“Well, you didn’t, and neither did I,” she yelled back. “Nor did I suspect I would have another ‘spell’ and nearly get us killed.”
“Great, then we agree. We don’t know what we’re doing. We should go to the police.”
“They aren’t going to believe us,” Josie yelled. “They think I’m crazy, or did you miss the whole point of my being locked in a mental institution?”
“Josie…”
“We go to them now without proof, I’ll be back in a hospital before you can bat an eye. How long do you think it will take before Michelle and her goons get to me then? The only way I can stay alive right now is to stay invisible until I can get proof.”
William shook his head as if he was unconvinced.
“I’m talking about a couple of days at best. I’ll get someone on the phone in the morning and have the records sent overnight.” She was desperate for the extra time and not entirely for the reasons she argued. She needed more time to come up a good plan to get out of Georgia.
Now more than ever, she knew that she couldn’t tell him about Daniel. William wouldn’t understand. If he’d killed that man tonight, no one would argue it wasn’t self-defense.
Josie’s case would be a different story.
William finally looked as if he was wavering, but his words were like a slap in the face. “We have to do what’s right.”
Heat rushed up her neck and inflamed her face. “Then you’ll have to do it without me,” she seethed, and spun on her heels. “Wait.” William rushed to catch up with her. “Where are you going?” “I’m leaving.” She brushed her wet hair from her face as she stormed toward the front door. “What? That’s crazy!” He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “You can’t leave.” She snatched back her arm. “Watch me.” Turning, she jerked open the front door.
Lightning flashed and lit up the night sky. However, it didn’t step Josie from bolting out into the rain. In an instant, her clothes were plastered to her skin. The cold wind chilled her to the bone but did little to cool her anger.
“Josie, stop being ridiculous! You don’t have anywhere to go!” He spun her around again and was startled when her open hand struck his face. “I didn’t ask for your help. I can take care of myself!” “You’re not in any type of condition…” “No.” She backed away from him. “You do what you have to do, and I’ll do the same.” “You’re talking crazy!”
“I’m not crazy! Don’t you dare say that!” Her hands balled at her sides.
“Fine. You’re sane. Screaming out in the middle of storm is perfectly normal. Now can we go back in the house?”
“Just go to hell.” She turned and stalked off.
With his own anger mounting, William grasped her arm, but this time he was prepared when she attacked. Dodging a blow, he quickly seized her hands and pinned them to her sides. “I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t want it.” Josie struggled to wrench her hands free. “Since I nearly got you killed, you should be happy to get me out of your life.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to,” she shouted above the loud wind. “It’s painfully obvious. Dump me at the police station and let me be their problem.” “That’s not what I meant.” She squirmed violently, trying to get away from him. “Let me go!” “Not until you calm down.” “I’m not going to the police!” She fought, and belatedly realized that she’d been lifted off her feet. “Put me down.” “No.” He pulled her back into the house and kicked the door shut.
William’s curt reply further aggravated her. Here was someone else who was trying to control her life, and she was going to have none of it. At last, she freed her arms and swung in every direction. “Josie, stop it.” He set her back on her feet and struggled to pin her arms down again. “It’s my life. I can make my own decision,” she screamed repeatedly. Another blow landed across his left cheek, but he shook away the stars and locked her arms down at her sides. “It’s my life,” she wailed. “I know,” he whispered close to her ear. “I know.”
The fight left her body, and she slumped against him. Together, they sank to the floor, where her silent cries became heart-wrenching sobs.
“It’s going to be all right,” he comforted. “You’re not going have to do anything you don’t want to. I promise.” He held her, stoked her hair, and then rained small kisses against her temples.
She leaned closer and slowly turned her head so that his soft lips pressed against the side of her face, her cheeks, and finally her lips.
At first the kiss was so light that she could barely feel his lips, but stars spun around Josie’s head at a dizzying rate.
His arms tightened possessively around her waist and within seconds she felt his hands make those tiny circles she loved so much against the small of her back.
Slowly, she slid her arms up his chest and locked them behind his neck. The kiss deepened, but Josie couldn’t seem to get close enough. She desperately wanted to fuse with his heat. Fire surged through her veins, sharpened her senses, and made her pulse race.
Intoxicated by the taste of him, she moaned during the passionate tango their tongues performed.
Her melodic moans, as well as her soft breasts pressed against him, seduced William. He loved how her body responded to his slightest touch and how her breathing came fast and light.
A caldera of emotions broke inside him, and he was scorched by fire. Finally, he deserted her lips to blaze a trail down to the crook of her neck.
She sighed and lifted her chin high to give him better access. “Will…”
It had been an eternity since he’d heard his name spill with such passion from her lips. A part of him still wasn’t sure whether all of this was just a dream, yet she felt too good and tasted even better to be a figment of his imagination.
An ache buried in the core of Josie began to pulse out of control. God help her, she wanted, needed, to make love to William despite the residue of fear. However, her body’s chant to give in quickly conquered the renegade emotion. She tugged at his wet shirt, and then broke away from his lips to pull the garment over his head. William stood up and held out his hand. They stared at each other for an eternal moment, and then came together again in a storm of passion and desire. “I want you,” she paned. “I want you now.” That was all William needed to hear before he swept her into his arms and carried her up to bed.
Chapter 24
Heaven was indeed a place on earth; and to William and Josie’s surprise, it also existed outside of the borders of Paris, France. Once the old lovers entered the bedroom and stood facing one another, both seemed to have made an unspoken pact to take their time and savor each movement and moment.
Josie gave William the honor of lifting off her football jersey and in return, she was rewarded with the same opportunity. The beautiful contrast of their skin tones was highlighted by slivers of moonlight filtering through the blinds.
Seconds later, they were pressed together for another tantalizing kiss. Both became addicted to the taste of the other and were consumed with a passion that left them quaking.
Josie’s fingertips explored his chest, and she quickly discovered that his heartbeat pounded at the same rate as her own. The knowledge filled her with a new sense of power.
His big, strong, and possessive hands returned to their usual spot and made slow and seductive circles while she enjoyed the sweet invasion of his tongue. And just when she couldn’t take any more of his intoxicating kisses, his lips deserted hers to glide down the column of her neck and settle on a taut nipple.