Best of Intentions

by Michelle Cary

  “I love you, Tessa. I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”

  He tilted his head toward her. This one kiss would lead to so much more. Did she really want to go down this path and risk the hurt that would come from the fall out? It would simply be another bad decision to add to her growing resume. Yet, she couldn’t help but think how unhappy she was now. Maybe this would be the one event in her life which would turn it all around.

  Their lips touched, softly at first, with Devin licking a slow path along the seam. She answered his silent request by parting her lips a hint, allowing his tongue to dart in and out of the space. He pulled her closer and she sank into the kiss, deepening it. Long dormant desire flared to life and pooled low in her belly, begging to be sated.

  His muscled chest flexed and rippled beneath her hand, and she longed to see the man he’d become. One kiss led to another and another, until all coherent thought fled, leaving Tess with nothing but sensations.

  Both his hands trailed along her sides until they reached the hem of her nightshirt. In one fluid motion, he pulled it over her head and let it drop to the floor. “I wish I could see you,” he said through ragged breaths.

  She raised his hands up and placed one on each breast. “You can.”

  A low growl reverberated through his chest as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples. “God, Tess, I’ve missed you.”

  She didn’t want to admit she’d missed him too. That she’d missed him probably more than she should have considering he’d left her behind, choosing the band over their relationship.

  His hands slipped from her breasts and trailed up until he cradled her head in his palms. “Let me love you tonight, Tessa.”

  “Upstairs?” she managed to ask as she planted slow drugged kisses along his shoulder and neck.

  “Your room or mine?”

  “Mine,” she didn’t hesitate to answer. More than anything, she wanted to share her bed with him, despite the consequences, or maybe because of them, she wasn’t sure. Having a fresh memory of them making love would carry her emotions for a long time into the future. Hesitant to let go, she finally pulled away, and began climbing the steps, careful to guide him and make sure he stayed next to the railing so he wouldn’t fall.

  She led him into her room and slowly backed him to the bed, helping him ease down onto the mattress when his knees hit the edge of the frame.

  Not one to usually take charge during sex, Tess knew that without his vision, she’d have to take the lead. Her shaky hands lead his, placing one on each side of her hips. His fingers curled around the elastic and slowly stripped them off her. Tess’s own hands covered his and followed them down her legs. Once free of her panties, she stood between his legs, completely naked and slightly unsure what to do next. It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to do so much as what to do with him. Where women were generally tactile creatures when it came to sex, she knew men relied much more on the visual experience for arousal. Knowing he lacked the visual help, she wondered what she could do to make the experience good for him. Before she could figure it out, Devin decided for her when he slid a hand around her waist and tugged her to him.

  Holding her still, he leaned forward and brushed slow, soft kisses over her belly. “One day soon,” he whispered. “I’ll kiss you here, knowing the product of our love is growing inside.”

  The adoration in his tone nearly brought Tess to her knees. This really wasn’t about sex for him. It was a realization that nearly made her cry. She closed her eyes and held onto his shoulders as his fingers played within her folds, taunting her with the promise of so much more to come.

  Just when she was sure she couldn’t take any more of his teasing, he stopped, pulling a whimper from her as she looked down at him.

  “Don’t worry.” He tugged at his shirt. “I’m not done with you by a long shot. Only shedding some clothing to make the playing field a bit more even.”

  She helped rid him of his shirt, then pushed him back against the mattress where she stripped him of his sleep pants and was more than a little surprised to discover his lack of underwear.

  With a hand on each of his thighs, she dropped to her knees and proceeded to kiss the baby soft skin on the inside of his thighs. He squirmed and reached for her. “Tessa, what are you doing?”

  She gazed at the proud flesh standing erect and engorged in front of her, and slowly wrapped her fingers around him, pausing to savor the feel of him. It had been such a long time, and they’d both grown and changed over the years. “I’m pleasuring you,” she finally said and stroked him with a caress meant only for lovers.

  He moaned and fisted the sheets. “God, baby, that feels so good.”

  “If that feels good then this will feel amazing.” Without waiting for him to ask what she meant, she leaned forward, drew in his scent and gave him the only thing she’d ever denied to Eric. Devin’s back arched, pulling his hips from the bed, and he cried out her name. With both her hands and mouth, she loved him in a way only she could.

  She wasn’t naïve enough to think there hadn’t been groupies in his life. After all, he was the dark-haired guitarist, with a sexy Irish accent who played for one of the hottest bands on the planet.

  But no groupie could love him the way she did and that’s what made their encounter special. This wasn’t simply about sex, but a reconnection of their hearts, their souls. Buried in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed he'd moved until he grabbed her by the arms and ripped her away from her task. “What did you do that for,” she asked her tone slightly terse as she lay next to him, one leg draped over his.

  He smiled. “Keeping you from ending things before we’re truly done. When I come, baby, I want to be inside you, and not here.” He brushed a finger over her lips. “But here,” he said as his finger’s trailed south and played at the apex to her thighs.

  “Well,” she replied, leaning in to mouth soft kisses along his jaw. “I think I can accommodate your request.”

  “Good, because I’m already about to explode.” His hand searched along her body, finally grabbing her firmly around the waist. “Now, up you go, honey.”

  Following his command, Tess straddled him and eased back, taking his length in one long slow move. “Oh, God.” The spring in her belly tightened, and she relished the exquisite feeling of fullness she was experiencing. “I forgot how much I missed this.”

  He grinned. “You act like you haven’t had sex in years.”

  She shook her head, forgetting for a moment he couldn’t see her motion. “Not like this, I haven’t.”

  “I take it Eric didn’t live up to your standards?”

  Not even close! She detecting the mocking tone in Devin’s voice and gave him a quick slap to the chest. “Eric did fine. Shame on you for even going there.” Though she had to wonder if he knew how close his statement was to the truth.

  Sex with Eric hadn’t been bad, per se. He was a good lover, but maybe a bit too adventurous for her taste. She enjoyed the romance of it all, the teasing of tongues, the tantalizing feel of skin on skin, and the romantic caresses which told of one's love for another.

  That wasn’t to say she was averse to trying new experiences. The idea of being tied up and spanked also had its merits. The problem was if Devin wasn’t part of it, she didn’t want to do it at all.

  Devin chuckled and his hands settled around her waist urging her to move. “You brought it up,” he said, his words coming out in short bursts as his hips raised to meet the rhythm she set.

  “Yeah, well, I’m telling you to drop it, okay?” she managed to -eek out as pleasure flooded through her.

  “Fine, the last thing I want to do is ruin the mo...” His last word dropped off as his eyes went wide and he gasped.

  A quick jolt of panic flooded over her and she reached to touch his face. “Devin? Oh God, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

  For several seconds he was motionless, then slowly shook his head. He blinked several times, and Tess swore he was looking straig
ht at her, studying her.

  “Oh my God,” he ground out and blinked again before a smile engulfed his face.

  “What is it?”

  “I can see.”

  Chapter Nine

  Devin stared up at Tess, hovering above him, and took in the flush in her face, her kiss-swollen lips and the way her long blonde hair hung wildly over one shoulder. Nothing short of a goddess, she was everything he remembered and more.

  Her eyes grew wide as she stared down at him. “You can see?”

  He nodded, still not quite believing it himself. “And you have to be the most beautiful sight I’ve ever set eyes on.”

  Her face slowly twisted into a grin and she moved. Realizing her intent was to disengage them, Devin’s hands snared her hips and held her in place. “Whoa, where are you going?”

  She brushed the hair from her face, a confused expression in her brow. “To call the doctor. You need to have an eye exam so we can make sure everything’s okay.”

  “Later,” he replied, holding her firmly in place.

  “But-”

  He moved one hand from his grip on her waist and pressed a finger over her lips. “There will be time to call the doctor later. Right now we have more important matters to finish.” He thrust his hips gently; a subtle reminder of what they were doing before his miraculous recovery.

  She gasped, her head tipped back and her eyes closed.

  His gaze wandered over her, taking in every succulent inch of her as he went. Their gentle movements caused her plump breasts to sway and bounce, tempting him, taunting him to touch her. He did, cupping her gently with each hand before brushing his thumb over her cherry centers.

  Tess moaned, but never bothered to open her eyes. His gaze traveled further down, drinking in her flat belly and the soft curve of her hips before finally settling on where their bodies were so intimately connected. The sight only served to excite him more. One thing was for sure, nothing else was more important at that moment than watching her come. “You’re quick to forget, my darling, I promised you babies and I intend to keep my promise.”

  She leaned down and buried her face against his neck. “I’ll always love you, Devin McFadden.”

  He inhaled deeply, taking in the wonderful scent of perfume mixed with Tess’s own sweet pheromones. It was a familiar scent, and one he hoped to enjoy for the rest of his life. “Forever, honey,” he whispered as he bent his knees, leveraged his feet against the sheets and thrust upward.

  Nothing he’d done in his life could compare to the pure unadulterated feelings of love and contentment pumping through is veins as he made slow, sweet love to her.

  The record company could have his money, house and whatever else they wanted. But they couldn’t take the one and only thing that mattered most. Tessa’s love.

  ****

  Tess opened her eyes and looked around the room. Morning light streamed from the edges of the curtains. Realizing for the first time since she’d set eyes on Devin, she’d had a dreamless and restful night’s sleep she smiled.

  A hand brushed against her side, causing her smile to widen. She glanced over her shoulder and found Devin looking at her. “Good morning, Beautiful.”

  “Good morning to you.”

  He snaked a hand up over her ribs, finger walking his way to her belly. “And how did you sleep?”

  “Very well. I didn’t have any of those horrible nightmares.”

  He trailed a path of kisses along the top of her shoulder, eventually nuzzling his way into the crook of her neck. “I’m glad to hear it. Those dreams are hard to deal with when you’re not used to them.”

  She rolled over to face him. “You’ve had them all your life haven’t you?”

  He nodded. “Once you become accustomed to them and understand how the power works, it’s easy to keep them in their place.”

  “Did you have one last night?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did.” He sat up and looked at her. “It’s the first time since before the accident I’ve dreamed.”

  “I don’t think it’s a coincidence my dreams stop the same night you get your sight back.”

  Devin sat for a moment and remained quiet, as if contemplating her statement. “I think you’re right about our connection. It’s the only explanation which makes any sense. I don’t know how exactly, but you were able to take my power and use it when I couldn’t.” He shifted, pulling her into his arms. “Maybe it was supposed to happen to give you some insight into these killings.”

  “But the killer hasn’t been caught yet, so if that’s the case, then why do you have them back now?”

  “I wish I knew. The one thing you have to remember when dealing with the supernatural is it’s completely unpredictable and works by its own rules.”

  “Well,” she stretched and immediately winced when she realized she was sore in places she hadn’t been in a long time. “Speaking of working, I have to grab a shower and get to work before I’m late.”

  She gave Devin a quick kiss then started to climb from the bed, only to have his arm snag her around the waist. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather call in sick and stay in bed with me all day?”

  A delicious image of them naked and tangled together in bed caused a shiver to run up her spine. For a split second, she considered the idea then shook it away. “As much as I’d love to be lazy and stay in bed today, patients are relying on me to be there.”

  She peeled his hand away from her abdomen and climbed from the bed. When she turned to look back at him, she had to laugh at the cute pout he now wore. “Oh, no-no-no. Making puppy dog eyes at me isn’t going to score you any points.”

  “So if I do other things to you, I’ll get points for that?”

  She wanted to ask what kind of things, but feared his answer would indeed cause her to be late for work. “Um, I’m going to take my shower, before you and your suggestions cause me to get fired.”

  He was still laughing when she closed the bathroom door, and Tess couldn’t help but smile. His ability to make her laugh was one of the many traits she adored about him.

  She set her clean clothes on the bench, hung her towel on the hook and started the taps. Still not completely rested, Tess yawned. Knowing the dreams tormenting her would finally stop, she no longer worried about getting a restful night’s sleep. She couldn’t help but wonder though, how Devin dealt with them on a nightly basis.

  Completely rid of her clothing, Tess started to step into the shower only to realize she was still wearing the necklace. She removed it and set it on the counter, stopped and stared into the mirror. Her connection with Devin, so strong mere minutes ago waned. For a moment, the emptiness she felt nearly had her reaching to put amulet back on, but common sense won out. A little time without Devin’s feeling intruding on her thoughts might be a good thing. It would give her a chance to clear her head and get her mind straight. Once she finished her shower, she’d put the charm back on and their connection would once again become strong.

  She stepped into the enclosure, turned her shoulders to the showerhead and let the warm jets of water hit her back. Muscles tight from last night’s escapade slowly loosened and relaxed.

  Water cascaded over her head, soaking her hair. Tess reached for the shampoo bottle only to stop when the alarm in her brain sounded. With her hand hovering over the bottle, she replayed the previous night’s events, her heart pounding harder as she remembered. Oh my God, What did I do?

  It wasn’t so much the sex that was the problem, though she probably shouldn’t have done that either. No, it was those three little words she’d uttered before falling off to sleep in his arms. With such a declaration, she’d not only opened the lock on her Pandora’s Box of emotions, but inadvertently let him into her heart.

  Now what was she supposed to do? If she returned to guarding her emotions, Devin would feel it and want to know why. Up to this point, he’d been completely open with her in that what he said was actually how he felt. She wanted to believe his actio
ns and emotions bespoke the truth and give herself over to his love, but couldn’t.

  If she let him into her heart and he walked away this time, life as she knew it would be over for her. Psychically, mentally and emotionally connected to him, she’d never be able to give her heart to anyone else.

  Fourteen years had passed since their first joining and she’d yet to completely shed him from her. If she participated in a rejoining there was a good chance this time it could be for life. Did she really want to take the chance?

  Tess lifted her face into the spray and ran her hands through her hair. She wasn’t nineteen anymore with her entire future ahead of her. With only ten years between her and forty, her opportunities for having children were beginning to fade. If she had any chance left of having a normal life, with or without Devin, she owed it to herself to take it. For now, it would mean shutting Devin out once again.

  ****

  Devin wrapped his fingers around the guitar and struggled to fret the cord. Damn if his hand didn’t hurt like hell. Determined to regain as much of his ability as he could, he grimaced and pushed through the pain. It was bad enough he’d lost his friends to the accident, he’d be damned if he was going to lose his ability to play too.

  The notes rang out of key as the strings buzzed against the frets, frustrating him further. At one point, he played with the best, keeping up with the likes of Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen. Now he couldn’t even form a stupid G chord without making the instrument sound like shit.

  He set the guitar back on its stand and looked down at his hand. Was this his punishment for wanting out of the rock-n-roll life? Guess there was something to the old saying, ‘be careful what you wish for’.

  Deciding it was time for a break, Devin ambled into the kitchen in search of something to eat. He rooted through the fridge, eventually settling on a sliced roast beef sandwich and chips for lunch. As he made the sandwich, his mind wandered back to Tessa. After last night, he was sure he’d made progress in gaining her trust. He hadn’t been hearing things when she'd uttered those three words he’d longed to hear once again.