Her body exploded in a blur of pleasure as lights filtered across her eyes. He cried out and thrust deeply into her as his body found its sweet release. She held him as she continued to taste him, and love him, and wanting desperately for him to feel her love like she felt his.
"You have to stop," he said. It took her a minute to realize that his words had not been spoken, but were floating into her mind.
She didn't want to stop though; she didn't want him to leave her. She wanted to stay like this forever, feeling his love, and the peace that it brought her. He rubbed her head as his own aching need spread into her body. Along with his fear.
It was his fear that finally made her pull away. She expected to feel a huge sense of loss, but she didn't. As she stared at him, she knew that she would never feel alone again. That she had found her home, and she would never lose it.
She kissed him as he licked the blood off her lips. He stared at her with a tenderness that melted her heart. "Nothing will ever separate us," he whispered against her lips. "You are inside of me, and I am inside of you."
"Yes," she whispered.
Her eyes drifted closed as exhaustion slipped over her body. She could barely keep her eyes open as he settled in beside her and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, and she smiled as she snuggled into his chest. She drifted off to sleep with the security of knowing that they would never be torn apart.
CHAPTER 13
Sera briefly forgot where she was as she stared at the unfamiliar rose-colored room. Finally remembering that she was at Kathleen's cabin, she sat up and looked around the empty room. Liam's side of the bed had been abandoned. She was disappointed that he was gone already; she had planned a wonderful way to wake him up. She got up and slid on a pair of jeans, a turtleneck, and a sweater.
Standing in front of the mirror, she pulled down the collar of her turtleneck. She was startled to see the two dusky marks clearly visible on her neck. Liam had said that they disappeared almost instantly, but they were vivid against her pale skin. She touched them, and winced as they were a little tender. She would have to remember to ask him why they were still there.
Her gaze traveled to the window. Snow was still heavily falling outside. The wind was blowing forcefully, and large snowdrifts had begun to form. There was well over a foot on the ground already, and in some places it looked to be two or three feet deep. The few inches of snow that had been predicted seemed to have turned into a blizzard overnight. Swallowing nervously she stared in amazement before turning away.
Digging out her hairbrush and toothbrush, she headed down the hall. The smell of eggs, bacon, and toast assaulted her nose, and her stomach rumbled in eager response. People were in the kitchen, moving around, and talking as pots and pans banged together.
She slipped into the bathroom and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She brushed her teeth, placed her toothbrush on the sink, and left. Following the voices to the kitchen, she found Kathleen standing by the stove, happily scrambling eggs. Mike and Jack were sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, and talking quietly. Danielle was sitting at the island, a cup of coffee and a plate of food in front of her.
"Good afternoon," Kathleen called out cheerfully. "It's about time you woke up."
Sera walked over to the coffee pot and poured a cup. She sipped it as she watched the snow falling rapidly outside. "Good morning," she replied. "I thought it was supposed to stop snowing last night."
"No such luck," Jack said. "While we were sleeping the storm turned into a nor'easter. It's not supposed to stop until tomorrow. They're calling for over three feet of snow. We might be here for awhile."
"The ski resort is closed," Kathleen informed her as she slid a plate of eggs in front of Sera. "So are all the roads. They've declared a state of emergency."
"Thanks." They smelled delicious and her stomach rumbled again. "These are good," she told Kathleen around a mouthful.
"Just call me Betty Crocker," she replied as she tossed the frying pan into the sink. "Doug and Liam went to get more firewood. By the time we need it, it should be dry. I dug out the flashlights and candles already. We'll probably lose the electricity sometime today, and the phones are already down."
Sera shook her head as she watched the snow fall with a heavy heart. The sky was gray and filled with thick white flakes. "Looks like a mess."
"It's going to be a real mess when the electricity goes," Kathleen said. "Hope you guys like cold food. I'm going to cook up some chicken and steak now so that we have something to eat later. I don't know what you're going to eat Sera. I hope you like a lot of cold beans, and salad."
"I'll make myself some rice," she said. "I'll be fine."
"Freaking vegetarians," Kathleen mumbled as she turned away.
"Maybe we'll just eat each other," Jack said flippantly.
Mike kicked him under the table and a look passed between them. With horrifying clarity, she realized that normal food wouldn't keep them satisfied. They had been counting on going to the ski resort, meeting people, and intermingling. "Crap," she said.
Mike gave a barely discernible shake of his head. Jack's eyes narrowed as he studied her. Danielle paused with her coffee cup halfway to her mouth as she cast Sera a questioning look. "What?" she asked.
"Oh, uh, nothing, I just hate it when the power goes out." She grabbed her plate off the counter and made her way over to where Kathleen was washing dishes. "The eggs were really good, thanks."
"No problem," she replied as she took the plate from her hand.
Sera pulled a pot out of the cabinet and grabbed some packages of rice. She began to cook as Kathleen scrubbed enthusiastically and hummed under her breath. The screen door on the porch opened, she listened as Liam and Doug stacked the wood they had found.
"What a mess!" Doug cried as he shook snow off his jacket and head.
