Finding Carrie (27 page)

They were quickly going over the edge, and they moved faster until there was no hope but to go over the edge. It was the most intense thing Carrie felt. She screamed with her head back and her eyes rolled back in her head. For Isaac it was just as intense. As they went over, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. She had her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Their breathing was coming heavy and raspy. They sat there for a long while until their breath was almost normal. Carrie nearly fell asleep in his arms.

“Wow, honey, it has been a while for that.” Isaac was the first to speak. She didn’t even bother to lift her head; she just smiled.

“Has it?” she asked with her eyes closed and her heart rate almost back to normal.

“It has,” he said. He laid back on the bed, taking her with him. He kissed her again on her shoulder and the back of her neck.

“I don’t think I can move,” she said, still lying on him.

“I don’t want to move; I want to stay here forever,” Isaac said, tightening his grip. He tilted his head to look at the clock and sighed.

“What is it?” she asked, finally lifting her head.

“Dinner. Going to need to cook soon,” he said, closing his eyes slightly to look at her.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because your family is coming over for dinner,” he said as she wiggled her head and gave him a look. “I know. I invited them. I didn’t think that we would spend the time here in bed.”

“Well, can we just order pizza? That way I don’t have to get off you yet?” He laughed at her suggestion. He gathered her hair off her shoulders and pulled it to the side.

“That sounds tempting, but we have to go to the store.”

“Oh, okay,” she groaned as she sat up. The action sent a sensation running through her and Isaac. She lifted herself up as he slid out of her. She got off the bed and walked to the private bathroom that was a part of the master suite. “We should have a bathroom in our room at the apartment,” she said. He laughed and went to join her in the shower, where they made love again.

Chapter 23

C
arrie and Isaac walked Carrie’s family to the door. Little Sarah, Melanie’s oldest daughter, wrapped her arms around Carrie’s waist to give her a hug. “Aunt Carrie, you really don’t remember me?” the child asked with tears in her eyes. Little Sarah was only eight years old, but her eyes looked far older than she was. Carrie reached down and put her hands on the child’s shoulders.

“I’m sorry. I really wish I did. I got a real nasty bump on my head, didn’t I? But know that I do love you,” Carrie told her. Sarah squeezed tighter.

“I love you too, Aunt Carrie. I wish you were here more than you are,” Sarah said then followed her mother out the door. Carrie hugged and kissed her other niece, Leanna, and her nephew, Lee Jr. Isaac patted both of Carrie’s brother-in-laws on the back as Carrie hugged and kissed her sisters and her mother before they went outside. Carrie and Isaac stepped out onto the porch to wave good-bye. Sasha, who was outside making sure there weren’t any intruders lurking around, summoned the wolf to go into house. Isaac followed Sasha as he entered the house but stopped and looked over his shoulder. Carrie stood on the porch for a few more moments as she watched the cars drive away.

“Are you coming?” Isaac asked just inside the door.

“Yes, I’ll be in.” She sighed. “In a minute,” she said over her shoulder. Isaac stepped out and ran his hands up and down her arms.

“Are you okay?” he asked while wrapping his arms around her waist then leaning his chin into her shoulder.

“Yes, how could I not know them? They are all wonderful people, but I don’t remember any of them,” she said as she placed her arms over his and held his hands. She turned to walk into the house. Isaac dropped his arms, went with her, and closed the door behind him. Sasha was standing on the stairs.

“I’m heading up unless you need something. Darius is in the house; he should be good for the night,” he said, looking down.

“Sasha, you don’t have to feel like you have to work. You’re my friend, right?” Sasha nodded. “Then feel like you’re on vacation,” Carrie said as she walked into the family room to sit on the couch. Sasha and Isaac looked at one another and started laughing. She turned around to glare at them. “What is so funny?” she asked as the wolf jumped on the couch to be with her. He put his massive head on her lap. Isaac and Sasha both took a deep breath to calm down.

“It’s nothing, sweetheart. It’s just that you always say that. You never want him to work. You always treat him like a guest rather than a bodyguard,” Isaac said. She huffed out her breath.

“Maybe I just don’t think I need a bodyguard, especially since I’m in my own home.” She scowled. Isaac walked into the family room and leaned on the back of the couch, looking serious as he looked down at her. Sasha came down the stairs to stand in the doorway.

“Carrie”—he traced his finger just around the X over her right eye—“I think this is a good reason why you need a bodyguard, my love,” Isaac said with love in his eyes. “I feel much safer with him around.”

“And I’m going to be around,” Sasha added. “I’m going up. If you need me, you know where I am.” He turned and went up the stairs. Isaac went around the couch and sat in the chair closest to where Carrie was. He took her hand in one of his hands and used his finger from the other hand to trace her bones in her hand. She shivered and pulled her hand away.

“What are you doing?” she asked, half looking at him and scratched her hand. “That tickles.”

“I know.” He grinned mischievously. “Do you want to watch TV?”

“No not really.” She sighed. “Is that me?”

“What?” He looked around for something.

“I don’t like doing much. I feel like—I don’t know, I’m always thinking. Am I supposed to be doing something?”

“You’re a writer, so yes, you probably should be writing. You weren’t in the middle of anything that I know of, though, so it’s okay. But yes, you are always thinking,” Isaac replied as he looked out the window. “Do you want to go for a walk? We can take Darius if you want.” The wolf’s head popped up at the sound of his name, but he put his head back down and yawned. Carrie looked up at Isaac and laughed softly.

“It appears that he isn’t very excited about going for a walk,” she said, patting him on the head. “Let’s just walk without him. He wants to sleep.” She eased his head off her lap and followed Isaac to the door. The air was warm for a late June evening. The sun was setting, but it was still fairly light out. Carrie put her hand in the crook of his elbow and walked along the sidewalk. He turned his head and kissed her on the head. She sighed heavily. It made Isaac turn to look down at her.

“Are you okay?” he asked as they rounded a corner to the right.

“Yes.” She sighed again.

“What is wrong?” he asked.

“I just think it is too quiet here.” She looked up to meet his eyes. “I’m used to noise, but it is nice, really.” She brought her free hand up and laced her fingers together with his while holding his arm.

“I agree, I must say, but sometimes it is nice to have quiet.” He sighed this time. That made Carrie want to laugh. He looked around and back down at her. “What?”

“Now you’re breathing heavily,” she said between giggles. He turned around to face her. Her hands fell off his arm, and he picked her up and swung her around like she was a mere child. Her laughing became louder, and it echoed off the houses they walked by. “You’re making me dizzy,” she said with her arms out like she was flying. He put her down and started to run. She tried to run after him, but she tripped on uneven pavement and fell in the grass sideways. Isaac stopped to make sure she was okay. Still laughing, she rolled over, got quickly back on her feet, and ran after him. She caught up with him and jumped on his back. He grabbed her legs as if he was giving her a piggyback ride and continued to walk. She had her arms around his neck, almost in a chokehold. Their combined laughter could have been heard for miles. It felt good for Isaac to laugh. She always made him laugh, and with the last week’s events, laughing really felt so good. He walked several yards before putting her down. When he gently put her down, she ran around him and slid her arms around his neck. For an automatic response, he wrapped her waist with his arms. “I love you, Isaac. I truly do,” she said, reaching up on her tippy toes to kiss him.

“I love you too, Carrie. I always have,” he replied against her lips. They turned to finish their walk.

“Is it true?” she asked, reaching for his hand and lacing her fingers in his. His hand closed over hers.

“Is what true? That I love you? Then yes, it is,” he said, smiling.

“Well, I know that, silly,” she said, hitting him in his arm with her free hand. “I meant what you said last night, that you followed me?”

“Yes, I did,” he said matter-of-factly.

“How? Why?” she asked, holding her breath for his answer.

“I was at the bookstore about a year or so before we met. I picked up a copy of one of your books. I read the back cover, and I was intrigued. I opened the book and saw your picture. I got chills when I saw it. I looked you up, became a member of your website community, and then I started to go to book signings and engagements that you were at.” Carrie interrupted him.

“Did you ever come up to me and talk to me?” she asked. He shrugged, shaking his head.

“I couldn’t. The first time I saw you, I just stood there, with my mouth opened,” he said. She laughed.

“You never told me, why? Wouldn’t it have come up in the last two years at all?” she asked.

“No, it didn’t. I had to tell you last night. It just felt like the right thing to do. I guess I didn’t tell you because you might have thought I was a stalker and your huge Russian bodyguard would have had me arrested,” he said, with shame in his voice.

“I don’t think I would have done that. I don’t remember my life before I woke up the other day, but I don’t think I would have done that,” she said. He didn’t say anything after that. They remained silent for the rest of the walk.

Carrie walked up the stairs that led to the front door of the house, and Isaac tugged at her hand until she turned around and looked down. When she turned, she smiled.

“Well, my lady, I had a pleasant time tonight.” He bowed, brought her hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. He never took his gaze off her face. He lifted his head. “We simply must do this again.”

“Thank you for the walk, kind sir, and I know we will.” She slipped her hand out of his and opened the door, hurried in, and shut the door with him still on the outside. She pressed the sheer curtain aside to look at him from the inside. She could hear her laughing through the door.

“Carrie, you little…” he feigned a threat and trailed off. She opened the door, looking all innocent.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you want to come in?” she asked, her eyes wide and her head tilted down, batting her lashes. He rushed her like a football player, picking her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.

“You know I did, you little devil,” he said. He carried her up the stairs and into their bedroom, closing and locking the door behind them.

He threw her on the bed. Her laughter was addicting. He was going to do anything to keep her laughing. He crawled on top of her with his legs on either side of her. He bent down, acting like he was going to bite her, growling like a wild animal. He went up and down her throat and over her breast. He pinned her arms down with her hands over her head. She was coughing from laughing so much. “Are you punishing me now?” she asked, gasping for air. He stopped growling and raised his head to look down at her. With their eyes locked together, he just stared. Her smile was fading from her face, waiting for him to answer, to say something. She thought she might have made him angry, so she was going to cover up what she said, but then he answered.

“Yes,” he said, growling at her, and then nipped her neck. She squealed with excitement, and he rolled over, pulling her with him so she was on the top. “Oh, my love, you are a little devil, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” she said, laying her head on his chest. She coughed again and rested her chin on her hand. “Has it always been this way with us? You know, playing and laughing? I rather like teasing you,” she said with her eyes glowing.

“Oh my, yes. I told you that our love is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love, didn’t I?” Isaac replied, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “And as for teasing me, I think you’re the champion.”

“I’m that good, huh?” she asked, sliding down his body to stand up. He sat up quickly, not sure what she was planning to do. She just walked over to the window and stared out. She sighed heavily again.

“What’s wrong, my love?” Isaac asked, walking over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and looked out the window.

“I miss the city,” she said, turning around in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest then tilted her head to look up at him. “It’s just so busy; I like that.”

“Yeah, I must agree. The cars, the traffic, the screaming, and yelling—I miss it to.” He looked down at her. Her eyes were focused on his face. He bent down to kiss her. They kissed for a long time, tongues dancing a fast waltz, before Isaac picked her up to cradle her next to his chest. With their lips still locked together, he walked over to the bed. He laid her down and stood up, looking at her. “You are so beautiful. I don’t and I have never deserved you.” She smiled, tugging on his belt loop on his jeans.