Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(67)

She shook her head, looking into his eyes with moist ones of her own. “Brad,” she said in a breath. “He came to ask me for another chance. And in the same conversation, told me they’d found the ra**st and would be extraditing him to California for trial.”

He was quiet a moment, a half smile on his lips. Then he asked, “And you think I can make that go away?”

“No,” she said. “But I knew if I didn’t come here soon…Mike, I’m not whole, you have to know that. It’s been so long, and there’s been so much…. I just learned my husband was with two women for a long, long time before he chose her. And what Powell did to me… I can want you, but truthfully, I’m not sure I can ever feel again.”

“Shhh,” he said. He gently touched his lips to hers. “You already feel, or you wouldn’t be here,” he whispered.

She said, “Quiero que me abraces. Para amarte durante la noche.” I want you to hold me. To love me through the night.

A slow smile grew on Mike’s face. “I haven’t had any secrets, have I?”

“Nada,” she said. Not one.

Mike laughed softly. “It serves me right. I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” he said. “Tu debes sentir estas manos amorosas así a ti.” You should feel the touch of loving hands.

“Deja a que sean sus manos.” Let them be your hands.

“Brie, are you sure you’re ready for this? Are you sure you want it to be me?”

She shook her head. “I’m only sure I want to try, to feel complete, to feel like a woman again before it’s too late, before that bastard is brought to trial and facing him turns me to stone again. But you? Sí. Te quiero mucho.” Yes. I want you so much.

“Have you seen Jack?” he asked, his hand on the back of her neck under her hair, kneading gently.

She shook her head. “I didn’t even go into the bar. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble figuring out why I’m here when he leaves tonight and sees my car.”

“Do you want me to take you to him? Be there when you tell him you’re back?”

She shook her head again. “I’ll see him tomorrow.” She laughed nervously. “I’m not sure what I have to offer. I’m absolutely certain, and still… Maybe you should give me a beer,” she said.

“Tu no necesitas eso. Nada malo te pasara en mis brazos.” You won’t need that. Nothing frightening will ever happen while you’re in my arms. He pulled her to him with the hand at the back of her neck.

“What if I’m really dead inside?” she whispered.

“You know better than that. You’ve never been dead inside, just frightened. You trusted yourself enough to come here. Leave the rest to me.” He touched her lips softly. “You have to know something while there’s still time for you to change your mind about this. I’m not a Good Samaritan, Brie. Not just a man willing to help a good friend get in touch with her feelings again. I’m in love with you,” he said, hovering over her lips. His breath was hot and sweet on her face, then slowly he descended on her, covering her mouth in a kiss that was powerful and hot, a kiss that seared and demanded. He moved over her parted lips hungrily and she clung to him with a whimper. “I’m so in love with you.”

When he released her lips, he pulled her up and into the RV and locked the door. She slipped out of her jacket and asked, “Will he come pounding at the door?”

Mike chuckled low in his throat. “Not a chance. I think even Jack knows when he’d be taking his life in his hands.” With his hands on her face, he pulled her lips onto his, devouring her. He kissed her again. And again. Holding her against him with arms that had ached to hold her like this for too long. He felt her small tongue in his mouth and it made him weak in the knees, it was so delicious, so sweet. All he hoped for was that he could make her comfortable with his touch, soothed enough so that she would welcome more of him. He wanted her to relearn, in his arms, the beauty of what could happen between a man and woman. The joy and ecstasy. After what had been done to her, she should know that in this, the love that he had for her, there would never be fear or pain, but only pleasure. Pleasure so wild and wonderful, it would fill her life for many days and nights to come. These thoughts combined with the sensation of her against him made him erect at once and he sprang to life, folded almost painfully inside his jeans. With a hand on her bottom, he pulled her against him to show her what holding her did to him, and a deep and beautiful moan escaped her.

“Everything is up to you, Brie,” he said. “If you want to change your mind…”

“No,” she whispered against his lips.

“There’s no hurry, baby. Tell me when to slow down, when to stop….”

She shook her head. “I trust you. I need you.”

He drew her through the RV, past the full kitchen and a shower big enough for two into a small bedroom. There were only a couple of feet on each side of the queen-size bed and the walls were lined with closets, drawers and shelves, but it was all beautiful and modern, and plenty big enough.

His hands went to the bottom of her soft sweater and he drew it slowly over her head, leaving her in only her bra. He was on her mouth again, bruising her lips with the passion of his kiss. He pulled her hands from around his neck and, looking into her eyes, placed her fingers on the buttons of his shirt. She didn’t need to be told—she tugged his shirt out of his pants and worked the buttons quickly, then with her hands against his chest, spread the shirt over his shoulders to bare his chest. She touched the scar on his right shoulder, then caressed his chest with her small soft hands. “I love the way your skin feels,” she whispered. “You’re so smooth. So silky.” She kissed the hollow place at the base of his neck.