Lifting his chin, he looked up at me with troubled eyes. “I’ve had stress-dreams since the attack that sent me home. Explosions, fire, everything you described to me. Things you couldn’t have known.”
My eyes heated with tears, and I placed my palms on his cheeks. “My nightmares?”
His head dropped, and he ground out a reply. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
I kissed his temple, then I turned and placed my cheek on it. “What made you believe me? What did you dream?”
“The dream changed. It was similar, but little things were different.” He moved, and I leaned back so our eyes could meet. “The pain was worse. I was in agony…”
Images of my own dream flooded my mind. The burning, him lying on the sand.
“Just when I thought I’d die there, something cool touched my cheek. Small hands held my lips and gave me water. It was you.”
I didn’t know what to say. I’d never had this experience before, so I’d never talked about it with my grandmother. Clearly it was significant, but why? I didn’t know if we were being sent a message or if it was a sign. I wasn’t sure I cared.
Tracing my finger down his arm, I felt a tinge of insecurity. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me.”
“I can safely say it’s never happened to me.”
Not meeting his eyes, I had to ask. “What do you want to do about it?”
A finger hooked under my chin, lifting my gaze to his. “I want to make love to you. Then I want to take you back to Montana. I’ve heard a wedding’s happening there. Two people we both know and love. After that, I’m going to take you to the cabin, and we’re going to spend more time getting to know everything about each other.”
The smile that started at the words “make love to you” grew bigger, spreading across my face more with every word. “I love that plan.”
His eyes grew serious. “I love you, Mariska Renee Heron.” A light kiss. “You loved me when I wasn’t strong enough to love myself, let alone you.”
“I had no choice,” I smiled, kissing him back. “I saw you and my soul came to life inside me. All the reasons no one was ever good enough made sense. They weren’t you.”
We held each other. I was still on his lap, facing him in a straddle, the promise of lovemaking hung in the air. Leaning into his ear, I whispered. “Does your back hurt?”
“It’s a little tense. I’d like a massage if you feel like it.”
Standing I held my hand down. He took it and stood without putting any pressure on me. I led him to my bedroom, and he shrugged out of the jeans he wore. Nothing was underneath. My eyes ached at the site of his beautiful body.
“Lie across the bed,” I said.
He swept the duvet back and lay on his stomach across my double bed. It was just like the first time, me drooling over his perfect ass, tight with those palm-sized indentions on each side. I climbed up and sat beside him, and when I placed my palm to his skin, we both exhaled. We’d been here before, and I’d dreamed of being here again so many times.
Pressing my hands against his muscles, I kneaded with my thumbs until the tension released. Working my way down, I applied pressure, loving his skin, the relaxation of his muscles.
I slid tentative fingers lightly down the arch of his back, up over the rise of his ass. Leaning forward, I feathered a kiss against the side of his derriere. His breath hitched louder, and I kissed a trail up to the top. I skipped over to the other side, and followed another trail across the other perfect cheek.
My braid slid across my shoulder and fell across his back, and he groaned. It was a deep, rumbling sound, and satisfaction unfurled in my tummy. Parting my lips, I took a little bite of that luscious bum, and before I could blink, large hands gripped my arms, moving me up to his body.
“That’s enough.” I was under him and his strong mouth claimed mine. He was rough and demanding, but now so was I.
I threaded my fingers in his hair and pulled, claiming his in return, biting his lip. He groaned and tightened his hold on my arms. He grew rougher, and the excitement in me grew as well.
“Roll over,” he ordered.
I turned onto my stomach, and he spread my legs. “Ass up.”
Arching my back, I tingled with the thought he co
uld see all of me until with one swift plunge, he was deep inside.
“Oh!” My voice was muffled in the pillows. He caught my arms and held them crossed over my back, using them for leverage as he slammed into me harder.