He walked her into the lobby, where three people were standing by the desk. He ached to take her in his arms and kiss her till they both ached with need for each other, but he couldn’t do it here. He hesitated, thinking it might be best to say good night and leave.
“Come on up.” Emma nodded toward the stairs. Grateful, he followed her.
* * *
Emma’s hand trembled as she turned the key in the lock. Last night, when she’d held John in her arms, he’d been weak and injured. But he appeared to have made a good recovery. It was a very different John who followed her into the room and locked the door behind them. The room was dark. Neither of them turned on the light.
She wasn’t sure what to expect. She only knew that she felt safe with him, and that she loved him.
“Come here.” He caught the ties of her apron, turned her around, and gathered her close. His kiss was deep and hungry, his mouth devouring hers. She went molten in his arms, loving the feel of him, the taste of him, wanting his hands in all the places her grandmother had warned her she should never let a man touch. She could feel the hard ridge of his maleness against her hips. She knew what it was, and she wasn’t afraid.
She offered no resistance as he lowered her to the bed, then stretched out on his side, next to her. His kisses became gentle and tender as he cradled her close. “You know what I want, Emma,” he said, brushing her hair back from her face.
“I know.” She reached down and skimmed the fastening of his jeans with a fingertip that trembled slightly. What did she know about lovemaking? Her experience was limited to what she’d read in books and a few bouts of awkward groping from college boys that had left her feeling vaguely dirty. This shimmering, burning ache that surged through her body was like awakening to magic. She wanted to go where it was taking her—where he was taking her.
“What are you thinking?” He had propped himself on one elbow and was looking down at her in the darkness. “Are you afraid?”
“Only afraid that I’ll do something stupid to spoil it for you.”
He kissed her, his fingers fumbling with the buttons on her uniform. “Silly woman, nothing you could do would be stupid. But I really would like to get you out of this godawful outfit.”
Feeling bolder, she asked, “Remember the last time I undressed and made you look away?”
He laughed. “Are you offering to let me look this time?”
“Do you want to?”
“I want a front row seat.” He sat up, took her hands, and helped her off the bed. The room was dark, but enough moonlight filtered through the blinds for them to see each other.
She started on the buttons; but then he stood up, clasped her in his arms, and kissed her long and hard. “I have a better idea,” he murmured huskily. “Let’s undress each other.”
They started gently, Emma shy at first. But as the urgency caught like flame to tinder, they were soon tearing at each other’s clothes, hungry to caress each other skin to skin.
John’s naked body was like sculpted bronze, smooth, solid, and strong. She couldn’t get enough of touching him, all of him. He moaned as she stroked him, stunned by her own boldness. When he broke away for a moment she wondered why, then realized it was to protect her.
He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her between his knees
. She pressed his head against her as he kissed her breasts, burying his face in the cleft between them. For the space of a long breath they clung like that. Then he pulled her into the bed. She was ready for him, all fear and hesitation gone. John was making love to her, her body responding to his, soaring in a world of beautiful sensations.
It was, perhaps, the best moment of her whole life.
Afterward, as she lay curled in contentment, he slipped out of bed and began pulling on his clothes.
“Can’t you stay?” She looked up at him, wondering how it could be possible to love someone so much.
“I need to go now,” he said. “I’ll be meeting the troopers at first light. But the next time we make love, I don’t want to have to get up and leave you. I want to lie all night with you in my arms, then wake up and do it all over again.”
“I think I’d like that,” she whispered.
“I’ll make sure you like it.” He leaned over and feathered a kiss across her lips. “I’ll call you when I get back from the trailer site,” he said. “If you don’t hear from me, you’ll know that I’m still with the troopers, and we’re still looking for evidence.”
“Be careful,” she said.
“And you be careful, too. Stay in the hotel. Don’t go out alone for any reason. Someday soon, this will all be over, Emma. It’s got to be.”
He leaned down for a last, lingering kiss. Then he turned, crossed the room, and stepped out into the dimly lit hall. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Emma alone.
* * *