Lucky Charm by Valerie Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

narrowing triangle above the waistband to just below his navel. Then he pulled the dark-colored t-shirt over his head and tucked it into place. His deep tan and fair hair were such a sharp contrast to the dark t-shirt. He looked fantastic, all rangy and sexy.
    With a wry smile, she held out his keys. “You’ll need these, then.”
    As Matt took them from her he realized she’d never really answered his question, not the one he really wanted answered. Why had she done this? Why such a need, why that yearning? She seemed strong and confident, definitely not the one-night-stand type.
    “Why this?” he repeated, because he had to know and then watched that core of strength shatter.
    That was the one question Ariel hadn’t wanted to think about and didn’t want to consider. Loneliness, sorrow and grief roared up out of the box in her mind. With them came the memory of strong arms and a face she’d loved to touch. Suddenly she could barely remember what he’d looked like, there was only the impression of dark eyes and dark hair. Grief battered her. She was losing him again, losing even the memory of him. He was gone.  Pain welled. She’d known love, she’d known pain and she was so tired of being alone. So tired of hurting.
    No.
    She couldn’t think about that, wouldn’t resurrect it, she didn’t want to suffer that pain again, that tearing grief that felt as if her heart was torn and bleeding, mourning and agony burning in her chest like acid.
    Frantically, she shoved it all back inside that mental box, slammed the lid and locked it tight. She focused instead on the warmth, the joy and passion of the past few moments. She would hold that but no more and no closer.
    It was better this way, for both of them. Better not to feel, not to get attached…not to care.
    “You’d better go,” she said, softly, with an attempt at lightness. “We’ll probably never see each other again. They say babies fail to thrive if they’re not touched now and then. I guess some adults do, too. You gave me that. It was a joy, Matthew, and I’m very grateful.”
    Matt wished suddenly and intensely that he hadn’t asked.
    Where there had been such life in her eyes there was now a terrible sadness and a deep sorrow. What the hell had happened?
    Looking in them he could tell it was all the answer he would get.
    If he had his secrets he couldn’t quibble, she was entitled to hers as well. Maybe that was all he had the right to ask, all things considered. It might be all the answer he wanted to know. He certainly didn’t want to get any more involved with her than she seemed to want from him.
    He looked down into eyes as blue as the sky and for a moment wished it could be different.
    Looking up at him, at his blond hair tousled from their lovemaking, from her hands in it, Ariel committed his face, with its good, clean, rugged lines to memory. She memorized the sensation of his firm mouth, it had been so soft when he’d kissed her, his broad shoulders strong beneath her hands. His powerful hands had drawn such pleasure from her, a pleasure she hadn’t felt in so long. And his amazing, incredible green eyes.
    She was grateful. Whatever else, she felt as if some kind of pressure had been relieved, that a release had been granted her. The need for human contact, for touching and holding, had been assuaged, if only for a little while. She’d needed his gentleness, his kindness and passion, and now that she’d had it she couldn’t bring herself to regret it.
    It was over, though. This was as close as she could bear. There was relief in that, too.
    Matt saw it in her eyes, as if a shutter closed behind her eyes.
    Strength and courage against some unbearable sorrow. She wouldn’t tell him what had happened but he could see the gratitude in her expression. It would have to be enough. At least there was no regret. He could be thankful for that.
    Quickly, he framed her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her one last time.
    Her lips