He touched her mouth with teasing kisses, then slowly slid his lips across her cheek, lingering at her ear for a moment before burying his face in the hollow of her neck. Ann locked her hands behind his neck, feeling the soft, gold-streaked hair beneath her fingers.
At last Drew pulled back, but only to whisper hoarsely, “Oh, sweetheart.” He cradled her head against his shoulder, resting his cheek against her hair. They stood that way for a long moment, neither of them speaking, as their hearts pounded against one another’s. “Come back to my room with me,” he urged softly. “I need you so much.”
How easy it would be to go with him, to surrender fully to a passion that had been simmering for so many years. How easy it would be to forget, for one beautiful moment, that it couldn’t last, that it would never be just the two of them.
Oh, but to have again, even for a moment, what she had waited for, wished for. Be careful what you wish for.
And with that thought, the moment slid away, swallowed up by the dark mists of their past.
“Drew, please try to understand. I’m just not ready for this.”
He pushed the fiery curls over her shoulders, letting one hand remain to caress the tender skin at her neck. “Believe it or not, I do understand. But I’d like for you to try to understand my feelings, as well. Seeing you again, being with you, remembering everything we had—I can’t stand back and do nothing. Not now, not when there’s nothing standing in our way.”
“There’s more to consider than just you and me,” Ann reminded him darkly. “The whole town is depending on both of us. I can’t forget my obligations. I can’t let you make me forget them.”
Abruptly his arms dropped from around her and he turned away, shoving his fingers through his hair in frustration. “You’re right of course. There always are obligations, obstacles, excuses.”
“Drew—” She put a tentative hand to his sleeve. “I can’t help how I feel. It’s just that the time is not right.”
He turned back to her, the lines of bitterness cut deeply into his face. “I’m beginning to wonder if the time will ever be right for us.”
Nine
It was too hot to sleep. The sluggish rotation of the ceiling fan barely stirred the warm, sticky air. Ann moved restlessly in bed, kicking off the clinging sheet as she willed herself to sleep. But it wasn’t the heat that kept her from resting.
She was haunted tonight. Haunted by her thoughts and her memories of Drew, haunted by the way he had held her earlier, the way he had kissed her and the way she had responded. She was haunted by the awareness that Drew’s smoldering desire was matched by her own. And she was haunted by the remaining guilt of wanting a man who should never have been in her thoughts.
But, dear God, she did want him, had wanted him for so very long. Wanted him even when she’d had no knowledge of what the deep ache inside her meant. Wanted him even after he had betrayed her, when her love had turned to hate. Wanted him even when he had been her sister’s husband. For ten years she had yearned for him, burned for his touch during long, sleepness nights.
Like tonight.
With an impatient sigh, Ann swung her legs off the bed and strode across the room to the open window. A breeze blew through the room, rustling the curtains, fanning the moist curls framing her face. She closed her eyes, lifting her hair, letting the wind sweep across her neck. She could smell the honeysuckle outside her window. The thick, sweet scent only added to her restlessness.
Her eyes fastened on a light, minute and far away, in the house that had once belonged to the Maitlands. Once upon a time that light would have been a signal for her to meet Drew down by the river. His light would have remained on until midnight, waiting for her responding sign.
Ann glanced at her watch. Midnight had come and gone.
* * *
From the spot where he stood near the old river bridge, Drew could pinpoint Ann’s bedroom window in the farmhouse. He’d watched the light in her room for a long time, even caught a glimpse of her silhouette once or twice, before the light had gone out and he’d forced his attention back to the river.
The night was hot, hot and humid and heavy with the threat of rain. The air crackled with tension, waiting...waiting...
It was the heat, he’d told himself, that had driven him from his bed at the Crossfield Motel. The heat that had brought him unerringly to the river. The heat and a restless urgency that had kept him discontent for over a decade.
A warm breeze filtered through the willows, stirring the long branches that dipped and trailed in the water. And with the wind came the undeniable scent of honeysuckle, unbearably sweet, haunting, like a dream that had never quite finished.
“Angel.” He whispered her name in the hot, waiting stillness, wondering if she was sleeping, and if not, was she as restless as he was tonight? Was she thinking about the feel of their bodies coming together earlier, their mouths joining? Thinking about her now, Drew could feel his body tightening as desire stabbed through him.
And she wanted him, too. He could read it in her beautiful, bewitching eyes. But she’d said the love was gone, the warmth and tenderness they’d once shared were only memories. Maybe she was right. Maybe they couldn’t recapture what they’d had. But there was still so much between them, so many feelings he couldn’t deny.
“You’re wrong, Angel,” he said softly, his words echoing across the dark, mirrored water. “The time has never been more right.”
* * *
The river path was softly lit by the pale, sterling moon, but the stars that had shone so brilliantly earlier were now veiled by clouds. Buttercups and primrose edged against the path and in places thick, silver-green moss had completely overrun it, making it seem neglected and forgotten. In the distance an owl called once, restless and forlorn in the deepening shadows of the woods. It was a call that matched Ann’s mood.
Loneliness was nothing new to her. She couldn’t remember a time in the the last ten years—even in a crowd—when she hadn’t felt lonely. She’d learned to deal with it, live with it, sometimes to even be comforted by it. But tonight...
Tonight she remembered only too well the reason for the loneliness, the longing, the dreams that were always left unfinished. She remembered why happiness was a hazy memory from the distant past.
She could smell the river now, could hear the soft liquid sounds as the water lapped at the banks. She stood for a moment on the high bank, staring down at the shimmering ribbon of water. Then she found the stone steps set into the side of the bluff and climbed down to the tiny, grassy beach that had once been her trysting place with Drew.
The breeze skimming the water carried a hint of moisture. Dropping her towel to the ground, she bent to remove her sandals, then sat down on the soft, dry grass just above the water mark. The cool, clear water lapped against her bare feet, inviting, alluring, demanding.
She stood, slipped quickly out of her shorts and shirt and tossed them to the bank with her towel. She stepped into the water, feeling the coolness slip around her ankles, her knees, her thighs. Kicking off, she swam to the center, her strokes slow and languid, unhurried. She dipped her face into the water, then her hair. Floating on her back, she watched the moon and the clouds, and she waited.
Would he come?
The lovely, liquid movement of the river heightened her senses. She had never been so aware of her own needs, her own passion—a passion so strong and so hot that it hadn’t burned out in ten years. Ann let her eyes drift closed as flutters of anticipation rippled through her.
Would he come?
She stood in the chest-high water, letting the coolness lap against her breasts. The water gliding across her skin made the fire inside her burn deeper, deeper for Drew.
Would he come?
Suddenly he was there, on the bank, waiting for her. And the yearning grew stronger, a powerful, undeniable ache throbbing inside her as she stood without breath, watching him for an endless moment. The time had come.
Slowly, as i
f in a dream, she moved toward him, feeling air touch first her shoulders, then her breasts, her stomach, her thighs, her legs. And each part of her was vividly awakened by the knowledge of what was about to happen with Drew. Finally with Drew.
Slowly she stepped from the water and into the waiting warmth of his arms. He wrapped the towel around her shoulders, pulling her close as he met her eyes in a long, searing gaze.
“I knew you’d come,” she whispered, her lips trembling—not with fear or cold, but with deep, deep emotion.
With her hands at the back of his neck, she pulled his head down to hers, immediately capturing his lips. He seemed startled at first by her boldness, then with a groan of pleasure, he kissed her back with reckless abandon. They merged together, desperate, driven, each taking and demanding, each giving and savoring, as ten years of waiting and wanting went into that kiss. Their bodies clung, their souls touched, and the world stopped.
The intensity shattered Drew’s control. He squeezed his eyes closed, feeling his arms tremble as he held her tightly to him. Her body was smooth and sleek and quivering against his, her mouth warm and moist and seeking. And he knew if there was a heaven, it had to be here, right now, this moment, holding Angel in his arms after all these years.
“Angel,” he murmured, catching his breath, trying to fight the swirling force that threatened to pull him under. “Don’t you think we should go back to the house?”
“No.” She breathed the words against his lips. “I always dreamed it would be here.”
He held her away from him, fixing her with an urgent blue gaze. “This is no dream, honey. This is reality, just you and me, here and now. Are you sure this is what you want?”
She touched his face with her hand, outlined his lips with one searching finger. He caught her hand in his, brought his mouth deliberately to her palm, but his eyes never left hers.
“Don’t you think we’ve waited long enough?” she asked breathlessly, feeling the anticipation start to build all over again as her heart thundered in her chest.
Their gazes clung for a moment, then with an urgent groan, Drew lowered his mouth to brush it across hers, whispering kisses along her neck and shoulders as the fire shot deeper into her veins. His hands on her back pressed her to him, and Ann, arms locked tightly around his neck, stretched her body full length against his in an open, unmistakable invitation.
Aggressive, demanding, his mouth accepted what she offered. Deftly he parted her lips with his own and plunged his tongue deep inside to mate with hers.
Her hands moved over him, stroking, touching, caressing. She wanted to savor, to drown, to lose herself in the waves of desire rolling over her. She slipped her hands beneath his shirt, desperately exploring the heat of his skin. Sensing her need, Drew stepped slightly away, pulled his shirt over his head and flung it aside. The rest of his clothing was unsnapped, unzipped and similarly dispensed with. Ann’s breath caught in her throat as he straightened, magnificent in his nakedness and his desire.
They came together again, and for a long moment, stood that way, feeling the marvel of their bodies meeting for the first time.
This is reality, Ann thought. Everything else was a dream, a dim precursor to this moment.
“We’re long overdue for this, Angel,” he whispered into her ear as he pressed her close.
He kissed her fiercely then, his hands racing over her. He pulled her down beside him on the soft grass, breathing her name over and over again. Her fingers rode over his shoulders and down his chest to his hips, her eyes savoring every revealing detail of his masculinity. The full impact of what was happening overwhelmed her, made her retreat a little inside herself as she lifted her gaze to his. He caught her hand in a warm, reassuring grasp as he lifted her fingers to his lips.
“Don’t run away from me,” he urged softly. He kissed her tenderly this time, the movement of his lips restrained, patient, waiting for her. His hands roamed over her, lingering here, testing there along their persuasive journey as his gaze enthralled hers with enticing promise.
“Angel.” He breathed the words into her neck. “Come with me.”
“Where?” she whispered, letting her fingers slide through his hair. She moved against him and tiny points of passion ignited in every part of her.
He cupped both her breasts, touching, caressing and molding her shape to his hands. He tugged gently at the peaks, and the passion exploded inside her.
“Come see heaven with me,” he invited, his voice slipping over her like a velvet wing.
His touch was slow, torturous and infinitely tender, letting her know he wouldn’t make the trip without her. He slid his hand along her leg, tracing a soft, seductive pattern on the inside of her thigh. Teasing her, taunting her, daring her to let go, his fingers stroked her until she felt the pressure mounting inside her, contracting and releasing to the motion of his hand. Deep and hot and glowing, it grew and grew until she thought she would die from the thrill of it.
The years between them melted. He kissed her deeply, his lips promising her heaven and more. He grabbed her hands and held them at her sides, stilling her movement as he lowered his head, scattering tiny, erotic kisses over her stomach and thighs. Helpless, Ann strained against him, feeling the ache deepen inside her as his lips continued their seeking, finding at last the treasure of their quest.
She tried to move, tried to break free from the exquisite torture, but he held her. Held her until she was hopelessly lost, spinning and diving out of control, her breath coming fast as she gasped his name.
Then suddenly he was over her, smiling down at her as he cradled her head between his hands. “Did you like that, darling?” he murmured, his lips barely brushing against hers.
“Yes! Oh, yes!”
“That was just the beginning.” His voice, deep and low and filled with an erotic vow, had the heat pulsing through her even stronger. His touch, hard and knowing, sought to arouse her again. She trembled as his tongue skimmed over her lips, tasting her, persuading her. And then he was inside her, and her stunned cry shocked her at first, then embarrassed her, but Drew smiled down at her, knowingly, tenderly, triumphantly, erasing all thought from her mind as he masterfully guided her toward their ultimate destination. His eyes, gazing down at her, burned with desire as he moved inside of her.
His rhythm slowed, intensely prolonging the journey as he whispered to her, urged her with kisses and caresses until neither of them could wait any longer. She felt the tension heighten as he clutched her to him, his body shuddered as his lips met hers in a thorough, aching kiss. And then, in a burst of joy, in an explosion of sensation, they were there.
Hearts pounding, bodies still joined, they lay together for breathless moments as they slowly, deliciously, floated back to earth.
Drew kissed her once more, tenderly, wonderingly as he shifted his weight from her and settled himself beside her. Propping himself up on one elbow, he gazed down at her and brushed his fingers through her hair. She smiled up at him and he bent quickly to kiss her eyes and then her lips. Her soft sigh broke the silence.
“I hope that wasn’t a sigh of disappointment,” he said softly.
Her laughter was like the soft tinkle of a wind chime. “Did I act as if I were disappointed?”
“Well, no,” Drew admitted, his eyes deep and sensuous as he traced a finger along her jawline. “In fact, you were sensational.”
She caught his hand and held it against her cheek. “Really? I mean...” she trailed off, averting her gaze in sudden embarrassment. “I haven’t had much experience with...sex. I hope you weren’t disappointed. I wanted so much to please you,” she added shyly.
“Oh, baby,” he said on a groan, drawing her into the circle of his arms and holding her close. “If you’d pleased me any more, I think I might have died.”
They lay for a long time, shoulders touching, hands locked, as they gazed at the sky. Ann couldn’t remember when she had felt so relaxed, so free, so unencumbered by anger and jealousy a
nd guilt. Nothing had ever felt so right to her than lying here with Drew.
She breathed deeply, filling her senses with the sweet essence of the river, with the soft flutter of the leaves overhead as the wind drifted through them. From the shadowy depths of the woods, an owl called again, but the sound no longer made her feel lonely.
She lay her head against Drew’s shoulder, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart. His arm tightened around her as his lips touched her hair.
“I’d like to ask you something.”
“What is it?” she asked lazily, not bothering to rouse from her position.
“Why did you change your name?” His words fell softly into the darkness around them. “I’ve often wondered about that.”
She stroked his chest absently with her fingertips. “I guess I just didn’t feel like I deserved it anymore, or wanted it. I’d done some things, thought things, that I was ashamed of and that I knew would have disappointed my father. He always had such expectations of me, and I didn’t think I could live up to them anymore.”
A trace of bitterness crept into Drew’s voice. “I never thought those expectations were fair. He heaped responsibilities on your shoulders that should never have been yours to bear. He never let you be a kid.”
And he and Jack and Aiden hadn’t been much better, Drew realized with disturbing afterthought. They’d all relied on Angel to keep them out of trouble, pushing their recklessness to the limit knowing she’d be there to bail them out. Not one of them had ever stopped to ask her whether or not she wanted that role. They’d just expected her to do it. She was “Angel.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice jagged with emotion.
She raised her head from his shoulder and turned to look at him. “What for?”
“For making you feel you had to change yourself.”
“It wasn’t just you,” she denied softly. “It was a lot of things. Besides, I always thought Angel was a silly name for a grown woman anyway.”
He lifted a hand to push the damp, tangled curls back from her face. “I’ve never known anyone whose name suited her more.”
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