Chapter Seven
Eight Years Later...
May 1896
In the sumptuous hotel room in Dover, Serenity woke sometime in the wee hours of the night, her pulse thundering as the last vestiges of her dreams faded away. She’d been making love to Luke, lost in those beautiful nights they’d spent together when they were young and foolish and believed they could cross those lines with no consequences.
Last night, he’d finally said he loved her, and those words had made all the difference. For the first time in years, she could think back on those sweet interludes, when they’d made love, held each other, and talked to the wee hours of the morning, with nothing but love and tenderness. Finally, the sting of betrayal was gone, and she could once again believe in him, believe that he’d never meant to hurt her.
She shivered and reached for him, only to find the bed empty beside her. She blinked sleepily, stunned that she’d grown accustomed to having Luke there beside her in just one short evening. Sadness swamped her, and she swallowed, wondering where he’d gone. Had he left her without a word, to pay her back for what he thought she’d done to him all those years ago?
No.She knew immediately that he would never do that to her.
A small noise made her turn, and she found him kneeling before the fireplace, throwing on another log. He glanced over his shoulder and gave her a stunningly sweet smile. “It was getting chilly,” he murmured. “I didn’t want you to be cold.”
How long had it been since anyone had cared for her in such a way? He was the only one who ever had, and her heart filled with sudden gladness for this time they had together, no matter how short it might prove to be.
She slid out of bed and moved toward him, drawn by a force she couldn’t name. He stood and embraced her, pressing his lips to her temple. “I haven’t slept so deeply in years,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “You don’t know what it meant to me to have you there beside me. It made me think that perhaps everything would be all right, that I could put all my cares aside, if only for a while.”
She blinked against the sting of tears his words had caused. She loved that he felt safe with her, as she had always felt with him. Even now, after everything had gone so terribly wrong, she still felt safe with him. “I slept well, too,” she breathed. “Your body gives off such heat.”
He chuckled, pulling her tighter against him. “I’m glad you were warm.”
She stood there, in the circle of his arms, and she suddenly felt the hard press of his desire against her belly. Knowing that he still wanted her, after all this time, made heat shimmer through her. What harm could it do, to give into the desire between them one more time? At least she’d have the memory of it to keep her warm during all the long, lonely nights to come.
“Make love to me,” she whispered, lifting her gaze to his. “I want you so much, Luke.”
He blinked rapidly. “Are you sure? I promised you all I wanted to do was sleep.”
“We’ve slept,” she said with a choked laugh. “It’s been so long. Please, just make me remember how it feels to not be alone.”
He bent down, kissing her with explosive passion.
She clung to him, kissing him back in full measure, the world spinning around them as they tried to make up for so much lost time. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted his hands to the fastenings of her thin nightgown, undoing them until the garment fell into a pool of fabric at her bare feet.
He swept her trembling body into his strong arms and carried her over to the bed, setting her down in the center of the soft quilt and then stretching out beside her, still kissing her deeply. One of his large, warm hands drifted down the column of her throat, then skimmed across her chest, settling heavily over her breast.
Gasping, he finally pulled slightly back, his intense blue gaze drifting over her body, his chest heaving. “I’ve dreamed of this, of you, angel. A thousand aching dreams...”
Lowering his head, he captured one hard nipple with his lips, his fingertips lightly squeezing the other. She buried her hands in his thick, dark hair, the pull of his mouth setting off fireworks throughout her entire body.
“There’s never been anyone for me but you,” she felt compelled to tell him. “Only you, Luke. Only you.”
He groaned and slid his hand lower, finding her more than ready for him. She gasped as his fingertips worked their magic, knowing just where to touch her, exploring places that had been untouched for far too long. She’d worried that her body would no longer please him, or worse yet, that he’d realize what the changes signified, but there was no room for modesty, no room for any thought. All she could do was feel.
Within moments, she was shattering beneath him, crying out his name.
Luke trembled as he watched Serenity come undone at his touch, her sweet, lithe body pale and lovely in the flickering firelight. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, more womanly curves and grace.
He still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this, and his heart was so full. He couldn’t even describe the emotions that flooded him. All he knew was that she was here, despite everything against them, and he had no intention of ever letting her go again.
As she slowly came back to earth, he quickly divested himself of his own clothes. He lay back down beside her, and she leaned up on one elbow, lazily letting her other hand drift across his chest. Her eyes were hooded and satisfied, and he loved knowing that he’d done that.
“My beautiful Luke,” she whispered huskily. “I’ve missed touching you.”
