Lightning Only Strikes Twice (18 page)

“I won’t be good company,” Elizabeth said. “I am tired and really do want to go to bed early. Besides, I’d feel badly if you missed your walk with Luke.”

Annie hesitated, worried about how pale Elizabeth looked. “I’m not sure…”

“I’ll be upset if you stay here. Please. Go.” Elizabeth gently pushed Annie toward the door. “For me?”

“Only for you,” Annie said. “But I won’t be late.”

After seeing Elizabeth settled for the night, Annie gathered her shawl and went out on the front porch to wait.

Last night’s storm, where they’d spent a hopeful hour getting soaked to the skin, had moved on. Like the first evening when she and Luke went to the hill, stars filled the black velvet sky. There was no light pollution to dilute the brilliance of the heavens. No matter what happened, she would never forget how the skies looked here.

“They’re breathtaking, aren’t they?” Luke said as he drew near the house.

“Yes.” Annie smiled. “I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of staring at them.” She walked down the steps and joined him.

“It won’t be as fun to stargaze once winter comes,” he said.

“That prospect alone is enough to hope we can return to our own time soon.” Annie shivered at the thought of White Rock in winter. “Maybe tonight will be the night. Elizabeth said she had a feeling something special might happen.” She didn’t mention that Elizabeth thought he’d propose. That notion was as unlikely as snow in July.

Yet, as they passed another couple walking the opposite direction, Luke took Annie’s hand and tucked it in his elbow. His familiar touch spread through her like wildfire. Her chest constricted with longing. His gesture was only for show and to dispel the dizziness that plagued them.

“At least it’s not raining,” he said. “Maybe something special will happen. We only need a little faith.”

His words eased her tension. “Careful, Mr. Maxwell, you’re beginning to sound like Pastor Thaddeus.” She relaxed into an easy banter, telling herself it was okay to enjoy his company. She did enjoy being with him. More than was good for her.

Luke smiled. “I have to admit the pastor sometimes makes me think about things greater than ourselves. Given what’s happened, I’ve come to believe there’s more beyond what our eyes and ears tell us.”

When they reached the hill, she tried to unlink her arm, but Luke held her hand as they climbed. She glanced down at his fingers entwined with hers. A shimmer of pleasure washed through her. Maybe Elizabeth was right.

On the hilltop, Luke gathered the lantern and the blanket from its hiding place before heading into the forest.

“What are we going to try tonight?” she asked.

“Lets just sit here for a bit,” he answered. Under the pine tree, he shook out the blanket, spread it on the ground and sat down. “I’m beginning to feel like we own this place.”

Annie chuckled. “
You
do.”

Luke glanced at her as she sat. “It’s good to hear you laugh. You don’t do that enough.”

“Honestly, there hasn’t been much to laugh about.” She sighed and leaned against the tree. “Although, I have to admit, I’m more content these last few days, than I’ve been in a long time.”

****

Luke glanced at Annie. The lamplight gleamed softly on her hair. She looked relaxed, in spite of everything that had happened. She looked more enticing than was good for his libido. He felt an ache somewhere in his chest that he didn’t want to explore.

“Why do you feel content?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know.” A rueful smile curved her lips and she lifted her hands for inspection. “My hands are raw from doing laundry. My knees are stiff from pulling weeds. And my back hurts from carrying baskets of wet clothes outside to hang-dry.”

“And yet there’s a glow about you I don’t recall from before,” he said.

She laughed. “I’m sure that’s sunburn. With no sunscreen, I’m going to look like a prune by the time I’m thirty.”

“Somehow, I doubt that,” he said, surprised at how hoarse his voice sounded.

Annie was unique. She may claim to be experienced, but there was an innocence about her. Something called for him to protect her.

He also recognized she had commitment written all over her. He didn’t want to hurt her. Experience from previous entanglements told him he should keep his distance. Yet, she drew him in like a moth to the flame. Tonight, he didn’t really care if he got burned.

She caught his gaze. An answering hunger filled her eyes.

He couldn’t look away. “Annie…”

The breeze stilled and the cricket song stopped as though the moment was frozen in time.

“I can’t pretend I don’t have these feelings,” she whispered. “Please…if you don’t kiss me—”

He didn’t need another invitation. Before he realized it, she was in his arms.

His mouth descended in a fevered kiss like a man dying of thirst. Heaven help him—he drank. And drank.

Her arms slid up his shoulders and around his neck, pulling him closer. Soft lips parted under his insistent tongue. She tasted of coffee and a flavor that was distinctly hers, urging him to take more. Her heat cocooned him in warmth and desire.

He felt the moment of her surrender all the way to his groin and if he didn’t withdraw now, he never would.

When his lips left hers to nibble the pulse on her neck, she whispered, “Please. Don’t stop.”

“If I don’t, there’s no turning back.”

“Then we won’t turn back.” She nipped his ear. “Please.”

Her plea was all he needed. He groaned and shifted their positions so they lay over the blanket. Propped on one elbow, he smiled into her eyes. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I don’t understand how you’ve bewitched me so thoroughly. When we’re together, I’m complete. When we’re apart, I count the hours until I can see you again.”

“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “I thought I was the only one who felt like that.”

He stroked a finger along her cheek and down her neck, entranced by the silkiness of her skin. Then he lowered his head and captured her mouth.

****

In the distance, an owl hooted. The leaves rustled in the breeze and crickets joined in the symphony.

Annie savored his kisses, returning them with an urgency she couldn’t explain. Blood raced through her veins. She didn’t want to go slow and take a chance Luke might change his mind. Her fingers quickly worked the buttons on his shirt and exposed his firm chest to the night air. Her hands skated over his shoulders—so broad and confident.

His muscles grew taut under her tentative touch. A second later, he tossed his shirt aside.

Empowered by his response, she slid her hands along his sides until her fingers found the band of his belt.

A moan rumbled in his throat. He reached for the buttons on her dress.

She didn’t ask herself why she wanted this so badly. Logic told her she couldn’t be falling in love, but logic wasn’t ruling her body right now. Raw need had taken hold and refused to let go.

Annie slipped her top down. This time, the material wouldn’t get in the way.

Luke’s urgency matched hers. Gripping the sides of her dress, he growled. “Lift your hips.”

She obeyed. A moment later, the dress landed in a heap on top of his shirt.

Luke covered her body with his, devouring her mouth with moist, needy kisses.

If she had any doubt that he wanted her, it vanished when a hard ridge pressed at the juncture of her legs. He was as ready as she was.

Her hands went to the button of his pants, but he stopped her. Planting a tender kiss at the corner of her mouth, he pulled away.

“Luke?”

“I don’t have any protection.”

Annie’s resolve wavered. There were consequences to their actions. Then she recalled a tidbit she’d read in the small print on her birth control. “It’s okay. I’ve been on the pill for over four years. Obviously, I’ve not taken it while I’m here, but I’m sure nothing will happen. Beside, it’s the wrong time of month for me.”

“Are you sure?”

She heard doubt in his voice but her insides throbbed with a mindless ache she couldn’t ignore. “Yes.”

“Good.” Stretching out an arm, he lowered the wick on the lantern until it gave off a soft golden glow. Then he quickly removed his rest of his clothes and dumped them on the pile. “That’s better,” he said, returning to her side and gave her his heart-stopping smile.

She squirmed under his appraising gaze, wishing she wore sexy lingerie.

“I had no idea how enticing old-fashioned underclothes could be.”

At the comment, she melted. She wanted him—needed him. Now.

He must have sensed her urgency, because he captured her wrist and pinned it over her head. His other hand traced fire over her skin and slipped beneath the lace on her chemise. His mouth trailed his fingers. With excruciatingly slowness, he nibbled at the exposed skin.

She whimpered at his measured pace and reached for him, eliciting a growl from the depths of his throat.

He picked up the tempo.

Dragging the chemise from her breasts to her waist, he also grasped her drawers. In a single movement, he tugged them over her legs and tossed them on the other clothes at the side of the blanket.

She arched into him as his bare chest slid over her breasts. Hard to soft. Rough on silk.

His hand caressed the inside of her thigh, signaling his intent.

She shivered in anticipation and opened for him.

Annie hadn’t lied when she’d said she wasn’t a virgin, but never had it felt like this.

Inch by deliberate inch, he filled her until seated into her very depths. For a moment, he held still and she quivered around him.

She stared into his face, afraid he’d find her inexperience disappointing, but his need only seemed to grow stronger.

His breathing grew quick and uneven as though he was using all his restraint to hold back.

He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Let go,” he whispered. “Don’t think. Feel. I won’t hurt you.” He drew back almost to the point of exit before penetrating deeper.

Pleasure exploded inside her. A mix of desperation and euphoria filled her limbs.

The nightly sing-song symphony of crickets accompanied the kaleidoscope of pleasure pulsing through her. Skin-to-skin, their seductive rhythm joined the forest melody.

The night, the forest, her troubles—all dissolved in the swirling colors behind closed eyes. Her hips moved to match each thrust. Harder, faster, until their sweat-slicked bodies created their own sweet night song.

Luke pushed against her core, nudging her to the edge.

A cry ripped from her throat. She arched into the growing crescendo. Her heart filled with more love than she thought possible. Then with a gasp, she shuddered as wave after wave plummeted through her.

He pressed deeper. Filling her body, her mind, her dreams—smothering her mewlings with passion-filled kisses.

She met him thrust for thrust until he froze, suspended in the moment, pulsing inside her.

Fervent kisses took her mouth as gently, leisurely he returned them to the cool earth and forest night.

While Luke rested atop her, she stroked his back, indulging in the pleasure of simply holding him. This moment was hers. No matter what happened next, she would never forget.

Luke rolled to his back, cradling Annie beside him.

Nestled against his shoulder she traced a circle around his navel. His stomach muscles jumped, and she laughed. “You’re ticklish.”

“And you’re a demon wench for taking advantage of my vulnerable state.” He captured her hand and brought it his lips, placing a kiss on the pad of each finger.

She groaned. “I don’t dare tell Elizabeth how much that soap has chapped my hands. She’ll think I’m nuts for whining.”

“Your hands are beautiful.” His thumb skated over her knuckles. “They’re strong and capable. Like you. I don’t know anyone who could do what you’re doing and not complain.”

“I wasn’t given a choice. Neither were you.”

He propped himself above her and tenderly kissed her lips. Brushing the hair from her face, he kissed each eye, her nose, before claiming her mouth once again.

When he lifted his mouth, Annie was breathless. “I could stay like this forever,” she whispered with a sudden realization of truth. She belonged with this man, in his arms, in his life.

Luke gathered her to him, holding her as though she was the most precious thing in the world.

“Are you disappointed we’re still here?” she asked. Every night before she went to sleep, she whispered a grateful prayer for the family she’d found with Paul and Elizabeth. She wanted Luke to feel at home too.

There was a hesitation before he answered. He gave her another squeeze and whispered, “After tonight, I think our fate is in this place.”

Annie rose to one arm and stared at him. “Really?”

“Really.” Luke sat up. “In fact, after these last five nights of waiting for something to happen, I don’t think we’re going to return home. I guess there’s no point in coming here anymore.”

“We can’t stop now,” Annie said.

“Why not?”

A part of her withered inside at his question. Didn’t he realize this was their reason for being together?

Then an ugly thought grew in the back of mind. “Are you telling me this was a one-night stand?” Her voice came out in croak.

Luke started. “What? No. Of course not. I just think we could find a more comfortable location.”

Relief replaced the ugly doubt. He wasn’t dumping her. “Are you giving up on ever returning back to our own time?”

“Do you believe we can?” he asked, turning the question back on her.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is that we’re here, in this time and place. Maybe we should make the best of it.” Annie rubbed her arms to ward off the night chill.

Luke reached for the pile of clothing, sorting his shirt and pants from her dress. “I agree.” He found her chemise and drawers and handed them to her. “The night’s getting cold. Better put these on.”

After they dressed, he picked up the blanket and shook it. Then he turned up the wick on the lantern. “Come on. Let’s get you back home.”