Part 21 (1/2)
He dropped the groceries on the counter and rushed to her. ”Dixie?” He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to him. She was crying, huge shuddering sobs. He thumbed away her tears, cupping her face in both hands. ”Dixie.” Her name was a whisper on his lips as he pulled her into his arms. ”Oh, Dixie.”
He let her cry as he held her and stroked her hair, her back, all the time trying to soothe her with soft words and gentle caresses.
The sobs subsided, her trembling body stilled, softening as it fit to his. She felt so right in his arms. He had the thought that he never wanted to let her go.
He pulled back, realizing the foolishness of that. Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at him.
He bent toward her as if he didn't have a mind of his own. His lips brushed over hers, her mouth sweet and supple with just the hint of salty tears.
He knew he should stop, but her lips parted as he deepened the kiss, opening to him as her body melded again into his.
He breathed her in, all his senses acutely in tune with her. Desire rippled through him in waves each stronger than the next. He'd never wanted anyone the way he wanted this woman. This d.a.m.ned woman had more than gotten to him.
To his surprise it was Dixie who pulled back this time. The look in her eyes surprised him. He'd thought this was what she'd wanted.
”What?” he asked, half-afraid.
”I have to know something first.”
”I'm sorry, I thought...”
”That I wanted you?” She smiled up at him. ”Oh, I do, Chance. I always always have.” have.”
He caught his breath as he sensed exactly where this was going.
”But I have to know if it's me you're kissing. Or my sister.”
”Rebecca? Dixie, she's married with three kids.”
”You were in love with her.”
”A lifetime ago. Dixie, that kiss was about you. No one else.” He reached for her. ”Oh, Dixie,” he said as he brushed a lock of her wild hair back from her beautiful face. ”There is no one like you. No one who's ever made me feel like this.”
She looked into Chance Walker's eyes and saw the answer she needed, had wanted since the first day she'd set eyes on him when she was twelve. It had been love at first sight, as corny as that was. No schoolgirl crush. She'd known that someday- ”Dixie, you have to know that I...” She dragged him to her, cutting off his words with a kiss. He swept her up in his arms, kissing her wildly, as he carried her to the deep leather couch in front of the fire.
He made love to her slowly in the firelight, kissing her as he removed each piece of clothing before he began a seductive trail of kisses across her bare flesh.
She arched against his mouth as he pushed aside her bra to suck one of her hard nipples into his mouth. Unlike him, she tore at his clothes, yearning to feel his naked body on hers.
”Dixie,” he whispered as she tossed his s.h.i.+rt over the back of the couch. ”We have all night.”
She laughed, breathing hard as she reached for the b.u.t.tons on his jeans, arching one brow as she met his gaze. ”Then let's not waste a second of it,” she said, and jerked his jeans open.
They rolled off the couch onto the braided rug in front of the fire, both laughing as they shed the rest of their clothing.
She pressed her naked flesh to his, taking in his scent, burying her fingers in his thick hair as she looked into his eyes. ”Now,” she said, ”we can slow down.” She met his mouth with her own, felt his hands cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, his thumbs teasing the nipples to hard, pleasured points before his fingers slid down her belly and between her legs.
He laughed and rolled her over onto her back. She arched against his fingers, then his mouth before she cried out in release. Then his body was back, warm and hard, as he fitted himself into her and began the slow sweet dance of lovers until they both cried out, clutching each other as the fire crackled softly beside them, the snow falling silently beyond the windows.
For a long time they lay in each others arms watching the fire, dazed and drowsy. Dixie couldn't remember being more content. That was one reason she was so surprised when she felt Chance pull away to get to his feet.
”Stay here,” he ordered, then leaned over her and kissed her gently on the mouth before he dressed and went to the door. ”I'll be right back.”
WARMED BY THEIR lovemaking, she lay in front of the fire until she realized she was ravenous. She dressed and went into the kitchen to make them sandwiches. When Chance didn't come back, she began to worry. She missed him, and that reminded her that this was temporary. Maybe very temporary given that someone still wanted her dead. And now she'd involved Chance in it.
She was just finis.h.i.+ng putting the sandwich makings away when she heard his footfalls on the deck. The next moment, the front door burst open and she caught the rich scent of pine as a huge pine tree was pushed through the door followed by a snowy Chance Walker.
He was smiling as he stood the tree up in a pot by the window. ”I have no idea what we're going to decorate it with,” he said, eyes s.h.i.+ning when he looked at her. ”I got rid of all my decorations.”
She nodded, pretty sure she knew when that had happened and why. ”Don't worry. We'll find something.” She touched the p.r.i.c.kly green bough, tears filling her eyes as she looked at him. ”Thank you.”
”It's Christmas,” he said, his voice cracking.
CHANCE KNEW that no matter what happened in the future, he would never forget this night. This This Christmas. Like the last one with his daughter, he would keep it always in his heart. Christmas. Like the last one with his daughter, he would keep it always in his heart.
They made a huge batch of popcorn, eating some in front of the fire, stringing the rest on thread. They talked about religion and flying saucers and Bigfoot. They laughed and kidded. They kissed. And by midnight, the tree was decorated.
As they stood back and admired it, he had to admit, ”I've never seen a more beautiful tree.”
Dixie laughed. He loved the sound. It filled the cabin the same way her smile did, bringing a warmth that filled him to overflowing. He never thought he could feel like this again.
”I want to tell you about my daughter,” he said after a moment. She nodded slowly. And he told her about a woman he'd been dating. ”When she got pregnant I offered to marry her, but we both knew it wouldn't have worked. She moved in here, had the baby on Christmas Eve three years ago. I never thought I could be happier.”
Dixie put her arm around him, knowing what came next.
”Her name was Star. She lived for just over three weeks. Her heart hadn't formed correctly.” He fought back tears. ”She was so beautiful.”
Dixie took him in her arms. He buried his face in her hair. They stayed like that for a long time. When he pulled back he saw that she was crying. He thumbed away her tears.
”You know what our tree needs, don't you?” Dixie said, getting up to go to the kitchen.
He smiled, nodding as he saw what she planned to do.
He cut a star from the cardboard box their groceries had been in and she covered it with tin foil.
”Here,” she said. ”You can put it on the tree.”
He shook his head and grabbed her, swinging her around as he carried her over to the tree to lift her up as she placed the star carefully on the top. The firelight caught it, sending the silvery light across the log walls of the cabin.