“Calm down, Seth. I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it.”
Seth put his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry, darling, but it’s just that I’m fired up about this.”
“To answer your question about overdoses. So far I haven’t seen anyone whom I suspect is using, but I did have a patient who called me a litany of curses because I told him all prescriptions are forwarded electronically to pharmacies. There was no doubt he was looking for a paper script so he could change the prescribed quantity.” Natalia saved the edits on a thumb drive and powered down the laptop and rested her head on his shoulder.”
“Thanks for your input on this.”
Shifting on the stool, Natalia turned and stared at the man with whom she was falling in love. Six weeks ago she never could have imagined meeting and getting involved with a man, but he’d won her over with his patience and generosity. They were making out but hadn’t crossed the line to have sex. She looked forward to coming home and sharing dinner with him, and then sitting together in his basement to watch movies, sports or just sit and listen to music. The space that was converted for entertaining and relaxing had become her favorite room in the house.
They’d developed a habit of dimming the recessed lights and reclining together on the sheepskin area rug.
“I’ll do it,” Natalia said in a hushed voice.
Seth froze. “Do what?”
“I’ll make the presentation to the town council.”
He blinked slowly. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Now kiss me so we can seal the deal.”
One second she was sitting on the stool and the next she found herself in Seth’s arms as he covered her mouth with his and siphoned the breath from her lungs. She went pliant in his embrace while luxuriating in his mouth staking his claim. Her hands were as busy as his as she searched under his T-shirt to run her fingers up and down his back, encountering sinew and muscle when she explored his magnificent body.
He tugged at the hem of her shirt and eased it up and over her head in one smooth motion. The sexual tension, simmering below surface, threatened to explode.
His gorgeous face and body occupied her thoughts when she was awake or asleep. Everything about him invaded her dreams and when she woke it was to her traitorous body throbbing for release.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Natalia pulled Seth’s head down and she kissed him with all of the passion she had withheld from every man in her past. Her lips caressed his until they parted, and she swallowed his breath as their tongues met in a slow, heated joining that sent shock waves throughout her body.
* * *
Seth’s hands slipped down the length of Natalia’s back, cupping her hips as he pressed his groin to her body. A turbulent rising desire held him in a stranglehold that rendered him slightly light-headed. He had to stop kissing her, put some distance between them or embarrass himself when he spilled his passion like a bumbling adolescent in his first sexual encounter. His hands came up and he cradled her face between his palms, breaking off the kiss. Bending slightly, he picked her up, took the stairs to the first story and then the second where he took long strides down the hallway.
Seth carried Natalia into his bedroom and placed her on the bed, his body following hers down. The glow from the dimmed bedside table lamp provided the only source of illumination as he tried to make out her expression.
Would he be able to satisfy her? Would making love with her be different from the other women? The questions kept coming, bombarding Seth relentlessly. Why did it matter so much with Natalia? But he knew the answer before the questions had flooded his mind.
It mattered because she was different, and he had fallen in love with her. He loved her enough to offer his protection, and he loved her enough to want to plan a future with her. He took her face in his hands again. “There’s something you need to know before we take this further.” Seth registered her intake of breath.
“What is it?”
There came a beat, the sound of their heavy, measured breathing shattering the fragile silence. “I love you.”
Chapter Eleven
The emotion in Seth’s soft drawling voice triggered a rush of tears Natalia was helpless to hold in check. The tears overflowed, trickled down her cheeks and landed on Seth’s hands when he covered her breasts over her bra. Slowly he removed the lacy garment. She bit down on her lip as his fingers traced the outline of one breast, and then the other. A rush of heat and moisture bathed her core. She pressed her knees together as the throbbing increased.
Natalia let out a soulful moan when Seth’s mouth replaced his hands. He suckled her at the same time he slid a hand under the drawstring waistband on the cotton lounging pants and caressed her mound. Her head thrashed back and forth. Seth was making her feel things she either had never experienced, or if she did—forgotten. Love and lust merged in a tumultuous passion that made it impossible for her not to move her hips.
Seth pulled a nipple into his mouth, nipping it gently, before giving the other equal attention. He had managed to temper his desire for Natalia because he wanted to offer a passion that would make her forget every man she had known. Forget them because he wanted to become the last man in her life.
“Oh, no!” she gasped.
His head popped up. “What’s the matter, baby?” His query was filled with concern.
“Do it, Seth,” she pleaded. “Please.”
Seth removed her pants and panties, and then undressed himself. He couldn’t see, but felt Natalia’s eyes following him as he removed a condom from the drawer of the bedside table, and with steady hands he ripped open the packet and slipped the latex sheath over his erection. Natalia’s sensual feminine perfume wafted to his nostrils as he moved over her. He spread her legs with his knee and positioned himself at her entrance.
He buried his face between her neck and shoulder, and breathed a kiss on the fragrant skin. “Stop me if I hurt you.”
“Don’t talk, Seth. Just do it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered in her ear.
Natalia closed her eyes and exhaled a slow, audible moan of pleasure when Seth slowly eased his sex inside her. A shared sigh echoed in the room once he was fully sheathed, their bodies fused in a joining that made them one. Her lips quivered as passions cut a swathe up and down her body. His slow, gentle lovemaking swept away doubts and she gave into the passion holding her captive. The fire at the top of her thighs flared even hotter with Seth’s quickened thrusts that awakened a response so deep their coming together became an act of complete possession. They lay together, limbs entwined as the seconds ticked into minutes. Seth kissed her forehead.
“Don’t move. I have to throw away the condom.”
A hint of a smile parted Natalia’s lips as she turned over on her belly and closed her eyes. Never had she experienced such an incredible sense of fulfillment. Seth returned, slipped into bed beside her and rested an arm over her hips. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was his admission that he loved her.
* * *
Three days later, Natalia handed Mya a large canvas bag filled with half a dozen bottles of wine when she opened the door to her ring, while Seth cradled two cases of beer against his chest. “You said you didn’t want us to bring food, so we decided you could always use some liquid refreshment.”
Mya pressed her cheek to Natalia’s, and then to Seth’s. “Thank you. Please come in. Everyone’s out back.”
Natalia followed Mya into a house with open rooms, high ceilings and columns that matched the porch posts. French doors and windows let in light and offered an unobstructed view of the outdoors. Wide mullions in the off-white kitchen cabinet doors were details repeated in the home’s many windows. The tongue-and-groove plank ceiling, off-white walls, cooking island and breakfast nook reflected comfortable family living.
“Your home is beautiful, Mya.”
; Mya smiled over her shoulder. “Thank you. I grew up in this house and I had it updated after my parents passed away.”
Natalia learned that many residents who’d grown up and stayed in their hometown continued to live in the same house where they were raised. Many of the properties were passed down from generation to generation. And those who’d paid off their mortgages were able to update their homes.
Thinking about homes caused a mysterious smile to soften her mouth when she recalled waking up to enjoy slow, tender lovemaking with Seth. After their initial sexual encounter, it was as if they couldn’t get enough of each other, and most nights found her sleeping under his roof. Their relationship had none of the angst she had experienced with Daryl and it was as if Natalia was waiting for something to happen to shatter the happiness that had evaded her. He was out of the house before her and home most nights before her. They weren’t able to firm up plans to go fishing or hiking because he now had more administrative responsibility as the head of the sheriff’s department. Roger had put in and was approved for an eight-week medical leave, which meant Seth had to attend weekly departmental meetings. He had submitted his proposal to the mayor who said he wouldn’t be able to present it to the council members until after Labor Day. The council members had voted unanimously two years ago to cancel the June, July and August meetings because of low turnout.
Mya opened the French doors leading to the patio and outdoor kitchen and garden. “I’m glad it stopped raining and it’s not so cool because then we would have to eat indoors.”
The patients who came into the clinic complained to Natalia about not seeing the sun for days and with the relentless rain their children were forced to stay inside much to the chagrin of their parents. “The weather is really nice today.” The sun was shining and the afternoon temperatures were in the mid-seventies. She’d selected a pale blue slip dress ending at her knees with wide bands that crisscrossed her bare back.
“Look who’s here,” Mya called when they stepped out onto an expansive patio with an outdoor kitchen.
Giles stood up and came over to greet them. “Let me take those from you,” he said to Seth. “Damn, dude, these are heavy.” Mya cut her eyes at her husband. “Sorry about that. The D-word just slipped out.”
Mya set the bag down on the flagstone floor next to a built-in refrigerator. “Giles, can you please put the wine in the fridge while I introduce Natalia and Seth to everyone.”
Natalia smiled and offered the obligatory greeting when Mya acquainted her with her husband’s cousins. There was something in Jordan Wainwright’s bearing that reminded her of the preppy boys who’d attended college with her. He was tall, dark and handsome with cropped black hair and large hazel eyes that appeared even lighter in his deeply tanned face.
Noah Wainwright shared Jordan’s and Giles’s height, but that’s where the resemblance ended. His shaggy ash-blond hair looked as if he’d styled it with his fingers rather than a comb. Natalia felt as if someone had dropped an ice cube down her back when he stared boldly at her with a pair of blue eyes that seemingly lacked warmth until he smiled. A slender African American woman, carrying a baby boy, came out of the house with Lily who ran over to wrap her arms around Mya’s leg. “Natalia, Seth, this beautiful lady is Aziza, Jordan’s wife, and the precious cargo she’s holding is their son, Maxwell.”
“Oh my,” Natalia whispered. “He’s beautiful.” The little boy had inherited his father’s swarthy complexion and his mother features. Dark curly hair covered a perfectly rounded little head.
Aziza smiled. “Would you like to hold him? And don’t worry—I just changed him.”
Natalia took the baby from his mother and cradled him.
She stared into the chubby face with the same eyes as his father’s. “You are so handsome, Maxwell,” she crooned. “How old are you, Maxwell? Looking at you I’d say you’re about six or seven months.”
“He’s seven months. How did you know?” Aziza asked.
“She’s a doctor,” Mya said, as she attempted to pry Lily’s arms from around her leg. “And her boyfriend is the town’s sheriff.”
Giles walked over and handed Seth a bottle of beer. “And I’ve heard he’s whipped the sheriff’s department into shape since taking over. Natalia, can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m going to wait before I have a beer.”
Aziza tightened the elastic band holding her shoulder-length ponytail in place. “I need something a little stronger than a beer now that I’m not breastfeeding.”
“How about wine?” Giles asked Aziza.
“Wine’s good. Once he got those two little teeth and he began biting me, I knew it was time to stop.”
“Does he take the bottle?” Natalia asked.
Aziza nodded. “I alternated giving him a bottle so he wouldn’t be that dependent on the breast. By the way, do you and Seth have kids?”
“No. We just started seeing each other.”
Aziza stared at Seth as he laughed at something Jordan said. “Now that’s one fine brother.”
Natalia couldn’t stop the heat suffusing her face. “He is okay.”
Bending slightly, Mya picked up Lily. “Stop playing yourself, Natalia. You know your man is fine and so do more than half the female population in The Falls.”
“Okay. He’s fine.”
“Speaking of fine brothers, Aziza’s brother Alexander Fleming is a ten.”
Natalia gave Aziza an incredulous stare. “Your brother is Alex Fleming, the football player?”
Aziza nodded. “Yes. He keeps saying this is his last year, but he just signed another one-year contract. Brandt Wainwright has been bugging him to quit and together they can set up a sports camp for kids whose parents can’t afford to send their kids to a sleepaway camp.”
With wide eyes, Natalia said, “These are those Wainwrights?” Somehow she hadn’t linked Giles with the New York real estate family when Mya said he traveled to New York and the Bahamas for business.
“In living color,” Aziza said jokingly.
Natalia wondered how many other people in The Falls realized that a multimillionaire lived among them. Although she wasn’t prone to gossip, she had overheard the clinic staff mention Sawyer Middleton’s name when they mentioned he’d left Wickham Falls to join the military and returned years later a very wealthy man.
She wondered if it had been a culture shock for Giles to move from what probably was a luxury Manhattan high-rise to a modest two-story farmhouse in rural West Virginia. Wainwright and Middleton. Now she had two more names to add to Seth’s list of possible donors for the drug counseling treatment center.
She claimed a seat, still holding Maxwell who’d fallen asleep with his head resting against her breasts. Inhaling the scent associated with babies, she closed her eyes and savored the warmth of the tiny body on hers. She and Daryl had briefly talked about whether they would have children, and she suspected he was conflicted as to whether he wanted to become a father. Becoming a father meant it would take some of her attention off him and Daryl’s ego was too fragile if she ignored him for any appreciable amount of time.
Jordan came over and held out his hands. “I’ll take him and put him to bed. Zee reads me the riot act if I hold him when he’s sleeping.”
Reluctantly, she handed the baby to his father. When she glanced up she discovered Seth staring at her with a strange look on his face, and she wondered if he was thinking about the child his wife had that he hadn’t been able to claim.
Once Jordan returned Mya announced it was time to eat. She’d set a table with napkins, plates, flatware, wineglasses and water goblets. The men were recruited to carry platters of gilled ribs, chicken, corn-on-the-cob, mac and cheese and baked beans to the table. Giles uncorked bottles of red, white and rosé, while Noah had filled several pitchers with beer from a keg. Mya put Lily in a high chair at one end of the rectan
gular table.
Platters were passed around and all conversation ceased as everyone concentrated on eating. Giles sheepishly admitted that Mya had prepared everything and he’d been recruited to make certain the meat didn’t burn. Natalia wanted to tell him he needed Seth to teach him how to cook.
* * *
The sun had moved lower and the trees surrounding the property shaded the patio with lengthening shadows as Seth folded his body down onto a chair and stretched out his legs. He definitely had eaten too much. All of the food had been put away and the women had retreated inside, while he, Giles, Jordan and Noah were content to talk about everything from politics to sports.
It was the first full day off he’d had since stepping into the position as acting sheriff. He’d given Andy more responsibility with the hope the man would step up but to no avail. The deputies from Mineral Springs had come to him complaining that Andy tended to be condescending when supervising them, and Seth knew he had to talk to the man or he’d lose the deputies.
His cell phone vibrated and he retrieved it from the pocket of his walking shorts. “What’s up, Connor?”
“You told us to let you know about all drug incidents. And we just got a call about a drug situation at the Gainers over on Tanner Road.”
He shot up. “What’s the situation?”
“The grandmother said one of her grandkids got a hold of something and he’s having problems breathing.”
“Call the EMTs. I’m on my way.” He ended the call. “I’m sorry, I have an emergency and I have to leave.” Seth raced inside the house and found Natalia sitting in the living room with Aziza and Mya. “I’m leaving.”
She stood. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a possible OD.”
Natalia reached for her tote. “I’m coming with you. I always carry naloxone with me.”
Seth took her hand and together they raced across the road and got into the Charger. He floored the gas and within seconds the speedometer exceeded sixty miles per hour. He came to a screeching halt and was out of the car and running up the porch when the door opened.
The Sheriff 0f Wickham Falls (Wickham Falls Weddings Book 3) Page 15