the sensations and emotions threatened to overcome me.
His adoration, his touch, and his love were evident in his caress. His fingers dove deeper, encouraging my release. “I’ve got you. Let go.”
He gripped my hip with his other hand, steadying me. With a final stroke of his thumb, my legs grew rigid, the muscles in my stomach tightened, and I gave in to the climax.
He slowed until I was no longer delirious with desire, and then grabbed my hand, urging me back into the water. He retrieved the soap and smoothed the slippery bar over my chest.
“You are so beautiful. I can’t believe you are real. Mine.”
Still trying to steady my breathing, I smiled. “I know exactly what you mean.”
He retrieved a washcloth from a stand beside the tub, wet and lathered it with soap.
He sighed. “You know I have to leave tomorrow for a few days. But don’t worry, I promise to call every night. I even got you a secure cell phone.”
I put my hand over my face. “God... I feel so needy.”
“No, you’re in love and need me to show you in a way familiar to you that I love you too. You won’t know how I feel if I don’t learn to show you. I’m sorry for ever making you doubt my devotion.”
I smiled, but it was disrupted by a yawn.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and go to bed. It’s been a long day.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Reunion
T he next morning the chirping birds served as my alarm clock. I rose up on one elbow and watched Xavier, who stood in a beam of sunlight, latching the buckle on his belt. “Good morning, beautiful.”
He walked to the bed, leaned in and placed a soft, quick kiss on my lips. “I should be back on Thursday.”
“Thursday? Any suggestions on how I should fill the time?”
“Have Sebastian take you on a hike. He’s had some serious survivalist training; he could teach you a few things that might come in handy some day.”
“Survivalist? Like a Y2K, underground-bunker-dwelling nutcase?”
He laughed. “No. Ask him about his time serving his government. I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you all about the French Military.”
“French Military? He’s a doctor.”
“Yes, a military trained doctor. He retired when Miriam fell ill.” He straightened his shirt and adjusted his tie.
“All of you are so full of secrets. What are you going to tell me next? That Marco was a rock star?”
He chuckled. “No, but he did want to be an underwear model.”
I sat up, wrapping the sheet around me. “He told me that.”
“He tells everyone.” He bent again, pressed his lips against my forehead. “Besides, they’re not secrets, they’re discoveries.” Another quick kiss. “I’m going to miss you, but it will be good for you and Sebastian to have some time alone.” He walked over, reached into his bag, pulled out a cell phone, and handed the device to me. “Here, use this one when you call me. My number is already in the contacts. The Society can’t trace a prepaid phone.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at him.
He leaned down, placed his palms on the bed on either side of me, and stared into my eyes. “I’m trying, but I’ll screw up again. I don’t know if I can change the essence of who I am, but know I never meant to hurt you. I hope you can love me in spite of my idiosyncrasies.”
“Well, knowing that you weren’t intentionally blowing me off helps.”
He pulled me to the edge of the bed and enveloped me in his arms. “So you’re aware, I received word this morning. Monica is my sister.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Can I ask where you’re going?”
“I have some things at Western to clean up, and I have an appointment with a counselor at Ellington House.”
“A counselor?”
“Yes, a mentor for the Society.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
He kissed my forehead. “For you, anything.”
* * *
X avier talked me into getting more rest before he left. By the time I woke, the clock read eleven-fifty-two. Nearly noon, I
His adoration, his touch, and his love were evident in his caress. His fingers dove deeper, encouraging my release. “I’ve got you. Let go.”
He gripped my hip with his other hand, steadying me. With a final stroke of his thumb, my legs grew rigid, the muscles in my stomach tightened, and I gave in to the climax.
He slowed until I was no longer delirious with desire, and then grabbed my hand, urging me back into the water. He retrieved the soap and smoothed the slippery bar over my chest.
“You are so beautiful. I can’t believe you are real. Mine.”
Still trying to steady my breathing, I smiled. “I know exactly what you mean.”
He retrieved a washcloth from a stand beside the tub, wet and lathered it with soap.
He sighed. “You know I have to leave tomorrow for a few days. But don’t worry, I promise to call every night. I even got you a secure cell phone.”
I put my hand over my face. “God... I feel so needy.”
“No, you’re in love and need me to show you in a way familiar to you that I love you too. You won’t know how I feel if I don’t learn to show you. I’m sorry for ever making you doubt my devotion.”
I smiled, but it was disrupted by a yawn.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and go to bed. It’s been a long day.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Reunion
T he next morning the chirping birds served as my alarm clock. I rose up on one elbow and watched Xavier, who stood in a beam of sunlight, latching the buckle on his belt. “Good morning, beautiful.”
He walked to the bed, leaned in and placed a soft, quick kiss on my lips. “I should be back on Thursday.”
“Thursday? Any suggestions on how I should fill the time?”
“Have Sebastian take you on a hike. He’s had some serious survivalist training; he could teach you a few things that might come in handy some day.”
“Survivalist? Like a Y2K, underground-bunker-dwelling nutcase?”
He laughed. “No. Ask him about his time serving his government. I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you all about the French Military.”
“French Military? He’s a doctor.”
“Yes, a military trained doctor. He retired when Miriam fell ill.” He straightened his shirt and adjusted his tie.
“All of you are so full of secrets. What are you going to tell me next? That Marco was a rock star?”
He chuckled. “No, but he did want to be an underwear model.”
I sat up, wrapping the sheet around me. “He told me that.”
“He tells everyone.” He bent again, pressed his lips against my forehead. “Besides, they’re not secrets, they’re discoveries.” Another quick kiss. “I’m going to miss you, but it will be good for you and Sebastian to have some time alone.” He walked over, reached into his bag, pulled out a cell phone, and handed the device to me. “Here, use this one when you call me. My number is already in the contacts. The Society can’t trace a prepaid phone.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at him.
He leaned down, placed his palms on the bed on either side of me, and stared into my eyes. “I’m trying, but I’ll screw up again. I don’t know if I can change the essence of who I am, but know I never meant to hurt you. I hope you can love me in spite of my idiosyncrasies.”
“Well, knowing that you weren’t intentionally blowing me off helps.”
He pulled me to the edge of the bed and enveloped me in his arms. “So you’re aware, I received word this morning. Monica is my sister.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Can I ask where you’re going?”
“I have some things at Western to clean up, and I have an appointment with a counselor at Ellington House.”
“A counselor?”
“Yes, a mentor for the Society.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
He kissed my forehead. “For you, anything.”
* * *
X avier talked me into getting more rest before he left. By the time I woke, the clock read eleven-fifty-two. Nearly noon, I
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