This Time for Keeps

by Maureen Child

  "A gift?" he repeated. "From who?"

  "A friend." This was not a lie. Not completely. He nodded, his gaze boring into hers.

  "Jealous?" she asked quietly, moving one hand to cup his cheek.

  “Should I be?" He reached up and covered her hand with his own, holding her to him.

  “No,” Nora said with a slow shake of her head. Swallowing heavily, she added, “God help us both, Seth, but you don't have to be jealous. There's only you."

  He gave her a small smile, then turned his face and kissed the center of her palm. Releasing the ring back against her chest, Seth moved to hold her again.

  "Beautiful," he whispered, smoothing his hands over her bare arms and across the lace-edged top of her chemise. He felt his hands shake and tried to still the tremors. But the only thing that would help was the same thing making him tremble: the feel of her skin beneath his hands.

  His gaze slipped to her breasts, barely hidden from him now by the sheer fabric of her camisole. Dark nipples pushed against the fine material as if trying to escape their cloth prison.

  Gently, he tugged at the pale yellow ribbon braided within the lace and didn't stop until the material lay opened to her waist. This too, he carefully slipped off of her, wanting nothing between his hands and her body.

  The gold ring and its chain lay against her skin, light from the fire glinting off the shining metal. He drew the tip of one finger along the length of the chain, following it to the center of her chest.

  Her lush, full breasts jutted toward him, as if begging for his touch. For one long, satisfying moment, he looked his fill and under his steady regard, her nipples tightened further. When he couldn't wait another minute, Seth reached for her, cupping her flesh in his palms. She sighed heavily, muffling his own soft groan of satisfaction.

  His thumbs stroked the hard, pebbly tips of her nipples as his fingers gently kneaded her breasts. Nora's tongue darted out to wet her lips, then her head fell back on her neck as she gave herself over to his caresses.

  His body throbbed and ached to become a part of her. Everything within him screamed at him to take her. To lay her on the cold stone floor and drive himself into her, claiming her as his. He knew that she would welcome him. He knew that she too felt the almost overpowering desire to become one.

  Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. He had never known such need. His groin tightened, pressing against his jeans until he thought he would explode. His lungs shuddered, barely able to draw enough breath.

  He hungered for her.

  Deep in his soul, he recognized that he had been waiting for this woman— this moment— his entire life.

  Dipping his head, he took one of her rigid nipples into his mouth and savored the taste of her. His tongue circled the tender bit of flesh, and his teeth scraped gently across the tip.

  She shivered in his arms and he knew the cool air had nothing to do with the chills wracking her. He felt it too. The sense of rightness. The sense of belonging. For the first time in a long, lonely life, he felt at peace. And though he'd never really had one before, he knew he was home.

  His left arm dropped to her waist, pulling her to him. She lifted her head to watch him as he suckled her. He felt her gaze more than saw it. Felt the warmth coming from her. The acceptance. The welcome.

  Her fingers moved through his hair, then she slipped one hand beneath the collar of his shirt to stroke his back. Her touch sent daggers of heat slicing through him, illuminating the dark corners of his soul like the light from a thousand suns.

  Seth straightened up abruptly. Her hands pulled at him, and her fingers tugged at the buttons of his shirt. Clearly, she shared his eagerness to feel his skin against hers. His fingers moved to help her. In seconds, his shirt was undone and dropped to the stone floor atop hers.

  Reaching for her, he enfolded her in his arms, pulling her tightly to him. Her tender flesh molded to his, he realized how well she fit in the circle of his arms. He suddenly felt whole. As if she had been made for him. As if he had been incomplete until finding her.

  His hands stroked up and down her back, dropping to the coarse denim fabric that covered her behind and protected the rest of her body from him.

  Where had all of his fine notions gone? What had happened to the man who had sworn he wouldn't break his vow to Jake Wilding? He stared down into the soft brown eyes that had haunted him for what seemed forever and knew the answer. Whatever it was that lay between him and Nora, it was bigger, more important than anything he had ever known before.

  "Nora," he confessed on a choked-off groan. "I need you. Now."

  "Yes," she murmured. "Lord, Seth, yes."

  She moved her head and planted swift, damp kisses across his chest. Her tongue stroked his skin, building the fire within him into an inferno.

  Sliding one hand beneath the waistband of her jeans. Seth felt the curve of her behind and explored the tender skin he'd dreamed of touching.

  She gasped, shivered in his arms, and let her hands drop to her belt. Quickly, she opened the silver buckle, then just as quickly undid the button fly, loosening her jeans to give him more access to her body.

  He smiled and slid his hand around her waist, circling to her front. As his fingers moved down, reaching for her warmth, he felt her hands begin to tug at his belt.

  His breath came harsh and fast. Anticipation threatened to strangle him. Their gazes met and held. Brown eyes stared into blue.

  Seth's fingers slipped further down across her abdomen. He watched need swirl and deepen in her eyes. He felt her open the waistband of his jeans.

  As he moved to cup her damp heat, she touched him, encircling his rigid length with her fingers, stroking him, learning his body.

  Her caress ignited an urgency inside him. Beyond the incredible pleasure of her hands on his body, Seth needed to give her pleasure. To watch her eyes darken with passion. To hold her tightly while the tiny earthquakes of delight rippled through her.

  With that thought in mind, he stroked her most intimate flesh with a long, lingering caress. She whimpered and leaned into him.

  "Seth," she whispered, her body trembling as he stroked her again and again.

  "What?"

  "Make love to me," she said, suddenly tipping her head back to look up at him. "Here. Now." She stroked his length again, leaving a trail of fire beneath her fingertips.

  "Nora," he ground out through clenched teeth. "I can't stop this now. Wouldn't even if I could." He shifted and lifted both hands to cup her face. His gaze drifted over her features slowly, like the gentlest of caresses. "We have to finish what's between us."

  "I have a feeling," Nora said, "that this will never be finished.”

  She reached for him, tugging his head down to her and slanting her lips across his. He grabbed her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and held on as if it meant the difference between living and dying.

  Nora arched into him, pressing her body along his and clutching at his shoulders. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth, making breathing impossible and stirring her senses so that she didn't even mind.

  At last, he was willing to explore the magic that happened between them whenever they were close. Her body burned with desire. Her flesh tingled from his caresses and a damp, aching heat had settled between her thighs.

  She needed Seth Murdoch as she had never needed anyone before. Searching her memories, she couldn't remember ever feeling this desperation. Odd that in all those other lifetimes she had never experienced this same sense of completeness. Of wonder.

  A centuries-old hunger rose up between them, demanding to be fed. Gasping for breath in between long, deliberate kisses, they stripped each other, throwing their sodden jeans heedlessly onto the rock floor.

  She smiled at him when he pulled away from her and followed him with her gaze as he bent and swiftly opened a bedroll, spreading it out on the cold stone. Her insides became liquid. Her knees weak, she fought for breath as she watched him making their bed. A gust
of rain-wet air blew under the overhang and she didn't even feel it. Nothing could quench the fires racing through her blood. Nothing but Seth could ease the burning.

  Naked, they fell to the blankets in a tangle of limbs. Mouths gave and took. Hands stroked, explored. A blazing heat roared up within Nora. A long breath shuddered into her lungs as Seth's lips and tongue moved down the length of her body. His long fingers tugged at her peaked nipples even as he laid a trail of moist kisses across her abdomen. Sliding himself up over her, he brushed his chest against hers and Nora's eyes squeezed shut at the incredible sensations rocketing through her.

  He bent his head to take one of her distended nipples into his mouth. When his lips closed around the sensitive bud, Nora groaned aloud and grabbed at him, twining her fingers through his hair, holding his head to her breast.

  She felt his kiss down to her soul.

  He ran the edges of his teeth across the pebbly surface of her nipple and her hips arched into his, rocking, seeking completion. She ached for him. A damp heat collected at her center.

  "Seth, please," she whispered, amazed at the timbre of her broken, shaking voice. Is this what she had missed in all of those previous eight lifetimes? She knew without a doubt that in all of those lives, she and her betrothed had never made love. She had always died before it could happen.

  Was this… connection between she and Seth a cosmic thing that had waited centuries to be discovered?

  Everything inside her shook at the notion. And then she dismissed all thought of karma and past lives and cosmic targets. All that she wanted now was to experience this moment with a man who made her feel what no other ever had.

  He raised his head to look down into her eyes while he slid one hand closer to the heart of her. She stared up at him and saw her own desperation, her own hunger, mirrored in pale blue depths that threatened to drown her. Their gazes locked, she saw the shimmer of satisfaction skitter across his eyes as his fingers dipped lower, gently discovering her soft folds.

  She sucked in a gulp of air as she drew her knees up, parting her thighs for him. Her nerve endings screamed as his callused fingers continued their tender exploration. Carefully, he spread the moisture he found across the opening of her body, preparing her while at the same time driving her mad with a need that continued to grow at a fierce pace.

  Her breath caught each time his fingertips dipped lower, hoping that this time, he would invade her with his touch. Claim her. But he didn't, prolonging an agony that tore at her.

  When he found and stroked her most sensitive spot, she tilted her head back against the blanket-draped stone and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Wave after wave of sensation poured through her, urging her higher, faster. She dragged a shaky breath into her lungs and lifted her hips against his hand. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her nails scraping at him even as he gently tortured her.

  "Seth." she murmured wildly, brokenly, "please. I can't stand this anymore."

  Control, if she had ever claimed any, was gone. She was nothing more than a tightly coiled spring, awaiting release. Her body clamored for it. Her soul screamed for it.

  "Stand it, Nora," he whispered, lowering his head to nip at her throat. His breath brushed across her flesh as she heard him say, "I've waited too long for this. We've waited too long.”

  "Seth," she sighed his name, her eyes still closed in concentration on the magic he performed. They had waited. Longer than anyone should have to wait to find such completion. Giving herself over to the madness within, she opened herself fully to him.

  He smiled against her throat, then settled his mouth at the base of her neck. She felt his tongue smooth across her flesh. His fingertips moved over the hardened nub of her sex and Nora surrendered to the inevitable. Heart racing, pulse pounding in time to the throbbing ache between her legs, she moved toward the release Seth was determined to give her. But when she had almost reached it, when her body was humming at a fever pitch, he removed his hand, leaving her in a state so near insanity, she wanted to weep but lacked the strength.

  Her eyes flew open and she watched him shift position to kneel between her thighs. She licked dry lips. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Outside, rain slashed at the rocks scenting the wind that drifted through the overhang with moisture.

  Nora's gaze moved over him. The firelight flickered and danced in golden shadows on his sharply defined, muscled chest. In the shifting patterns of light, he leaned over her, bracing his weight on his palms. He dipped his head and brushed a kiss across her lips as he entered her.

  Nora reached up, grabbing hold of his shoulders as he pressed deeper, invading her body inch by slow, mesmerizing inch. She clutched at his arms, instinctively lifting her hips to ease his entry.

  Her discomfort lasted only seconds as her body stretched and eased itself around him. He paused in his conquest and Nora opened her eyes to stare up into his as he boldly thrust himself hard, pushing past a barrier Nora had forgotten she had.

  The pain surprised her and she gasped.

  He held himself still. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought for control and won.

  "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice tight with strain.

  Nora nodded, then as the discomfort eased, smiled up at him. "I'm fine. Really. Just forgot about the whole virgin thing for awhile.”

  Seth chuckled briefly. "You forgot?”

  "Uh-huh," she said breathlessly, her palms moving up and down his back.

  "Is there still pain?” he asked, dipping his head to place a kiss at the corner of her mouth. "Do you want me to stop?"

  One hand went to the back of his head. Her fingers speared through his thick hair and held on. Gazing squarely into his eyes, Nora said, "If you stop now, I'll never speak to you again."

  His eyes closed and a half groan shot from his throat.

  “Thank God,” he breathed, resting his forehead against hers for an instant. "If I'd had to stop, I'd have walked away from here a cripple for life."

  Her hips twisted in invitation.

  He sucked in a gulp of air. "Nora, I can't wait another minute.”

  "I don't want you to wait, Seth."

  He moved then, beginning an ancient dance known only to lovers. She felt each caressing stroke deep within her. The foreplay he had tortured her with now sent her speeding along toward a climax that she had never imagined possible. Straining, reaching for the release she knew was hers to claim, every nerve in Nora's body gathered itself into a teeming mass of sensation.

  This is what had been missing in her life. In all of her lives.

  Completion.

  When she was sure she couldn't survive another moment, the world exploded into a shattering burst of color. She held on to him tightly, screamed his name, and lost herself in the series of earthquakes that rocked her soul. Dimly, she felt his body stiffen for one final thrust, heard him call her name as he emptied himself into her.

  Seth collapsed bonelessly atop Nora. The ring lay caught between their bodies, its warmth reaching into both of them.

  And centuries of despair and loneliness ended with a sigh.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The rain finally slowed to a heavy mist, leaving behind a gray day where time passed without notice. They lay wrapped in each other's arms for what could have been one hour or three. Neither of them cared which.

  Nora inched closer to Seth, draped her right arm across his chest, and tucked her head into the hollow of his shoulder. He pulled the edge of the blanket higher over them both, then held her with a strength that told her he had no intention of letting go.

  "That was…” she whispered, her fingertips gliding over his flat nipple.

  "The midnight tango?" he asked, reminding her of the talk they'd had what seemed ages ago.

  Grinning, she tipped her head back to look up at him. “Oh, I think we can safely toss in a cha-cha and a fox trot to that description."

  He smiled and shook his head, tightening his hold on her. "You are somethin' else,
Nora."

  "And don't you forget it," she told him and bent her head to kiss his chest.

  "Now that's not likely." His muscles rippled in response to her kiss. Rolling onto his side, he faced her, his features suddenly serious, thoughtful. "You know this changes everything."

  Nora reached up to smooth her palm along his cheek, relishing the feel of his whisker stubble against her skin. "I know," she said, and felt a cat-who-ate-canary smile erupt on her face. "Now that we've got that whole, virgin thing behind us, we can-”

  Seth frowned suddenly and turned to stare out into the mist-enshrouded landscape beyond their shelter.

  "What is it?"

  "Don't know," he said. 'Thought I heard something."

  "Like what?" she asked and peered over his shoulder.

  Heck, maybe they’d inadvertently set up camp in some bear's summer home. And if she was about to meet Gentle Ben head on, she wanted a little advance warning.

  "I'm not sure," he whispered, then shook his head. "Probably nothing," he added, "but I'd better check."

  He rolled away from her, reached for his still damp jeans and tugged them on. Not bothering to button them, he grabbed his gun out of its holster and stalked barefoot to the edge of the overhang.

  Nora held the blanket up to cover her breasts and watched him, marveling at the play of muscles across his back muscles he'd won through years of hard work. Her gaze swept over him, noting his narrow waist and lean hips. Instantly, desire rushed through her again. Her heartbeat quickened as she pushed herself to her feet. Wrapping the blanket around her, she followed him to the edge of their haven.

  Taking a stand behind him, she reached out and ran one hand down his back. "Seth?" she whispered around the tightness in her throat.

  He turned toward her, instinctively enfolding her in the circle of his left arm. "It's all right," he said. "Guess I'm hearing things."

  "No lions, tigers, or bears?”

  “Nope," he allowed and slid his left hand down to cup her behind.

  “Oh, my," she said softly, leaning into him.

  He lowered his head for a kiss and when he straightened again, she asked, "How long until the others arrive?"