An Unexpected Song by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

left the cottage.
    By the time she reached the summit, the blood was pounding in her veins, her head was swimming, and her lungs ached with every breath.
    She stood on the summit and looked down at the lights of the houses in the valley. Charlie was probably in the bar by now, talking quietly to the bartender, sipping his beer, feeling discouraged and—
    But she couldn’t think of Charlie right now. It hurt too much.
    She turned to Jason, who was climbing the last few yards. “Look at the moonlight on the lake,” she said. “I don’t like moonlight as much as sunlight, but I can’t deny it’s effective. What is there about light on water? Poets talk about it. Ballets are choreographed to extol its beauties. You’d think that—”
    “Hush.” Jason’s breath was coming harshly, but the word was enunciated with precision. “You’re babbling and it’s not like you.”
    “Babble is a water word too.” Even to herselfher tone sounded feverish and the words kept welling, spilling out into the night. “You’re very good at words. I’ve often thought your lyrics strike a chord in all of us.”
    He gripped her shoulders and shook her. “What the hell is wrong with you? I know you’re upset about Charlie, but you’re overreacting.”
    “Am I?” She turned to look out over the mountain range and in panic felt the emptiness rushing back to her. “You’re probably right, but there are moments when it’s—” She suddenly buried her face in his chest. “Will you make love to me, Jason?”
    She felt him grow tense. “What?”
    She was surprised as he was at her question. It had come out of nowhere, born of her sadness and desperation. Yet, in spite of her shock and the surge of tremulous fear that followed, she wasn’t sorry for the words. Jason could help her, Jason could ease the pain and push away the approaching darkness.
    “I mean it. I want to feel
alive.
I want to forget—” She broke off and lifted her head to stare up at him. “You said that … well, maybe you don’t want me anymore. I understand if you don’t want to do it.”
    “Oh, I want to do it all right,” he said dryly. “I’m ready to pull you down to the ground and take you. But I don’t know if I can.”
    “Why not? I said I wanted to do it.”
    “I find I have a few scruples left.” His expression was grim in the moonlight. “For some reason you’re practically shell-shocked.”
    She pressed closer and buried her face in his soft black cashmere sweater. She could hear the vibration of his heart beneath her ear and felt thewaves of heat emitting from his big body. Life. Safety from the threat of the tigers. “I’m fine.”
    “The hell you are,” he said hoarsely.
    She could feel his arousal pressing against her, his muscles tensing, ready. “I
need
you.”
    His heartbeat accelerated. “I believe you do.” He paused. “Here?”
    Her own heart gave a wild leap, and she kept her cheek pressed to his chest. “Yes. Right here, right now. Will you do it?”
    “If I was a nice guy like Eric, I’d say no.” He pushed her away and smiled recklessly down at her. “But what the hell? I’m no angel, and I’ve always been one to take advantage of the moment. Lord knows we may never have anything else.” He pulled his sweater over his head and dropped it on the ground beside them. “I’ve wanted you too much to be choosy about the way I get you.” He unbuttoned his shirt, stripped it off, and dropped it on top of the sweater. “Take off your gown.”
    Her aggressiveness vanished and she felt suddenly shy. She stood staring at him with blazing cheeks.
    “Shall I do it?” He didn’t wait for an answer as he took a step closer and began to unfasten the tiny buttons marching down her bodice. “It’s strange how a period gown like this makes a man feel.”
    “How does it—” She gasped as his knuckles brushed the inner swelling of her breasts as his fingers deftly negotiated the buttons.
    “Like a brigand from