Rescue My Heart (26 page)

“
You taste good,” she
muttered softly. He chuckled, bringing his mouth down to capture
hers. This time, he was hungry. His tongue possessed her. He was
demanding. When he raised his head, she saw lust glittering in his
eyes. He tightened his arms around her and flipped them.

Hack loomed over Rory, devouring her
body with his eyes. He kissed her neck and worked his way down. He
toyed with her breasts, using his lips and tongue to torment her.
She squirmed and reached for him. Wrapping her fingers around him,
she found an erection that was as hard as a tree trunk. When she
touched him, she heard him gasp.

“
Rory, baby,” he
whispered.

“
Hurry,” she moaned. He
smiled at her, but didn’t quicken his pace, slowly kissing his way
down her abdomen. Pushing up on his knees, he placed his hands on
her thighs. Digging into her with his thumbs, he moved them up
until they were massaging her sex. Rory groaned loudly.

“
Do it. Please, Hack, do
it. Take me.”

“
What’s the rush?” He
anchored his hands around her waist and lowered his head. When his
tongue touched her hot flesh, her hips rose up off the
bed.

“
Damn!” she uttered, her
breath coming in short spurts. He continued. Her hands fisted the
sheet. “I can’t hold on,” she whispered. The ache inside her grew,
tightening around her, pulling her muscles as taut as a spring
until she thought she’d explode.

“
Come for me, Rory,
honey.” Her eyes closed, and her hips bucked up off the bed. Her
muscles clenched hard as pleasure flew to every part of her body.
Her hips undulated a few times. Hack raised his head. She cracked
open one eye and chuckled to see his shit-eating grin.

“
Proud of yourself?” she
asked.

“
Hell, yeah.”

“
Now you.”

“
Right.” He mounted her,
raising her knee. Rory rested her ankle on his shoulder, and he
plunged into her.

“
Holy Hell,” he said,
stopping for a second before pulling back and thrusting in again.
She arched into him. Heat flew through her veins as he moved in and
out. He picked up the pace, sending her temperature
soaring.

“
Oh God, Hack. It’s so
good.”

“
Yeah, baby.” He lowered
his mouth to hers, and their tongues tangled as their bodies
joined, parted, and joined again. Hack lifted his head, looking
into her eyes.

“
I love you,” she
whispered, combing his hair off his forehead with her
fingers.

“
I love you too, honey,”
he said. Sweat beaded on his forehead and neck. Heat emanated from
his chest. After sliding her hands down his damp pecs, she moved
them to his shoulders.

He moved faster and harder. Orgasm
washed through her body, scratching her itch, and satisfying her
ache. Hack followed shortly with a loud grunt and one last thrust.
He released her ankle and lay on top of her. They panted together,
her breasts sliding against his chest, skin-to-skin. He buried his
face in her neck while she played with his hair.

Rory had
never experienced pleasure so intense. She was speechless. Baxter
rose from his bed, stretched, and yawned.
God, it felt good to say ‘I love you.’

“
Commentary on my skills,
Baxter?” Hack asked.

The pug smiled and wagged his
tail.

Hack sat back on his knees, cupped
Rory’s face with both hands, and kissed her. “You’re amazing.”
Exhausted by the emotional roller coaster she had been on all day,
she snaked her arms around his waist. He lowered his hand to her
back and stroked her gently. “Rough day, eh?”

“
The happiest. The
saddest. I’m confused.”

“
I get it. From now on,
there are going to be way more happy than sad days,
honey.”

“
Is that a promise?” She
looked up from under her lashes, her blue eyes big with
hope.

“
Yep. A promise. I want to
spend my life making good on it too.” The look of lust had
disappeared from his chocolate eyes, replaced by loving warmth. He
brushed his lips across the top of her head.

Rory kissed Hack’s chest then pushed
back. “I’m hungry.”

“
Me, too.”

“
Let’s
watch
Holiday Inn.
Have you ever seen it?” He shook his head. “Good. We’re
starting a new family tradition tonight. We’re going to watch it
every year at Christmas.” She got up, fished a short nightshirt
from her drawer, and slipped it on.

“
Hmm. I don’t have much.
Some microwave popcorn,” she said, rifling through the cabinets.
“Cocoa mix from Zabar’s.” She moved to the refrigerator. “Not much.
Sorry. Haven’t been very hungry the past few days.”

Hack got up and jammed his legs into
his jeans. “Is the deli on the corner open?”

“
I think so.”

“
I’ll be right back.” He
pulled his T-shirt over his head and grabbed his jacket.

While he was gone, Rory smoothed out
the sheets, plumped up several pillows, propped them against two
bolsters, and took out the popcorn. Then, she sat back on the bed,
stretched out her left arm, and spread her fingers. The stunning
diamond ring glistened in the light, shooting off sparks as if it
was on fire. The buzzer sounded.

Rory brushed off the light dusting of
snow on Hack’s hair and shoulders. He put two big bags with
groceries down on the counter. After shedding his jacket, he
unloaded, calling out what each item was. “Egg nog. Chocolate. Milk
for the cocoa. Ham and Swiss sandwiches. Pound cake. Beer. Chips.
Onion dip. Cider. Cinnamon sticks.”

Rory
watched him, her eyes darting from each object to Hack’s face. His
smile was broad and relaxed. His eyes twinkled. His complexion was
rosy, kissed by the cold. Warmth spread throughout her body.
This is right. We’re right.

“
This is enough food to
get snowed in here for a week.”

“
That’d be okay with
me.”

“
Tomorrow’s
Christmas.”

“
And you’re coming with me
to my parent’s house.”

“
What? No. No way. I have
no presents or anything.”

“
I don’t care. You’re
coming and staying for Christmas dinner.” Happy tears rimmed her
eyes. She blinked them back, thinking of the hours she’d spent
imagining what Christmas dinner at his house must be like. And now,
instead of being an outsider with her nose pressed against the
glass, she’d be an invited guest. Her heart swelled.

“
Okay?” He cocked an
eyebrow at her as he opened the eggnog and poured out two
glasses.

“
Okay.” She reached for
hers.

“
Uh, uh, uh!” He grabbed
her wrist, trapping her hand while he reached for a small, metal
container. He sprinkled a whisper of nutmeg over the top then
handed it to her.

“
Where’s this movie that’s
going to be our first family tradition?” he asked, taking his drink
to the bed and stretching out. He patted the space next to him and
grinned.

“
Coming right up!” Rory
put the sandwiches on a plate then turned on the
television.

The movie was still in the DVD player.
She carried the food over to join him. Hack put his arm around her
shoulders, cuddling her closer while he picked up half a sandwich.
Baxter curled up at the bottom, snoring as soon as his eyes
closed.

The
music came on, and a sense of calm washed over Rory.
It’s all beautiful for now, but what about
tomorrow, when I meet his family? His mother will hate me, and how
will they feel about Hack marrying a romance writer, dog walker
combination?

Chapter
Thirteen

Sun
poking through the crack in the curtains woke Rory early on
Christmas Day. She checked her watch.
Seven.
She rubbed her eyes once and
rolled over.
He’s still here. It wasn’t a
dream.
She gazed at Hack, sleeping on his
stomach.
God, he’s beautiful.
An unconscious smile slowly spread across her
face. She touched her lower lip gently, since it was slightly sore,
as was another area that had had a workout, too.
Best lover ever.

The
glint of the sun bouncing off something shiny caught her eye. She
stared at her engagement ring for the millionth time.
It’s real. I should call Mom. The Dinner Club.
Maybe wait until after I meet his family.

He shifted position. The urge to touch
him, comb his hair back with her fingers, rub her knuckles against
his scruff, or even kiss his nose, grew as she watched him. He
flung his arm out, his hand searching. She inched closer. When he
came in contact with her, he opened his eyes. His sleepy smile
would have charmed the pants off her had she been wearing
any.

“
Hi, beautiful.” He
shifted onto his side. He cupped her chin then ran his thumb over
her cheek.

“
Hi, handsome.”

“
Merry Christmas,
Rory.”

“
Merry Christmas,
Hack.”

He stretched and glanced at the clock.
“Plenty of time before my family gets up.”

“
Time for a shower and
breakfast. Joining me?” She swung her legs over the bed and pushed
to her feet. Stark naked, Rory reached her arms up as far as she
could and yawned.

“
Love the view. I’m
surprised you can still walk,” Hack said, studying her.

“
So am I,” she chuckled.
Rory made her way to the refrigerator. She pulled out the eggs and
bacon Hack had bought the night before. “Food first. I’m
starved.”

“
Me too.” He came up
behind her, closing his fingers around her waist. Bending his head
down, he nibbled on her neck. “But not for food.”

“
Hack, you’re insatiable.”
She laughed.

“
I’ve waited months. Much
too long. I need to release it.”

“
Or what? You’ll
explode?”

“
Yeah, inside you, again
and again and again.”

A tremor shot down her spine. “We have
a lifetime.”

“
It’ll never be long
enough.” He pressed against her, surprising her with his readiness
to continue making love.

“
Already?”

“
Yeah. Morning wood mixed
with hot fiancée.” He slid his hands down her sides then around
front, and rested them on her breasts.

“
How can I cook like
this?”

“
How can you not? I’m
cookin’ just fine.” Rory shut off the burner and turned around.
“Ok, mister. You’ve got my attention.”

Hack kissed her. “How big is your
shower?”

Rory stepped back and
looked up and down his naked form. “Big enough, I
think.”

“
Come on.” He took her
hand and headed for the bathroom. She turned on the water, and he
closed the door.

After getting dressed, Rory leaned
over Hack while he brushed his teeth to get to the mirror and apply
her lipstick. Her amber hair, freshly washed and smelling like
lilacs, was dried, curled, and bouncing below her shoulder. She
wore an emerald green, velvet pantsuit with a white, fine gauge,
short-sleeved sweater underneath.

“
Do they keep their place
cold?”

“
It’s a little drafty
sometimes. The building’s old.” He rinsed the soap off his
face.

Rory ran her hand over his cheek and
chin. “Hmm. Smooth. Nice.”

“
I thought you liked
scruff.”

“
I do. I like smooth,
too.”

“
Mom likes us to shave.
She thinks scruff is messy,” he chuckled.

“
And you always please
Mom?”

“
I try to keep her happy.
She doesn’t have much of a life. It’s the least I can
do.”

Shame colored Rory’s face. “You’re so
right. I’m sorry. Sometimes I say things…I don’t think.”

“
It’s okay.”

“
If I don’t talk much
today, you’ll understand I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing,
right?”

“
This isn’t some medieval
family that’s going to behead you if they think you’re not
absolutely perfect. They’re regular people. Nothing to be afraid
of.”

“
Hope you’re
right.”

When he finished dressing, they
bundled up and went outside. Hack insisted Baxter would be welcome,
so the pug tagged along. Rory had to drag him out of the house then
use a bribe to get him to leave behind his Christmas presents—a new
rawhide, a new toy, and some beloved liver treats.

The streets were quiet and empty at
ten o’clock. Hack insisted his family wouldn’t miss him, and they
never opened presents before ten thirty. Rory was skeptical. The
sun had melted the sprinkling of snow from the night before,
leaving the street wet but not slick. Hack’s parents lived in The
Whitfield on 81stStreet between Central Park West and Columbus
Avenue.

Her heartbeat increased as they neared
the building. Fear was trumped by curiosity. She’d never been in
one of these massive, old apartment houses, and she wanted to see
the inside.