“Not a night fit for man nor dog,” she muttered as she looked out the bedroom window and saw nothing but darkness. The lights normally dotting the hills across the river were conspicuously absent, indicating the power outage was extensive. Those houses weren’t even on the same grid as hers.
Sighing softly, she looked down at the nightstand where she’d placed her wedding ring after changing out of her wet clothes earlier in the evening. Gently touching the simple gold band with her forefinger, tracing the perfect circle, she felt loneliness well up so strong and sharp in her throat it nearly choked her. She’d thought it had dulled over time, the jagged edge of loss blunted a little more as each day had gone by. She didn’t know why it had returned so fresh and powerful tonight, except that perhaps having another person underneath her roof made her customary solitude feel even emptier than usual.
Tossing and turning restlessly on the cool sheets, she tried to think of other things, of what she needed to do in the morning if the power was on and what she would do if it wasn’t, whether the road to Windsor would be clear and how many alternative routes she would need to take if there was more flooding. Her thoughts were so disjointed and jumbled she didn’t hear the footsteps ascending the stairs until they hit the squeaky step third from the top.
Startled, Lana froze, then rolled over, blinking as the soft illumination of the hurricane lamp appeared in the doorway. Rising onto her elbow, she peered at the slender form standing there, dressed only in a pale-blue T-shirt that hardly maintained decorum, the hem brushing the top of her smooth, bare legs.
Lana felt her mouth go dry. “Michelle? Is there something you need?”
Michelle lifted the lantern a bit higher, revealing emerald eyes that regarded Lana in a molten gaze. “Yes, there is.” Her voice was low and smoky with an implication of something that couldn’t possibly mean what Lana thought it did.
“What?” It wasn’t the most brilliant response, but it was the best she could come up with on such short notice.
Michelle smiled faintly and padded across the polished wood floor on bare feet, setting the lamp gently on the nightstand. Astonished, Lana watched as she eased onto the side of the bed, Sarah’s side of the bed, and turned toward her.
“You,” Michelle said simply. “I need you.” Then she leaned over and kissed Lana before she could utter a word of dissent or otherwise protest. Michelle’s lips were soft and warm, and her mouth tasted minty fresh.
I guess she found the toothpaste, Lana thought dazedly. It took a few seconds before she realized she was returning the kiss, responding instinctively rather than with any clear thought. With an effort, she broke it off, pulling back as she struggled to draw air into lungs that felt too constricted to fill properly.
“Wait!” she said, disturbed when the word came out more as a squeak than an actual objection. With an effort, she cleared her throat and tried again. “I don’t do this.”
“Do what?” Michelle asked softly, her attention intent.
Cheat on my wife was Lana’s initial response in her head, harsh and terrible as it crossed her mind even as she knew that it was no longer applicable in this situation. “Kiss people I don’t know,” she managed instead, though that wasn’t quite true either.
“You know me,” Michelle responded, sounding vaguely amused. “We met earlier today, remember?”
“That’s not—it’s just—I haven’t,” Lana said, her heart pounding in her chest. “Not since Sarah.” Longer than that, because for a considerable time before her death, while Sarah was ill, any brief physical intimacy between them had been palliative rather than passionate.
Michelle’s gaze became compassionate, eyes warming perceptibly. “I think I’d already figured that out. Look, I’m just passing through,” she added gently. “And I’m not expecting or asking for anything beyond a nice warm body to help pass a cold, windy night. If you don’t find me attractive, just say the word and I’ll go back downstairs. No harm, no foul.”
“No, I do,” Lana said, embarrassed to hear her voice crack. “Find you attractive, I mean, but I can’t…”
She wondered when this surreal situation became something that no longer shocked but rather felt like a really good idea, stirring things in her she’d thought long dead and buried. Michelle didn’t move, patiently watching as Lana struggled with the realization that for the first time in a very long time, her mind and body wanted something other than not just to hurt.
To do more than merely exist.
Chapter Four
Michelle could see the uncertainty in Lana’s eyes, and the fear, but she could also see the growing acceptance of her offer, the sudden need and yearning that came with it. Perhaps she was making a mistake by coming upstairs, but she wasn’t the sort to deny her baser impulses. She’d been drawn to Lana from the first moment she’d looked at her. The tragic story of her lost love only enhanced that irresistible aura of brooding allure.
Once she was certain Lana wasn’t going to refuse her, she reached out and laid her fingertips lightly on her cheek. There was a swift intake of breath, but nothing further, and carefully, Michelle leaned forward to cover those full lips again, sinking into the sweet warmth of her mouth. A whimper at the back of Lana’s throat sent a thrill of desire through her, and Michelle deepened the kiss, slipping her arms around her and pulling her closer. She could taste the hunger in Lana’s kiss, felt the desire in the hands roaming over her back and sides. Now that she’d surrendered to what was about to happen, Lana was no longer holding back.
Neither made a move to turn off the hurricane lamp. Perhaps Lana needed to see her, Michelle thought briefly as she pulled the T-shirt off over her head. If only so she wouldn’t be confused for someone else in the dark and bring back memories better left untouched in this moment. Michelle was willing to accept that. Besides, she wanted to be able to see Lana as well.
Easing down onto the mattress, Michelle moaned quietly as she felt the full length of Lana’s lush curves beneath her. She felt so good, so warm and soft, so utterly welcoming. Running her hand along her side and then up to cup Lana’s breast, Michelle brushed her thumb lightly over the velvet-soft skin of a nipple that hardened immediately. Lana groaned softly, pressing into the caress, and her fingers raked through Michelle’s hair as they kissed until they were breathless.
There was something so delicious, so incredibly right about lying together in the dim glow of the lamp, the sound of the freezing rain a delicate counterpoint to the soft whisper of skin on skin, of tiny murmurs of passion. Michelle had never been averse to finding her pleasure wherever she could, but now she was taken aback to find that this felt different. Maybe it was because Michelle had been in such peril earlier and Lana had been her knight in shining armor, coming to her rescue. Or perhaps it was simply because Lana was so responsive, and Michelle understood it had been so long for her. The situation made each touch more exquisite, every kiss a little sweeter.
It made her want to go slow, to make everything right for Lana. If she was to be her first after losing Sarah, then pride demanded Michelle do it right. She lingered over the soft swells of Lana’s breasts, using her lips and tongue to tease each nipple into attentive points of sensation. Lana whimpered and squirmed under the relentless attention.
“Breast woman?” she managed with a breathless laugh.
Michelle smiled. “I’m an all-woman type of woman.” She paused to look down at her, peering deeply into the depths of those limpid eyes. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’m just getting started.”
“Oh my.”
Amused, Michelle resumed her loving assault on Lana’s breasts before leisurely trailing down over the lean plane of her stomach. She paused briefly to tease her navel with the tip of her tongue, sparking a soft giggle, then down to the waiting treasure. She caught her breath as she parted Lana’s legs, immersing herself in her full range of senses as she covered the tender flesh with her mouth, basking in the musky scent and flavor of her. Lana jerked reflexively, ta
ngling her fingers in Michelle’s hair, tugging helplessly, encouraging her to continue.
Michelle was more than glad to comply. She loved this. She loved pleasuring women, loved hearing their soft moans and cries of delight, loved knowing she was the one to offer them such intimate joy. Lana was even a more special joy. To know what she had lost gave a piquant twist to the encounter that most didn’t for Michelle.
It was almost too much because when she thought about it in those terms, when she thought of Lana’s heartbreak, tears stung Michelle’s eyes and her heart skipped a beat. It took a second for her to regain her composure, surprised that Lana’s loss affected her so deeply. Forcing her attention back to the matter at hand, she once more fluttered her tongue over Lana’s ridge, slick with desire. Silken thighs closed about her head, tightening as pleasure grew. Lana’s hips arched, bucked once, then twice, and a sound of such sweet surrender issued from her lips that Michelle felt a strong throb in her own groin.
She lightened her touch and kissed her way back up her body, trailing languidly along each line and curve until she reached her face. Lana had her eyes closed, a lazy grin curving the corners of her mouth, revealing a hint of a dimple. Lana kissed each eyelid lightly, then brushed her lips down the elegant nose before covering her mouth, inviting a welcoming kiss that came instantly, deep and delightful.
“That was amazing,” Lana whispered once they’d parted.
“You’re amazing,” Michelle murmured.
She felt the restless urge of need sizzling along her nerve endings but forced herself to be patient, wanting Lana to enjoy her first physical intimacy in a long time to the absolute fullest. Besides, if she’d judged correctly from the tenor of the love scenes in her books, Lana should prove to be a considerate lover.
She didn’t disappoint. Her hands soon began to trace over her, and Michelle sank fully and willingly into the pleasure of her touch. Lana flipped them over so that she was on top, her thick, dark hair falling about their faces as they kissed, hard and passionate now, as she made Michelle her own. Michelle was thrilled, surprised by the depth of Lana’s desire, but eagerly matched it. Then Lana’s skilled fingers were on her, and deep within her, and Michelle lost all connection with coherent thought.
Afterward, she lay in boneless satisfaction, stunned at how easily Lana had overwhelmed her. Beneath her cheek, she could feel the steady throb of Lana’s heart, a soothing counterpoint to the thin howl of wind whistling past the nearby window. Tenderly, Lana’s fingers traced through Michelle’s hair, stroking with passive energy.
“Thank you.” It was an almost inaudible whisper in the night.
Michelle smiled. “Oh, anytime,” she said playfully.
“No, I mean…” Lana hesitated, and Michelle heard her swallow. “Just thank you.”
Sobering, Michelle rubbed her cheek against the smooth skin of Lana’s breastbone. “You’re entirely welcome.”
Running her fingers lightly over the slope of Lana’s belly, teasingly, tracing each line of surprisingly defined muscle, she felt desire stir once again. “Of all the people who could have been passing by, I sure am glad you were the one who fished me out of the river.”
Lana chuckled. “I am, too.” Her breath caught as Michelle’s fingers trailed down to scratch luxuriously through the dark triangle, exhaling into a soft moan. “Exceedingly glad.”
Michelle rolled on to her, delighting in the warm length of her body beneath her own. Lana was significantly taller, five eight to her five four, and the difference in size made her feel almost giddy at the thought of all that wonderful flesh to explore. Lana made a sound as she proceeded to do so, a bit surprised, it seemed, but mostly appreciative.
They made love again, slow and languid, almost drowsy as they caressed and stroked, bringing each other to a mutual peak. Sleep came quickly after, a natural sinking into the balmy black of oblivion. When Michelle awoke, the window was still a black square, reflecting the light from the lamp, and carefully, she eased away from the warm body next to her, slipping from between the sheets. Pressure building in her bladder, she took a chance on a nearby door, pleased to discover it led to an ensuite. Carrying the lamp, she felt her eyebrows lift as she entered, discovering a positively luxurious layout that included a twelve-jet whirlpool tub along with a glass-and-chrome shower big enough for three people. It boasted an overhead rain nozzle along with a massaging head and dual body faucets, and she made a mental note to take her shower there in the morning, assuming the power had returned. It appeared writing was a much better gig than she thought. Or perhaps Sarah had been the one with the money. Either way, Michelle could have found herself in worse situations.
After using the facilities, she descended the stairs on catlike feet, avoiding the squeaky one three down from the top automatically. In the guest room, she retrieved her briefcase from beneath the bed. Opening the lid, she checked the contents, reassuring herself that everything was still there and unharmed: the tattered diary written in tiny script, old maps and drawings, and most importantly, the letters she’d discovered during her research in the university archives. She felt the same shiver she always did when she saw them, the slightly sick mix of guilt, terror, and excitement. If anyone discovered she had taken them…
Who was she kidding? He had found out. Otherwise, that dark sedan containing two men wouldn’t have been following her all the way from Truro. Hell, those guys must have been following her since she’d left New Orleans. She found it highly unlikely anyone in Nova Scotia knew about what she’d discovered or what she had planned. It had to be Hector. He was the only one who understood what this meant to her, because it meant much the same to him.
She should never have told him about the letters. Rich and powerful, he was also dangerous, regardless of their personal relationship. His guys probably thought they’d taken her out of the game earlier that day, and if it hadn’t been for a lucky alder bush and a lovely woman, they most certainly would have succeeded.
Involuntarily, she glanced upward, thinking about Lana and wondering how much she dared tell her. How much she could tell her without involving her in something she had no right to lay at her door. Sighing quietly, she shut the briefcase and locked it, sliding it beneath the bed once more. Somehow, she would have to convince Lana not to contact the authorities while she arranged to rent another car. How she would do the latter and not let on to any rental company that she’d already lost her previous vehicle was a complication better left for the morning. In the meantime, she was cold, and it made no sense to stay down here while such a warm and welcoming woman waited for her.
Creeping back upstairs, she eased back into bed, carefully snuggling up behind Lana and wrapping her arms around her. Lana stirred briefly, turning her head.
“Y’kay?” she muttered.
“I’m fine,” Michelle whispered soothingly. “I just went to the bathroom. Go back to sleep.”
Lana sighed, a soft exhalation, and settled back onto the mattress. It took significantly longer before Michelle was able to mimic her.
Chapter Five
It took more than a few seconds after Lana woke up for her to realize the cozy, loving place she found herself in was neither a dream nor a journey back in time. It wasn’t Sarah wrapped so warmly around her from behind, but a stranger, someone just passing through, and any sense of comfort and intimacy offered was merely temporary. Yet, her presence made Lana feel so good and sheltered that she couldn’t deny her need to linger in the slender arms, to want this time to go on forever.
Suspecting any such indulgence would only leave her lonelier in the aftermath made Lana ease away from Michelle’s enticing embrace. Maybe it wasn’t worth remembering how good a connection could be, when she now knew how bad it could be without it. Slipping from between the sheets, Lana stood there briefly, wood floor cold under her bare feet as she took a moment to look down at the beautiful woman sleeping in her bed, the blankets tangled gloriously about her slight body, long, rich auburn hair the col
or of fall maple leaves spread over the pillows. Inside, Lana’s heart gave a painful thud, and quickly, she pulled on her robe and shoved her feet into her slippers. Moving as quietly as possible, she gathered up some clothes before heading out the door. Taking her shower in the downstairs bathroom rather than the ensuite seemed like a prudent idea.
She was relieved to find that the power had returned, repaired sometime during the night, and as she glanced out the window, she noted that the rain and wind had eased, though it remained gray and foreboding. Taking a brief detour down into the basement, she turned off the propane generator maintaining the freezer and fridge, switching back over to the main power before heading back upstairs to put Michelle’s damp clothes in the washer.
In the safe haven of the shower in the downstairs bathroom, she let the hot water wash over her and wondered why she’d given in to her desires the night before. She supposed it was the first time in a long while she’d felt interested in something. And she couldn’t deny that Michelle was the most interesting thing to come along in years.
As she dried herself off, she could hear movement above her and knew her guest had awakened. The soft sound of water in pipes indicated Michelle had found the ensuite, and with images of that lithe body writhing beneath gushing water to plague her thoughts, Lana quickly dressed and went out to the kitchen, where she started preparations for some western omelets. A knock on the back door interrupted her as she was about to pour her mixture in the pan, and she frowned as she put down the ceramic bowl. She hadn’t heard a car, but when she glanced out the window above the sink, she saw the official vehicle parked behind her Jeep.
Emily Stone, tall and solid, dirty blond hair harshly subdued into a neat bun, light-blue eyes piercing beneath the brim of her cap, dipped her head briefly when Lana opened the door. “Good morning, Mrs. Mills, I just stopped by to make sure everything was all right.”
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