For Better or For Worse Page 14

  Although she’d brought a magazine to look at, she doubted she’d have time to read it. Her head was too full of hope and determination, a jumble of fear and doubt. Tonight she’d suggest more changes than sleeping in the same bed. She needed to have more to do during the day. And working at the clinic was a good solution.

  Heather, Alex’s part-time help, was going to be away for two weeks, touring potential colleges. Why should the clinic be shorthanded when Jenny was perfectly capable of pitching in? Alex would balk. If anything about him annoyed her, it was that he tried to coddle her too much. But she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  The lavender-scented water did its job, the soothing bouquet calming her, giving her strength to confront Alex. No, not confront but persuade. He just needed a little push. The way he looked at her and kissed her and held her convinced her he felt the same way she did—at least about the physical side of their developing relationship. That belief gave her courage.

  She tried to reach for the loofah sponge, but it was too far away. She lifted her foot out of the water to use her toes to snatch the sponge, and when that attempt failed, she stretched farther.

  The action brought her scar in sharp contact with the tub and she winced. “Damn it!”

  “Jen?”

  Alex’s voice made her straighten. What the heck was he doing here so early? She’d left the bathroom door open since she was home alone.

  “Jen, where are you?”

  “In the bathroom.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “I heard you—” He stopped at the bathroom door and stared at the suds barely covering her breasts. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know—” He started to back away.

  “Alex, for goodness sakes, you’re my husband, you can come in.”

  His startled gaze darted to her face. He said nothing, but of course she knew what he was thinking. Husband in name only. But something had changed between them in the past couple of weeks, and it was time to acknowledge the shift.

  He stuck his hands in his jeans’ pockets. “I had to drop off some medication for Ida Mann’s cocker spaniel, so I figured I’d do it at the end of the day and come home early. I probably should have called first.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged and ran a restless hand through his hair. “So I wouldn’t catch you by surprise.”

  “Unfortunately, my life isn’t that exciting.”

  He gave her an odd, disgruntled sort of look. Did he think she was complaining?

  “You’re actually just in time,” she continued casually, even though her insides did a nervous tap dance. “I was just wondering how I’d reach my back. Would you mind?”

  “You mean—” He seemed reluctant, then he cleared his throat and glanced around the bathroom. “What did you want me to use?”

  “I have this loofah sponge....” She tried to lean forward but thought better of it when the movement pulled at her lower back. “I dropped it in the water. I think it’s somewhere by my feet, but it’s hard for me to reach.”

  His eyebrows rose. “You want me to fish it out?”

  She nodded. “If you don’t mind.”

  Pushing back his sleeves, he crouched near the foot of the tub. He plunged his hand into the water and found her ankle. “Sorry,” he muttered.

  At the apprehension on his face, she hid a smile.

  The next time he found her calf, then his hand traveled to her knee. She held her breath when he didn’t immediately withdraw.

  “I know it’s down there somewhere,” she said, her voice hopelessly shaky.

  Alex’s eyes met hers. “You’re sure? Maybe I should stop searching.”

  “No, it’s there.” The suds had started to disappear around her breasts, and she didn’t know if she should sink down into the water or sit up straighter.

  She reclined a little more, and one of her nipples surfaced. Just barely, but enough to draw Alex’s attention. He froze, his hand still submerged.

  “Can’t you find it?” she asked, her breathlessness giving her away.

  “Jen, are you sure?”

  “If it’s in here?” She wasn’t sure about anything anymore, least of all what they were talking about. She swallowed. “A little higher, Alex.”

  His hand left her knee, and she thought he was going to draw back, but he slid his palm up her thigh, his fingers trailing to the wet curls at the juncture.

  She closed her eyes and held her breath.

  “Am I getting warmer?” His voice was a low, hoarse whisper, and her breath shuddered in her chest.

  “I am.” Oh, God, had she said that out loud? She opened her eyes.

  He smiled, his eyes ablaze with uncensored desire. His gaze stayed on her face as he slid a finger between her thighs. She tensed, and he slowed his hand. But as soon as she relaxed, he slid inside her, smooth and deep.

  A whimper breached her lips and she bit the back of her hand to keep from crying out.

  “Sweetheart?” His tone deep with concern, he started to retreat.

  She lifted her hips, and his finger went in deeper. “Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Please.”

  A low guttural noise came from his throat, and he swooped down to capture her lips in a long, demanding kiss. Water splashed the front of his shirt when he traveled lower to take a nipple into his mouth.

  “Alex, take off your clothes.” She drove her fingers through his hair, bucking when he inserted a second finger and went deeper still.

  “Relax, sweetheart.” He kissed a path up her throat, along her jaw. “Just lie back and relax.”

  “I want you in here with me.”

  “The tub’s too small.”

  “But I could—”

  He shook his head and ran his tongue over her lips. “It’s hard for me to get in by myself. I’ll end up hurting you.”

  “I want to feel you against me. Your skin against mine. Your—” He withdrew his fingers, then slid them in with skilled purpose. “Oh.” She couldn’t remember what she wanted to say.

  “In a minute, we’re going to dry you off....” He kissed her behind the ear.

  She let her head fall to the side.

  “And then I’m going to pick you up....” He let his tongue lightly trail across her jaw. “And carry you to bed.”

  She moaned.

  “My bed,” he whispered, and teased her lips open.

  Her eyes drifted closed. She wanted to see the hunger burning in his eyes but she didn’t have the strength to open hers. He hadn’t stopped stroking her, and with the pressure continuing to build, she seriously thought she might be going out of her mind.

  “You okay, sweetheart?” His voice was low and caressed her face, his warm breath offsetting the cooled water.

  She realized she was moaning. She couldn’t stop. Not when he touched her this way.

  “Jen, let go.” He kissed her briefly. “Come on, baby, let go.”

  She didn’t want to climax alone. She wanted it to be with Alex. Naked. Beside her.

  She bucked when a particularly strong wave overcame her. “Oh, oh...”

  “That’s right, baby. Come on.”

  There was a noise somewhere in the house. Or maybe outside. A ringing sound echoed in her head.

  Another wave of sensation washed over her. And then another. She was drowning in it without a lifeline. No, Alex was there. Kissing her. Stroking her.

  She clutched at his shirt as she exploded again.

  The noise was louder now.

  Bagel barked.

  Alex muttered a curse. Strong words she had never heard him use before.

  “I better get it.” He withdrew his hand, then kissed her half on the mouth, half on the cheek. “It doesn’t sound like they
got the hint.”

  She blinked. The fog was still thick. “Who?”

  “Someone’s ringing the doorbell.” He rose to his feet. The front of his shirt was soaked.

  “It’s the lasagna.”

  He pushed back the heavy wet strands of hair that hung in his face and narrowed his gaze.

  She realized how weird that sounded. “I ordered takeout for dinner.”

  “Lasagna.” He issued a humorless laugh. “Okay.”

  He left the bathroom, and she sank until the water met her chin. Damn doorbell. She couldn’t even enjoy the afterglow of what Alex had—

  The past few minutes finally and truly sank in, and she closed her eyes. He’d barely touched her, and she’d almost come apart. And he’d seen it. All of it...her every reaction. Every expression.

  Oh, God.

  She took several deep breaths, splashed cool water on her heated face. She shifted and could swear his fingers were still inside her. Closing her eyes, she cupped one breast and then the other, remembering the feel of Alex’s hands on her body.

  She thought she heard a noise, and her eyes flew open and she lowered her hands.

  He stood over her, unbuttoning his shirt, his gaze on her breasts. “I put the lasagna and whatever else you ordered in the oven.”

  She could feel the pressure building between her thighs again, and he hadn’t even touched her.

  “Fine.” She swallowed. “Are you coming in?”

  He shrugged off his shirt, then extended a hand. “You’re coming out.”

  A shiver skittered down her spine as she let him pull her to her feet. The cool air hitting her wet skin accounted for part of her reaction, but mostly it was the look on Alex’s face as he ran his gaze down her body that had her trembling.

  Once he got her out of the tub and steady, he grabbed a large plush burgundy towel off the rack and wrapped it around her as she faced him. He drew the terry cloth down her back, over her bottom and down her legs. On his way up, he kissed each of her nipples, and then her mouth.

  She pressed against him, her breasts flattening on his solid chest as he kept his arms wrapped around her, slowly rubbing the towel over her heated skin. His belt buckle shoved into her flesh, and she reached between them to remove it.

  With amazing efficiency she disengaged the buckle, but had trouble getting the zipper all the way down. He was too hard and thick, making his jeans snug. His kiss grew to a fevered pitch as she slipped her fingers inside his waistband and brushed the tip of his arousal.

  “Jen.” His warm breath branded her skin as he sucked and nibbled her earlobe. “Let’s go to my room.”

  She could hardly breathe, much less answer. She wedged her hand deeper into his jeans and stroked his length. He shuddered against her, his chest heaving, his breathing uneven.

  Drawing back, he ran the towel over her belly, down her thighs, then cast it aside. When he made a move to pick her up, she stopped him.

  “It’s better if I walk.” She kissed him briefly when he seemed hesitant, then took his hand.

  He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close to kiss the sensitive spot behind her ear. “Are you sure you don’t want to save your energy?”

  She smiled. He didn’t fool her. The arm around her waist was a subtle attempt to lend support. Was there a more considerate man on earth? “I’ll have plenty of energy for that.”

  He kissed her, then slowly led her out the door. They’d made it only halfway down the hall when a shrill alarm split the sensual silence.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ALEX JERKED AROUND. “What the hell is that? It sounds like a smoke detector.”

  “I don’t know. Go see. I’ll get a robe.”

  He headed down the hall while Jen slipped into her room. He could see the smoke even before he got to the kitchen. A little filtered into the hall, but as soon as he turned the corner he saw the thick, smoky fog shrouding the oven and microwave.

  Ignoring the shrill alarm, he went straight for the oven, where it appeared the smoke came from, and opened the door. The foil and white cardboard box he’d placed inside smoldered, the corners charred and black.

  He quickly turned off the oven and searched the drawers for a pot holder. He’d transferred the containers to the sink when Jenny appeared, wrapped in a fuzzy pink robe.

  “What happened?”

  He barely heard her above the shrill alarm. Another few inches and he could reach the smoke detector. Grabbing a kitchen chair, he climbed up and tried to disconnect the unit. With one good twist, the detector ended up in his hand-still buzzing.

  “Damn it.” He stared at it, wondering how to shut it off.

  “Put it in here.” Jenny opened the freezer door.

  That startled a laugh out of him.

  She took the detector out of his hands, put it in the freezer and shut the door. He could still hear the alarm, but it was pretty faint.

  “Been there, done that. This is the only thing that works. Trust me.” She pulled her belt tighter, her gaze going to the charred remains in the sink. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. I put the lasagna and other stuff in the oven and...” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, you must have turned the oven on too high.”

  “I don’t remember doing that. Anyway, I’m sure I would have checked.”

  “The temperature was obviously too high.”

  His temper sparked. “Even if it was, it’s not like I did it on purpose.”

  “I know.” She made a sad face. “I’m sorry if I sound like I’m blaming you. It’s just so darn—” She let out a low, frustrated shriek.

  “Yeah, I know.” He shook his head and opened the back door to get rid of the smoke. The situation would be comical if it weren’t so damn irritating. Every time they started to get close, something happened. “Think somebody’s trying to tell us something?”

  “Definitely. To get away for the weekend.” She turned on the stove vents while he opened a couple of windows. “Someplace where there are no talking birds or barking dogs or well-intentioned neighbors.”

  “You forgot smoke detectors.”

  “Unless we go camping, which I have no desire to do, we can’t get away from them.”

  “But we can make sure a freezer is handy.”

  Her lips curved into a grudging smile. “Right.”

  He put his hands on her waist, and she moved closer. The top of her robe had fallen open, and he kissed the smooth silky skin above her breasts. Her soft sigh sent a bolt of need through him that nearly knocked him off his feet. He parted the robe further and touched the tip of his tongue to her nipple, so firm and ripe and tempting.

  If she were in better health, he’d lay her across the table and take her right now. The desperation with which he wanted her scared the hell out of him. Drove away his good sense. But Jenny was an adult. She wanted him, too. Her feelings weren’t simply about gratitude, as he’d originally thought—not the way she physically responded to him, the way she’d come apart with barely a touch.

  Damn, but he wanted to bury himself inside her right now. Show her his need for her. But that wasn’t going to happen. He kissed his way up to her throat, her jaw, her lips, then he pulled back.

  She gave him a dazed look. “What’s wrong?”

  “Everything.”

  She blinked, and hurt filled her eyes.

  “The smoke detectors are connected to the alarm system, which I never use, except in the event of fire.”

  “Meaning?”

  “We’re hooked directly to the fire station. They heard the alarm, too.”

  “Can’t you call them? Tell them it’s not for real.”

  He shook his head, wanting very much to punch a wall. “The system ties
up the phone line for two minutes. They’re already on their way.”

  A second later they heard the sirens. He gathered the lapels of Jen’s robe together to cover her. She half laughed, half groaned as she replaced his hands with hers and clutched the fabric.

  “Why don’t you go wait in your room while I take care of this?” He kissed the tip of her nose.

  “This weekend, you and me, we’re outta here.”

  He smiled. “Sure,” he said, but he knew something else would come up. Fate obviously had other plans for them.

  Maybe he should be grateful.

  * * *

  FOUR HOURS LATER, shortly after Alex had returned from a call to Floyd Webber’s farm, Jenny made her way down the hall with only the soft yellow glow of the night-light to guide her.

  “Alex?” she whispered into the dark. He generally left his bedroom door open. She’d finally figured out that he did it because he wanted to be able to hear her if she needed him.

  That was Alex, always kind and thoughtful. And damn, but he had magic hands.

  “Alex, are you awake?”

  “I’m awake.” A dim light came on.

  “Can I come in?”

  He hesitated. “Sure.”

  She didn’t like that he’d paused. In fact, it bothered her that he hadn’t come to her room after returning home. Today they’d had a breakthrough in their relationship. She wasn’t about to let him ignore it.

  She stepped into his room. He sat up in bed, no shirt, the sheets pooled at his waist. She sucked in a breath. He had the best chest she’d ever seen. Or felt. Her palms itched to touch him again. And she would. Tonight. No question about it. For good measure, she’d already taken the phone off the hook.

  “I’m sorry if I woke you when I got home,” he said, his voice not sounding the least bit sleepy.

  “I wasn’t asleep.” She moved into the room, wearing only a short nightshirt, and his gaze went to her bare thighs. “In fact, I was hoping you would come to see me.”