She put away the album and looked around the room. She was tired of running away from the past. Afraid that she’d look over her shoulder and the man who’d killed her mother would be right behind her, gun aimed at her head.
It was time she stopped running. Tiredness enveloped her. This was a good place-she could feel it in her heart-and Brian was a good man. She didn’t know where their relationship would take them, but she wanted to hang around long enough to find out.
She walked to her closet and took out a long white dress that had been worn only twice. She’d bought it on a whim because it was so pretty, that and she had matching white heels. Tonight would be a good night to wear the dress.
As soon as she soaked in the tub. Her spirits lifted. Rhonda had said they were closing early today because most of the guests were going on a hayride. She would have the place all to herself. She could already feel her body relaxing.
Brian glanced at his watch. He knew he’d told Celeste seven, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He left the office and went in search of her, but she wasn’t in her room.
Fear coursed through him. Had she packed up and left? He knew she didn’t stay in one place very long, but would she leave without saying good-bye?
He walked back down the hall and out the back door, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw her car. Okay, so where was she? He glanced toward the spa building and saw a light on. He knew everyone had already left for the day, so Celeste was probably there.
His steps were light, and he was grinning like an idiot when he walked inside. She wasn’t in the front area, but she’d turned the music on. Celtic, he thought. It was nice, peaceful.
He went to her massage room, frowning when she wasn’t there, either. He started to leave but heard a noise coming from the bath area.
When he tapped on the door, no one answered, so he pushed the door open. His breath caught in his throat. Celeste stood in the roman bath, drying off. She’d pulled her hair up on top of her head, but some of it had come loose and the moisture in the room had caused tendrils to curl about her face.
She looked up and froze, clutching the towel against her naked body.
“I’m sorry. I knocked,” he said, but his words were raspy.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“I should go.” But he couldn’t make his feet move.
“Don’t. Go, I mean. I don’t want you to.” She stepped out of the sunken tub and walked toward him. “I’ve been running for a long time and I want to stop, at least for a little while.” She stopped in front of him, then dropped the towel. “I need you.”
She didn’t have to say anything more. He took her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. She tasted sweet, like honey, and passionate all at the same time. He couldn’t get enough of her.
“I’ve waited a lifetime for you,” he finally said after he ended the kiss. He caressed her hair, her neck.
“I need you so much,” she whispered.
He knew she wasn’t just talking about sex. “Me, too.”
She leaned back and looked at him. Her smile was shy and seductive.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” he asked.
“I think you’ve mentioned it. But did I tell you that I think you’re handsome?”
He shook his head. “I want to make love to you.”
“I want it, too.”
“Are you sure? We can wait if you need time.”
“I’m sure and I don’t think I can wait much longer. My body feels as though it’s on fire.”
“God, I’m glad to hear you say that.”
He would’ve had to soak in a tub of ice cubes if she’d wanted to wait. Even then, it might not have put out the flame of passion roaring inside him.
He lifted her up and carried her into the therapy room, leaving the door open so he could see. “How soft do you think the massage table is?”
“Soft enough, not that I think I’d mind the floor right now.”
“Have I mentioned that you continually surprise me?”
“Do I?” She raised her eyebrows. “I think I like that I can do that. I hope it’s in a good way.”
“Oh, it certainly is that.” He cupped her breast, lightly running his thumb back and forth across the nipple. “Your skin is soft, almost silky.”
She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. “Are you sure you won’t let me give you a massage?”
“Sweetheart, you can massage my body any time you want, but later. Right now I just want to make sweet love to you.” He leaned his head down and took her into his mouth, rolling his tongue around her nipple. Damn, she was sweet.
She gasped, tugging his head closer. “Oh, damn, that feels good.”
He moved to her other breast and gave it just as much attention.
“I’m not very experienced. Only what I’ve read in books and I’ve been with a couple of men. I’m not sure I know exactly what to do.”
“So far I like the kind of books you read,” he said as he looked at her and grinned. Her face turned a rosy shade. He noticed she blushed easily.
“They were really good books.”
“Well, this is the real thing.” He lifted her and set her down on the table. “Lie back.” She did without question.
He started at her breasts, lightly caressing each one. She arched toward him, but he only moved down her body, over her abdomen, lightly grazing through the blond curls at the vee of her legs. “Don’t we have some oil around here?”
She swallowed hard. “In the drawer there’s lotion.”
He lit the candle while he was turned around, then got out a jar. He twisted the lid off and raised it to his nose. “Vanilla. It’s nice.”
“Brian?”
He smiled. “I thought I would give you a massage.” He scooped out some of the thick cream and put it on her stomach.
She sucked in her breath. “It’s cold. You’re supposed to rub it in your hands to warm it.”
“Cold is sexier. Besides, it won’t take long to warm.” He started at her shoulders and began to massage. He knew the exact moment she started to relax. Then he slid his hands down to her breasts.
Celeste wasn’t quite so relaxed as she had been. He tugged on her nipples, then circled the dark orbs, then massaged her breasts again.
“But I want to touch you,” she said.
“You will,” he promised.
“When?”
“Soon.”
“At least take off your clothes. I feel strange being the only one completely naked.”
He wiped his hands on a towel and tossed it to the side before removing the rest of his clothes. She stared at him the whole time. It was funny watching her reaction. She blushed, but she didn’t look away.
“Is this better?” he asked.
She visibly swallowed. “Wow.” She looked at his face. “I mean, yes, much better.”
He grinned. It was nice knowing he rated a wow.
“You’re laughing at me.”
“I would never do that. You’re wow, too.”
“There’s not much room on the table.”
“We’ll manage.”
“I rather thought we would.”
He again massaged lotion across her breasts, then slid his hands over her stomach and hips before moving to her thighs, then her calves. When he knew she was totally relaxed, he began to caress her sex. Light strokes at first, then with a little more pressure. She wiggled her bottom as he intensified his touch.
“You’re making it hard for me to think.”
“I don’t want you to think; I only want you to feel.”
“Then join me.”
“Like you said, there’s not much room on the table.”
She moved to her side. “Now there is, and I want to touch you, too.”
What could he do but join her. “If I fall, I’m taking you with me,” he said.