Part 20 (1/2)
She'd become accustomed to the sound of Will's voice, to his smile, to the way he took off his gla.s.ses and cleaned them when he was thinking. Just the mere brush of his fingers against her skin- She s.h.i.+vered and hugged herself against the cold night and the thought of never knowing Will's touch the way she wanted to.
I've fallen in love with him!
Dumb move.
No kidding.
She was destined to lose both Will and Zack. What had she been thinking, letting either of them get so close? Worse, she'd found herself daydreaming about giving Zack the home he so desperately needed, and she'd seen Will in that perfect little family photo. What had had she been thinking? To even let herself dream that dream again- she been thinking? To even let herself dream that dream again- She saw something move, and thought it had to be Will. He'd come up on deck after her. Her heart leapt. But only for an instant. Instead of Will's handsome face, she caught a glimpse of blond hair sticking out of a dark hood. The next moment she felt hands grab her and push hard.
She slammed into the railing, losing her balance and her footing on the wet deck. She felt the hands again. Strong hands. Grabbing her purse. Forcing her overboard!
WILL MADE HIS WAY UP to the deck, the night air wet and cold against his face. They were almost to sh.o.r.e. Where was she? He'd gone from feeling foolish and angry with himself to feeling anxious about Sam. He'd come along on this ride to watch over her. Now he'd let her take off into the night, alone and hurt. And he'd been the one to hurt her.
But he couldn't give her what she wanted. And they both knew it. He couldn't be married to a private investigator. He couldn't live each day knowing she might be jeopardizing her life. Worse, he couldn't have the family he desperately wanted. Now more than ever. Zack and Samantha had shown him how much he wanted children and a wife. Not a P.I.
But tell that to his heart. To his aching body that right now only wanted to hold Samantha against him and breathe in the scent of her. Right now, he'd have promised her anything, just to feel her safe in his arms.
He had started toward the back of the ferry and was working his way along the railing when he saw her-and the cloaked figure trying to push her overboard!
He called out and ran down the deck. But he could see that Samantha had been taken by surprise. She was off balance, slipping on the wet deck, the figure overpowering her.
”No!” he cried.
But it was too late. Samantha went over the rail and dropped out of sight.
The hooded figure had heard him, and, without turning, raced up the other side of the deck, disappearing behind the pa.s.senger cabin.
He heard Sam's cry as she fell, then the splash as she hit the water. He reached the edge of the deck, shrugging out of his jacket as he climbed the railing and dove into the dark water after her.
LATER SHE WOULDN'T REMEMBER anything but the cold and darkness. And the shock. Falling through the black. Then the icy water. Hitting hard, going under and under. The fear.
At first she'd thought she'd only dreamed Will's arms dragging her to the surface. Powerful arms. His body the only warmth. His rea.s.suring words as he pulled her with him to safety.
It wasn't until much later, wrapped in a blanket, sitting in the front of the pickup, that she understood what had happened. She'd been pushed overboard. Her purse with Mercedes's game piece had been stolen. Ca.s.sie had stolen the CD and pushed her.
That's when the shaking had started, her body convulsing from it, and not even Will's strong arms could stop the trembling.
”You saved my life,” she said, her teeth chattering as he lifted her into his arms. ”Again.”
”Don't think about it,” he whispered back.
Where was he taking her? Not to Charley's. Too far, he'd said. A motel cottage on the beach.
”She tried to kill me.” Sam hadn't seen her face. Just a glimpse of the blond hair. ”Ca.s.sie tried to kill me.”
Will carried her into the cottage and kicked the door closed behind them, Sam still wrapped in the blanket he'd gotten from someone on the ferry. He didn't turn on the lights, didn't stop at the bed-just carried her straight to the shower and turned it on.
She was crying now, burying her face against his neck, aware of his wet clothing, aware that he'd jumped into the water after her. This incredible man whom she'd once thought was predictable. ”Will,” she whispered, and pressed her body as close as the blanket and their clothing would allow. ”Will.”
He leaned her against the shower wall as he stripped off her wet clothing. Then, still clothed, he stepped into the warm spray with her. She leaned against him, her mouth seeking his, his kisses wet and warm and openmouthed.
”Will,” she whispered against his mouth. ”Will.”
He must have heard the plea in her voice, felt the insistence of her kisses, of her naked body against his. ”Sam, I don't think-”
She covered his mouth with her own, swallowing his words. ”Don't think,” she whispered, turning her face up to his, the spray catching in her lashes, the water making her slick and pink and delectable. ”Not now.”
HE COULD FEEL the heat coming back into her body, and the strength returning. She leaned up to take his mouth again, her kiss demanding. He held her to him, afraid to let her go, still shocked by what had happened. What could could have happened if he hadn't gotten to her when he did. have happened if he hadn't gotten to her when he did.
But she was safe. Safe. He closed his eyes and ran his hands over her slick, smooth curves. Don't do this. You can't give her what she wants. What she needs. Don't do this. You can't give her what she wants. What she needs.
But he could no more let go of her than he could imagine waking up tomorrow and not seeing her, not hearing her voice, not smelling her intoxicating scent.
”Will.”
He opened his eyes.
She gazed up at him, the darkness gone from the blue-green, her body no longer trembling from the cold or fear, but from desire. It flashed in her eyes like sunlight on a tropical sea.
”Make love to me,” she whispered.
He swore softly, all the fight gone out of him. He knew it was wrong; he knew they'd both regret it in the morning. Especially Sam. But he covered her mouth with his, deepening the kiss, needing her as much as she thought she needed him.
She stripped off his wet clothing, kissing the cool flesh beneath, leaving behind a hot, sensuous trail with her lips until he was as naked as she was.
They clung to each other, their bodies slippery and wet and warm from the water and desire. Steam rose in the shower, cloaking them in a surreal mist that made his head swim and his body weak with the need to be inside her.
He turned off the water just before it grew cold, and swung her up into his arms. In two strides, he carried her to the bed. For a moment, he looked down at her, his eyes trailing over her naked skin slowly, lovingly. His gaze met hers, and a current sparked between them as hot and bright as flames.
”G.o.d, you're beautiful,” he whispered.
Samantha felt herself flush, the heat racing through her veins, making her throb with a need for him. She reached up and touched his cheek, cupping it in her hand. Slowly she pulled him down.
He covered one hard, ripe nipple with his mouth, gently sucking it to an aching point. She groaned with pleasure, arching her body to the warm wetness of his wonderful mouth. He drew the other nipple in and taunted it to a hard peak with his tongue, sending a hot wave to her center.
She ran her hands over his muscled chest, across the hard contours of his back and shoulders, her fingers memorizing every inch with her touch. She knew she couldn't have Will Sheridan. Not the way she wanted him-forever. But she could have him tonight. And that was enough.
He explored her body, finding every erotic spot as if with a sixth sense. She surrendered to him, giving herself in a way she never had before. And never would again.
His touch made her implode deep inside with shudders that sent goose b.u.mps racing across her bare skin. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her crazy before he slowly, tenderly, filled her, fulfilled her.