You're Still the One (24 page)

              "Something to do with naked and whipped cream?"

              "Grace!" She burst out laughing. "That's really more your speed."

              "I don't know. You might like it."

              "I don't know about the whipped cream, but you should definitely go, honey." Sam Foster hugged her. "Definitely."

              Rick had said he wanted to talk. She did, too. And she should go now. Today. Find out if this was the end or a new beginning.

              She was afraid to go, but as she recalled the promise she'd made to him, she was more afraid not to.

              Rick should've been sleeping like a rock, but he wasn't. He was restless and edgy after the twelve-hour drive from Colorado, and his eyes wouldn't close. Even four hours after arriving home, he kept seeing the panic, the rejection on Katie's face, kept wondering how badly he'd hurt her. How badly he'd screwed up.

              As he'd promised, he'd called the hospital to tell her he had made it home all right. Grace had answered, saying Katie couldn't come to the phone. She'd said she would give Katie his message and have her call, but she still hadn't.

              He got out of bed, went outside, shoved off his briefs and dove into the pool. The June night wrapped around him, warm and silky.

              He'd thought he was doing the right thing by leaving, but if so, why did his chest feel ripped open? Why did it feel so wrong?

              He stretched into his stroke, recalling the night he'd seen Katie out here, swimming for all she was worth. That same frustration pushed him now. He sliced through the water, going another length of the pool.

              Due to the late hour, he had dropped Tommy at Uncle Dwayne's house rather than the office. The FBI had arranged to put their chief witness against Henderson in protective custody until the trial was over. Even now, they were making their move on the mafioso to put the man behind bars.

              Rick turned, swam to the far end of the pool, his strokes smooth and measured. His uncle had informed him the FBI had found evidence that Henderson had killed a man in Kansas and run another woman off the road, just like he had Grace.

              The case was wrapped up except for the trial, in which Tommy and Grace would testify. Rick would be called on to identify pictures of the two men who had tailed him and Katie, tried to kill them at the cabin.

              Surfacing at the far end of the pool, he stared at the black velvet sky.

             
Katie.
His heart ached. He wanted to know she was all right, wanted to make love with her and try to erase the memory of the last time they'd been together. That night when he'd taken her body, then withdrawn from her.

              He turned and swam toward the opposite end of the pool, his muscles finally unknotting.

              Today's long drive had given him more than enough time to think. He loved her, had always loved her. And he decided he'd rather have her any way he could get her than not at all.

              He was ready to take a chance on them. No more ultimatums. They'd find a compromise, even if it meant seeing her only when her family wasn't in crisis mode.

              Cutting through the water, he pictured her face, her eyes soft and liquid blue, her sweet lips. He'd call her again. Now.

              He reached the middle of the pool, stood and ran a hand over his wet face. That's when he saw her.

              Standing only feet from him, water barely covering her breasts. Her bare breasts, her bare body.

              His heart kicked against his ribs. He blinked. Wondering if his mid had transferred her image to the water, he moved forward. "Katie?"

              "Hi," she said shyly. Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she stared at him uncertainly, then stepped toward him. Moonlight shimmered on the water, washed her in liquid silver.

              "You're here." He couldn't believe it. He sounded hoarse and winded and stupid.

              "Yes. My dad drove me up to take a flight out of Colorado Springs." She stopped inches away, water  rippling around her, reaching out to lap against his chest. Her eyes were deep with longing and need and something he wasn't sure he could name.

              "What happened?"

              "I told you I wanted to be with you and I meant it."

              "You should be with Grace."

              "This is why I didn't call and tell you I was coming." She reached him, ran her hand up his chest. "I didn't want you trying to talk me out of it."

              He grabbed her wrist, as much to make a point as to steady himself. "You don't have to give them up for me. I don't want that."

              "I'm not. I thought about what you said. You were right. I was making a choice when I didn't have to."

              He felt the heat of her under the water, the shadow touch of her body. Sensation hummed through him. He was already hard, his pulse throbbing. "I don't want you to feel torn. "We'll work something out. I want you in my life, Katie."

              She pressed closer, her breasts nudging his chest and driving his pulse into orbit. "I want that, too. I need you, Rick."

              His hand slip up her arm, trailed over her bare, velvety shoulder. "Was I an idiot? Want me to beg first?"

              "You were right." She dropped a kiss on his chest, looked up at him. "And I want you to make me beg."

              "Damn," he said hoarsely. He pulled her to him, his hands curving over her bottom. She lifted herself and wrapped her legs around him.

              Her center pulsed hot against his erection. "I hate what happened last time, darlin'. I want to make that up to you."

              "I like the sound of that." She shifted, pressing hard against him.

              "You're really here." He moved his hand between them, found her sleek and hot as he slid one finger inside.

              She clenched tight around him, her hands moving down to stroke his erection. "I want to feel you. All of you."

              Her hand slid the length of him, and he nearly lost it right then. Using all his willpower, he held back, concentrating on watching the pleasure flash across her features. They touched each other, stroked. Harder, longer. Sinuous movements that took him to the edge, had her breath shuddering out.

              She whispered his name, her gaze locked with his. "Now, Rick. I don't want to wait any longer."

              Somehow, he made it to the side of the pool, braced his back against the concrete edge so it wouldn't scratch her and held her as she slid down on him, slow and steady.

              A perfect fit.

              She kissed him, sank down to take him even deeper.

              His hands moved to her breasts. He plucked gently at her nipples and curved his hands around her fullness. "I love you, Katie Foster."

              Her eyes darkened; love and trust shone in the smoky depths. "I love you, too. I thought you'd never say that to me again."

              "I never stopped. I never will."

              "Me, either."

              For the first time, they made love with absolute trust. No shackles from the past, no concerns other than the rhythm of her body meeting his.

              He watched her eyes, and the lock on his heart fell away. He gave to her the way he had before, completely, without inhibition. The way he thought he never would again. And she did the same, for the first time meeting him with full abandon. The stroke of his body into hers felt familiar, but there was a freshness, a deeper comprehension of years lost, regret buried that made their lovemaking seem new.

              The same awe that had locked his breath in his lungs the first time he'd taken her still held him. He saw that same wonder in her eyes and a vulnerability shining out at him that he knew he'd never take for granted. They'd paid a ten-year price to get here.

              They moved slowly together, making it last. Committing to each other with every stroke, every whispered word. Giving, taking, reaching.

              His hands flexed on her hips. He remembered this, the velvet feel of her skin beneath him, the delicate woman taste of her. As she came apart in his arms, he stored away the memory of moonlight gliding down her arched neck. The sultry steadiness of her eye on his, the way her hands urged him on, the open surrender in her face. And when he finally let himself go, they climaxed together.

              She moaned deep in her throat, and he kissed her, catching his name as she clenched around him. Tight and deep and complete.

              Breathing hard, he braced his weak body against the concrete. She sagged against him, her heart thundering in time with this.

              She peeked at him through spiky lashes. "Miss me?"

              He grinned and kissed her, hungry for the taste of her, making up for lost time.

              She looped her arms around his neck. "I want to stay."

              "My bed's big enough for two."

              "No, I mean I want to stay always." Uncertainty slid into her eyes. "With you."

              He stilled, feeling goose bumps rise on her back as the water cooled around them. "Are you sure?"

              She touched his face. "Absolutely."

              He lifted her so her eyes were level with his. "We'll figure out a way to make it work."

              She kissed him, then pulled away breathless and tugged him with her to the steps. She got out of the pool, picked up a towel and wrapped it sarong-style around herself. As he climbed out behind her, she handed him one.

              He held her close as they walked into the house. On the cool tile of the foyer, she stopped, lifted serious eyes to his.

              "Hey." His hand moved up to caress her bare shoulder.

              She licked her lips nervously. There was a mix of doubt and excitement on her face.

              "Katie?

              "I'm ready to commit one hundred percent. I want you to know that."

              "I know, darlin'."

              She took a deep breath; words tumbled out. "On my way from the airport, I called a Realtor about putting my house on the market. Dad is with Grace, and she'll be living with him until she's healed. And then...she's on her own."

              Stunned at this gesture to show her commitment to him, to them, he smiled. His heart ached from sheer pleasure. "No maybes about it. This time we're gonna make it work."

              "You think you're up to it?"

              "You bet I am." Grinning, he pulled her with him down the hallway and into his bedroom.

              He opened his closet. One side was empty.

              She turned, questions in her eyes.

              He moved to his six-drawer dresser and opened the three drawers on the right. All empty. He turned. "I wanted you to know you have a place here with me. Whenever you want."

              A smile curved her gorgeous lips. Her eyes glowed at him. How had he ever lived without that? "Are you sure?"

              "You bet your life?"

              "Oh, I was hoping you'd say that," she breathed.

              He took her in his arms. "I trust you, Katie. I want you to know that. I was coming in to call you when you gave me that little surprise outside."

              "I love you, Rick Powell. And I'm never leaving again."

              His chest swelling with love, Rick took the one step he'd sworn never to take again. "Wanna prove it?"

              "What do you mean?"

              "Marry me?"

              She stared at him, disbelief in her eyes. For an instant, his heart stopped.

              Then she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. "There's no getting out of it now, Powell. I'm here to stay."

              "It's about time," he said before covering her mouth with his.

The End

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