She laughed. “Try and stop me from moving in here.” She kissed him again and could feel that the dark mood was gone even though outside the storm grew stronger.
He shook his head as his hands started moving over her hips. She’d pressed her body close to him and wanted more than anything for him to carry her upstairs and make love with her all night.
She’d had enough rollercoaster emotions for one day. Now she wanted to fall asleep in the arms of the man she loved.
Realizing that she hadn’t actually said those words to him yet, she smiled.
Taking his hand, she pulled him towards the stairs. “You know that sexy little pink lace thing I bought the other day?”
His eyebrows shot up quickly and a smile lit his face. “The one with the straps?”
She chuckled. “I’m wearing it…” She dropped his hand and started up the stairs. “Under this outfit. If you hurry, you might just get to help me peel it off…” He picked her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way upstairs as she laughed.
After he shut them in his bedroom, he slid her down as he kissed her. She felt her entire body melt as his hands pulled her clothes aside. Her fingers shook as she unbuttoned his shirt. She slipped the tie off him, then pulled the shirt wide so she could appreciate his tanned, toned chest.
“Mm.” She smiled before leaning in and running kisses over the play of muscles that covered him. “I could get used to seeing this every day.” She ran her fingertips over him, letting her short nails scrape lightly over his skin. She noticed small little bumps raise all over him and smiled. “You like that?” she asked.
“God,” he said in a burst, “you make me so hard.” He took her hand and moved it to his crotch. She rubbed him as her smile grew. He began to peel off her blouse. When he exposed the pink silk, he groaned and bent his head to run his mouth over the material.
She arched back and watched as he sucked the material over her nipple, making it harden for him. Her fingers slid into his hair, holding him as he ran his tongue over her skin and the edge of the silk.
“You taste like spring,” he said as he reached for her jeans. When they pooled at her feet, she stepped out of the jeans, and he nudged her closer to the bed.
“Bella,” he said when his mouth returned to hers, “I can’t imagine what I’ve done in life to deserve you.”
“Nothing.” She smiled at him. “We’re just lucky to find each other I guess,” she said as he ran his eyes slowly over her. She was standing before him in nothing but pink silk, feeling like the most beautiful woman on earth.
She reached for the clasp of his slacks, keeping her eyes on his as she pushed them off his narrow hips. As she ran her hands over his muscular thighs and tight stomach, she thought she heard him sigh, “Tell me.”
“Calvin.” She looked up into his eyes again. “I wanted you to know, before… I love you.” She leaned up and kissed him again. She thought she felt him stiffen, but then he was pushing her down onto the bed and covering her body with his.
She’d dreamed of how it would be when she finally told a man those words. Feeling the speed and heat of desire consume her hadn’t been part of those plans. She couldn’t have ever dreamed of how wonderful it would feel to be with someone she loved.
When the last layers of material were gone between them, he arched over her, his hands running up her body until he clasped hers above her head.
“I didn’t believe I deserved this, you.” He kissed her again as she wrapped her legs around him, trying to pull him closer. “Bella, I’ve loved you for a while now. I tried to deny it.” He pulled back and looked down into her eyes, then shook his head and smiled. “I was a fool to think I could give you up. It’s the sweetest surrender I’ve had, giving you my heart.” He kissed her again and then, as he slid into her, he whispered next to her ear, “I love you.”
She must have fallen asleep after he rolled to her side, tucking their bodies close together and pulling the comforter over them.
His steady heartbeat soothed her, relaxed her, even though the storm still raged outside the large glass doors and windows in his bedroom.
When a large crash of thunder woke her, her heart jumped in her chest as the sound dissipated through the dark house. She lay there, Calvin’s arms wrapped tightly around her, as she tried to settle her heart back down.
Then another flash of lightning lit the room and she noticed the dark shadow of a man standing by the glass doors that led out to the deck. Her entire body froze with fear as the scream caught in her throat.
Her body began to shake as the thunder from the lightning finally sounded a few seconds later. Her eyes strained as she tried to see if the figure had moved.
It seemed to take forever for her body to finally respond to her commands. Her mind played out a million scenarios of what she should do.
Deciding finally to reach for the lamp and wake Calvin at the same time, she screamed as she flipped on the bedside lamp.
Calvin jumped from the bed as the light flooded the room, showcasing that they were alone.
“What?” Calvin glanced around, blinking a few times.
“Someone was in the room.” She pointed to the spot where the glass doors stood wide open.
Calvin reached under the bed and came up with a metal baseball bat. “Call the police,” he said as he rushed into the rain in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs.
She blinked and stared at the wet footprints just inside the patio doors. Her hand shook as she reached for her cell phone and called the police.
Her eyes were glued to the doors as she waited for Calvin to return. The police had assured her that a patrol car was on its way just as Calvin stepped back inside.
“Wait,” she called out, stopping him from messing up the wet footprints. She pointed to them and Calvin easily moved around them, leaving them undisturbed. “Did you find anyone?” she asked.
“No, they took off too quickly. I saw taillights.” He pulled on his jeans and shoes, then a jacket. “I’m going to wait for the police.” He nodded to her. “Better get dressed.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay?” he asked after she stood there for a moment.
“Y-yes.” She took a deep breath. “He was just standing there. Watching us.” She shivered.
Calvin’s arms tightened around her. “He broke the door lock.” He motioned towards the sliding door. “First thing tomorrow, I’m installing cameras and a security system.” She nodded as they heard the siren. “Get dressed. I’ll go down and meet them.”
She watched him go, then slipped on her clothes quickly, grabbing one of his sweaters and pulling it over her head instead of trying to find something warm of her own to wear. Walking by, she snapped a picture of the watery footprints and the lock on the door that had been jimmied open.
When she stepped out of the bedroom, Calvin was talking with Brock. Both men turned up to watch her make her way down the stairs.
“Bella.” Brock nodded. “How are you doing?”
“I’ve settled down. I think my heart rate is finally leveled.” She chuckled nervously.
“Well, if it’s okay, I’ll head up and take pictures and see if I can spot anything else up there.” Brock nodded towards the stairs.