Lost in Shadows Read online

  As I felt every piece of his beautiful body, he did the same to me. We were relearning each and every dip and curve with our hands, fingers, and lips. My mind screamed to take what I’ve missed for so long, but my heart whispered to savor every precious second, memorizing our touches. My heart won.

  His hands pushed the shirt over my head then onto the floor. His eyes lazily roamed over my body, searing my naked skin. The sensations were overwhelming, but I reveled in it. This was what I missed about this man: his intensity. He sat up and lightly grazed my skin from the dip of my neck to my breasts. His fingers drew random swirls over them, one at a time, making my skin prickle. Chills rolled over my body as a fire roared to life inside of me.

  His hot mouth moved over me, following the path his fingers made. My heart skipped a beat or two as he explored lower regions, reclaiming my skin with love marks and bruises. I melted against his touch and cried as we made the most passionate, earth-shattering love of our lives.

  “I’ve missed you so much and I’m so happy you came home early. I don’t think my heart could’ve taken much more without you here with me,” I whispered against his chest.

  Our limbs were deliciously intertwined as we basked in our euphoric afterglow. His hand idly drew circles on my back. “I couldn’t spend one more day away from you. When you called me yesterday, I felt how much you needed me. Your heart was calling mine. Who am I to refuse that call?”

  I don’t know how I managed it, but I snuggled closer to the heat of his body. “You know me so well, my beast.” I giggled at the irony of the endearment, having experienced his ‘beast’ just minutes before. As if he sensed what I was thinking about, his manhood twitched beneath my thigh draped across him. “Calm down. I need something to drink before we do this again.”

  He kissed my hair and looked at the partially open drapes on the east side of the room. “The sun is coming up, my beauty. Maybe you should call Emily so she won’t be waiting for you to come in today.”

  “Oh, shit! I didn’t even think about the shop,” I said as I rolled over to reach for my cell phone. My body cooled considerably after breaking contact with him. “Thank you for reminding me.”

  I pushed a few buttons and pressed the phone up to my ear. It rang a few times before Emily picked up. “Hey, boss lady. How are you feeling?”

  My brows dipped in confusion. “I’m...fine.” It came out sounding like a question rather than a response. “Listen, can you call Lucy in today? I have things I need to do, and I’ll be occupied all day.”

  There was no hesitation. “Of course, whatever you need. What about tomorrow? I can put up a sign letting everyone know we’ll be closed or run it for a partial day. Whichever you prefer.”

  She was such a trooper and I was so grateful for her dependability. Fingers played over my back and the reason for calling cuddled my backside. “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you want the day off, that’s fine. I don’t mind, but I probably won’t be in for a couple days.”

  “Don’t worry about anything up here. I have it under control. Please, let me know if you need anything. Promise?” she insisted.

  “Yeah, I promise. Thanks, Emily. I owe you for this. I’ll talk to you later.” The warmth radiating from him flustered me to the point of rushing off the phone. His beast was pressed against my back and demanded attention. And attention is what I planned on giving to both of them.

  Hours later, we were sitting at the table with a fruit tray and sandwiches. I missed him feeding me. The connection between the two of us didn’t falter over the extended amount of time apart. We picked up where we left off, only with more passion.

  Don’t get me wrong, our love life was always fulfilling and extremely pleasurable. But there was something to say about being separated by large bodies of water for months. There was a saying about rabbits that would’ve referred perfectly to our situation. I could get used to this.

  “So, how is the shop business going? Tell me all about it,” he said as he fed me a grape.

  I smiled at this amazing man. “Well, where do I start? Emily is heaven sent, I swear. She helps me so much and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her if she needed it. Don’t tell her that, though. She’s hilarious, much like myself, and gets my humor. I couldn’t have found a better employee to be my right hand,” I said as I popped another grape into my mouth provocatively.

  “You can’t eat like that and expect me to sit here and be civil. It’s impossible,” he said with a perfectly serious face.

  I feigned shock. “Eat like what? I’m trying to tell you about my business and you’re thinking of sex again? You monster!”

  “Beauty, we’re eating at the table naked. I’m a man...” I slapped his arm, and we both laughed loudly. His hand tugged at mine, and I walked over to sit in his lap. My head rested on his shoulder, and I snuggled into his body on instinct. “We need to get dressed soon. We have places to go.”

  I pulled away enough to look into his face. “Huh?”

  His finger traced my lips as he spoke. “Tomorrow is a special day, and we need special items to celebrate. No questions, please.”

  I threw my head back and groaned, playing the part of an aggravated partner that didn’t want to leave the house, even though my body was vibrating with excitement. Truth was I wanted to get those special items, whatever they were, but I also didn’t want to leave our safe haven. If anyone saw him outside of the house, we ran the risk of the news getting back to family and friends. There would be no privacy or sexy time for a while if that happened.

  “I see those wheels turning, and I don’t want you to worry about it. No one will see us. I’m solely yours until you’re ready to share me,” he said as he nuzzled my ear.

  I laughed. “That’ll be never. You’re mine and I never liked sharing you in the first place.”

  “Good. Now, tell me more about the shop while we take a shower.” He carried me upstairs to the bathroom and set me on the edge of the tub. “Go on.”

  I couldn’t help the smile that split my face in half. “I told you about Emily already, so no need to say more about that. Sales are good. We’re busy every weekend and sometimes during lunch on the week days. I’m actually making enough of a steady profit to upgrade part of the kitchen.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me again, placing me on the seat in the shower stall. He grabbed the shower head and wet my hair. That was one of my favorite parts of showering together. His deft fingers massaged the shampoo into my hair, and I forgot how to speak. Kisses peppered my face and teased a smile from my lips as he rinsed my hair. He applied conditioner next and let it sit while he soaped the loofah. My pulse quickened as he slowly kissed my arm then rubbed over it with bubbles. His eyes locked onto mine as his tongue slid over my slick chest and started on the other arm.

  This man is trying to kill me. His hands moved over my collarbone, dipped into the hollow of my neck, and chased a stray drop of water down my stomach. As his finger trailed below my belly button, my breath hitched. My lungs filled with air but wouldn’t release it. His emerald eyes held mine as his hands searched further down. When he slipped between my folds, my lungs stretched impossibly further. He flicked over the bundle of nerves hiding there and I saw stars exploding in the stall with us. My head fell back and my thighs clenched together as a loud moan echoed off the walls.

  His fingers rubbed circles as he finished lathering the rest of my body. I screamed my release into his kiss with his arm around my waist and his beast buried deep in me. Best. Shower. Ever.

  An hour later, we parked our car at the small shopping center on the outskirts of town. We didn’t know anyone that lived on that side, so the chances of running into anyone we knew were minimal. Hand in hand, we wandered through the main floor aimlessly. People watching was our private pleasure and the main source of fun while we were in public.

  We sat at a bench and each searched out our first victims. I looked left and he looked right, both speeding through
to point out something amazing before the other could. It was a race, and I was determined to win.

  “Ha!” He nudged my shoulder with his and inclined his head in the direction of a couple. The lady wore seventies clothes, which I loved, but the man was dressed completely opposite. I couldn’t tell you an era or style he was replicating. His eighties denim jacket was three sizes too big for his frame while his button up, flannel shirt was two sizes too small. He had a fedora tilted to the side and Converse on his feet with acid wash jeans.

  The outfits weren’t the reason for his catch; the dancing was. Every store they walked by had music floating out to greet them and they grooved to every beat, no matter how different each one was. They walked by a furniture store that apparently had some type of waltz tune, because the couple came together and twirled. Their feet moved perfectly in sync and we stared in awe.

  The next store may have been playing an old rock and roll song. The couple broke apart and the lady did twisting moves while the man bounced and flailed his arms about. It was extremely entertaining and fun to watch. I wanted to get up and join them, but as I leaned my head on to Malcolm’s shoulder, I decided sitting there with the other half of me was perfect.

  “Come on, babe. Let’s get what we need then get out of here,” he said after a few minutes of people-watching and laid a kiss against my ear.

  He led me inside a jewelry store first. The displays gleamed and glittered in the bright lights, just in the perfect angles to draw your eye. One side of the store held the colored jewels in all their glory. A rainbow was spread beneath the glass and the captivating shades caught my attention. I looked to Malcolm and he gave me a nod of approval. Joy bloomed inside and I marched in place while pumping my fists in the air, silently screaming my excitement. He laughed at me, the sales lady did as well, and I began my search for the perfect accessory for this moment in time.

  The blue section held such beauty, my heart couldn’t take it. I wanted everything! After a lingering view, I moved on to the next color. If I couldn’t pick one piece out of them all, it wasn’t worth wasting time over. I glossed over the purple, red, and yellow. They weren’t my favorite colors, after all. Nothing stood out or caught my eye at first glance.

  Green was the next color, and my ultimate pleasure. From the corner of my eye, I saw my beast stalking my every move. He was watching me intently and trying to determine which piece I was looking at every moment I paused over the glass. His emerald eyes held so much love in them, my heart skipped a beat just seeing a glimpse of it.

  Emerald necklace. Long chain. With determination, I narrowed my search to the necklaces in the exact shade of my beast’s eyes. In a tiny corner of the display, a small selection of beautiful pendants lured me.

  “Ma’am, can you show me these, please?” I asked the lady behind the counter.

  She nodded with a smile and set the necklace display on the glass. My eyes carefully inspected them before stopping on one in particular. “That one.”

  The woman looked into my eyes, and I felt warmth radiating from her in a calming and happy manner. “This one is absolutely gorgeous.”

  “It’s perfect,” I whispered. I don’t think she heard me, because she didn’t acknowledge it. I didn’t care because she held up a long, thin chain to me. My palm cradled the charm and a tear slid down my cheek. “Perfect.”

  I hoped he paid the lady, because I slipped the necklace over my head and it rested directly over my heart. My eyes squeezed shut as the relief of a puzzle piece snapping into place washed over me. I picked up the charm and ran my finger over the stone in the middle. Two pieces of gold, a man and woman in the shape of a heart, cocooned the emerald. When I looked at it, I saw my soulmate looking back at me.

  At that moment, my gaze lifted to meet his. He walked over to me and kissed my forehead before leading me to the next store. It was a clothing store I frequented and I got the nod of approval again. “Help me pick this time,” I said as I dragged him through the store.

  We made faces at the eclectic mash of colors on a portion of the racks and teased each other on how great we would look in them. Sarcasm was the biggest weapon in that situation, and we were in a full-blown war. Shots fired!

  “I don’t want new clothes, my beast. I have plenty that are perfectly fine. But thank you for offering. You’re such a sweetheart.” I led him by the hand through the store to the exit.

  “I’d much rather spend time with you behind closed doors,” he replied as he locked an arm around my waist. I giggled as he nuzzled my neck. “And, to be honest, I prefer you with no clothes on.”

  He growled and it was over for me. I had to get this man home! My thighs clenched with each beat of my heart, making it extremely difficult to walk. “I need you right now. Get me home or we’ll be arrested for indecent exposure!”

  We sprinted through the shopping center, dodging people and the occasional security guard yelling at us. The automatic doors to the exit slid open and cold air blasted our faces. The temperature dropped since we’d gotten there and snow twisted with the wind. Our shoes slid over the pavement as we quickly made our way to the car. Thank goodness for remote start!

  By the time we shut the doors, I was shivering. Half of my right leg and most of my bottom were wet with snow from falling over a few times. I felt a bruise blooming on my thigh and winced. The heated seats thawed my ‘ice Jell-O’- it’s what Malcolm calls my cold ass in bed- enough that feeling was coming back. Through all my complaining, I still had a smile on my face. Nothing could take it away.

  Malcolm’s hands smoothed oil into my skin, massaging the sore muscles beneath. My eyelids weighed fifty pounds, and the effort to keep them open progressed to near impossible. As darkness overtook my vision, I remember seeing his lips quirked up at the corners in a sexy smile. “Sleep, my beauty. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Air filled my lungs and the distinct smell of bacon grabbed my consciousness and threw it to the forefront. Blinking slowly, I looked around and focused toward the kitchen where the delectable scent originated. I stretched my limbs out then rolled off the side of the couch, landing on my feet in a crouch. I glanced at the clock as I rushed to the restroom and had to do a double-take. It’s seven in the evening? How the hell did I sleep so long?

  After washing my hands and face then brushing my teeth, I padded to the kitchen to see the sexiest sight: my beast dancing around the kitchen with his headphones on while cooking breakfast food. His adorable butt wiggled as he shook the spatula in the air. The muscles of his bare back bunching and flexing stole my attention and I sighed. It’s been so long since I’ve seen this. My heart sighed with pure happiness.

  At that moment, he spun around in a dance move and saw me staring at him. His lower lip caught between his teeth as his eyes roved over me. My body heated under his gaze, blood running hot in my veins. He shut off the burners and put the food to the side. Switching his music to play through the speakers, he faced me again. A heavy bass line pulsed in the air between us. “Dance for me,” he said.

  My hips swayed in time with the thumping beat and his eyes glued to them. I smiled as my shoulders and feet matched my hip’s movements. He licked his lips and prowled toward me. Hands on my ribs, he inched my body closer to his and soon got swept up in the music with me. We danced, exposed skin sliding against thin fabric, grinding to the beat. Our lips and hands glided over each other, teasing in the best way. He lifted me onto the counter and pounded me into oblivion.

  By the time we got to the food it was cold and soggy, but I didn’t complain a bit. We ate in comfortable silence, stealing glances and laughing at nothing. “Oh, before I forget to say it this morning, Happy Valentine’s Day, my beauty.”

  “Morning? It’s nine at night. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow,” I replied, confused.

  “No, it’s nine in the morning. You slept for fourteen hours,” he said nonchalantly.

  Fourteen hours? Impossible! “Seriously? I get that I was tired, but that long?”r />
  He smiled and took my hand in his. “You’ve been having bad dreams and hardly any sleep for months. I think it all caught up with you when I came back.”

  Can’t do anything about it now. I shrugged. “I guess. I feel a lot better now than I have in months, but I think it’s from having you here. Well, since we lost last night, what do you have planned today? And Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  He grinned as he stood and lazily stretched his long limbs. Once his arms dropped down to his sides, he turned on his heel and left the room. I called out to him and he looked back at me over his shoulder but didn’t break stride. Curious, I got up and followed him. He led me to the bathroom and when I walked in, I gasped.

  Rose petals were scattered over the tile in a path to the tub. He was leaning over, lighting the candles lining the back corner ledges as the tub filled with water. The smell of my bath oil and the petals filled the air and my beast turned toward me with a package in his hand.

  “This is for after you get out of the bath.” He set it on the counter top and made his way to me. His hands fisted the hem of my shirt and lifted it over my head, baring my breasts to the humid atmosphere. The hamper in the corner rocked as my shirt and panties landed inside. He scooped me up and lowered me into the steaming, scented water.

  “I’m not joining you, my beauty. I have things to do, so enjoy your soak and I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done,” he whispered in my ear. His hand ran up from my knee to my collar bone. “Beautiful.”

  “I can’t wait,” I breathed.

  Standing in front of the mirror, wrapped in my plush robe, I picked up the box and brought it closer to inspect. It was extremely light. Why am I checking out the outside? I laughed at myself and removed the wrapping paper, revealing a small box. I opened the box and inside was a handwritten note.