Midnight Kisses (14 page)

“Thanks, honey. It's fine. I can swim, so we can spend all our time having fun.”

“That's good. Come on. Let's go, Daddy. We're already late,” Melissa said.

Joanne led the way, holding Daniel's hand as they walked along the rocky pathway. Soon the vast Atlantic Ocean stretched out before them.

“Come on, let's dive in,” shouted Melissa, already running toward the sea.

Reaching the water's edge, she poised and dived into the oncoming water with the skill of years of practice. Taurean followed with equal skill.

“You ready to go in, Uncle Daniel?”

“Yes, sweetheart, but I'll be holding your hand as we walk or jump in. No pretty diving for me.”

Joanne giggled. “Me, either, but I can swim good.”

“Good,” he replied, laughing at how her chest puffed up with pride. “I can swim good, too.”

He helped her down to the water and helped her to “jump” in.

For an hour, they frolicked in the water, their laughter floating on the warm, tropical breeze until Joanne and Melissa drifted out to lie on the large beach towels on the sand. Soon the girls were fast asleep under an umbrella.

Lying next to each other, the brothers absorbed the rhythm of the day—the steady splash of waves against the shore, the swaying of the tall palm trees in the wind and the occasional hawk of a seagull asserting its presence.

“This must be paradise,” Daniel observed. Raising himself up on one elbow, he looked out to the horizon.

“It definitely is,” Taurean replied. “I fell in love with
this island from the first week I arrived. I was dealing with the guilt that threatened to overpower me. When I was in prison, I can't remember how many times I asked God to forgive me. Twelve years later, I'm still not sure I did the right thing, but a part of me is at peace here. I did what Corey wanted me to do. I couldn't deal with him in pain.”

Daniel stared at his brother and for the first time he realized what Taurean had been through. He knew about suffering, and he knew about pain, just like Taurean.

“I'm sorry, Taurean. I never realized how much your actions affected you.”

“Daniel, it took me years to forgive myself. Maybe one day the guilt will go away completely. I know you feel the same way. You blame yourself for what happened that night to Lorraine. But you need to learn to trust in God again.”

“It's so much easier to say it than to feel it,” Daniel replied. “I know I've grown as a person. I'm more in tune with people and helping them. Making myself look like a deity is no longer important.

“To be honest, Bro, I'm amazed at the change. One of the things the past few years have taught me is that forgiveness and love are so important. I love Alana so much that I can't imagine life without her. Mason found that with Carla, Patrick and Paula found that, too. You did once and I know you can find it again. Don't throw away a second chance to find happiness and love.”

“I know what you mean, but so much about this relationship scares me. It's like my relationship with Lorraine, but it's also so different. What I had with
Lorraine was gentle and controlled. With Renée I feel intense pain when I'm with her and when I'm not. My gut feels as if it's going to rip apart with my love for her. I'm so scared at times that I wonder if it's not love but just desire.”

“I've seen the way you look at her, Daniel. I know the difference between love and desire. Just trust in your feelings and it'll all work itself out. What you describe sounds so much like Alana and I, and after almost five years of marriage, I still feel just like you. And to be honest, at times it scares me that I can love someone so much.”

Joanne mumbled in her sleep. The brothers laughed.

“Boy, we've got it bad with this love thing,” Daniel said.

“Yeah,” Taurean replied. “One thing I know about us Buchanans…when we love, we really love.”

There were no more words needed, there was only the sound of the rushing waves and the rustling of the leaves above. Daniel looked out to sea, the wide expanse of ocean seemed so intimidating, but there was still peace in its vastness. In the midst of the grandeur he felt insignificant, but realized that of all that existed, he'd been given the capacity to love again. Without love, he'd ceased to exist. Now that he had allowed love back into his life, he would start to experiences life again.

A single seagull squawked above, its sound a harsh cry that seemed at odds with the cool tranquility. In the distance, a solitary figure appeared, walking along the beach. He stood immediately, knowing it was Renée.
He raised his hands waving to her, but immediately put them down.

She was standing silently, her hands outstretched to the sky as if welcoming the warm sunshine. There was something in the way she stood. A proud woman. A descendant of Africans who had been brought to these shores. Her posture may have been just that, a gesture, but to him, as she stretched her hands out, she seemed to be embracing the spirit of her ancestors.

He smiled. She was his woman. The woman whom he'd claimed as his own. All he needed to do now was let her know.

R
enée walked along the beach, breathing in deeply the clean, fresh, tropic breeze. She could grow to love this. She'd never traveled out of the U.S., so she'd been excited to come to an island with a reputation for its beauty. The beach stretched long and empty and she wondered where they were. She noticed someone rise from the ground. Was that Taurean or Daniel? It was Daniel. The others appeared to be relaxing on the sand.

She walked slowly toward him, stopping periodically to pick a shell up from the ground. As she got nearer, her heartbeat increased until she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. Soon, she stood a short distance from him.

Even in the warm tropic breeze she shivered, her
awareness of him even more evident because of his partial nudity. He was beautiful. She had the urge to leap into his arms. Immediately she realized the craziness of her thought. Melissa, Joanne and Taurean were there—just shows how warped her mind had become. And all because of the handsome god who stood before her.

Tonight she'd make love to him. She couldn't go another night without touching him.

“You okay?” Daniel asked, a line appearing on his forehead.

“I'm fine,” she said, nodding her head slightly. “I was just taking a stroll down the beach. The island is beautiful.”

“And peaceful,” Daniel replied.

“I never expected it to be so wonderful. The sea is crystal clear. I can't wait to take a swim, but I don't have a swimsuit. I'll have to buy one.”

“I'm sure Alana has an extra one or two. Or she can take you shopping for what you want.”

“I'll be sure to ask her. I hope she can take some more time off from her painting.”

She turned to glance at the sleeping dad and daughters and she felt an unexpected ache of envy. She wanted what Alana and Taurean had. It didn't matter if it was a daughter or son but she wanted a child. Her own little Buchanan.

“You want to take a walk down the beach?” she asked him. She wanted to continue exploring.

“Sure. I plan on getting a car and checking out the
island in the next few days. So here may be a good place to start.”

As they started down the beach, Daniel took her hand in his.

“I plan to visit some of the island's places of interest. The last time I was here, there was no time to do much of the touristy stuff. You are free to come along with me.”

“Thanks, I'd love to. I can't visit the island and not see some of it. I promised Jerome I'd take photos.”

“Good. As soon as the reunion events are over we can head out on our own.”

“Sure.”

For a while they walked on the cool silky sand. There was no need for words between them. In fact, the sound of the gentle undulating waves only served to clear their troubled minds.

Soon they stopped to watch a group of boys diving off a nearby cliff and entering the water with more awkwardness than skill. Each time one belly-flopped in the water, raucous and hearty laughter filled the air.

“I wish I could have brought Jerome with us. He would have loved it here. It's a pity that his exams were scheduled for now.”

“I would have liked him to be here, too. I'm sure that Melissa would have been glad for the company.”

“Oh, yeah, I'm sure she would have been delighted.”

They were now standing on the top of a tiny cliff that looked out to the ocean. Daniel stood quietly. He turned
to look at Renée and she could see the anticipation in his face, the knowledge that he would kiss her.

She moved toward him, knowing that to just touch him would give relief to the ache she felt inside. Daniel pulled her in his arms and lowered his head toward hers. Their lips touched. Soft, teasing, gentle. Renée felt as if she would melt with the heat coursing through her body. The kiss deepened until she tasted his sweetness and she realized how much she missed this. He was good, knowing how to use his tongue to force a deep, heavy groan from her.

Renée placed her arms around him, drawing him even closer until she could feel every ridge and muscle in his body…until she could feel the solid, thick length of his arousal. She pulled away from him at the sound of voices. She looked down the beach. It was Taurean and the girls. They were walking toward them.

“You have exactly thirty seconds to get yourself under control or someone will realize what we've been doing,” she said.

“I need to think of the saddest thing possible. I wouldn't want to embarrass you.”

“Renée, Renée,” shouted Melissa. “We have to go back home and shower. Daddy's taking us into Bridgetown and then to the airport to see Grandmother.”

“Grandmommy, Grandmommy. I love Grandmommy. She always brings me candy,” shouted Joanne.

“You ready to go back to the house?” asked Taurean.

“Yes, I'm starving.”

“Good, breakfast should be ready by the time we get there.” They turned and headed back to the house.

Renée glanced in Daniel's direction. He nodded. Everything was under control.

T
hanksgiving came without much fanfare on the island. In the U.S., families would be baking and cooking up sumptuous Thanksgiving dinners and preparing to shop on Black Friday. Here, on a smaller scale, Taurean had initiated their own celebration as part of the family reunion.

Across the island, however, banners and flags of black, gold and ultramarine flew high in the air. Songs of national pride by popular artists filled the airwaves. November was the month in which the islanders celebrated their Independence Day. Tonight, therefore, his family and friends had come together to celebrate the island's independence and embrace the tradition of the Thanksgiving dinner.

Daniel looked across the room, finding peace and
comfort as he saw each member of his family. He realized how much he'd missed them. It made all that Renée had done justifiable. He'd just been stubborn and unsure. Now that he had eased the rift he'd created with his disappearance, he felt loved and cared for. Despite this, he knew that the time away from them had taught him a lot about himself. He had needed that time.

He'd never be that man again. He felt proud of the man he'd become. He'd learned to love…unconditionally.

His mother had aged in the past few years, her hair now gray and her movements slower, but she still possessed a gentle spirit, a spirit his father had never appreciated. Daniel had loved his father with an unwavering adoration and had emulated him in every aspect of his life. He had wanted to be, and had become, the kind of minister his father had been.

However, he had also come to realize that his father had not been all he had thought. It made him sad, but his own insensitivity, his rules and his ministry of fire and brimstone had been inherited from his father. He knew now that sometimes God came to people in a still, small voice.

Daniel watched as his mother reached over to touch Renée's hand, and felt a surge of happiness. Everyone liked Renée. His mother had fallen instantly for her charm. It had made the slight scolding he'd received from her a bit more manageable. His mother could not believe that he had moved back to Chicago and not called her—but she'd forgiven him. She understood that he had needed the time on his own. He'd not expected her response. He'd expected anger. Instead his mother
had taken him in her arms and cried tears of joy. Later, they talked for hours, but he'd felt the intensity of her love. Again, he'd seen God working.

Daniel watched as his brother Mason strode toward him. He didn't know Mason well, since they'd only met once before Lorraine's death. Mason had always struck him as the strong, loyal, dependable type, and in the past few days he had come to realize that his first impression was correct. What did surprise him was Mason's wit and sense of humor; a welcome change since the Buchanan males were known for their brooding personalities. He still remembered that day not long ago when they had discovered they had another brother.

“What's up, Bro?” Mason asked, his amber eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Just thinking,” he replied.

“So that's the reason for the serious, brooding look? Lighten up, Dan. It's Thanksgiving, and Christmas is just around the corner.”

“I know. But I'm cool. Just thinking how fortunate I am. I have so many people who care about me. I love my family and it feels good to know I'm important to them.”

“I know exactly what you mean. For me it was definitely a bit more than just that. You're happy and content with your life and one morning you wake up and realize that everything you knew could be changed by one single thing. I'm sure you felt that way.”

“It must have been difficult to deal with a new family, especially this big one.”

“It was a bit at first, but when I met Taurean I knew
things would be all right. He made me feel a part of everything. He didn't blame me for something I had no control over. Ironically, I'm now the big brother, but I feel as if he's the more mature one,” Mason said.

“Taurean has not had life easy. Those years in prison took their toll. We've all had to deal with issues in our lives. I dealt with mine in a more radical way. But I know I've been changed by the experience, and for the better. You wouldn't have liked the person I was if you'd really met me three years ago.”

“No, I can't imagine you being any different,” Mason commented.

“Oh, I assure you I was,” Daniel said. “You know the expression ‘Pride comes before a fall.' Well, that was me, and when I fell, I fell hard.”

“Then the fall must have been worth it. You picked yourself up and here you are. Much improved…the person you want to be.”

“I wish it had been that easy, but I did pick myself up. In the past few months I've made more progress than I did in the years I alienated myself.”

“Does it have anything to do with the young lady over there?” Mason asked, his gaze directly ahead.

Daniel's eyes followed the line of Mason's vision, but even before he saw her, he knew who his brother meant, and the tingle of awareness began at his nape of his neck.

As expected, she stood with Alana, her back turned away from him. For some reason, he felt she'd been avoiding him. Since that first night in his bed she had not returned. During the day they would meet and
chat briefly, but they would hardly talk, as if somehow talking would reveal feelings they did not want to deal with. Renée had thrown herself into the excitement of the planning for the Thanksgiving dinner, so Daniel had a hard time catching her without the other ladies in the kitchen. But tonight all the planning would come to an end and she'd have no excuse to avoid him. He had to make sure he spent some time with her. In a few days he planned on touring the island. With only one more week to go, they'd soon be heading back home.

Renée turned as if she sensed his eyes on her. Across the room, their eyes connected. Renée smiled, nodding at him. Even now he could feel the tension between them. He ached for her. It had been too long since he had made love to her and his need for her was so powerful he wasn't sure what he'd do.

“Um, Bro, if you don't control yourself, you're going to go over and make love to her right there on the floor.” Mason chuckled.

“Okay, I admit it. I didn't know it was possible to want someone so much,” Daniel responded, a hint of amusement in his voice. There was no sense in denying his feelings.

“I know exactly what you mean, Daniel. You see Carla. It's been more than two years since we got married and I can't get enough of her. I thought it would have lessened over time, but we could hop each other's bones every night. We're still like rabbits in heat.”

Daniel laughed in response.

“And on that note, I have some good news I plan to share at dinner in a few minutes.”

“I'm listening,” Daniel replied.

“You'll be glad to know there's another Buchanan on its way.”

“Mason, that's great news!” Daniel said, thumping his brother on the back. “How far along?”

“Carla is at two months. We just discovered the day before we left for Barbados, so I'm still giddy with excitement. I'm not getting any younger, and I really don't want to be running around with small children when I should be a granddad. I think we'll be settling for just one. Plus I'm sure there'll be a few more cousins before long. The Buchanan brothers seem to be quite fruitful in their old age.”

They laughed. The sound of Alana speaking up interrupted their conversation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Thanksgiving dinner is ready,” Alana announced. “Let's all go into the dining room.”

“I could eat a cow,” Mason said, already walking in the direction the other family members had taken.

“Mason, need I remind you that this is Thanksgiving. No cow. Just turkey!”

They laughed, a loud trumpeting sound that echoed throughout the room. Heads turned in their direction, but nobody cared. It was Thanksgiving. They were all happy.

 

Daniel walked along the beach, sand between his toes. He'd eaten his fill, until his stomach felt as if it would burst.

The others had retired to bed, but he needed to walk
things off. He couldn't sleep. His body felt alive and restless with his need for Renée. Heat coursed through him despite the slight chill of the night breeze.

It must be midnight. He'd always loved this time of day. When he'd been a minister, he had written most of his sermons at this time of night. He had also spent hours upon hours on his knees in prayer at the late hour. To him, midnight was the time of day when it was most peaceful, when all the worries and cares of the day could just be released into the vast unknown and be forgotten. It was the time he felt most free.

A sound behind him broke the silence and he turned quickly around.

A shadow moved toward him.

Renée.

Even in the dull light from the moon, he could tell it was her. The size of her delicate frame, the way she walked, it just was her.

“Renée?”

“Yes,” she replied. He could see her face now and what he saw was a reflection of what he knew burned in his own eyes.

“What are you doing here?” he asked rhetorically. He knew exactly why she was there.

She moved closer to him, only stopping when her body touched his and her breasts rested against his chest. Daniel moved even closer until their bodies melted into each other and they were one.

Daniel lowered his head until his lips hovered above hers.

“I want you, Renée Walker. I want you so bad I can't sleep.”

“I want you, too,” she moaned.

Daniel ran his hand down her back, remembering the sensitive spot along her spine. She breathed in deeply, her body tense with her need.

“Come,” Daniel said. “I want to make love to you right here on the sand.”

They moved toward the line of tall palm trees, stopping when they reached the shadows where no one could see them.

Resting her back against one of the trees, he looked down at her, only to see her eyes were closed.

“Look at me, Renée. I want you to look at me,” he said, his voice husky with desire.

She complied, her eyes bright lights in the darkness.

“I love to feel your eyes on me, knowing that you want me just as much as I want you.” He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a kiss that caused his body to harden.

While he kissed her, her hands worked their magic, caressing him with a steady firmness that made him press his body onto hers. But Renée pushed him back, her fingers tugged at the buttons on his shirt, freeing them and slipping the shirt off.

Her lips broke their kiss, moving downward to his neck where she nibbled softly before moving to his chest. She placed her lips on one nipple, biting softly until he moaned with pleasure. She suckled briefly and then flicked it with her tongue.

Her lips continued their journey downward, trailing through the hair that disappeared below his jeans. Then her hand found his pants. She unzipped them, letting them fall to the sand. The cool breeze caressed his hardness, a pleasure in itself, and then her hands touched him, gliding along his thick length. Daniel tried not to scream his pleasure, but could not contain the primitive cry of lust that broke the silence.

Renée stroked him, her hand firm as his penis grew even harder with his arousal. He wanted her now. When he could bear it no more, he held her hands, placing them at her side. He bent to the ground, reaching into his pants pocket to pull out the condom he carried in his wallet. He slipped it on. He had planned to work his magic on her with his lips, but his need to be fully joined with her was stronger.

Later in bed he'd make love to her. Now, he wanted some good old-fashioned animalistic passion. Daniel placed his hands behind her back, unzipping the simple dress she wore. It slipped to the ground. His hand reached down…she wasn't wearing anything else.

His hand covered her soft down of hair. Parting it with a finger, he slipped inside her, finding her tiny nub of pleasure.

When she was ready and moist, he replaced his hand, placing his erection at her entrance.

“I want you inside me now, Daniel. Please,” she pleaded, her voice heavy with her passion.

Daniel thrust inside her and she cried out in ecstasy. He paused briefly.

“Don't stop,” she responded, her hand gripping his buttocks.

So he moved, a straight thrust backward and forward, backward and forward, in and out. He stroked her firmly. He stroked her hard.

Then he changed his movement, circling his hips until he could feel the head of his penis touch the very walls of her vagina. The sensation was as sweet as the island's sugar cane juice and thick, tart molasses. He continued to thrust deeply, each stroke joining them together, each stroke bringing them closer to the place of ultimate pleasure.

And then her womanhood gripped him even tighter with each stroke, clutching him until he could feel every contraction of her muscles.

“This feels so good,” he cried. “It feels so damn good. I could die doing this and I would think I'm in heaven.”

And then it happened…the beginning of the end. His body tensed and he knew release would come. His body was on fire, the heat coursing through every vein. Daniel increased his speed, willing the explosion, which would give him ultimate joy.

His penis tightened and contracted and his legs began to weaken. He trembled uncontrollably, unable to stop his reaction. He stretched his arms out, gripping a tree to maintain his balance and then he felt the sweet pain of release. Wave after wave of energy washed over him, causing his body to jerk as spasm after spasm contracted his body.

Then Renée's own reaction kicked in. She gripped
him tightly, as she, too, gave in to the sweetness that surged through her body. Seconds later she collapsed against him, breathing deeply, and he held on to her, his own body weak with the power of his orgasm.

For what seemed like hours they continued to hold each other, knowing that what had taken place was something powerful and special. But no one spoke the words.