“We knew her aunt had connections with a local Obeah man. I’ve asked the staff downstairs, and they’ve given me an address. I went to his house, and who should turn up but one of Heath’s people and a Jamaican woman? I followed them and found Heath and the woman in a house in the hills. I assume she is the aunt. We’ll go there now. Which means it’s time you told us how we can defeat these people. Without my extra men, I need whatever you have,” Charles said.
“When we get there.” Arthur decided now more than ever, he had to hold onto his secret. He was alone now, and soon they would get rid of Gerald’s body. They could get rid of him, too, and no one would know. He had to keep fighting, as the alternative was death, and he wasn’t ready to go yet.
Chapter 16
Some Good Loving
Evie sat up as Heath fluffed up her pillows. It was funny to see this big warrior of a man playing bedside nurse. She kissed him on the cheek, and he smirked and raised an eyebrow. The pain from earlier had eased, once Genia had performed some of her special Midworlder magic on her. The fear she had seen in Heath’s eyes when she had doubled over in pain worried her. If things did not go well, she was not sure how he would manage. He had lived with the guilt of losing Elizabeth, and if anything happened to her, she knew he would blame himself. It troubled her that he would become violent in his loss, and she didn’t want to think anyone else would suffer because of her.
He placed his hand against her cheek. “You don’t look so pale now. Is there anything I can get you?”
She grinned at him. “Apart from you, I’d love a long, cool drink. Some Jamaican rum in it wouldn’t go amiss either.” Evie smiled at him, and his tense expression relaxed a bit.
“I’ll be right back.”
Genia came and sat on the bed next to her. She placed her hand on Evie’s.
“He is very much in love with you I think. I’ve known him a long time, and he had hardened his heart to feeling again. I knew Elizabeth, and there was anger in him after she died. He’s always performed his job as a Midworlder, but a part of him was dead inside.”
Evie hadn’t expected this frank discussion from Genia, but was glad of it. It would be good to be able to talk about her fears out loud.
“I didn’t expect anyone to fall in love with me. I’ve seen myself as damaged for so long, I didn’t think anyone would want to be near me. Then I met him. At first, I thought it was the bonding, as we’ve only known each other such a short while. The fact is, he’s one of the most honorable men I’ve ever met. It’s been so easy to fall for him, but in truth, I’m scared.”
“You don’t think you’ll survive, and you worry about him.”
Evie nodded, knowing her thoughts must be painted on her face for all to see.
“He blames himself for Elizabeth, and he’ll blame himself for me. It’s not his fault, though. I was messed up when he found me.”
“That was a long time ago, and things are different now. We’re not giving up yet, and neither should you. Your aunt will be back later, but in the meantime, I think the two of you should spend some time together.”
“While we can, you mean. And no sex.”
“That is exactly what I mean. You’re a smart young woman, I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
Evie felt herself blush, as the door opened again and Heath came back in with her drink. Genia stood and winked at her as she left the room. The action caused Evie to giggle. Heath gave her the drink that looked like a mixture of fruit juices and hopefully rum. She sipped on it and decided life was too short not to experience such great flavors.
“Are you not having one?”
“No. I’m fine, but you looked flushed.”
“I’m blushing because of what Genia suggested. As my aunt will not be back for a while and the pain is gone, she thinks we should spend some time together to be close.” Evie patted the bed next to her.
“She really suggested that?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t bloody well believe me, do you? You think I’m just after your body.”
“She has it wrong because I think it’s me that’s after your body.”
“I like that idea. You know, I thought she was going to give me a lecture, and instead she was telling me to get down and dirty.”
Heath sat next to her on the bed. “I’ll not risk putting more of a strain on your body than it’s already coping with. When Ridge and Nicole paired, the procreation was immediate.”
“Whoa, steady there. Boy, you’re a fertile bunch, you Midworlders. Okay, Genia stipulated no sex, but we can talk, and we can do other things.” Evie smiled and knew from the look of need and hunger in his eyes that he would agree to whatever she suggested.
Heath shucked off his shoes and lay down beside her. Evie finished her drink. This was real. Not the mind-world, and she wanted to remember every second of it.
He ran his finger along her forehead and down into the angle of her jaw, then across to her lips, where he slowly moved it back and forth. All the time, his eyes were on hers. Then his fingertips slid down her neck until they found the top button on her blouse. He leaned in, and his lips pressed against her, she felt his hand undo her top and slip inside, so he could cup her breast. He gently massaged her, and she could feel her body ache under his touch. He moved his head away and glanced down.
“I love your breasts, Evie. They were created for my hands to hold.” Evie could not stop the moan leaving her lips, as he rubbed his thumb back and forth across her sensitive nipples. “I want my mouth on them.”
He helped her up, and she pulled her blouse from her pants as he pulled off his own shirt. She went to undo her bra, but he leant forward.
“Let me.” His hands slipped around her back and unclipped her bra so her breasts were free. She lay down on her back, and he rested his body between her legs. His bare chest against her abdomen, as his lips descended on her breast. His mouth was hot against her skin as he sucked and nipped. It felt as if there was a direct connection between her breasts and her groin that was already starting to warm with need. He trailed little kisses across to her other breast and sucked again until she thought she would come right now with his erection pressing against her. This was real−he was real−and if she had thought the mind-world sex was good, this was a more heightened experience because it was physical. This was her Heath. It had been such a short time, and yet he was hers and she was his, and there was nowhere else in the world she wanted to be.
He looked up at her with a wicked grin, and she wondered what she had asked for. Her English gentleman had disappeared to be replaced by a man hungry for her body, and she loved it.
“I’m only just beginning. Do you want me to continue?”
“If you don’t, I’ll be the one threatening your life next.”
Heath sat up between her open legs and pulled down the zipper on her pants. She lifted her hips and he removed her pants along with her knickers. He threw them across the room and looked at her naked body. In the past, she would have felt awkward, but with Heath staring at her with obvious admiration, she just couldn’t stop the grin crossing her face. Then he was back, kissing her breasts and making her nipples tingle as he sucked hard on one, then the other. This time, he didn’t linger but trailed his tongue across her tummy, to her hip, and then her inner thigh, where he licked and nipped.
“You’re so beautiful, Evie.”
She could see from the way he gazed at her most intimate parts, he meant every word of it. His mouth touched her folds, and her legs quivered. He licked and then plunged his tongue into her again and again until she thought she would scream with delight. He licked up her folds until he reached her clit, where he flicked and sucked, as his fingers plunged into her. She clenched around them as he moved them back and forth. She felt so hot, so wet. The sensations were building through her body, starting at her core and reaching her fingers and toes. The scream of her orgasm was ripped from her throat as the ripples of ecstasy flowed over her.
Her breathing slowed as she thought the others would have heard her, and she didn’t care.
Heath moved up her body and kissed her deep and passionately, as their tongues fought and twirled with each other. Finally, her body calmed as he leant on his arms and looked her in the face. She couldn’t stop the tears from coming to her eyes.
“How did my crazy life bring someone as wonderful as you into it?”
“I think the same, except you’ve brought joy and happiness into mine, where there was only despair before.”
“I think I’ve also brought embarrassment from the way I screamed. I think everyone within a mile radius will have heard me. I thought in your mind-world everything was amazing, but knowing this is real sent me over the edge.”
“I hope to take you there again, only next time I want to be inside you, and we will scream together.”