Dreams~Shadows of the Night (30 page)

“Why should you? No one could blame you for feeling that way.”

He drew in a deep breath, like a man would that had just completed a long, difficult journey.

“That’s everything, Catherine.”

She pressed her lips to his mouth, lingering in the kiss.

“I can’t erase what you went through, but I’ll do everything I can to help you put it behind you.”

“It still might take me a while to get rid of these nightmares,” he warned.

“I know. I understand about bad dreams, but I’m going to fill you up with so much good stuff you won’t have room for anything else. We’ve got plenty of time because I plan on us being together until our teeth fall out and oatmeal dribbles down our bibs.”

His mouth twitched in a smile.

“Sounds wonderful.” He pulled her on top of him. “I’d say there’s no time like the present to start filling me up with the good stuff. Or better yet, how about I fill you?”

“I didn’t know the clock had started.”

“It has now,” he growled.

She loved that he was letting her be in control. She sucked on his bottom lip, nibbled at his neck, and tormented his male nipples with her teeth until he groaned. He let her push his hands over his head and hold them there while she assaulted his lips in a breath robbing kiss. She took the kiss deep, and then deeper using her tongue to explore the inside of his mouth.

She slowly scraped her nails down the length of his arms and continued along his ribcage making his muscles twitch with need. She trailed her lips wherever she could reach, arousing him to fever pitch before straddling him. When he finally couldn’t take any more of her sweet torture, he thrust his hips upward and she was there to receive him.

They rode together in a heart pumping, muscle straining ride that had sensations tearing through them. Their rhythm increased bringing them both ever closer to the peak of ultimate pleasure. Bodies strained and giving one last mighty effort, burst together in a deep, shuddering climax. Catherine fell forward onto Josh’s chest and
lay there
limp and sated while listening to his heart beating a mad cadence.

Ignoring the sweat that slicked their bodies, they cuddled and enjoyed
the
afterglow
of their lovemaking
. They talked of the future and made plans; plans that
were all the more cherished because
they both knew
they
might never have been.

Josh frowned when Catherine finally eased herself out of his arms and scooted off the bed.

“Where are you going?” he asked raising himself up on one elbow.

She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth.

“To the shower. I have to go to work.”

“Can’t you call in sick?”

“I would, but two nurses are out on maternity leave. I’m sorry, but
duty calls. You know I’d much rather stay here with you.”

“No, you’re right. I’ve got an obligation to take care of myself.”

She quirked an inquiring brow at him.

“What obligation?”

“I’ve been asked to go back to
Alaska
and tie up some loose ends.”

“But you’ve already been gone for so long.”

“I know, but they still want me.”

He tossed the covers aside and stood up making her stomach quiver at the sight of his naked body.

“I just got the call yesterday. They’ve asked me to finish up the job I was working on and I kind of hate to turn them down since I left in such a hurry.”

“No, that wouldn’t be very professional. How long will you be gone?”

“Depends on the weather, but hopefully no more than a week.”

“A week! It’s going to seem like forever.”

He groaned.

“Tell me about it.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Why don’t you bring your things and come home with me now? My aunt is still gone.” She looked around the shabby room and made a face. “It’ll get you out of here.”

“I happen to have grown very fond of this place in the last few hours.
I’m thinking of asking the management if I can put a plaque outside declaring this as the spot where Josh Dallas stepped out of the mists and into the light.”

“How sweet. Let me know if you succeed. I’d like to be here for the unveiling.”

He ga
thered her in his arms and rubb
ed
his mouth along
the
sensitive cord at the
side of her neck.

“What time do you have to be at work?”

“In a couple of hours and I need that shower first.” He surprised her by lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you think? We’ve still got two hours and I’m not about to waste them.”

“What about my shower?”

“We can shower together later and as a special treat I’ll let you wash my back.”

“Oh you will, will you? And what reward will I get for such services?”

He gave her a wicked grin and proceeded to show her in a very
satisfying way.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Catherine managed a quick break later that afternoon and called Josh before he left for the airport.

“Be sure and call me as soon as you arrive,” she reminded him.

“You got it. God, I miss you already.”

“I miss you, too.” She looked at her watch. “I’ve got to go.”

“I love you.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the words.

“I love you, too. Come back to me, Josh, as soon as you can.” Her voice wasn’t quite steady.

“Damn it, this is killing me. Do you want me to stay? Just say the word and I won’t go. I’ll tell them I broke my leg or something.”

Just hearing him say that he wouldn’t go made her heart swell with love recalling how there had been a time he wouldn’t have given her a choice.

“No. That wouldn’t be fair to the people who are counting on you, but it means a great deal to me that you’re offering. We made it being apart for a year; we should be able to do a few days.”

“I guess so, but this damn coming and going is a hell of a way to carry on a courtship. When I finish this job in Alaska I’m going to stay put if I have to encase my feet in cement.”

“Don’t think I won’t help you if those feet of yours get the urge to take off again.”

He chuckled.

“I think you would, too!”

“Go now and please be safe, my love.”

“Yeah, and right back at you. Don’t forget to save my place in your bed.”

“The reserve sign goes up tonight.”

“I’d better hang up before I change my mind and end up back on your doorstep.”

>>>>dreams<<<<

Catherine left work the next night in a drizzling rain. It had been an unseasonably wet winter and she was tired of all the rain, especially driving in it. She was more than anxious to get home tonight. Her aunt was due back in the morning, and she wanted to pick up a few groceries and do some light housekeeping.

She was going over a grocery list in her mind when her cell phone rang. She snatched it up while being careful to keep her eyes focused on her driving.

“Hello?”

“Is this Catherine Ashley? I need to talk to her right away. It’s rather urgent.”

The connection was poor and she didn’t recognize the muffled voice. She couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman speaking.

“Yes, this is Catherine. Who is this?”

“You wouldn’t know me even if I gave you my name and that’s not important right now. I’m calling about a Priscilla Mills. I found your name and number in her purse. I called what I assumed was your house first, but got your answering machine.”

A flicker of fear made the hair on the back of Catherine’s neck stand up.

“Priscilla Mills is my aunt. Is anything the matter? Is she all right?”

“She’s here in my house, but I’m afraid she’s not able to come to the phone.”

Fear spread making her heart pound. She had to force herself to focus, as a chill rode slowly across her shoulders.

“What do you mean? Has something happened to her?”

“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what the problem is except that she’s been crying hysterically ever since I found her wandering in front of my house. She keeps going on and on about losing a baby. She doesn’t appear to have any physical wounds, so I thought you’d rather come for her than have me call the police or an ambulance.”

“Oh dear God! Something must have happened to Tommy.”

“Who’s Tommy?” the woman asked.

“Her grandson. Doesn’t she have a little boy with her?”

“No, she’s alone. Oh my, you mean there actually is a child involved?”

“Yes. I’ll come right away. Where is your house located?”

“It’s a bit difficult to find. I live way up in the hills, you see.”

Catherine listened carefully to the directions.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, and perhaps if you tell my aunt I’m on my way it might help to calm her down.”

“I doubt it since she’s pretty far gone, but I’ll do the best I can.”

“I appreciate that, and thank you so much for calling me.”

“Oh, you needn’t thank me. I’m only doing what should be done.”

Catherine frowned when she hung up. There had been something almost familiar about the tone of that voice just then. But she shook the thought away and gave all her attention to following the directions she’d been given. She was heading into an area she’d never been before and with the bad weather, she knew she needed to concentrate.

Once she left the lights of the city behind and began the long slow climb into the hills, the night seemed to close in on her. The higher she went the more she tried not to think about the way the embankment dropped off into utter darkness. The only illumination came from her headlights casting eerie patterns over the narrow ribbon of road and the sparse vegetation lining either side.

The rain was falling heavier here making the windshield wipers barely able to clear the water away.  Her hands gripped the wheel, as she leaned forward straining to see the winding route, while she cautiously negotiated each hairpin curve.

Driving so slowly had her nerves edging up to panic. The need to get to her aunt and find out about Tommy was making her
nearly
hyperventilate, and she had to keep reminding herself to take in slow, even breaths in an effort to keep calm. If her aunt was as hysterical as the woman said, Catherine knew it wouldn’t help if she fell apart, too.

So far there hadn’t been another car or any sign of lights to show that there were any houses up here. Could she have misunderstood the directions? She prayed not. Looking around, she couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live in such isolation.

Now that she had the time to think about it, Catherine couldn’t imagine what in the world her aunt would be doing up here. The only thing that came to mind was that she must have somehow gotten lost. Worrying what could have happened to the baby and what state of mind her aunt must be in filled Catherine with renewed dread.

She peered through the windshield wishing she’d thought to get the person’s telephone number. Then again, she doubted if she’d be able to get a signal on her cell phone up here. If only she’d known the drive was going to be so treacherous she would have asked the person to call an ambulance and meet her aunt at the hospital.

She’d about given up the hope of finding anything when she finally spotted lights up ahead. A sigh of relief shuddered through her and she dared to accelerate a bit more in her anxiousness to reach her destination. Catherine realized she must have finally made it to the top of the mountain when she saw that the road appeared to have come to an end.

But she felt immediate disappointment when she saw what appeared to be the headlights of a car rather than lights coming from a house, as she had expected. She’d obviously made a mistake and drove all this way for nothing. But Catherine began to worry that her aunt might be in the car. She had to be sure.

She pulled up alongside the vehicle and waited for someone to acknowledge her. But when no one appeared after several seconds, she pulled up the hood of her coat to cover her head, opened her own door, and stepped out into the pouring rain.

It was too dark to see inside the car. She tapped on the window expecting it to be rolled down, but it remained tightly closed. Something was very wrong here. For all she knew this might be some nut who had gotten hold of her aunt’s purse. What if it was a man who had lured her here intent on doing her harm? Her heart skipped a couple of beats, but Catherine knew she couldn’t walk away
if her aunt really was in trouble.

“This is Catherine Ashley. Are you the person who called me about my aunt?”