Sarah's Child (20 page)

Ive wanted you for years, she said, the words a little muffled by the pillow, but he understood them and his hands paused for a moment. I had to be a little unfriendly to you to keep Diane from guessing.

You did even better than that, he said ruefully. You kept me from guessing too. How many years have you wanted me?

Since Ive known you. She yawned, and her eyes closed.

That makes us about even, then.

She smiled and drifted to sleep. Rather than wake her to put her back in her nightgown, he simply pulled the covers up over them, turned off the lamp, and settled down beside her. He smiled into the darkness. Hed hate for her to be this sick very often, but she carried on some very interesting conversations when she was ill. She admitted to things that wild horses wouldnt have been able to drag out of her if shed been thinking clearly. He knew he wouldnt forget them, and he hoped she wouldnt either.

Chapter 9

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She was much better the next day, with no nausea at all, and only a light fever. She slept most of the day, and when she awoke, Rome fed her chicken broth. She wrinkled her nose at him. This is invalid food. When do I get something really hearty, like Jell-O? Or maybe a mashed-up banana?

He shuddered at the idea. I draw the line at mashing up bananas.

Okay, she agreed easily, a smile lighting her wan face. Ill forget about the bananas if you let me have a bath and wash my hair.

He started to refuse, but shed already divined his answer and the light had faded from her face. He sighed, relenting. She was too weak to do it by herself, but he could understand how she felt. Ill help you after you finish this broth, he gave in, and immediately she was smiling again.

If hed expected any sign of discomfort from her over the things shed said, he was disappointed. He thought she might not remember the night very clearly, because shed been feverish and disoriented, but he wanted her to remember. To find out for certain, he murmured, Do you remember talking to me last night?

For the first time in days, color was in her face, but she didnt look away from him. She lay back on the pillows and met his gaze evenly. Yes, I remember.

Good was all he said.

He ran a tubful of warm water, then carried her into the bathroom and carefully placed her in the tub. Leaning against the wall, he watched her carefully as she soaped and rinsed herself, ready to pluck her out if she showed signs of fainting. She finished her bath without incident and raised her arms to him. Im finished. The natural way she reached out for him took his breaththat and the way the movement had lifted her high, rounded breasts. Taking her bodily from the water, he stood her before him and wrapped a big fluffy towel around her.

Now my hair, she said determinedly.

She bent over the basin and he washed her hair, but it was so long that rinsing it was difficult, and he solved the problem by stripping his clothes and getting in the shower with her. We should have washed your hair first, he grumbled.

Im sorry; I didnt think about it, she apologized. She looked so fragile standing there before him that he gently pulled her to him, cradling her against his naked body. She put her arms around his waist and sighed in contentment.

Im glad you came home.

Ummm. I think you need a spanking for not calling me when you first got sick, he muttered. Why didnt you?

I didnt think youd appreciate being interrupted while you were working. I knew I wasnt dying, though Marcie was a little hard to convince.

He hesitated, then lifted her on tiptoe so he could crush his mouth hungrily against hers, with water running in both of their faces. Youre more important to me than work, he growled. Youre my wife, and I want you healthy. If you dont call me the next time you need me, I really will spank you.

Im shaking in my boots, she teased him, and he cast a significant glance at her bare feet.

So I see.

He turned off the shower and quickly dried her again, before she could become chilled. Then he patiently dried her hair with a brush and a blow-dryer, turning it into living silk.

But when he tried to put her in a nightgown and return her to bed, she rebelled. I want to wear regular clothes, and sit in a chair in the living room like a human being, and I want to read a newspaper!

She was weaving on her feet, and she looked like a ghost, but her soft mouth was set in stubborn lines. Rome sighed, wondering why a woman who was normally unargumentative and even rather docile would turn so willful just because she had the flu. He wanted to firmly place her back in bed and make her stay there, but he also wanted to make her happy.

Well compromise, he suggested, trying to keep his voice soothing. Put on your nightgown and a robe, because you probably wont feel like sitting up for very long. Deal?

Sarah was heartily tired of nightgowns, but though he was trying very hard to be reasonable, she could tell that if she refused his compromise, she was going to find herself bundled back into bed. She didnt want that, so she gave in. His mouth was set in a grim line as he pulled a clean nightgown over her head, then helped her into her robe. He found her bedroom slippers and put them on her feet.

I can walk, she protested when he lifted her.

He gave her a steady look that told her not to push it. You can walk the next time.

She gave in and looped her arm around his neck, cuddling her face into the warmth of his neck, and she smiled a little. Being in his arms wasnt any hardship at all.

She found that she couldnt concentrate on a newspaper; it seemed like too much of an effort, and her hands kept shaking, so she gave up. But it was nice to be in a different room, and to sit up. Rome turned on the fireplace, and the cheerful flickering of the fire made her feel much better. He settled beside her on the sofa, quietly reading the newspaper.

After fifteen minutes, she began to feel tired and sleepy, but she didnt want to go back to bed. She curled on her side and put her head in Romes lap, rubbing her cheek against him. He put his hand on her head, sliding her long hair through his fingers. Do you want to go back to bed?

No, not yet. This is nice.

It was more than nice, he thought, swallowing. He looked down at the bright head in his lap and thought of what hed like her to be doing. He tried to control his thoughts, but with her cheek pressed against him like that, he was fighting a losing battle.

She knew it too, the little witch. She put her hand under her cheek, and he shuddered as her fingers rubbed him delicately. He caught the tiny smile that broke through her control, though she quickly straightened her lips again, and he found himself grinning.

He tossed the newspaper aside and pulled her up onto his lap. Sarah Matthews, youre a tease. You know damned well Im not going to do anything until youre a lot better, so cut it out, okay?

But Ive missed you, she said, as if that explained everything. With his arms around her, she knew everything was going to be all right. She had no worries at all when he held her. She found a comfortable place on his shoulder for her head and went to sleep.

He held her for a while, admitting to himself how much hed missed the feel of her in his arms. Getting married had been a damned good idea. Coming home to her warmth was enough to lure any man.

She barely stirred when he finally carried her back to bed but she was awake and hungry when Marcie and Derek came to visit two hours later. They all sat in the kitchen, grouped around the tiny breakfast table, while Sarah drank a cup of broth. She demanded and got a slice of plain toast, and her stomach delightedly embraced the first solid food shed had in almost a week. She looked up from eating to find every-one staring at her, and she self-consciously dropped the toast. Why is everyone looking at me?

Im just glad to see you eating, Marcie said bluntly. I thought you were dying on me!

I just had the flu, Sarah chided. Havent you ever seen anyone with flu before?

Marcie thought, then shrugged. No. Dereks never sick.

Sarah cast a disgusted look at Derek, who smiled gently. Derek was always gentle, as if he felt obliged to be kind to mere mortals. No, it wasnt an obligation to himhe was simply a kind person.

They didnt visit long, as Sarah tired easily. After they left, she resisted going back to bed. She went into the living room and that time managed to read the newspaper. She sat up, by sheer willpower, until the time she normally went to bed, then gratefully let Rome support her as she walked to her bedroom.

He left to turn out all the lights and check that everything was locked; she was drowsy when he came back to her room and began undressing, but she opened her eyes when he turned out the light and got into bed beside her. She was suddenly wide awake, and her heart was pounding. She was much better; she knew she didnt need anyone with her that night, and he had to know it too. He pulled her into his arms and settled her against him, with her head on his shoulder. His lips brushed her forehead in the lightest of kisses. Good night, he murmured.

He was sleeping with her!

She was almost afraid to let herself think about it. There had been signs that he was beginning to care for her; when she tried to think back, she realized it had been some time since shed seen the bleak moodiness on his face that had always told her he was thinking about Diane and the boys. Was time working its healing miracle? If he was finally recovering from his grief, then he would be able to start loving again, and she had the inside track!

Whats wrong? he asked sleepily, sliding his hand up her arm. Your hearts racing like a runaway engine. I can feel it.

Ive tired myself too much, she managed to say, pressing even closer to him. The security of his big warm body began to calm her, and she eased into sleep.

The next morning, despite her reassurances that she was much better and could safely be left by herself, he called his secretary to let her know he wouldnt be working that day. Im staying, he told Sarah firmly after hed hung up the telephone. Now, what about breakfast?

Anything! Im starved!

She ate an almost normal breakfast, and decided that food was the answer to everything. She was much stronger, able to walk without weaving, and except for a lingering headache and a cough that occasionally seized her, she felt fine.

Rome worked in the living room, spreading papers out around him, instead of working in the small study, as he usually did. Sarah knew he wanted to keep an eye on her, and the thought made her feel pleasantly warm. Being spoiled had its good points.

Around noon, she became sleepy and dozed off in the chair where shed been reading. Rome glanced up, saw her closed eyes, and got up to carry her to bed. She woke when he began undressing her but didnt protest when he made her put on a nightgown. She was asleep again before he could pull the covers up over her.

She slept for almost four hours. She woke to use the bathroom and drink several glasses of water; she felt as if she couldnt get enough water. Still feeling drowsy, she went back to bed and had just pulled the sheet up when the door opened and Rome came in.

I thought I heard you moving around, he said, seeing that she was awake. He came over and sat on the side of the bed, gently touching her face. There was no fever at all. She was warm, but it was the rosy warmth of sleep.

She stretched lazily, then sat up to put her arms around his shoulders, hugging him. The way shed stretched had pulled the thin fabric of the nightgown tight across her breasts, and now he felt the soft mounds pressing against him. He caught her to him and cupped her chin, lifting her mouth for his kiss. Sarah melted against him, her lips parting to accept the play of his tongue. He kissed her several times, and each time his kiss was harder, more demanding. Gently he lowered her back to her pillow, and he went with her, his mouth still on hers. She felt his hand close warmly around her breast, and she arched to his touch. It seemed as if it had been forever since hed made love to her; the cold shed had prior to the flu had made her feel miserable too, and hed left her alone. Yes, she said against his mouth, pulling at his shirt. Please, dont stop now.

I wasnt going to, he said huskily, sitting up and removing the offending shirt. He dropped it to the floor, then stood to unfasten his pants and step out of them. Sarah watched him with wide dreamy eyes, her body already tingling in anticipation of his touch. Leaning over her, he removed her nightgown, enjoying the sight of the soft, slim body that belonged to him. He put his hands on her and stroked her silky flesh, finally cupping both her breasts and leaning down to kiss them, then sucking both nipples to hardness. Drowning in pleasure, Sarah reached for him, pulling him down to her.

When they got up later, she felt satisfied in every pore of her body, and the satisfaction was plain on her face. She was radiant, her skin glowing with the warmth generated by his caresses. As they sat across from each other at dinner, Rome felt his gaze returning again and again to her face. Hed put that look on her face, and he knew it. When Sarah looked at him like that, something moved inside him. Hed wanted to break down the barriers of her reserve, to find the heat of her passion, but hed found much more than that. The ice-queen was gone, and in her place was a woman who glowed from his touch. Was she falling in love with him? He liked the idea of that; having the devotion of a woman like her was nothing to be taken lightly. Her love would warm the years, provide a tender, safe haven for him to come home to, a cushion against the painful memories of his past.