The Way Home (22 page)

“
I think we should get that bottle and go, like right now.” Susan glanced around, saw that no one was paying them any attention, so she reached out and ran her hand over the front of his jeans. He let out a hiss and then his hands were both on her ass. Susan braced herself for the rush of fear as he held her tighter but it didn't come. Maybe it just couldn't compete with how deeply she needed Houdini. The feeling was strong enough to make her head spin.

“
Screw the bottle.” His voice was a low rumble that sent her stomach into a seemingly endless loop of knots. Susan had thought that she'd need the tequila for courage or something along those lines but she realized she didn't. The only thing that she needed was the man standing in front of her. Her man. She nodded and Houdini grinned from ear to ear as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the apartment.

He was happy, really happy and excited, Susan felt it coming off of him in waves. Somehow it helped to quiet the voices that still lingered, the ones she was nearly certain that she'd never fully get rid of. She realized it was a small price to pay for what she'd gone through and it was something that she could live with.

He was on her the second that the apartment door shut, or maybe it was her that was on him. Susan couldn't be sure; they'd both moved so fast, as if they could suddenly make up for all the time lost. Susan's head spun from the sensations. She held on to him tightly, because for a moment she thought that she was going to fall.

Houdini wouldn't let her fall. He'd never let her fall and proved it as he swung them towards the bed. Susan landed on her back with a laugh and watched as he removed his cut. When was the last time that she'd felt this happy or free? She didn't remember exactly, but she knew that it was a moment like this, a moment with Houdini. A feeling that she could only describe as peace rolled over her and suddenly the voices were completely silenced.

There was nothing in the world but him, standing and looking down at her on the bed. He smiled and grabbed her foot to pull off her boots. He'd said that he'd been thinking about getting her out of the jeans, so she wasn't surprised as he began to take them off, but she was surprised at how suddenly gentle his hands were.

They had just been frantic, nearly animal-like in the way that they were clawing at one another, but now he was pulling her jeans off as if they had all the time in the world. Susan lifted her hips to help him get the material off, but he continued to move so slowly that she thought she was going to go mad.

Once the jeans were off, all that separated them was his clothes. Susan tugged at them but he simply chuckled and pinned her down to the bed. “Have a little patience, Baby.”

“
Haven't we been patient enough?” Susan met his eyes. “Haven't we waited long enough?”

“
I don't want to rush you, don't want to scare you.” His eyes were full of concern.

“
You're not rushing me, and I'm not scared of you. I want you.” Susan hoped he realized her words were sincere, spoken from the heart. She wanted him in every way.

Houdini didn't say anything. For a moment, Susan was worried, but then he pulled off his shirt, and the sight of his chest completely distracted her from any other thought. He'd taken to wearing a shirt and at least shorts at all times, ever since she'd been back. He'd done so much to make her feel better, to make her feel safe.

“I love you.” Susan nearly choked on the words, because as many times as she'd said them, they never meant more than that moment.

Houdini grinned, unbuckled his belt and toed off his boots. “That's fortunate because I love you, too.”

“I think that it's time you get your ass in this bed.”

“
Yes ma'am.” Houdini nearly stumbled as he kicked off his jeans, and then he was on the bed with her, over her. The weight of his body came with only comfort, the touch of his hands brought only pleasure, and when he nipped down lightly on her collarbone, Susan's hips bucked up off of the bed.

“
Houdini.” Susan whimpered and rolled her hips. The ache between her legs was now a full-blown throb; she could feel how wet she was and knew that she'd just implode if she didn't have him inside of her. “Now.”

“
Fuck,” he pressed his face to her neck. “Are you sure?”

“
I've never been so sure of anything in my life.” Susan assured him. She spread her legs when he shifted off of her, opened herself for him.

Houdini ran his hands up her thighs to the juncture between her legs. It took only the touch of his fingers against her clit to get her going. “Oh! Oh!” She arched her back, moved her hips against his hand to get more contact, and then suddenly his fingers were inside of her.

Susan saw stars as she came, her entire body seeming to be made only of liquid. Everything swelled and crested. She struggled to catch her breath and felt herself smile as she noticed Houdini watching her. “What?”

“
You're beautiful when you come.” He pressed his hands against the backs of her thighs, opening her to him even more, and then he was inside of her and everything went completely white. In that moment, Susan knew that she'd finally found her way home.