| Subject: The Gift 2/4 |
Author:
Athena4
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 20:44:00 04/13/01 Fri
In reply to:
Athena4
's message, "The Gift" on 20:39:04 04/13/01 Fri
The sound of their laughter echoed between the buildings, disturbing the silence of the night. Madeline leaned on Paul’s shoulder, his arm wrapped around her waist.
“The symphony was breathtaking,” Madeline sighed, the strains of Dvorak playing in her mind.
“Was it as you remembered it?” Paul replied, stroking her hip with the tips of his fingers.
She shivered at his touch, a faint heat creeping up her spine and down her thighs. “Every note,” she said, sliding out of his grip to walk a little ahead. She smiled back at him over her shoulder, hoping her true feelings weren’t showing through.
She was frightened. Afraid to start something that she knew would, eventually, bring them both pain. They couldn’t be together, not as a normal couple. It put them both in danger – it caused too much distraction.
Turning back towards him, she stopped on the sidewalk, her breath catching in her throat. The moonlight glittered behind him, highlighting the white in his salt and pepper hair. She remembered when it had been dark. It seemed an eternity ago…the way it slipped between her fingers… the way it felt clenched in her hands as she lay below him, his lips tracing a sensual path down her chest and abdomen…
No. Closing her eyes tightly, she pushed the memory away. That had been over 10 years ago. She wouldn’t be influenced like a school girl – by memories and music. It was too dangerous.
She opened her eyes to find him standing before her, his hands resting gingerly on her waist. “What is it?” he asked quietly. “Tell me…”
She shook her head again, covering her discomfort with a smile. “Nothing…” she began, looking up into his eyes. She saw immediately that he didn’t believe her, and chuckled lightly. “The music…the memories. I – I’ll be fine.”
“Come home with me tonight.”
Her heart jumped into her throat. “I can’t.”
“No expectations. No obligations.” His hand was stroking her hip now, causing a steady heat to filter through her body.
“We can’t relive that night,” she said, fighting to keep the emotion out of her voice. She reached up with a tentative hand to stroke his face. She wanted him. She yearned to bring back what they’d once had.
“We can resurrect us,” he whispered, as if reading her thoughts. His hand slipped around to fondle her buttocks, pulling her closer. “For one night.”
“We can’t –“ Her protest came out as a moan and she leaned her head against his chest, her breathing laboured. “You’re not playing fair….” she whispered, sliding her hands into the waistband of his pants. “How can I say no when….” She sighed deeply as an idle finger stroked her breast.
“One night…” he whispered, his breath caressing her ear.
“One night…” she murmured. “No obligations…”
“None, “ he said. “I promise…But,” he paused, releasing his grip on her body and planting a kiss on her lips. He was breathing unevenly as a mischievous grin spread across his face. “If we get arrested for indecent exposure…we’ll have a lot to explain to Oversight.”
She chuckled softly as he detached her hand from its precarious position on his waistband. “That’s a conversation we should avoid. I suggest we find someplace a little less open.”
“You’ll come home with me?” He repeated his earlier request tentatively, reaching out to take her hand.
“If we stand here much longer, I cannot be held responsible for my actions,” Madeline teased, squeezing his hand. “And I’m not sure this is what Oversight meant by ‘open communication among the upper echelons’.”
“Probably not,” Paul laughed, wrapping his hand around her shoulder as they began to walk. “But maybe they should consider it.”
Laughing, she rested her arm along his hips, tucking a hand into his pants pocket. His arm tightened around her shoulder as she did so; a reflexive move, pulling her closer to his warmth. He radiated warmth, from every pore – he always had. It was something else she’d missed. Charles had been cold. He’d never made her feel safe and loved the way Paul did. He’d loved her, of that she was certain, but he’d never made her feel loved.
She hadn’t felt that way in six long years. A dull shiver crawled up her spine, and she felt Paul’s grip tighten, pulling her around in front of him. “Are you all right?” he asked, rubbing her arms. Her skin pulsed where his hands touched, radiating his heat throughout her body once more.
“Just cold,” she said, but she knew she couldn’t hide the look in her eyes. “I should have brought a coat.”
“We’re home now,” he said softly, pulling her gently into his arms. “You haven’t changed your mind?”
“No,” she replied, wrapping around her arms around his neck and kissing him softly. “In fact,” she began, ignoring her sudden attack of melancholy. “I am more determined than ever to make up for lost time.”
“Oh really,” he grinned, rising an eyebrow over shining blue eyes.
“Really,” she smiled playfully, pulling him towards the door. “Unlock it.”
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 