to touch?" he said quietly.

  Sara stared at him as he lay. back and closed his eyes.

  "My hands seem to have a will of their own when you're around," he went on. "1 promised to try to behave, but I can't promise anymore. Some things are too strong even for Captain Wonder."

  What about Mike Taylor? Sara thought with a smile, noticing how often he referred to himself as Captain Wonder. He might think the two were one and the same, but she didn't. She had no doubts that it was the flesh-and-blood Mike Taylor who aroused her so, not the comic book hero. Captain Wonder was good for a laugh, but laughter was not the overriding emotion she felt when Mike was near.

  She said nothing, though, and used the chance to gaze at him without his knowledge. The fine blond hair that covered his body was darker from the water, but as she watched, tiny strands dried and curled up. Her gaze traveled over his flat stomach to his white swim trunks. They clung tightly to him, teasing her mind with images of the body they covered. She forced her glance down to his legs, where bits of sand clung. Her fingers itched to brush them off, but she made herself look away. No. it wasn't tights and a cape that turned her on, that was certain. Her eyes focused on the girls, who were working feverishly In the wet sand.

  "What are the girls making?" she asked.

  "Sand castles, he said simply, and, opening one eye, he studied the results. "They have to have towers," he called out. "More than one. And a moat."

  "Slave driver." Sara said, laughing under her breath.

  He lay back on his towel and grinned at her. "I have to do something to get a moment alone with their mother." He picked up her hand and brought ft slowly to his lips, kissing her palm with exquisite tenderness.

  She was at a loss for words, but she let her hand linger in his. His eyes were so soft and caring, she thought, hla gaze like a caress. It left her breathless and hungry for the feel of his body along hers. She had never before needed a man the way she needed him, had never even known that desire could run so fiercely through her veins.

  "Mike! We're done!" Two happy voices broke the silence.

  "Talk about rotten timing," he muttered with a laugh. "Don't go away." His finger touched her cheek; then he was hurrying over to join the girls.

  She watched him for a moment, then lay back and relaxed. It was so peaceful here. She was sorry that they were only staying at the lake until tomorrow morning, but there was so much they wanted to see and so little time to see it. They had all been In such a rush to get to Los Angeles and Disneyland. Little did they know they'd find their own Fantasyland along the way and would be almost sorry to reach their destination. It would mean that their vacation was more than half over, and that Mike would be leaving. She was going to miss him once they were on their own again.

  Suddenly she became aware that someone was standing over her. She opened her eyes to find Mike towering above her, and next to him were the girls. They were giggling suspiciously.

  "I'm afraid it was a tie," Mike told her.

  "A tie?"

  "Our castles," Megan said quickly, in between giggles. "Mike said they were both so good that he couldn't pick a winner."

  "That's wonderful." she said hesitantly. What was there to be suspicious about? Nevertheless, she was.

  "So neither of us lost," Karl added.

  Sara frowned at them. Something was definitely going on. "That's how it usually works in a tie."

  The girls looked at Mike and giggled some more.

  "Would someone like to tell me the joke?" Sara asked impatiently.

  Mike shook his head. "There's no joke," he said sadly. "It's just the deal that your daughters agreed to." He leaned over and scooped her up Into his arms.

  "What are you doing?" Sara cried, shocked. Held firmly against his chest, she saw the girls jumping up and down in delight. "What is going on?"

  "When you have a contest, somebody has to lose," Mike pointed out. "Your loving daughters decided it had to be you."

  A cascade of giggles was the girls' only response.

  "Enough is enough," she said sternly. "You can put me down now." Her body was not to be trusted. She wanted Mike so much that she had to keep reminding herself that he was a sex symbol, the object of desire of thousands of women, and that he would be out of their lives completely in a few days. It wasn't right to need his touch so much, she thought.

  "Sorry," he said, smiling down at her. "All I'm doing is obeying orders." He started walking toward the water.

  "What orders?" she cried, holding onto him to keep her balance. His skin burned her hands like fire, and a tremor of awareness passed through her. She prayed that he hadn't felt it, but his hold tightened.

  "Loser gets dunked,'1 Megan cried happily.

  "Dunked!" She was all nice and dry now. She didn't want to get wet again. "Thanks a lot, girls."

  "It was the deal. Mom. And you said you're not supposed to go back on a deal."

  "But I didn't make this one."

  "It was made for you," Mike told her.

  His mouth was much too close to hers for her peace of mind and she tried to glare at him. "I don't want to be dunked."

  He just smiled as he entered the water. Some of it splashed onto her back and it felt cold.

  "Mikel" she shrieked.

  The girls squealed with delight at her predicament. "It's okay, Mom," Karl assured her. "Captain Wonder won't let you drown."

  Drowning was the least of her worries, Sara thought. And she was more concerned about Mike Taylor than Captain Wonder. "I'll get even with you for this." she muttered.

  He didn't look terribly worried and walked further into the water.

  "Mike, I mean it." Too much of his skin was against too much of hers. He might be used to this kind of contact, but she wasn't. "I thought Captain Wonder was a gentleman."

  'Captain Wonder?" he mocked gently. "Who's he? 1 don't see any dumb-looking guy in tights around have."

  The water was lapping at her feet. "Drop her there," the girls shouted.

  "No, it's too shallow," he answered.

  "Mike, I don't swim very well," she protested, but he kept on walking. The water splashed her back, swirled around her sides, then went over her stomach. She clung a little tighter to him. How deep was he planning to go?

  "Remember you're taller than I am," she said.

  His smile was devastating. "Don't you trust me?"

  "Come on, Mike," the girls called from where they had stopped in the water. "If you don't drop her there, It won't be any fun."

  "Depends on what you consider fun," he murmured.

  Sara eyed him uneasily. "And what is your idea of fun?"

  "Let's say, deep enough to hide from curious little eyes." As he spoke, his hands let go of her and she sank.

  The girls were roaring with laughter when she surfaced, her neatly curled hair now wet and straight, was falling into her eyes. Mike's hands went to her waist to support her.

  "Was that so terrible?" he asked.

  She pushed her hair back and glared at him. It wasn't fair that he could stand in the water and she couldn't.

  "You could have picked shallower water." she said. She tried to swtm away from him, but found his hold was too tight.

  "Where's the fun in that?" he asked softly.

  Although his hands still supported her. Mike put one leg forward so that she could rest against it, but It did not add to her peace of mind to have his leg between hers. The skin of her inner legs felt the strength of his leg muscles. There was no way that she could stand with her head above water, so she didn't even try. Instead, she pressed the soles of her,feet against his lower leg, moving them slowly with the rhythm of the water, exploring at least that part of him.

  At the same time, Mike's thumbs gently brushed against her breasts and his fingers ran over her lower back. I
t felt all too good, she mused. She wanted it to go on, but somewhere away from the girls1 curiosity. Somewhere where she'd feel free to touch him back. To let her fingers roam over his body, to explore it as slowly as she wanted without even their bathing suits to restrict their movements.

  What in the world had come over her? Sara wondered suddenly. Things were moving too fast in a direction she wasn't sure she wanted to take. She knew he was leaving in a few days. Why was she allowing herself to fall under his spell? It was time she returned things to a calmer level.

  "Last one back is the Dark Avenger," she called out as she twisted abruptly. At the same time, she skimmed the palm of her hand along the top of the water. A spray of water hit Mike in the face and he let go of her. She did a rather sloppy surface dive and swam away, reaching the girls long before he did.

  "I thought you said you couldn't swim," he protested.

  "A desire for revenge gave me hidden strength." She laughed and splashed the girls and Mike. "So, you guys are going to plot against me, are you? You'll be sorry."

  The girls laughed and tried to escape, but she chased them and suddenly they were all involved in the fun. laughing and playing until hunger drove them back to the camper for dinner.

  "Good night, girls," Sara said firmly, and turned off the light. They had had an exhausting day and she knew they were tired, even if they wouldn't admit it yet. She was certainly ready for bed. She had been very tired after the swimming, but they had taken a long walk after dinner and now she had really had It.

  Mike was washing out the coffeepot and he smiled at her yawn. "Someone's sleepy."

  "You better believe it." She went over to the table and swung it down, then rearranged the pillows to form her bed, trying to Ignore the way Mike had fit right into their lives. She felt as if she had known him forever, as if it was perfectly natural for him to be washing out the coffeepot while she made the bed. And then, of course, to join her in it. She forced herself to make casual conversation. "Those rocks reaching into the lake didn't look that far away when we started hiking there. Do you think somebody moved them while we were walking?"

  "Shall I put on my Captain Wonder suit and investigate?"

  "Only If you can do it quietly, and without turning on any lights." She made up her bed, then smothered another yawn with her hand. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed. If you want to read or something, the light won't bother me. I'm going to be unconscious the second my head hits the pillow."

  "No, I think I'm ready for bed too."

  His voice had a peculiar tone, but she was afraid to analyze it. It didn't matter what he meant; the girls were providing her with proper chaperonage in case her emotions threatened to overwhelm her good sense. Sara took her nightshirt and the long sweater she was using for a robe and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later she finished cleaning up the kitchen while Mike took his turn In the bathroom. She was just locking the door when he came out, and walked toward her, turning off the light over the stove as he passed It.

  "Aha, Is this an Intruder?" he whispered teas-ingly as he leaned against the closet.

  She was all too aware of being trapped in the tiny alcove formed by the end of her bed, the closet, and the door behind her, and she was glad when he took a step closer, out of the girls' line of vision. Being seduced by a superhero was bad enough without having her daughters witness every flutter of her heart, Sara thought wildly.

  "Do you know the password?" he whispered. "I can't let you pass without it. "

  "Captain Wonder?" she whispered back.

  "Wrong," he said with a grin. "Looks like I'll have to investigate further."

  Before she had time to take in his words, he had moved even closer and pulled her into his arms. His lips found hers with amazing accuracy as he pulled her body against his. Her sweater-robe provided no protection from his sensual onslaught; neither did her Captain Wonder nightshirt. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, the rough hair teasing them through the thin fabric as his lips devoured hers.

  His hands roamed over her back, sliding under the sweater as he drew her ever closer to him. His thin shorts could not hide his need for her, and she felt a thrill go through her, knowing that she had such an effect on him. When his hands began to slide up under the bottom of her nightshirt, she made no protest. She wanted his hands on her Just as much as he did.

  "Hey, stop taking all the sheet," one of the girls complained sleepily.

  It was more effective than a cold shower. They pulled apart immediately without saying a word.

  "I don't have it all. You do," the other one replied.

  "Girls, get to sleep," Sara said with a sigh. She didn't know whether to be glad of the rescue or not.

  Mike leaned over and brushed her lips with his. "Good night," he whispered.

  "Good night," she whispered back, and moved silently past him to climb into bed.

  She felt his weight slightly as he used the edge of her bed to climb up into his, then the room was silent, lit by the moonlight streaming in through the windows, but peaceful and still.

  It had been some day, Sara thought. Besides exhausting her body, she had exhausted her spirit. She had lowered so many of her defenses. She had allowed Mike to get close to her, closer than she had let any man get since her divorce. Why had she done that?

  Visions of herself In Mike's arms raced through her mind. She imagined the strength of his embrace and the magic In his lips. What would have happened if the girls had been asleep? Would they have made love, or would she have come to her senses? Unfortunately, she realized, it was her senses that kept responding so strongly to him. They still were, as a matter of fact. She rolled over on her side, sure that sleep was a long way away.

  Six

  “That was a Jot of fun," Mike said warmly.

  Sara kept her eyes on the road. "Yes, It was." They had left Lake Mead just after lunch, hours later than she had planned. But the place had been so special, so magical, that she hadn't minded staying a little longer. When Mike and the girls had wanted to swim again in the morning, she had agreed to postpone their departure. They still had plenty of time to get to their campground in Los Angeles before eight P.M. Their reservation was in no danger, even if her heart was, she mused.

  "Want to play bingo, Mike?" Karl called to him.

  "Sure. I'm getting pretty good at it." He got up, his hand brushing Sara's shoulder in a gentle caress before he went back to get his card and crayon. He repeated the gesture when he returned.

  Sara turned to him with a smile. "The girls could have brought you your card."

  "The exercise is good for me," he protested as his crayon slipped from his hand. He bent down to pick it up, his fingers somehow managing to linger a moment on Sara's leg.

  "Mike, I'm driving," she hissed. "That could be dangerous."

  "I know," he murmured, his eyes full of meaning. "This trip has been filled with dangers I hadn't expected."

  Sara wanted to ask him what he meant. She wanted to look again into those eyes, to be sure she understood what they were saying. But the speed she was driving at wasn't conducive to romantic discussions; neither was the presence of the girls.

  "We're going to miss Captain Wonder tonight." Megan announced.

  "Hey, you've had Captain Wonder with you every night," Mike teased.

  Sara joined in the laughter, but his words troubled her slightly, Who was really traveling with them? Captain Wonder or Mike? Were they two separate people, or had he just been playing a part while in their company?

  "It's just a rerun anyway." Sara assured the girls. "The new shows don't start until the middle of next month."

  'Around our birthday," Kari said.

  "You girls got a birthday coming up?" Mike asked. "How old are you going to be? Thirty-five?"

  Kari laughed. "No, nine."

  "Want to come to our party?" Megan asked.

  "Sure. I like parties."

  Had this trip been just a party for him? Sara wondered.
Had he merely been amusing himself with them? The farther she drove from the peacefulness of Lake Mead, the more she let depression overtake her. The magic of their days together had blinded her to some hard facts that were now all too clear: he would be leaving them that evening.

  She had known It all along and had even reminded herself of the fact occasionally, but she knew now she hadn't really been listening. Her mind had been working on one level, but her emotions were on quite another. The girls seemed to have reality firmer in hand than she had. They were going to miss Mike when he left, but she suspected she was going to be almost devastated. Why had she let her feelings go beyond good sense?

  She resolutely took a deep breath and concentrated on the road, the flat desert stretching for miles on either side. She wasn't going to spoil their last afternoon together by constantly reminding herself that it wasn't going to last. This was a vacation and everybody was supposed to have a good time on vacations. She'd known all along that vacations didn't last forever. Sara's mental ramblings stopped as she spotted a gas station and pulled the camper over.

  "Oh good, a chance to walk around a little," Mike said.

  Sara looked at him with surprise. They hadn't even been on the road for an hour. Well, maybe a man of his size found the camper more confining than she did. A few minutes' stop wouldn't matter, she decided. Mike got out first, then helped each of them down. The sensation of his touch lingered long after he had removed his hand from her arm.

  Why was she letting herself react this way? She knew she was just opening herself up to hurt, but she couldn't help it. The more she was with him, the more she longed for his touch. The more she wanted to be in his arms, the more she needed him.

  "Fill it up, friend," Mike told the attendant. Sara hadn't even noticed his approach. "And give it a thorough checkup: oil, water, as well as all the different belts."