The back door was unlocked. “Tom?” he called. Shep climbed the three concrete interior steps. The noise seemed amplified in the quiet confines of the house. If Tom wasn’t here, what was the door doing unlocked? He put everything on the table and walked through the dimly lit dining area into the darker living room. Shep’s heart pounded wildly, his pulse becoming erratic. He froze, staring into the murky darkness of the living room. Was he seeing right? His mouth grew dry as he allowed his eyes to adjust. Tess? Tess was here?
A hundred thoughts whirled through his mind as he stared over at her sleeping figure barely fifteen feet away. Even in the semidarkness she looked beautiful. Why had she stood him up and then come here? Despair interlocked with hope. Anxiety wrestled with chilling anger. His mouth thinned, and he rested his hands tensely on his lean hips. Had she come to apologize because she felt guilty? That would be typical of Tess. His heart wrenched violently in his chest. God, how he loved her! Shep swallowed hard, his eyes narrowing as he hungrily drank in her form. He had to fight himself. He couldn’t run to her side and pull her into his arms. No. Too much damage had been done. Why? Why was she here?
Slowly, the tenseness drained from his body, his shoulders drooping. Shep’s gray eyes revealed the private hell of his anguish as he continued to stare at her. His emotions couldn’t be relied upon. Part of him wanted to shake some sense into her, another part wanted her to realize exactly what she had done to him on this day. He released a shaky breath, allowing his hands to drop to his sides. Anger warred with joy within him. He wasn’t sure what to do or how to feel.
He would never forget the anguish he’d gone through when he arrived at her home at exactly nine o’clock and no one answered the door. Why hadn’t she at least had the decency to leave a note? To explain her position?
Without a sound, Shep walked into the living room, coming to a halt inches from the couch on which Tess slept. His gaze missed nothing. How could she have grown more lovely? Yet she had. At least in his eyes. He was trained to see every minute detail. He noted the exhaustion shadowing her peach-colored skin. Darkness lingered beneath the thick, fan-shaped lashes of her closed eyes. Her hair, once tamed into the severe chignon, had pulled loose. The auburn strands framed her face, softening the natural angularity of her high cheekbones. Shep groaned inwardly, controlling himself. Her lips were parted, looking so damned vulnerable and so kissable.
He leaned over, hand extended to give her a small shake on the shoulder to wake her. Fingers outstretched, Shep hesitated, his breath lodging in his throat. An imperceptible tremble coursed up his arm. Instead he lightly caressed her cheek, delighting in the smooth texture of her skin. His heart began a slow pound as he watched Tess rouse herself. Against all his better judgment, Shep crouched down, mesmerized. Tess stirred like a lost kitten, snuggling more deeply into the pillow she slept upon. Her red hair framed her face as in an old Celtic legend. Was she a druidess awakening within the embrace of the trees which held her safe? Shep shook his head to clear his fatigued mind. He reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder this time, his fingers sinking into her arm and giving her a small shake.
“Tess?” he called, his voice more stern than he meant it to be.
The auburn lashes lifted, revealing drowsy blue eyes. Shep inhaled softly, stunned by the richness of their color. For the first time it occurred to him that they reminded him of the sky he loved so much. He felt himself spiraling into her lovely sapphire gaze, helpless to halt the feelings welling up from the depths of his wounded heart. Her eyes widened slowly. He saw the exhaustion in them and felt guilty for waking her.
“Shep!” He rose, forcing himself away from this weaver of spells. Away from whatever it was that still existed between them. If he hadn’t moved, Shep would have leaned over and kissed her parted, flower-perfect lips. Slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he moved around the coffee table. Tess roused herself immediately into a sitting position, strands of hair falling across her shoulders, resting against her breasts.
He stared down at her, ignoring her natural beauty. Ignoring the tiredness that was so evident in every drowsy movement of her body. “You’re a little late,” he bit out in a cold, hard voice. “We were supposed to meet at nine o’clock this morning.”
“Shep,” she begged, “please, don’t be angry. You have every right, but—”
“Just what the hell are you doing here?”
Tess jerked her head up, eyes wide with shock. The hostility in his voice was like a knife slashing into her. “I—” she stumbled, stunned.
“What’s the excuse this time? Don’t you think I know why you were afraid to see me today?”
She winced, dropping her gaze. Silence built like a fortress between them. Compressing her lips she whispered, “I guess I had that coming.”
“You know how to dish it out too,” he reminded her, fury evident in his tone. “Well, if you’re going to dish it out, Tess, you’re also going to take it.” He ran his long fingers through his hair, glaring over at her. “You really disappointed me this morning. It’s not that you didn’t show, but the simple fact that you didn’t even have the decency to leave a note or make a phone call. I never expected that of you.” He gave her a cutting smile, his gray eyes glittering. “Of course I built you up as something special. I put you on a pedestal, which was wrong. Put people on pedestals and they sure as hell are bound to fall off.”
Tess raised her chin, meeting his cold fury. “Aren’t you even going to—”
He raised his hand, jabbing it in her direction. “You sit right there and take the heat, lady. By God, you’ve had this coming and you’re going to get it. I’ve done a hell of a lot of thinking today, Tess. About you. About roe.” His voice became flat. “About us.” He turned away from her. “Thanks to you, I had time to think about plenty of things.” He turned, looking back at her. “You were always special in my eyes, Tess. I saw so much in you. So much of what I needed. …” He halted, the corners of his mouth drawing in with pain. “Maybe I pursued you too soon. Maybe I pushed you too hard. I don’t know. All I wanted was the right to get to know you better. And you kept backing off. And I know you feel something for me. I could see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice.” His tone dropped to a raw whisper. “I felt it every time I kissed you.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. Tess got to her feet, unsure of where or how to unravel all that had been done. She opened her arms in a gesture of peace, a plea for understanding. “God, Shep, give me a chance to explain!” she cried softly. Tears made silvery paths down her drawn, pale cheeks.
He gave her a cynical look, walking back to where she stood. He halted inches away. “There’s nothing to explain,” he growled. “You’re a little late with apologies, Tess.”
Her face contorted. “What about justice?” she cried. She clenched her hands at her sides, balling them into small fists. “You’ve already sentenced me, haven’t you?” she hurled back, her voice high pitched with fury.
“You sentenced yourself with your own childish behavior!” he snarled.
Tess uttered a small cry, bringing up her hand without thinking. The sharp crack of her palm catching him on the cheek resounded like a shot through the room. A sob broke from her lips. She stared up into his dark features, stunned by her own action. She had never hit anyone in her whole life! Never! Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Shep reached out, his fingers sinking deeply into her arms, gripping her. “So,” he breathed, his face inches from hers, “this is where your hotheaded Irish temper comes out?”
Tess beat her hands against the wall of his chest. “Let me go!” she cried, struggling to break his grip.
“Stop it!”
Tess shook her head, hair spilling across her shoulders as she tried to twist free. His grip tightened. Her heart pounded, the last shreds of control slipping. “You don’t care!” she screamed. “You just don’t care what the truth is! Let me go! Damn you!”
Shep gripped her hard, forcing her a
gainst him. He was aware of the yielding softness of her breasts against him, the sharp, short breaths escaping from her. “I don’t care?” he said in hushed fury. “I don’t care? Dammit, I’ll show you just how much I tare!” His mouth smothered her lips, ripping her breath away, melting her anger. His mouth moved with masterful insistence across her salty lips, forcing her to respond.
Anger was purged from less as an uncontrolled fire swept through her. The roughness of his beard against the softer plane of her cheek, the smell of his body, the awareness of his muscles, taut and tense, overwhelmed her senses. His grip loosened, and she felt his left hand pull her hips possessively against his straining body. A low moan of need escaped from her throat as she returned his demanding kiss.
Almost instantly his mouth grew more gentle, searching. Tess gave a little cry of defeat, leaning completely against the strong framework of his body, her arms slipping around his shoulders. Her heart pounded unrelentingly in her chest. She had hurt him deeply, and he had meant to hurt her. But the instant his mouth molded against her lips the need to hurt was suddenly transformed into the need to love. Now his mouth moved in small circles over her parted, waiting lips. Suddenly nothing else mattered. She pressed her lips against him, wanting him to realize how much he meant to her. A low groan came from him and he pinned her against him. He tore his mouth from her throbbing lips. “God, I need you,” Shep whispered raggedly, his eyes silvered with barely restrained desire.
Tess stared mutely up at him, wildly aware of him as a man. A collision of thoughts left her speechless, only her mobile features telling Shep what she wanted and desired. Without a word he picked her up, taking her to the darkened confines of the spacious bedroom. Tess sighed brokenly, leaning her head on his shoulder.
As he laid her on the bed she whispered, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Shep…please…let me explain—”
He leaned over, placing his fingers against her lips. “Ssshh,” he murmured huskily, “later.”
Mutely, she looked up into his strong, tender face. Her heart blossomed with newfound feelings as he began to undress her. The apricot-colored dress fell away, revealing a pale pink camisole of silk and lace. She heard him take in a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he outlined the curve of her breasts with his hands. Fire leaped along her flesh, and she reached up, pulling him down upon her. She wanted to drown in the beauty of the unfolding moment. No longer was Shep demanding or brutal. Instead, he coaxed her totally into communion with himself.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he breathed against her ear.
Tess closed her eyes, responding to the caress in his voice, pressing her naked body against the planes of his. His hand traced the outline of her slender neck, then followed the curve of her taut breast. Her lips parted, the breath stolen from her body as his hand circled the hardening nipple. “Please…” she begged, her voice a ragged whisper. She waited in agony for his touch. She felt him lean over, aware of his breath against her heated, straining flesh. His mouth closed about her nipple. A low moan of pleasure broke from her lips, and she arched unconsciously into his arms.
Time dissolved into a world of throbbing sensation. It seemed only seconds later that she was aware of his naked form against her. Meeting the warm hardness of his muscled body, she felt new fires spring to life within her. She ached to fulfill that fiery need. Just the slight touch of Shep’s hand brought her to new heights of sensuality. His mouth teased her unmercifully, asking her to participate without inhibition. She delighted in the feel of the dark mass of his chest hair against her breasts.
She was aware of shuddering, delicious sensations surging throughout her straining body. She allowed her fingers to trail across the expanse of his broad chest, to follow the curve of his flat stomach. Shep tensed beside her, pulling her possessively against him. Her eyes looked upward, meeting his burning gaze. Then Shep brought her chin up further, his head descending to meet her parted lips. At that moment she felt very inexperienced, a woman who had only known one man’s love. Shep seemed to sense her nervousness. Cupping her face, he pressed a tender kiss upon her lips, forcing those feelings away. It was as if he realized that she was still part child, part blossoming woman.
Gently easing her back on the bed, Shep rose above her, parting her thighs, and settling his knee between them. She breathed deeply, wildly aware of the electrical current that jolted through her each time their bodies touched one another. His breath was hot as he leaned down to capture her lips. She moaned, her body taut, ready for his entry. She arched upward, meeting his forward motion. A wild, earth-tilting explosion invaded the very depths of her soul. A cry of pleasure broke from her lips, and she gripped his broad shoulders, carried upward on an untamed vortex of heat and rhythmic pleasure.
She tasted the sweat of his tense body, and moved with him, her mind swirling. She reached higher, higher, intensely aware of the culmination that melted her body against Shep’s. Moaning, she fell back into his arms. Time did not exist; only the wonderful sensation of his arms about her damp, spent form, as he held her near, kissing her nose, eyes, cheeks, and mouth very gently,
*
It was still dark when Tess slowly awoke. She unconsciously nuzzled against Shep’s shoulder, inhaling the musky scent of his body. His arm tightened momentarily around her in response. Just then, the alarm went off, cutting through her grogginess. Shep muttered something. Pulling his arm from beneath her, he reached for the noisy clock. Tess blinked, realizing it must be near dawn. Gray light filtered in through the large, curtained window. She opened her eyes. Her heart wrenched with newfound joy as she stared up at Shep’s serious, handsome face. His hair was tousled, lending him a boyish, vulnerable look. The soft curve of his mouth gave a gentle expression to his face. And his gray eyes…she lost herself within their lambent gaze, realizing how much he cared for her. Her lips parted as Shep leaned down, tasting them tentatively. She responded, reveling in the strength of his mouth. He groaned softly, caressing her cheek. Shep raised his head, only inches from her face, studying her wide eyes.
“Lady, you look more beautiful now than you did last night, if that’s possible,” he breathed huskily. His eyes narrowed slightly. “Look, it’s time for me to get up. I’ve got a flight scheduled at eight o’clock this morning and a pre-ops briefing in an hour.”
Tess frowned, reaching out and hesitantly touching his face, aware of the sandpapery feel of his unshaven skin beneath her fingertips. “Shep, we have to talk. You didn’t let me explain what happened yesterday.” Her voice was thick with sleep, sultry sounding. Tess saw a fleeting look of pain in his eyes. She rose on one elbow, trying to gather together her thoughts.
“Look,” he said heavily, placing a hand on her shoulder, “before you go any further, do you realize it’s Monday morning? It’s five o’clock. Why don’t you call in to your office and take the day off?” Shep longingly stroked her hair, delighting in its silken texture between his fingers. “Tess, if you’re really concerned about us, stay. Stay and wait until I get done with this flight. It’ll only be two hours. Then we can talk.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Monday?” she uttered in disbelief.
A lazy grin played across his mouth as he sat on the edge of the bed watching her. “Yeah. You lose a day or something? Remember yesterday? It was Sunday. Today is a working day.”
Her mind whirled with various options. Her heart had already made its choice; she wanted to stay and talk out the misunderstandings between them. But Dan would be away for the rest of the week. That meant she had to be in the office to take the helm. Swallowing hard she met his curious eyes. “Shep, I can’t stay…”
His face became less readable and he got up. “Duty calls, doesn’t it?” he asked coldly.
Her pulse leaped in fear and she sat up. “You don’t understand.”
He gave her a troubled look and walked to the door of the bathroom. “I guess I don’t.”
Everything was going wrong again. Why couldn’t they c
ommunicate? Why did he have to jump to conclusions? “You can’t get out of that flight and I can’t get out of my responsibility at the office,” she challenged. “So duty calls for both of us. Not just me.”
Shep compressed his lips. Finally, he nodded, his face becoming unreadable. “Point well taken, Tess. I’ll take a shower and shave. Then, the place will be yours.”
She sat there in bed morosely listening to the sound of the shower. He had been crushed by her logic. Duty. Was it always duty? Tess ran her fingers through her hair, at odds with herself. She wanted to stay. The secure warmth of his body against hers during the night had brought a good feeling to Tess’s healing heart. He had loved her so totally that she was still wrapped in euphoria even now. Cy had never made her feel like this … so joyful … so free and uninhibited. She felt a tendril of hope. Tess lifted her head, a new spark of life in her eyes. Anxiously, she waited until Shep reappeared.
His hair was dark and glistening, his face clean shaven. Pulling a dull olive green flight suit from the drawer, he slipped it on, zipping it up in one sure motion. A black leather square with his last name and rank emblazoned in gold was positioned above the left breast pocket. Patches showing that he was part of the B-1 test team adorned each of his shoulders. He glanced up at her as he sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on his socks.
“Your turn.”
Tess drew up her knees, resting her chin on them and watching him. “I think I have a compromise, Shep,” she began softly. Her heart quickened as he caught and held her eyes. He looked incredibly handsome and masculine.
“What kind?”
She licked her lips, praying her words would come out right. “I’m going to call my office and tell them I’ll be in early this afternoon. Since your flight is this morning, I thought I might tag along with you. When it’s over, I’ll spring for breakfast.”
A glimmer of life flickered in his eyes. “How about brunch? And I’ll buy.”
Love Me Before Dawn Page 12