Now You See Her Linda Howard(36)

She couldn't stand. Even though her legs weren't cramping at the moment, she simply didn't have the energy to get to her feet. She crawled a few feet, then collapsed on her side, breathing hard from the exertion. After a few moments she rolled, blanket and all, like a large human sausage. If babies could use rolling as a means of locomotion, so could she.

She laughed aloud at the picture she must have made, and then cried because she ached so badly in every muscle. When she reached the door, she stretched to reach the doorknob, then hauled herself up on her knees. In that position she could reach, just barely, the two dead-bolt locks on the door. She fumbled them open, then curled into a ball beside the door to wait for Richard.




Chapter 9


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The ringing of the doorbell, when it came, startled her. She had no idea how much time had lapsed. "R-Richard?"



The bell rang again, and she realized her voice had been too weak to penetrate the wood. She took a deep breath, holding it to buy herself a few seconds free from shivering. "Richard," she called, not letting herself think what she would do if someone else was at the door.

"I'm here. Open the door."

"It's u-unlocked."

He opened the door, looked down, and saw her curled on the floor and said, "Shit," in a very quiet, very controlled tone. He closed and locked the door, then bent down and effortlessly lifted her in his arms.

"How long has this been going on?" he asked as he swiftly carried her to the couch.

"S-since I woke up. A-about n-nine."

"It feels like the Sahara in here," he said grimly. He placed her on the couch and unwrapped the blanket, then with sure, brisk movements unfastened her jeans and stripped them down her legs.

"H-hey!" Sounding indignant and outraged was difficult when your teeth were chattering, she discovered.

"Don't argue," he said, and pulled her sweatshirt off over her head. She wasn't wearing a bra, because she never did when she was at home. Her nipples had pinched into tight little points. She started to cover her breasts with her hands, then abandoned that idea in favor of wrapping her arms around herself to conserve heat. Her eyelids drooped heavily.

"Don't let yourself go to sleep," he ordered.

"I w-won't," she promised, and hoped she wasn't lying.

He left her socks on and went to work on his own clothes. He wasn't wearing a suit today, she noticed, just slacks and a silk shirt. He unbuttoned the shirt, his fingers moving swiftly, and dropped it to the floor. He kicked off his shoes and unbuckled his belt at the same time, stripping himself as efficiently as he had her. His pants hit the floor, he jerked off his socks, and then he was with her, wrapping her in his arms and all but crushing her against the back of the couch. "Easy," he murmured, feeling her convulsive shaking, and pulled the blanket over them.

He pushed his feet under hers and placed one big hand on the back of her head, tucking her face into the hollow between his neck and shoulder, forcing her to breathe air heated by his body.

The shock of his heat was so intense she thought she might faint. At first all she was aware of was warmth, surrounding her, seeping through her skin and penetrating down to her marrow. He held her tightly against him, helping her contain the shivering, adding his strength to hers. "Don't cry," he whispered, making her aware that she still was, and wiped her face with the blanket.

After what seemed like hours but could have been as little as five minutes, the shivering eased for a moment, allowing her to relax. She lay bonelessly in his arms, breathing heavily, then the monster seized her in its jaws again and shook her until her teeth rattled.



The next respite lasted a little longer, long enough that she began to hope it was over. Richard's body heat continued to pour over her, through her, reaching that central core of ice that no amount of coffee, hot water, or heated air had been able to touch. He was sweating; she could feel the moisture on his skin. She tried to stretch, ease her tired and cramped muscles, but the movement triggered more shivering.

He held her through that, too, whispering reassurances in her ear. She didn't need to be reassured, she thought fuzzily. Richard was here, so of course he would get her warm. Funny how she was so positive of that.

She stilled again, lying quietly in his arms. The minutes ticked by, the room silent except for the sound of their breathing and the strong, steady thumping of his heart under her ear.

She was all but naked, wearing only panties and socks. He had on even less, nothing but a pair of tight boxers. The crisp hair on his chest rasped her nipples, keeping them puckered even though she was no longer cold. He was very hard, she thought drowsily, brushing her lips against his shoulder without quite realizing what she was doing. Muscular, too. Her fingers moved over his shoulder, feeling the power beneath his sleek, warm skin as she stroked down to the hard bulge of his triceps. Even his belly was hard, and his legs were heavy with muscle.

His erection prodded her stomach. A different kind of heat gathered in her, pooled between her legs.

Instinctively she shifted, pushing her hips against him in an acceptance she knew was dangerous, but the knowledge came a split second after the action. Even then she didn't withdraw. The contact felt too good, too right.

He kissed her forehead, the caress slow and tender. "Warm now?" he asked, and she nodded.