Lies of the Heart (16 page)

“But, there’s so many people against us. Our own families especially,” she added, searching his gaze. Her green eyes were mixed with hope and trepidation.

Caressing her jaw with his knuckles, he wondered out loud, “Is it possible for us to have a normal life, though?”

Sadness clouded her features and she hung her head down. “No,” she choked out, tearing him in two.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to the crown of her head. “Why not? Why not us, sunshine? Huh? I can’t explain it, but with you it’s like I’m not broken inside anymore.” He felt the tops of his cheeks grow warm with his confession.

“Me, too. You’re the only one who understands me.”

His chest swelled with pride at her words. For once in his life, he’d helped someone somehow; he heard it in her voice, felt it in every fiber of her being when he held her close like now.

Longing for her expanded and grew, rolling through him. “Tessa, honey, I want you.”

“But?”

“No, sunshine, there’s no buts tonight,” he answered with such conviction it shook him.

Pulling back, she sought, and then found his gaze. A shaky laugh escaped her parted lips. “Do you mean it, really?”

He smiled down at her, a half smile that pulled at his mouth. “Yeah, I do.” Drawing in a deep, shaky breath his insides trembled. He’d been programmed to hate her since the day she’d been born, yet somehow he could never bring himself to. Still, he’d stayed away as much as possible. At least, if not physically, he’d kept his emotional distance. Until now.

She shivered. “I’m kinda scared,” she admitted breathlessly.

“Me, too.” The words, thick and husky, tumbled out of their own accord.

Her eyes widened, becoming a liquid green. “It’s as if we’re breaking the rules, somehow. You know, going against our families.” Her voice cracked on the last and a river of empathy rushed through him.

“In a way, we are.” Loyalty had propelled both of them to hold back from each other. In essence, it was the strongest restraining device possible. Her granny had counted on that. His conscious reared up then. “Are you sure you want to? It could change everything.”

He held his breath while waiting for her answer. She had much more to lose than he did. He had to let her make that decision on her own. Blood roared in his ears and he swallowed hard.

She gave him her answer with the sweetest, most gentle kiss. Her soft lips grazed his once, and then twice, and then three times, before settling on his and deepening the embrace.

He groaned. Circling his arms around her, he pulled her close, drinking from the peach-flavored lips he’d dreamt so much about. “Tessa,” he mumbled her name against her skin as he trailed kisses over her jaw, and then back to capture her lips once again.

Stroking her back, he welcomed her warmth and softness. It was as if she was a precious treasure he had to handle with care. And he would, even if it killed him.

With infinite care, he unfastened her hair from her upswept hairdo. Wild, red curls spilled free, tumbling around her shoulders. He sucked in a sharp breath, not quite able to fathom the beautiful woman who was legally his.

Everything he did was new, yet every movement he made, every stroke of her hair, every shared whisper seemed so familiar as if he’d done the same thing before. His dream, he thought, recalling how at times it had been so vivid it haunted him.

Wonder bubbled inside him, threatening to encompass him. Slightly lightheaded, he gathered in a deep breath. “This seems so unreal, so…I can’t describe it,” he murmured, peppering kisses along her jaw, and then stopping at her earlobe to suckle it.

Her soft moan vibrated through him, making him shiver in need. “Magic,” she said. “It’s magic.”

Right at this moment he would’ve swore he’d heard her say that before, but for the life of him he couldn’t recall when or where. Surely she was making him lose his mind? That had to be it.

Reaching out, she touched his bare skin where his shirt veed, sending a thrill through his body. And he knew if he’d had any part of his mind left before now he certainly didn’t any longer.

Moments later, he shed his shirt and welcomed her warm fingers trailing down his chest. She stopped at his belt. “Too soon,” she said with a smile in her voice.

Groaning, he protested, “No, not soon enough.”

Her husky laugh washed over him and he smiled in return. “Tsk, tsk, Chance.” She dropped a tender kiss on one of his nipples. He jerked in response, as if a hot poker lanced through him.

With his eyes half closed, he watched as she slowly discarded her clothes, one agonizing piece at a time. Her sexy, secretive grin nearly had him losing control.
Just like my dream.
When she tugged off her panties, his heart leapt to his throat.

“Oh God, Tessa.” He licked his suddenly dry lips, and then swallowed hard. Tall and willowy she stood before him, exposing every lush curve and alabaster inch of her gorgeous body. “You’re so beautiful.” The words sounded as if they came from a distance. He couldn’t tell what was real anymore; his dream seemed to be coming alive right before his eyes as she stepped closer and danced around him, grazing his flaming hot flesh.

When her bare breasts skimmed over his back, his knees nearly buckled. Still barely touching him, she stretched up, and then whispered in his ear, “Like that?”

A moan rippled through him. “Love that and everything else you’re doing to me, teaser.”

She giggled at that, her sweet breath rushing over him. He shivered again. It was exactly as his dream, but better, he realized. His lips still tasted like hers, peaches and cream. And her lavender scent enveloped him. But it was her touch, soft and warm, that lingered in his senses and became imprinted in his mine. He longed to hold onto that sensation for as long as he lived.

He felt her spread her soft, warm hands over his muscles, first his back, and then his shoulders, and onto his biceps. Next, she reached around and with infinite patience she slipped the button through the loop on his jeans and tugged the zipper down. The sound tore through the air and had his heart lurching in anticipation.

“So much wasted time,” she murmured. “But not anymore.”

He was too engrossed with the way she drew his pants down over his hips to comment on her saying that in his dream, too. Giving in to her soft demands, he shed the rest of his clothes, dropping them in a heap on the floor. Standing again, he waited with bated breath at her next move.

“Close your eyes,” she whispered hoarsely.

He obeyed her as a bolt of desire sliced through him. She didn’t make him wait long; she resumed her erotic dance using every incredible inch of her body to brush against his. Finally, after what seemed to be an agonizing eternity, she moved to the front of him. Peeking under his lashes at her, she smiled up at him as she slithered down his body, her breasts touching him in all the right places. He jerked in response and sucked in a breath.

“Tsk, tsk, you’re peeking, Mr. Deveraux,” she teased with a smile coloring her husky words.

He choked out a gruff laugh as tingles raced up and down his nerve endings. “Can’t help it. Sweet torture, sunshine. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. It’s even better than my dream.”

“Dream?” She stilled at that.

“No, don’t stop,” he begged.

Continuing her erotic dance, she said, “Go on. Tell me about this dream of yours.”

“Don’t have to. I’m living it now, only it’s ten times better.”

With that she straightened, pressing close to him. “Look at me, Chance,” she said. He opened his eyes now, staring down at her upturned face. The hot light of desire sparked her eyes, but deeper he thought he witnessed a flicker of unease. She gulped in a shaky breath. “Don’t say anything to what I say next, all right? Just don’t say a word, so we can have this night of magic.” She paused, and then swallowed hard once again. Licking her lips, she choked out, “Maybe dreams…maybe your dream, did come true.”

Frowning deeply, confusion rained down on him. “Wh—”

Pressing her finger against his lips, she stopped him. “Shh, now. Don’t think. Just feel.”

Her words drummed through him.
Maybe your dream did come true.
He tried to keep his sanity and think about what she’d said, but her lips covered his again and he was lost in the touch and feel of her in his arms.

***

Tessa couldn’t get enough of him, couldn’t stop touching and tasting him. Wild and dangerous, she thought absently. So much so, she’d finally confessed to him about the other time, years ago. Awe swept through her; he’d remembered, but thought it had been a dream. All these years, he’d remembered her and that special magical night.

Suddenly, he picked her up and carried her to the nearby bed. She sucked in a sharp breath as he lay down beside her, flesh sliding against flesh. Greedy now, she shoved him on his back, caressing and kissing him all over. The lower she went the more he groaned, cradling her head in his big hands.

“Tessa,” he gasped when she trailed her lips down the length of him.

“Mmmm,” she murmured as she flicked her tongue across him.

He sucked in a sharp breath and jerked at the intimate touch.

Smiling inwardly, she continued loving him in her own special way. All the long, lonely nights she’d been away from him crashed down on her now and she swore she’d make up for all that wasted time. The ache in her heart finally eased. “So beautiful,” she whispered.

He tugged her upward, holding her to his chest. “No, you’re gorgeous, but if you keep that up I’m going to lose all my self-control.”

Giggling, she asked, “And is that so bad?”

“Yes, because when I lose it, I want to be gazing into your eyes while buried deep inside you, connected to you. Forever.”

This time it was Tessa who sucked in a quivery breath. A shiver raced down her spine and she nodded numbly. “Oh, yes. Now, Chance, can it be now?”

Moaning, he rolled her over onto her back while staying with her so now he rested on top of her. Gently, he brushed aside her hair, and then bent to nibble on her lips. “Sweet, sunshine, I’ve waited so long for this moment.”

“Me, too.” Her heart leapt into her throat when he stared long and hard into her eyes. Was she fooling herself with what she thought she read there? She didn’t want to think about it or analyze it. She just wanted to cherish this moment, this time with Chance. He made her feel so special, as if she were the only woman in the world, his world.

In the next instant, he parted her thighs with his knees and slowly entered her. She gasped at the hot, exquisite joining, and then shuddered as he moved slowly.

“No, honey, don’t close your eyes. I want to make love staring into those incredible green eyes, eyes that haunt me,” he said the last gruffly.

Another shiver racked her, he responded in kind. Heat, wonderful consuming heat bathed her and grew hotter with every second. She moved in unison with him, savoring their lovemaking. Wrapping her legs around him, she felt they truly became one. All the love she felt inside her spilled out. Tension, sweet and hot, built inside her.

A knowing glint shone in his eyes and he shivered. “Hold on and enjoy, sunshine.” He moved deeper and harder, their heavy breaths mingling and exciting her in the small space between them. “Us. Connected. Forever,” he whispered raggedly.

Gripping his arms, she held on as tremors began and soon took hold, shaking her. She spun out of control as light and stars burst through her body and she exploded with Chance following soon after.

“Magic,” she gasped, hugging him tightly to her.

Every time he thought about that night Chance shook. Never in his life had he experienced anything close to what Tessa and he had shared. And he hadn’t worn any protection, then or since.

That last thought had him gasping for air.

“Hey, boy, you awake back there?” Walter shouted through the slightly ajar door to the supply room.

Glancing over his shoulder as he heaved a box full of liquor bottles, Chance grunted in reply at the keen-eyed bartender who shoved open the door all the way. His knowing look had Chance growing uneasy, as if he was a bug under a microscope.

“Ain’t getting any earlier. Time’s a wasting and you’re a wasting it. We’ve got that big announcement about the pool tournament tonight. Gonna draw them in like flies on shit, so snap to it.”

He transferred the box under his arm, making the heavy bottles inside clank together, and walked toward the door. Glancing up once, he longed to join Tessa in their little apartment. Sighing heavily, he pushed that desire out of his mind and body. “I’m coming, old man.” The sting of his words was tempered with a half-smile.

Standing with his arms akimbo, Walter eyed him closely. “It’s her, isn’t it? Ever since that night she balled her eyes out, you two been different." He rubbed his big meaty hand over his unshaven jaw. With a raised eyebrow, he asked, “Could it be I’m gonna win my bet?”

Chance winced noticeably. He knew the minute he’d made that bet, he would never have been able to keep it. But, he’d tried, damn he’d tried.

Walter laughed heartily, stabbing a stubby finger into Chance’s chest. “I knew it.”

“Full of yourself, ain’t ya?” Chance asked, disgusted with himself for giving anything away. Once the gossips got ahold of this he’d be doomed. A chill went through him as he thought of Tessa having to explain it to her nasty-tongued granny. Silently he swore at the repercussions she’d endure, his middle twisting in a big, heavy knot.

Shrugging nonchalantly Walter went on, “Hey, who wouldn’t be in my position? I get a week’s paid vacation.”

An idea hit Chance then. He had to take the risk. “Ah, Walter, how ’bout you and I strike up another bet, well, sorta add on to the last one. How’s that?”

Frowning suspiciously, Walter nodded his head in the direction of the outer room. “You stock the bottles and I’ll listen, that way something gets done while you’re jabber jawin’. It betta be worth it.”

The tight band around Chance’s chest loosened as he made his way through the door and around the end of the bar. Walter, following close behind, grumbled all the way. Curiosity had reeled in the old bartender. Now, all Chance had to do was make the official deal.