Whisper Cape (38 page)

“Addison. I’d like to bring you here sometime ... I mean, shit. Sorry, I’m screwing this up.” He stared into her puzzled eyes, as if searching them would make the words flow easier.

It didn't. But her slight smile warmed his heart.

“Look, I brought you here to tell you ...” he shook his head, “... I mean, I can’t read you, but after this thing with Eidolon is over, if we even survive it, I don’t know what you want, but I want you. I want to be with you.”

She swallowed as if her throat were dry. Jesus, he knew his was.

“Addison, I’m in love with you.”

Her eyes grew wide.

“Before you say anything ... I’ve never told a woman I loved her before. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but this is something I
do
know. Without a doubt, I love you. You don’t have to say anything. I’m not expecting you to say ...”

She kissed him, silencing him in mid-sentence. A tender kiss, turning hot as his hands reached up to caress her cheeks. The enchantment from the aquamarine lagoon waters and the fragrance of the abundant marine life filled his senses, dissolving all of his inhibitions. He grabbed her coat and laid it next to his on the sand. They fell onto their makeshift bed and his heated kisses found her neck; he reached up under her blouse, where she was warm and smooth. The hardness of her nipples excited him.

He kissed her lips and she took his face in her hands and pushed him back, her eyes on his. “You’ve changed my life. I can’t think of anything but you. I’ve never felt the way you make me feel.”

He kept his eyes on hers. It was impossible to look away. It was there in her eyes that he saw something—something powerful, something he couldn’t quite comprehend until now. It was a mixture of tenderness and strength. He saw the need and the desire in them. He loved how she felt sexy and beautiful with him. She trusted him, knew he cherished her.

“God knows I love you,” Addison said.

His pressed his mouth to hers, exploring, tasting, moving his lips to her neck, kissing, nibbling, then whispered, "I need you. I want you, now."

Cael pulled the tank top over her head exposing her breasts, each one warm and firm to his lips.

She tugged at his pants, shoving them down to his ankles, and he kicked them off. He pulled down her tight black workout pants as she kicked them away and they both accidentally rolled off the jackets and onto the sand, laughing, kissing and rolling back onto the jackets again. There were only the two of them in their own little patch of paradise.

“I thought you were opposed to having an x-rated scene on the beach.”

“That was in Oregon; this is Bora Bora.”

He loved her, needed her, and he loved the way she made him feel. He needed to take from her and to give back. She guided him in; his thrust was intense and her moves flowed with his as if they were one, gliding together through space. This woman, this beautiful woman floating under him was so passionate.

Floating? ... Sweet Jesus, they were floating.

He had never known such pleasure, as he tasted her lips again and watched as she climaxed under him, over him, around him. He lost any ounce of control he’d had. His rhythm was fast and hard as he buried himself in her. Addison’s body trembled around him, and his hot release poured into her as he reached the peak of ecstasy with her on a deserted beach thousands of miles away in the middle of paradise.

“I believe we’ve reached a new stage in our love making.” Cael pulled Addison close to him, tucking his arm under her neck. They lay on their backs naked on the sand, the need for clothes forgotten.

“I know. It felt ... almost as if we were floating.”

“We were floating, darling—you made us float.”

“Me? My God, I did, didn’t I?”

“Hmmm, yes.” He reached for her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.

“We’ve reached a certain nirvana and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.”

“Yes, I agree. I guess I have my work cut out for me now.”

“I have faith in you. Oh, how I wish we could stay here, forget all about everything back home.”

“Me too.” Cael closed his eyes, the euphoria of the moment still lingering in his mind.

Addison, I love you so fucking much it hurts. Don’t ever leave me.

“Don’t worry; I love you that much, too. I won’t leave you.”

“What?”

“I said, don’t worry, Cael, I won’t leave you. I love you, too
.” Jeez, are you going deaf?

“No, no.”
You answered me when I didn’t say anything—I only thought it.

“No. No way! That’s impossible.”

Is it?

But, how did I?
“Seriously?”

Cael grinned and nodded.
Yes! You’re beautiful!

I hear you!
“Your lips aren’t moving.”
Oh. My. God!

We’re hearing each other’s thoughts. This must be what my mother was trying to tell me. We are stronger now. Our minds are fused.

This is freaky.

“Henry!” The shrill voice from above their heads pinged in their ears.

The couple must have been in their eighties. The woman covered her eyes, but then hit the man over the head with her hat and attempted to yank him away as he stood gawking at Addison’s breasts. Cael and Addison bolted up, groping for their clothes.

They couldn’t stop laughing when they materialized back at the beach house in Oregon.

“That old woman, did you see the way she hit that poor old guy?” Addison said.

“Yeah, at first I wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to pull the old geezer away from goggling at your breasts. But I gotta hand it to the old gal, she still had some muscle.” He took off his pants, being careful not to shake sand on the floor. Addison did the same, and then they both stepped into the shower.

I love you, Addison.

I can’t believe I can hear your thoughts. I love you too.

Cael drew Addison against him, wrapping his arms around her as they swayed together under the stream of water.

***

Darcy pulled on her skirt and buttoned her blouse, being sure to button it all the way up. Not her original plan, but now that she and Jared were back together, it was the safest. The doorbell rang. She fluffed up her hair and glanced at the clock—Duane was punctual. She went to the door, searching her brain for an easy way to tell him she wanted to keep their relationship on a friendship basis. She looked forward to meeting Jared later and hoped the evening would go by quickly.

She opened the door and there stood Duane, flowers in hand. This was the first time she’d seen him dressed in something other than his uniform. He wore black pants and a green and black pullover sweater over a black-collared shirt. Not bad, she mused, but not Jared.

“Hi.”

He held out the bouquet. “Hi. These are almost as beautiful as you.”

“Thanks. Come on in and have a seat. I’ll just put these in a vase.” She strolled to the kitchen, startled when she turned around and found him right behind her. His boldness made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Do you have anything to drink? I was hoping we could hang here for a little while. Our reservations are for eight instead of seven-thirty.”

“I have some wine open if you’d like a glass or there’s some beer in the refrigerator. Help yourself to either while I put these in water.”

He was too close and she edged away as she filled the vase with water and slowly arranged the flowers.

“Beer’s good.” He pulled one out of the refrigerator. “Want one?”

“No, thanks. I’ll have some of the wine, though, if you wouldn’t mind pouring some.” Maybe another glass would help ease her tension.

He grabbed the wine bottle and poured some of the golden liquid into the glass sitting on the counter. “Nice little place you have here.”

He strolled to the sofa and sat. Her nerves settled a bit.

“Yeah, little for sure, but I don’t need much room and it’s easy to clean.”

“I bet that's a plus, especially having to work as much as you do.”

“I like working.”

“Really?  I'll tell you, when I get married, my wife won't work. She'll be home taking care of the kids and me. I guess that makes me sound chauvinistic but I was brought up in the south where woman were respected for the hard work they do at home.”

“I'm sure there are many women in the south who have careers.”

“Maybe, but my mama didn't work and that's the way I want my kids to grow up. I suppose that's where it stems from.”

She placed the flowers in a vase and took her time walking over to the sofa, carrying her wine so she'd have something to do with her hands. Even though Duane acted all charming and seemed safe, her heart belonged once more to Jared. Sitting at least two feet away from him, she sipped her wine and noticed he wore an earring in each ear.

“Funny. This is the first time I’ve seen you out of uniform. I didn’t realize your ears were pierced.”

“Yeah, I had it done when I was in high school, long before I became a cop. I can’t wear the earrings on the job, but I still like them, so I keep them in my pocket when I’m on duty. I almost lost one last night.”

“They look good on you.”

Chapter 37

Night absorbed the day, gradually, like a fog snaking across the coastal mountains. Stars glistened through patches of clouds as Cael drove to Maia’s. He glanced down at Addison's legs, shimmering with glimmers of moonlight. As they passed tree after tree along the deserted highway, he reached out, unable to resist placing his hand on her knee. She wore another tight skirt that hugged her thighs and was short enough to expose a good portion of them. She looked amazing.

I have half a mind to turn this truck around, take you back home, and ravage you. That skirt should be illegal.

Only half a mind? What’s the other half doing?

He frowned. “Ahhh ... reluctantly concentrating on the drive to your aunt’s house.”

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted to talk with her. I could have gone without you.”

“What, and miss all the insults Gerry likes to toss my way? Not a chance.” He felt the crease between his eyes grow deeper at that thought, though.

“Oh, come on, he means well. He’s just a smidgen over-protective.” Addison pulled down the visor so she could see to put some lipstick on.

“You think?” He glanced at her out of the corner or his eye. “Hey ... you don’t need that, you know.”

“What?” she said before opening her mouth wide and applying a glossy pink substance to her lips.

“The lipstick.”

“Oh, I'm having fun being girly.”

“Believe me, sweetness, you’re girly enough, especially in that skirt.” He placed his hand on her bare thigh, inching it up under the skirt.

“Stop before you crash the truck
.” If I’d known you’d be pawing at me all night, I would have worn pants.

And ruin all my fun.

She laughed. This telepathy stuff is pretty cool.

Her expression quickly turned serious. “How do you want to approach the subject with Maia?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. You could bring it up during dinner.”

“Why me?

“Because, sweetheart, she’s your aunt.”

“Okay, but I’m sure she doesn’t know anything and if she does, she’s not going to talk about it in front of Gerry. How did you and your uncle first discuss it?”

“Bart always knew. He’s my mother’s twin. I’m almost certain Maia knows about you and your dad.”

“Maybe, but it won’t help us fight Eidolon.”

“No, but it will make life easier for you if she knows about your abilities, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Turn here, this is it.”

He glanced out the window as he turned into the driveway to Maia’s house. “Nice little cottage. Have you considered what you’re going to tell Gerry about last night?”

“Yes, I have.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

He scrunched his eyes together conveying as much skepticism as possible.

“Trust me.”

The house was a small three-bedroom, two-story cottage, nestled among several oak trees on a hill overlooking the ocean. A flagstone walkway curved its way through two rows of pink and red carpet roses. The cottage itself was made of stone and the front door faced the mountains, affording the back of the cottage the spectacular ocean view. Multi-colored leaves covered the ground from the assortment of trees surrounding the property.

The wind picked up, taking some leaves with it and swirling them in the air. Addie tugged at her coat and repositioned the scarf around her neck. Aside from keeping her warm, the scarf concealed the now healed gash on her neck.

Both Maia and Gerry greeted them at the door wearing matching blue aprons; one said “Hers” and the other, “His,” and somehow Cael managed to stifle a laugh as he handed Maia a bouquet of flowers.

“These are beautiful. Thank you.”

“Hope this goes with dinner.” Cael held out a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to Gerry.

“Thanks, this will go nicely.”

“Addie, come help me fix some appetizers while Gerry opens the wine.”

***

“How are you feeling, honey?” Maia placed her hand at Addie’s elbow and guided her toward the kitchen.

“Better, thanks. Nice aprons,” Addie said, chuckling and forgetting about the healed gash on her neck as she pulled the scarf off and hung it on the hook with her coat. “How did you get Gerry to wear it?”

Maia laughed. “Oh, I think Gerry forgot he had it on. You know he’d never want to be caught dead in it, especially in front of Cael.”

“I don’t think he likes Cael much.”

“He’s trying. He thinks of you as his little sister, you know, and when he saw the bruises on your arms Saturday, well, he sort of lost it, I guess.”

“Bruises? Oh yeah. I didn’t realize he saw those until later and then I forgot to mention them. Cael didn’t cause those bruises, Maia. Well, he did, but not the way Gerry thinks.”

“I didn’t think so. So, how did you get them?”