Sensuous Angel (24 page)

Apparently it didn’t matter. The night was suddenly alive with the screeching wail of sirens, and when her knees buckled, someone was there to hold her. Another man. In a blue uniform. It seemed she was to be helped by men in blue uniforms all night.

Distantly, vaguely, she heard Andrew muttering out Red Cap’s rights. Then she was prodded out the window and felt the cold again. But it was a beautiful cold. It came from the fresh air.

“Are you okay, Mrs. Trudeau?”

She barely saw the officer’s face. She nodded at his words and discovered that she was sitting on a step, shivering. Then someone was shoving a cup of hot coffee in her hands.

There was so much commotion! And all she could do was sit and shiver until a blanket was wrapped around her shoulders. And something more. A touch she would know anywhere, at any time. Strong, sure, infinitely tender.

“You’re cold.”

She looked up into a pair of unique hazel eyes, green and gold, earth and fire. The fury was gone from them now; only tenderness remained.

“Luke?” she murmured anxiously. One of his eyes was circled with a puffy and darkening shadow.

“I’m fine,” he said, sitting beside her and holding her close. He stared out into the night. “And Simson is…fine.”

Donna shivered again. She wasn’t sure what she felt. Yes, she did know what she felt. If Luke would have killed Simson, he would have been justified maybe in the eyes of the law. But not in his own heart.

He ruffled her hair gently. “He’ll be charged with kidnapping for tonight, and because of tonight, they’ll also be able to take him to court on the murder charges.”

“I don’t understand—”

“Tonight will make the charge much more plausible. It will substantiate all that Lorna can say on a witness stand.”

“Oh,” Donna mumbled.

“You’re still shivering,” he told her. “Are you that cold?”

She gazed into his eyes. “No, not when you’re here.”

He smiled, but his expression remained taut. “They’re going to have to ask you a lot of questions tonight, Donna.”

“I know,” she said.

“The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get home.”

“I’m ready,” Donna replied.

Dawn was breaking in streaks of muted crimson and pale gray when they at last returned to the house. Donna was so tired that she was giddy. Luke seemed remarkably awake and alert. And lighthearted. In fact, as he closed the door behind them, he broke into laughter.

Donna stared at him, certain he had lost his mind.

His eyes continued to glitter as he returned her stare. Then he reached out a hand to touch her hair, arching a brow high. “Donna, I just realized what a disaster you are.”

She saw her own reflection in the long hallway mirror. She
was
a disaster. Her hair was so full of dirt that it looked as if it had gone gray overnight. But she saw Luke’s reflection too, and he definitely had a black eye.

“You don’t look like such a deal yourself, you know,” she retorted.

“I guess I don’t,” he said dryly. Then he gave her a grin that seemed doubly wicked because of the shiner. “I think we should take a shower.”

“Luke! This has been the wildest, most terrifying, most horrendous night of my life! And you’re—”

“Think of it this way, Donna,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her length full against his. “Things can only go uphill from here.”

She felt like laughing. But if she started laughing….

“You’re still supposed to be in the hospital,” she reminded him.

“I’ve never felt better,” he told her, and there was a ring of sincerity to his words that she didn’t quite understand. But it was nice. Very nice.

He started walking, forcing her backward along the hall. “We really do need a shower.”

“Really.”

She wanted him. All of him. Next to her, holding her. Making love to her. Her eyes must have told him so because suddenly he wasn’t leading her backward any more. He was lifting her into his arms and carrying her hurriedly down the hallway, to the door to their bedroom. She felt his heart beat, just as she felt her own. She saw the tension and the longing in his tautening features, in the gleam of fire in his eyes. A fire she had learned could warm her, no matter how cold she ever became.

He set her down in the bathroom and began to studiously tug at her sweater. Then at his own. Then they were helping one another, and their clothes were in a tumbled heap on the floor. Then there was the blessed cleansing relief of the water shooting down on them.

With the hard spray freeing her at last of the filth of the cellar, Donna turned about, encircling Luke’s waist. The water continued to cascade over them.

“This should be wrong tonight,” she murmured against his. chest. “I mean, you should be in the hospital, exhausted—”

“I love you, Donna. And loving you can never be wrong.” She felt a shudder ripple through his length. “Donna, I don’t remember ever being so frightened in my life. Or feeling so alone. So panicked, so helpless. And then…we found you.”

She pressed her lips against the delicious dampness of his chest. “I was never so terrified myself. How did you find me, Luke?”

She felt his shrug. He dipped, grabbing the soap. She felt it slide over her back, felt his fingers, massaging….

“The taxi driver saw the van they took you in and a number of people noticed it on the street. It’s a funny green color, and Simson’s flunky was driving pretty badly. We found the district and then saw the garage. It was mostly logic.”

“Oh,” Donna murmured. “I had thought….”

The soap paused against her spine. He caught her chin, tilting it to his. “I knew,” he told her softly, “that something was wrong. But I don’t think that was unique to me, not in this circumstance. When people love one another—Donna, tonight was many things. A police department that was right on the ball and knew its stuff. People who cared to get involved and volunteered information. And—” He smiled suddenly. “I like to think that there was a little divine intervention there. I felt like I had lost more than you. And…” He hesitated, then drew her sleek wet head tight against his slick chest. “When I found you, Donna, I found everything.”

“Blind faith?”

“Blind faith.”

A little sigh escaped her. She would never know exactly how he had found her, but all that really mattered was that he had.

“Donna?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re not falling asleep on me, are you?”

“Uh-uh. I was just thinking. Luke, this means that Lorna can come out of hiding now too, doesn’t it?”

He hesitated. “I think so, although I personally think she’ll need to be very careful until Simson actually goes to trial. But I think I can safely promise that you can see her very soon.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Probably,” he murmured, moving his hands again. Soap suds were erotically smoothed over her hips and buttocks.

“That’s wonderful.”

“My touch? Or that you’ll get to see Lorna?”

“Both!” Donna laughed.

“Mmm,” Luke murmured dryly, refusing to give up his quest. A shivering sensation took hold of her despite the heat of the water. Despite that of his body. Or because of his body. He was pressed so close to her—so close that she could feel his rising desire, insinuating…exciting against her bare flesh.

The soap bar came between them. Along with the expert touch of his hands. She ached for that touch, and where she ached, it came. Her breasts were swathed with soap, caressed and cupped. Liquid quivers, as pulsating as the water, shot through her, centering low in her abdomen.

“There are benefits to having a half-psychic husband,” he said.

“There are?” Donna queried. She lifted her eyes to his. They were heavy-lidded, sultry, sensual, the dark lashes thick and murky with tiny dewdrops of water.

“Hmmm. He knows…exactly where…”

“Oh, yes….”

“To touch….”

“To love….”

Luke shuddered as her fingers began to move against him. He caught her lips in a deep kiss, tasting the water that cascaded around them and the sweetness that was her breath. Her nails lightly raked over his back, his buttocks. Her touch, wickedly sensual, found the evidence of his need.

“You’re a little psychic yourself, love,” he whispered against her lips.

“Not psychic—”

“Ahh, Donna….”

“Just…in love….”

“In the shower?”

“Mmmmmmmm….”

“Mmmmmmmm….”

The water continued to fall, a fast and furious crescendo as warm and luxuriously heated as the power and sweet passion of their love. It was the longest shower Donna had ever taken. And the most wonderful. When she had at last toweled herself dry, she slept more sweetly than she ever dreamed, more at peace, more serene and secure, in the arms of her husband and lover.

She awoke late, but she heard voices coming from the study. Yawning, she slipped into a robe and walked down the hall to the study.

Luke was talking to a man she didn’t recognize at first; then she wondered how she possibly couldn’t have recognized him. He was a handsome man. As tall as Luke, with hair as dark as Luke’s rich jet. With eyes as green as an emerald sea. Clean shaven, dressed in an attractive suit.

“Andrew!” she exclaimed.

“Donna,” he said apologetically. “I really am sorry. I shouldn’t be disturbing you this morning. But—”

“Andrew,” Donna murmured, hugging him and planting a kiss on his cheek before slipping into her husband’s arms. She smiled at him brightly. “After last night, Andrew Trudeau, you can crawl through my window any time you like.”

He laughed. “I’m glad you said that. You never know….” He lifted his hands with a grimace. “Actually, I’d glad you’re awake. Tricia should be by to drop Lorna off at any minute.”

“Wonderful!” Donna answered. As if on cue, the doorbell rang.

Luke gave her a little prod in the back. “I think that’s for you.”

She flashed him a smile and raced down the hall to the front door, throwing it open. A tall, lithe blonde stood there, smiling radiantly.

“Lorna!” Donna exclaimed. “Oh, Lorna, I’ve been so worried—”

“Donna! When I heard what had happened—”

They both broke off, hugging one another, laughing, hugging again. “Come on into the study!” Donna urged, pulling Lorna along. “Luke and—” She broke off as she entered the study. Luke was still there, smiling as he greeted Lorna affectionately, but there was no sign of Andrew. Donna raised a brow to Luke. He inclined his head briefly to the window. Apparently, her brother-in-law had left in customary fashion. Because of Lorna?

She didn’t have long to wonder. There was so much to catch up on, so much to say, so much to hear.

Luke stayed awhile, then discreetly left them. Hours passed, but when Lorna rose to leave, Donna was dismayed.

“I’ve got a flight out to Boston tonight,” Lorna explained. “They still wanted me to stay—they’re worried about Simson pulling something before the trial. But I’ve got to get home, if only for a while.”

“Be careful, Lorna,” Donna pleaded.

Lorna promised to take the utmost care, but she was still anxious to get home.

Luke reappeared to say good-bye. He stood behind Donna, his arms wrapped around her, as Lorna was driven away.

Donna waved until she was waving at nothing. Then she turned around to face Luke, her smile a little sad.

“I’d thought…I don’t know why exactly, but I’d thought there was something going on between. Andrew and Lorna.”

Luke smoothed her hair from her forehead, shrugging. “If it wasn’t meant to be, Donna, it wasn’t.”

“He crawled back out of the window rather than see her, Luke.”

“I know.”

“Maybe they’re both acting like fools.”

“Maybe. Are you planning on some matchmaking? Because if you are, you know, it’s a risky business. You should keep your little nose out of it.”

“I’m going to try,” Donna muttered, her eyes sparkling. “But, if I get a chance…”

Luke laughed. “Heaven protect us all! Donna, if there’s something special between them, it’s something they’ll have to figure out for themselves.”

“Do you think they will?” Donna asked worriedly.

Luke laughed. “I’m not a fortune teller, you know.”

“Yes, I know,” Donna said with a little grimace. Then she suddenly realized that she and Luke were finally free to get back to the business of day-to-day life.
Their
lives.

“I was just thinking, Luke, that this is Sunday. You should be at church!”

He smiled. “I have a very understanding employer.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I do.” His grin broadened as he dipped to slip an arm beneath her knees and lift her high against him. “He understands completely that I love my wife, and I’m sure He heartily approves.”

“Does He?”

“Definitely. Love is one of His favorite subjects.”

She smiled, feeling totally luxurious as he carried her down the hall. “Luke?”

“Yes?”

“Did I ever tell you that you make me feel absolutely divine?”

“Heavenly?”

“Absolutely heavenly.”

Heather Graham (b. 1953) is one of the country’s most prominent authors of romance, suspense, and historical fiction. She has been writing bestselling books for nearly three decades, publishing more than 150 novels and selling more than seventy-five million copies worldwide.

Born in Florida to an Irish mother and a Scottish father, Graham attended college at the University of South Florida, where she majored in theater arts. She spent a few years making a living onstage as a back-up vocalist and dinner theater actor, but after the birth of her third child decided to seek work that would allow her to spend more time with her family.

After early efforts writing romance and horror stories, Graham sold her first novel,
When Next We Love
(1982). She went on to write nearly two dozen contemporary romance novels.

In 1989 Graham published
Sweet Savage Eden
, which initiated the Cameron family saga, an epic six-book series that sets romantic drama amid turbulent periods of American history, such as the Civil War. She revisited the nineteenth century in
Runaway
(1994), a story of passion, deception, and murder in Florida, which spawned five sequels of its own.