Fate and Destiny

by Claire Collins

  Destiny pressed herself closer to Andrew, leaving him nowhere to place his arms except for across her waist, and under his head. She reached for his hand, placed her palm against the back of his, and intertwined their fingers. Then she brought his hand up to the middle of her chest near her heart and held his hand there in hers.

  She breathed a deep contented sigh and soon she was breathing softly and evenly. Although comfortable and secure being so close to him, he was definitely having a difficult time with the same situation. Her hair smelled wonderful and it was so soft and silky against his arms and chest. He could smell his soap on her skin from the shower, and it smelled a hell of a lot better on her than it did on him.

  Securely clasping his hand in hers between her breasts, he could feel the weight of them through her shirt. The worst part was her firm backside pressed so tightly against him that he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself and she would wake up to a thickness pushing against her. He tried once again to put a little distance between their bodies, but she held onto his hand tighter and shivered before wiggling back against him.

  Finally, Andrew somehow cleared his mind and drifted off to a light sleep. Not long after, Destiny woke him by turning over in her sleep. Letting out a little cry of pain as she moved her injured leg, the soft noise enough to wake Andrew from his fitful sleep.

  She rolled towards him, snuggling her body against his, her face mere inches away. She looked so peaceful and angelic in her sleep. She needed the release from her torment. The urge to wake her and touch her all over was almost more than Andrew could bear.

  Closing his eyes again, he tried to think of Old Lady Walters who used to live near him as a kid. She had to have been the ugliest, scariest old lady ever. However, every time he got a picture of her into his head, the wrinkles and liver spots melted into the sleek supple form of Destiny. To make matters worse, Destiny moved even closer to him. He didn’t think it was possible, but somehow, she accomplished it.

  He opened his eyes slightly to find her looking right at him once again. She was so beautiful lying next to him in the waning firelight.

  They stared at each other in silence for what seemed an eternity before Destiny moved her face even closer to his and gently kissed him on the lips without breaking eye contact. The kiss was warm and moist as her lips brushed against his. Her whole body pressing against the length of him as her lips caressed his with a lover’s touch.

  He could see through her eyes straight into her soul, and the emotions and turmoil there grabbed at his heart. She needed him to care for her, to help her forget at least for a little while. He was more than willing to oblige.

  Hesitantly, he kissed her a little deeper and a little harder, watching as her eyes closed in submission. If she wanted to stop, he would give her every opportunity. However, she showed no signs of stopping. Bringing his hand from under his head, he slid it under her neck, around her back, drawing her even closer to him. His other hand circled around her waist, completely bringing her body to his. He held her close, not asking for more, not expecting more.

  His body wrapped around hers felt right and warm. Safe. Nothing in the world could hurt her as long as he was there protecting her. Her hands traveled over the hardness of his well-defined chest then around to the muscles in his sculpted back. Her lips tasted his, longer and more demanding as she caressed his skin. Andrew’s hand eased under the back edge of her shirt. His touch so gentle against the warm skin on her back she wouldn’t have known it was there except for the electrical surge that radiated from the spot where his fingers circled on her spine.

  Destiny could sense the tentativeness in Andrew. She decided to help him along. Sitting up in the bed as best she could, she reached down, grabbing the bottom of her shirt and pulling it over her head. The cool air breathed over her exposed skin, immediately hardening her nipples. She quickly put her body back against the heat of his.

  Wrapping his arms back around her, he pulled her close, skin against skin under the blankets. Tucking her face against his shoulder, he smelled clean and rough at the same time. Her skin tingled over each inch that touched his. She needed him more than she had ever needed anyone before. A need both physical and mental. Her body hadn’t been touched in so long that she forgot how good it felt.

  Although she had opportunities, indiscriminate sex had never interested her. The emotional connections had to be in place to be involved physically, and she was drawn to Andrew unlike any other man she had ever known.

  Her eyes locked on his as she lightly touched the center of his chest. His skin was smooth, soft and the muscles under her fingers hardened at her touch. Her eyes unwavering, she resumed caressing his lips with hers.

  Each fluttery movement caused Andrew’s breath to catch in his throat as she continued her seduction. Placing his hands on Destiny’s hips, he pulled her against him so she could feel what she was doing to him. Through the butterfly kisses, he felt a smile cross her lips. Her hand traced the line down the center of his chest towards his navel.

  Although she was initiating much of the contact, Andrew was concerned that he would startle her. Slowly brushing his lips along her mouth, around the edges, across her delicate jaw line and down to her neck. Her fingers continued to explore from his collarbone to his navel. Her exploring was so slow and calculated that he thought he would explode if she stopped now. Explosion was also probable if she didn’t reach her destination soon.

  Destiny tilted her head, rolling over onto her back while Andrew kissed her softly down the side of her neck. The fullness and shape of her breasts were defined by the firelight. His fingertips tracing the side of her body from her hip to encircle the base of her breast before running his fingers over the pert nipple. His mouth found its way to the neglected mate and he teased, flicking it with his tongue.

  Quiet sighs from Destiny confirmed the pleasure he was giving her. Releasing the tortured peaks only long enough to cover her body with his, Andrew resumed his gentle assault. Destiny spread her knees and willingly allowed him to position himself on her body. Her hands sliding around to the small of his back, she pulled him against her. Her injured leg rested across his hips, the other leg wrapped around his thigh, securely holding him in place. His weight pressing her into the mattress made it easy to discern how aroused he was through the layers of cloth they still wore. Sliding her hands into the back of the waist of his jeans, she unhooked her legs, releasing him. She wanted to rip the denim from him and needed access to the buttons in the front.

  Andrew got the message, easing himself from her, and quickly removing the rest of his clothing. The soft flickering light bounced off wide shoulders, taut thighs, and thick arms. His body was firm and muscular and she ached to have him reclaim his place in the few moments that he was away from her. After his jeans hit the floor, Andrew went about the task of revealing all of Destiny to his eyes again.

  Hooking his hands in the waistband of the sweats, he slid them off in one swift move, carefully from around her swollen ankle. She was even more beautiful lying before him now than she had been in the shower. The fire made her skin glow, light and shadows highlighting every curve. Touching his lips to her ankle, Andrew journeyed up a shapely calf, past her supple thighs, over her belly. Finally, he found her lips, settling his body comfortably against hers.

  Destiny wrapped both legs up and over his hips so her injured leg dangled in the air. Her arms around his shoulders urged his body to place more weight on her instead of his elbows.

  Matching the caresses of his tongue against hers, Andrew relinquished to her tugging him down. He wasn’t quite sure if she was ready for what was about to happen. Searching her face, he sought the answer. Through desire-laden eyes, she looked up at him and licked her lips. The wanting and pleading in her eyes was all the permission that he needed.

  Melting into her, joining with her in a smooth, easy motion, Andrew took his time exploring each inch of Destiny inside and out. Andrew could no longer contain himself aga
inst the pressure, and with one long slow plunge, he took both of them over the edge. Destiny’s whole body tightened and clenched and she pulled him against her and held him.

  Even after it was all over, neither of them wanted to move. As the feeling began to return to his legs, Andrew became aware of his body pressing against Destiny. He carefully rolled to his side without letting go of her. They lay face to face in the faded firelight. Destiny’s eyes closed and a slight smile played across her lips.

  Andrew intently gazed into her face, trying to figure out why fate brought her to him. He found himself easily falling in love with the complete stranger who had mysteriously appeared in his life. He didn’t even know who she really was.

  What was going to happen to her once the snow thawed and she would be able to leave? Would he ever see her again? Did she feel the same things he was feeling, or was he imagining too much? Embracing Destiny, his eyes barely closed as welcomed sleep crept in. Instantly, he awoke when the screaming started.

  “Put out the fire! Please! Put it out! Help them. Someone. Please! No!”

  He held onto the writhing form next to him.

  “Destiny? Shh, honey. What’s wrong? The fire is fine. Destiny. Wake up.”

  Shaking her gently, Andrew continued the gentle crooning. She came awake with a start, sitting up still babbling about the fire. Andrew sat up with her, holding her and stroking her hair. Although she quieted, she still looked around, confused and searching.

  “Andrew? But… The fire. I saw the fire everywhere.”

  “No honey, you were dreaming. The fire is right where it should be.” Her fear spread throughout him. The dream too real and vivid. She shook in his arms.

  “I haven’t had that dream in years.”

  She gave a sickening half giggle, half sob that sounded to Andrew like hysteria setting in.

  “Destiny, it was only a dream. You’re safe.” Neither of them believed his words.

  “I am never safe, Andrew.” Her voice cracking with rage and emotion, Destiny pushed him away. “Somebody tried to kill me! And for your information, it wasn’t just a dream. Fire terrifies me! My parents died in a house fire. I was eight years old. I was just a little girl!”

  Realizing Andrew was not the cause of her anger and anguish, Destiny took deep breaths to calm down. Relaxing enough to keep her voice from cracking.

  “It was late at night. A nightmare woke me up. I was really scared, so I got out of bed to go to my parents’ room so I could sleep with them.”

  Andrew drew her back down to the bed. Even wrapped in his arms, she remained rigid.

  “The doorknob was hot and I smelled smoke. I opened my window and climbed out onto the roof then down the tree in my yard. I started screaming for my parents. I thought they would come out of the house, but they never did.”

  Destiny’s voice rose a few octaves as she relived the terror of that night. Stroking her hair, Andrew kissed her forehead. The tension in her body eased slightly.

  “I screamed until I coughed and couldn’t breathe. I tried running back to the house, but someone grabbed me. I tried biting and screaming, but I didn’t have any strength to fight back. Someone in a uniform put me in an ambulance and drove me to a hospital. Smoke inhalation or something, I didn’t pay attention to what they said. At the hospital, I kept asking the nurses when my Mom and Dad were going to get there. Later that night, I overheard two of them talking. They must have thought I was asleep. The firemen found the bodies of my parents in my room. They must have been searching for me thinking I was still in there. They were both on the floor in my bedroom. The smoke got to them before the fire did.”

  Turning to face Andrew, she relaxed a little more.

  “I think they were trying to get to my room through the fire while I was climbing out the window. If I would have waited for them, we could have all gotten out together.”

  Pain crossed her face in the dim light.

  “I didn’t even cry. I was just numb. The social workers sent me away to my Dad’s sister and her husband. My parents never spoke about them and I never met them, but they were the only relatives I had. When I was 14, my aunt died of liver disease. I was almost happy to see her go. Most of the time, she just yelled at me and made me do everything around the house. I was her maid and her meal ticket.”

  Destiny spoke angrily, her voice dropping as she recounted her harsh treatment.

  “About three months after she died, my uncle decided it was his job to make a real woman out of me. He pinned my arms with one of his and undid his belt and zipper. When he bent over me, I turned my head and bit him on the cheek as hard as I could. I could taste that bastard’s blood in my mouth. I’m surprised it didn’t taste like Jack Daniels.

  “He punched me in the face then dragged me to the bedroom and threw me on the bed. He sat on me, punching me. I just wanted to get away. He ripped the pajama shorts I was wearing and tore my T-shirt off. I don’t remember grabbing the gun from the nightstand drawer.”

  Shaking her head in confusion, her eyes closed, emotions rolled across her graceful features. Her state of mind was fragile.

  “I do remember someone grabbing my hands and taking the gun away though. I was ready to fight and I was confused, but I looked down on the floor. There he was, lying in a pool of blood. There wasn’t much left to his face, but you could see his cheek where I bit him. A policeman knelt next to him and another one held the gun I took from the drawer.

  “The police said I shot him point blank in the face with the first shot. But I didn’t stop shooting. I emptied the gun into him. Even after the police busted in, I was still sitting up in the bed, pulling the trigger even though the gun was empty. The judge ruled it self-defense. I bounced around between foster parents, but I never stayed anywhere very long. Self-defense or not, I was still a murderer. No one wanted me around, and I had a lot of emotional problems. None of them could get close to me. I wouldn’t let them.

  “When I was 18, I moved to Vegas, got the job at the Diamonds Casino, and met Marcus. He reminded me of my dad. He talked like my Dad and he laughed like him. He actually cared about me. Worried about me. No one had done that since my parents died. I just wanted to protect him, and he died anyway.”

  Helplessly, he could do nothing but hold her closer.

  “Honey, none of that was your fault. You couldn’t have known your parents would go looking for you, and your uncle deserved what he got. If he were still alive, I would hunt him down and shoot him myself. And as far as Marcus goes, his son killed him, not you.”

  Destiny began shaking her head before Andrew finished talking.

  “Andrew, you don’t understand. I should have shown him the financial figures at the casino, where we have security that could have protected him. I should have stayed in my bed or waited for my parents. I never should have been at my Uncle’s.”

  She let out a little chuckle of half nervousness and half sadness.

  “I shouldn’t even be here. What if you’re the next one to die?”

  “Neither one of us is going to die. I promise.”

  Andrew kissed her forehead reassuringly and hugged her close, hoping he could keep that promise.

  8.

  A strange sensation flickered, awakening Destiny. Opening her eyes, she discovered bright early morning golden rays of sunshine had been drilling through her eyelids. The sun didn’t warm her. However it did hurt her grainy eyes.

  The cabin air was cool since the neglected fire died down during the night. The rest of her was very comfortable under the blankets with Andrew sleeping next to her. Turning from the brightness invading the windows, she snuggled against Andrew.

  She thought she would feel guilty for sleeping with a man she barely knew, but strangely, she felt very content and happy. Even though he was still sleeping, Andrew’s arms encircled her and drew her in closer to him.

  Andrew awoke to the cold cabin and the sunlight streaming through the windows, dancing across Destiny’s face and over her
hair. She looked angelic sleeping against him. He didn’t want to wake her, but her eyes slowly opened on their own under his gaze. She smiled up at him and he planted a soft kiss on her forehead. A shiver passed through Destiny and Andrew chastised himself. The cold usually woke him when the fire began to dwindle, but their body heat kept him warm all night. His arms, still wrapped around her, pulled her closer.

  “Good Morning.” He whispered, not wanting to disturb the mood. “I just want you to know that you were right.”

  Confused, Destiny looked up at him. “About what?”

  “The bed is much more comfortable than the floor. I slept better last night than I did for the two days I slept down there.”

  “That might have something to do with sleeping on a mattress instead of wood.”

  Chuckling, Andrew lifted his head to view the sunlight filling the room. “Destiny, if the sun stays out for awhile, the snow might melt enough to get snow plows through.”

  Rolling over so her back was against him, she dared to let the sunlight invade her eyes. It felt like she’d been in the dark for a long time.

  Andrew continued, “And if the sun doesn’t stay out for long, it will melt the top layer of snow only enough for it to quick freeze into thick ice. If that happens we could be stuck here for quite awhile.”

  Destiny thought a moment before asking, “Would that be so bad?”

  “No, we have enough supplies to keep us going for a few weeks if we have to. If we never leave the bed, we’ll conserve firewood.”

  She pondered the thought for a moment. Feeling bold in the safe nest of his arms, she couldn’t resist teasing him.

  “Yes, and if we shower together, we can preserve water and propane.”

  Andrew couldn’t see her face, but he could hear the teasing in her voice. Refusing to think of the implications, he took it one step farther.