Paradise Falls (28 page)

The storm raging outside was nothing to the storm building inside him. The need to take her was becoming an overpowering force. One he fought to bank. She was an innocent, and he was determined to make this as memorable as possible. It was, after all, the only thing he could give her.

And so he brushed soft, whispered kisses over her face, her lips, her throat, while his hands, those big, rough hands, moved over her with a sort of reverence, igniting fires wherever they touched.

He touched her everywhere, with teeth and tongue and fingertips. At times so gently it was like a whispered caress, at other times with a frantic rush that had her heart racing, her breathing harsh and ragged, and her body aching for more.

She could feel the coiled tension within him, and the valiant effort he made to control it. Knowing that she was the reason for it aroused and excited her in a way that nothing else could. She responded with a freedom she never would have dreamed possible. What was it about this man that she knew instinctively that she could trust him with her heart, her mind, her body?

Their kisses grew more heated as his hands explored more intimately. Gray thought of all the fantasies he’d enjoyed since first seeing her. No fantasy could compare with this flesh and blood woman in his arms. When he brought his mouth to her breast, she gave a gasp of surprise at the shock waves that rippled through her.

She clutched at him, and he saw the look of alarm in her eyes. At once his touch gentled, allowing her to relax in his arms. His kisses, too, gentled, as he traveled down her neck, across her shoulder, before burying his lips in the sensitive hollow of her throat.

Steeped in pleasure, she began to drift on a web of the most amazing sensations.

With quiet patience he led her to a new level of trust. He could see it in her eyes. Sense it in her whispered sighs and quiet, steady heartbeat. Feel it in the way she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him ever deeper into her silken web.

He shed the last of his clothes and tossed them aside before gathering her close in an embrace that had her pressed to the length of him. He could feel the change in her—could see it in her eyes. Passion, that had been slumbering, was now ignited into a flame of need that had her returning his kisses with the kind of wild abandon he’d only dreamed of.

His fingers tangled in her hair, and he drew her head back while his lips covered hers in a savage, possessive kiss.

For the space of a moment she hesitated, as though startled by this change in him. Then, as his passion fueled hers, she leaned into him, inviting more.

Hadn’t she always sensed this darker side of him? Wasn’t it this mysterious, brooding man who had first captured her heart? Now she found herself drawn into his darkness. The controlled passion in his kisses made her shudder. She felt the same trembling response in him each time she returned his kisses. With a single touch he could take her higher than she’d ever believed possible.

He touched her everywhere. Where his fingers trailed, his mouth followed, until she felt as though her body had become a bright, hot torch, burning only for him.

“Wait, Gray. I need a moment.”

“And I need you. This.” Beyond hearing, driven by a blinding, desperate desire, he took her on a dizzying, heart-stopping ride, taking her ever higher and higher. With teeth and lips and tongue he drove her. With his fingertips he pleasured her. He found her, hot and wet, and took her up and over the first peak.

Stunned, she clutched at him, unable to do more than cry his name as her body shuddered. Instead of offering her the relief she sought, he took her again, leaving her no time to recover her senses.

Her body had become a mass of nerve endings. Her mind so blinded by need, she could no longer think. Only feel.

She touched him as he was touching her and was amazed at his quivering response. Reveling in her power, she grew bolder, bringing her mouth across his shoulder, down his chest, and lower, to explore and pleasure him as he had pleasured her.

Pleasure became need. Need was close to madness. He could feel it rising up, taking over his will. Still he held back, wanting to take her to the very edge with him.

Like a man too long starved, he feasted on her as though he would never have enough. In turn he fed her with his kisses. Like one who had glimpsed paradise, he was determined to take them both there. Each time his passion threatened to slip out of control, he eased back until it was contained. All the while he drove her higher, until she writhed and moaned beneath him.

The heat from the stove mingled with the heat of their bodies, until they were slick with sheen. Their throats were clogged, their breathing ragged. And still they were lost in the passion they’d unleashed.

Fiona’s world had narrowed to this room. This man. The scrape of his big, rough hands over her skin was more erotic than anything she could have imagined. The taste of him, dark and mysterious, filled her lungs. The feel of those muscled arms gave her pleasure beyond belief.

She shuddered and strained as he moved over her, his flesh as hot and wet as hers. She had long thought of lovemaking as a single act. Now she knew that it was so much more—hunger and need and trust.

Gray loved watching her. The way her eyes widened with each new surprise. The way her body arched for him, before going limp with each new spear of white, hot pleasure. The way she focused on him, as though he’d become the center of her universe.

He had thought he was teaching her the ways of love, but at the first touch of that exquisite body, he’d found himself completely lost. His sweet, innocent Fiona had become, with but a single touch, a temptress, taking him on a path he’d never known before. And he delighted in it. And in her.

He knew it was impossible to hold back the needs that were clawing at him, fighting to be free. Though he struggled to resist, the need was too great. The thought of taking her, hard and fast, had him trembling.

He felt her gasp as he brought his mouth down her body. Felt her shudder as she rode another wave of pleasure.

Her eyes opened, and he felt himself drowning in those soft blue depths. He allowed himself to sink deep as he entered her.

She didn’t think it possible to absorb any more pleasure, but now she wrapped herself around him, drawing him in. And then she was moving with him. Climbing with him. She felt this incredible strength, as though she could fly to the heavens and beyond.

His eyes were steady on hers as he cried out her name. It was the last coherent thought before they slipped beyond anything of this world.

Together they leaped into space.

And soared.

* * *

They lay still joined, their breathing ragged, bodies slick with sheen, and waited for their world to settle. When he found his breath Gray touched a hand to her cheek. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” It was all she could manage.

He withdrew his hand and stared at the drops of moisture on his fingertips. Tears? His heart stopped as he propped himself on one elbow and stared down at her. “I’ve made you cry.”

“No, Gray. It isn’t you. It’s us. This was so...” She struggled to find a word. “Incredible.”

He felt his heart begin to beat again. “I didn’t hurt you?”

“Hurt me? Oh, Gray. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced.” She felt suddenly shy. “Is it always like that?”

“It can be. When two people take care with each other.” He gave her a long, measuring look. “You’re so beautiful, Fiona. I still can’t believe you’re here with me.”

“Believe it.” Now it was her turn to touch a hand to his face. Delighted with such freedom, she sat up and gently pressed him back against the blanket.

“What are you doing?”

“What I’ve long wished I could do.” She traced a finger over the curve of his eyebrows. “Such amazing eyes you have, Gray. I swear you can see clear through to my soul.”

“A myth. But I’d be happy to let you go on believing that.” Oddly content, he folded his arms behind his head.

“Such thick, dark brows. I’ve watched them knit together in anger, or lift in surprise.” She moved her finger over his nose. “And this perfect, noble nose. It suits this noble face.”

“Noble?” He grinned. “I’ve never thought of my face as anything but plain.”

“That’s because you have no vanity. Hush now, and indulge me.” She followed the slope of his cheek to his lips. “Oh, this mouth. I’d never dreamed it could bring such pleasure.”

He couldn’t help but be drawn into her playful mood. “Just one of my many talents, Miss Downey.”

“I can see that. How many more, I wonder, have you been keeping hidden from the world?”

“If the storm keeps up, we may have endless hours to uncover all manner of secrets.”

She gave a delighted laugh. “Who would have thought that a blizzard could bring us so much happiness?”

“Who indeed?” Unable to contain himself any longer, he pulled her down on top of him and kissed her long and slow and deep. Against her mouth he muttered, “Would you like to see what else I can do?”

“There’s more?”

“So much more, Fiona.”

Her eyes widened as she became aware of his arousal. “Again? Can you? Can we? Truly? Now? Oh, I can’t wait to learn everything.”

He found himself laughing at her innocence, and in the next instant groaning as she wriggled over him and brought her mouth to his throat.

He rolled her over and gathered her close, covering her mouth with his. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather teach about the mysteries of love and life than you, teacher.”

* * *

“Gray.” Fiona’s voice, soft as a whisper in the midnight shadows, brought him out of his reverie.

He’d been floating. Drifting on a cloud of such contentment. He would have never believed his life could take such a strange turn. Days before he’d been feeling alone, adrift, cut off from all that he’d known and loved, and now he was lying in the arms of an angel, feeling happier than he would have ever thought possible.

He’d carried her to the big sofa in the parlor, where they lay amidst a tangle of arms and legs, warm, content, and pleasantly sated.

On the hearth, the coals gleamed red-hot, sending off an occasional spark.

“Hmmm?” He turned his face to hers, while his fingers played with a strand of her hair.

“I never had a brother or sister, but I always thought it would be nice to have someone I could turn to, in times of trouble.” Just thinking about the shocking deaths of her parents had her wishing again that she’d had someone who understood that loss.

He drew her close. “I wish you did, too. I’m afraid my family wasn’t much comfort to you.”

“I wasn’t thinking about me, but about you and Flem. Something has caused a wall between you.”

She felt him begin to withdraw and immediately regretted her words. “I’m sorry, Gray. I shouldn’t pry.”

“You have a right to know.” After a lengthy silence he said, “There were so many little things, but I always over looked them, because it had been drummed into my head that I should take care of my younger brother. Clean up after him. Finish what he started. It was obvious to everyone but Ma that he’d become her pampered darling. I didn’t mind until...” He paused, and Fiona could see his eyes narrow in thought. “Three years ago Foster Enders...” He felt the need to explain. “Foster owned the dry goods store in town, before selling it to the Schneider family and moving away.”

Fiona nodded, though she had no idea where this might lead.

“Foster and his wife took in a niece, Amelia. She was sweet. Young—no more than fifteen. She and Flem...” He paused, choosing his words. “Apparently fell in love. When she learned that there was a baby coming, she went to Flem. He refused to marry her.”

“But why? I thought you said they fell in love.”

Gray nodded. “I thought so, too. Whatever the reason, Flem told me that he’d rejected her. I knew what would happen to her if the townspeople should find out, so I went to her uncle and asked for her hand in marriage.”

“You? But why?”

“Because it was the right thing to do. I reasoned that if Flem wouldn’t step up to his responsibility, I’d do it in his place. But I was too late. I learned that, overcome with shame and remorse, Amelia had gone to a woman in Little Bavaria who had offered to help her get rid of the baby. She was already in bed with an infection. Three days later she was dead.”

“Oh, Gray. How horrible. She was so young.” In the silence that followed she said softly, “But you can take comfort in the fact that you tried to do the right thing for her. Her family must have been grateful.”

“Grateful?” He spoke the word on a sneer. “The Enders family, and most of the others in town who heard, believed it was my baby.”

“You never told them the truth?”

“And break my mother’s heart?” He sighed. “What was the point? It was too late to do anything for Amelia or the baby.”

“But your own mother believes the worst about you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Fiona.”

“But it does. Why should you take the blame for something Flem did?”

He shook his head. “Let it go, Fiona.”

“Oh, Gray. You’re...”
So good
, she thought.
So fine.
But all she said aloud was, “Truly a better brother than Flem deserves.”

She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her mouth to his, pouring into that kiss all the love, all the emotions that were overflowing her heart. And then, with soft sighs and whispered words, she showed him, in the only way she could, just how very much he mattered to her.

F
iona yawned and stretched.

“It’s about time you woke up, sleepyhead.”

At the sound of Gray’s voice her eyes snapped open. He was lying beside her, propped on one elbow, staring at her with that same intensity that always caused her heart to flutter wildly.

She shoved a tangle of curls from her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Just looking at you.”

Sometime in the early hours of the morning they’d left the cramped confines of the sofa and Gray had carried her upstairs to his bed. A curious Chester had trailed behind and now lay dozing in front of the hearth.