Return of the Prodigal Son (13 page)

Donovan studied a freshly painted arbor across the yard, abloom with pale-pink roses. “I don’t remember that being here before.”

Andi smiled. “It was old and faded, so I gave it a fresh coat of paint. Then I just tied up the roses here and there where they’d fallen to the ground, and I’m amazed at how different it looks.”

“You seem to have a magic touch.” He nodded toward the flower gardens, abloom with foxglove and delphinium and sweet peas in a riot of texture and color. “That looks like it took some doing.”

“I love flowers. And I’ve never minded hard work. In fact, the greater the challenge, the harder I dig in.”

He fell silent, mulling her words. It occurred to him that they were quite a pair. All his life he’d embraced challenge. There was just something perverse in his nature that had him always eager to push the envelope. But he’d never before given much thought to the challenge of mundane household chores. He was beginning to see them in a whole new light.

Taylor polished off the last bite of parfait and looked over at her mother. “Can I take my new pets upstairs now and get them ready for bed?”

“So soon?”

“I never had pets to sleep with before. Please, Mama.”

“Of course, honey.”

“When we’re ready to be tucked in, can Donovan come upstairs and see them?”

Andi merely nodded, too surprised to say a word.

Cory set aside his empty dish and held up his compass. “I can’t wait to try this in the forest. Think we could go hiking tomorrow, Donovan?”

“I think I could spare a couple of hours.” Donovan drained his cup and set it aside, leaning back to look up at the stars. He pointed. “There’s the world’s first compass.”

The boy looked confused. “What do you mean? The sky?”

“The stars. Ancient sailors were able to navigate the whole world with only the stars to guide them.”

“Do you think sailors could still do that today?”

“You bet. The stars, like that compass, are constant.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means they never change. They’re in a fixed place in the heaven. And no matter where you are, you can find your way back by following your star.”

Cory stifled a yawn. “Will you tell me the names of the stars?”

“I will.” Donovan grinned. “Another night. I think you’d better get to bed before you fall asleep right here on the porch.”

“Yeah.” Cory got up and started up the steps. As he passed Donovan he paused. “I’m…glad you’re back.”

“So am I.”

Just then they heard Taylor calling from her room. “Mama. Donovan. Come up and say good-night.”

They followed Cory into the house and up the stairs.

Andi led the way to Taylor’s room.

Inside, the little girl was already snuggled into her bed, with the spotted dog and white cat on one side of her pillow and the woodchuck on the other.

“I’ve given them names,” Taylor announced solemnly. “My dog is Spot, my kitty is Snowflake, and my woodchuck is Woody.”

“Very inventive.” Donovan swallowed back his smile.

She held them up. “If you’d like, you can both kiss them good-night.”

Andi and Donovan took turns kissing the animals.

“Now me.” Taylor puckered her lips and kissed them both, then wrapped her arms around Donovan’s neck and hugged him fiercely. “I love my new pets, Donovan.”

“I’m glad, Taylor. I can see that they love being here with you. I just hope they don’t keep you up tonight while they get used to their new home.”

She giggled at his little joke.

After switching off her light, Andi moved to her son’s room.

“Ready for bed?” she called.

“Just about.” Cory was dressed in his pajamas and kneeling at the window, staring up at the darkened sky. He turned and caught sight of his mother and Donovan in the doorway. The sight of them together gave him a funny feeling. It wasn’t, he realized, a bad feeling. But seeing them together made him feel safe. “I was thinking how glad I am that I have this.” He opened his hand to reveal his new compass. “So I won’t ever have to rely on the stars to help me find my way back home.” He climbed into bed, and Andi hurried across the room to kiss him good-night.

He looked over at the man in the doorway. In the shadows he couldn’t see his face clearly. Maybe, if he squeezed his eyes really tight, Donovan would turn into his father. “‘Night, Donovan.”

“Good night, Cory.”

He watched as his mother switched off his light and joined Donovan in the hall before pulling the door shut. For the last three nights the little boy’s sleep had been tormented by frightening dreams. But now that Donovan was back, he could feel the fears beginning to slip away.

He was asleep before they descended the stairs.

Donovan was strangely silent as he followed Andi to the kitchen.

She padded barefoot across the room before turning to him with a smile. “More coffee?”

“No, thanks.” His tone was gruff as he started toward the door. “It’s time for me to leave.”

“I wish you wouldn’t.”

“Look, Andi, I…”

“Stay a while longer, Donovan.” She laid a hand over his. It was the simplest gesture, but she saw something dark and dangerous in his eyes as he drew back.

“It wouldn’t be safe to stay. Not with the kids asleep upstairs, and the two of us alone down here.”

“No, it wouldn’t be safe.” She twisted her hands together, fighting nerves. “I’ve always played it safe. All my life I’ve followed the rules. I floss every night.”

Despite the tension building inside him, his voice warmed with unspoken laughter. “It shows in your smile.”

There was no answering smile from Andi. In fact, she looked achingly sad. “You don’t understand. I buckle my seat belt. I don’t cross streets against the light. I eat my vegetables, knowing they’re good for me. I’m a conscientious mother.”

He nodded, not sure where this was leading. “The best.”

She gave a long sad sigh that seemed to come from deep within. “And I find myself wanting a man who, if rumors are to be believed, has never once played by the rules.”

His eyes narrowed. He was like a coiled snake as he caught her roughly by the upper arms and held her a little away. “Say that again.”

She shrugged aside her fear and stiffened her spine. “I said, if rumors are to be believed—”

“Not that.” His voice was hard as nails. “The first part.”

Her eyes went wide at the change she could sense in him. It took her a moment to recall just what she’d said. When she did, the fear drained away, replaced by the sudden realization that he wasn’t so much angry as disbelieving. “I said I find myself wanting—” she had to stop and swallow hard “—wanting you.”

He pinned her with a look that had her heart stuttering. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” She nodded for emphasis. “This isn’t easy for me to admit. But I…want you, Donovan. Desperately.”

“Desperately.” He closed his eyes, needing a moment to absorb the blow to his heart. “Desperately.” He said it a second time, almost like a prayer. “So, I’m not alone in this.” When he opened his eyes, they fixed on hers like a laser. “Do you understand where this is leading?”

Her chin came up. “I’m not an innocent, Donovan. After all, I’ve been married. I know about the things men and women do.”

His teeth flashed in a heart-stopping grin. “You only think you do. You don’t have any idea about where I want to take you.”

“I’m a big girl now.” Her heart was slamming against her ribs, making her feel like anything but an adult. “I know what I want. I want you, Donovan.”

“How can you? You don’t even know me.”

“Then…I’ll get to know you. And you’ll get to know me.”

There was a long moment of silence before he spoke. “I’ve waited so long for this, I can’t promise to be gentle, Andi.”

She lifted her hands to either side of his face. “I don’t need you to be gentle. I just need you, Donovan.”

He muttered an oath. The touch of her hands was his undoing. He remained as still as a statue, struggling to bank the fire that was racing through his veins and straight to his loins. Then he gave up the battle within himself.

In one smooth motion he scooped her up and whispered against her temple, “And I need you. Now. This minute.” He kicked open the door and carried her outside and down the porch.

“Donovan.” She looked around in alarm. “Where are you taking me?”

His smile was quick and dangerous. “To the rose arbor. If we’re noisy, it’s far enough away from the house that we won’t wake the kids.”

“Noisy?”

He turned his head, capturing her mouth with his, and heard her whimper. The sound of it sent his heart into overdrive.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m so revved I’m apt to howl at the moon.”

That had her chuckling, until he set her on her feet and covered her mouth in a kiss so hot, so hungry, it stole the very breath from her lungs. Her laughter was gone, replaced by a long, deep sigh.

His arms came around her, holding her to the length of him, alerting her to the fact that he was fully aroused.

“I’ve been like a crazy man, Andi. Watching you all evening. Wanting you. Wanting to touch you. Like this.” He ran his fingers up her sides until they encountered the bare flesh at her midriff. He felt her quivering response the moment he made contact.

“It was the same for me.” She dug her fingers into his hair and poured herself into the kiss. “I couldn’t wait to get my hands on you.”

He moved his hands upward to the soft swell of her breasts, where his thumbs teased and stroked. “I’d pretty much convinced myself that I’d be doing you a favor to keep my distance.”

With each stroke of his thumbs she felt her breath catch in her throat. Her words tumbled out between pursed lips. “I felt the same way, until I realized these past three days just how empty my life had become with you away.”

“My entire life has been empty—” the look he sent her was smoldering “—until this moment.” He feasted on her lips, filling himself with the taste of her. He heard her little moan of pleasure as he ran hot, wet kisses down the smooth column of her throat.

She smelled soap-and-water clean. As fresh as springtime. And as sexy as sin. He wanted to devour her in a single bite. Instead, he forced himself to go slowly, to savor every moment.

He kept his eyes steady on hers as he unbuttoned her blouse and fiddled with the tie at her midriff. He slid it from her shoulders to reveal a bit of lace that barely covered her breasts. Skimming a finger between the darkened cleft he parted the bra before tossing it aside.

“I’ve waited so long to see you like this.” He brushed soft butterfly kisses across her shoulder, then lower, to the swell of her breast. “So long.”

The feel of his lips against her skin had the blood roaring in her temples. She thought her legs would surely fail her. She brought her arms around his waist and clung to him as her bones began to melt like hot wax. Her whole body was trembling, vibrating with need.

“Hold on to me, Andi.” He whispered the words against her throat as he began to take her in like a man starved for the taste of her.

She did as he asked, helpless to do more than cling while his mouth, that warm, clever mouth, drove her slowly mad. Her heart was thundering. A wild, primitive beat that pulsed through her veins and fluttered at her throat like a caged bird.

At last he lifted his head, giving her a moment to settle.

Frantic to touch him as he was touching her, she tore at his shirt, tugging it over his head. When she reached for the snaps at his waist, he helped her, kicking aside the rest of his clothes with a hiss of frustration.

He had the most amazing body. Her throat went dry at the sight of all those hard, corded muscles.

“I love it when you touch me, Andi. Touch me again.” His words were a fierce whisper.

She did as he asked, pleasuring them both by running her hands over him with a boldness she never would have believed possible.

“I need to see you. All of you.” He reached a hand to the waist of her gauzy shorts and tugged them free in one smooth motion. Her lacy briefs weren’t treated with the same care as he tore them aside in his haste, before dragging her roughly against him, flesh to flesh.

His kisses weren’t tender. His touches weren’t gentle. He was fully, completely engaged, and would allow no less of her. It occurred to Andi that he made love the same way he’d always lived his life. On the wild side. Dark and dangerous. Raw and primitive. And so exciting she could feel herself almost exploding with the most amazing feelings.

The air around them seemed to become hot and thick, until every breath was labored. He drew her down to the cool grass, but it offered no comfort from the heat that seared her flesh and clogged her lungs. She watched him through a mist of passion as he moved over her, taking her higher than she’d ever been. He reminded her of a fierce jungle creature, all muscle and sinew, his beautiful body glistening in the moonlight.

Her sighs bordered on sobs as he nibbled his way down her body, taking her on a wild, dizzying ride before bringing her to the first shocking crest.

He heard her gasp at the same moment that he felt her body shudder. Stunned, she clutched him and sobbed out his name.

“Donovan. Donovan.” She whispered his name like a prayer.

“Oh, Andi. I’ve dreamed of seeing you like this. Dreamed of this. Only this.”

She’d thought he would take her now, and end this madness that held them both in its grip. But he wanted more. So much more. And so he gave her no time to recover before taking her even higher, until they were both feeling dazed and more than a little breathless.

From somewhere nearby a night bird called, and from the woods its mate answered. A high, clear note hung in the air before fading. The man and woman locked in each other’s arms were oblivious. A soft summer breeze rippled the leaves of the trees and brought with it the fragrance of roses. In the brush nearby an animal scurried for cover as Andi and Donovan lay in the grass, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing labored.

The world had narrowed to this place and this moment, as they lost themselves in the wonder of each other and the all-consuming desire that drove them. Even the moon and stars seemed to have dimmed, to give them the privacy they craved.