ripples, he thrust faster, racing to catch her while she surfed waves of pleasure. He plunged into her, threw himself after her and groaned at the wash of ecstasy that dazzled him with bright lights behind his eyelids. So good. So bloody good.
The pulses went on for a long time then he rested against her, only moving when he realized heâd become an uncomfortable weight, pressing her into the mattress. He withdrew, tossed the condom and returned to her side, her warm lushness attracting him like shelter in torrential rain.
âThank you,â he whispered, kissing her. His pulse rate did a bump and grind at her response, spirit willing but flesh still weak.
They cuddled in contentment, the minutes ticking away.
âI guess Iâd better make that phone call.â
âWhy donât you take a shower first? Iâll make breakfast and use the bathroom while you speak to your family.â He didnât want to listen. She was right though. She was an adult, although he understood why they might worry about her given the severe storm. âTake some of this gel to rub on your butt after your shower.â
She shot him a hot frown and accepted the tube.
The coffee was ready when she joined him in the kitchen. He shunted a mug in her direction, indicated the phone and left her to it while he hit the shower.
Laura tested her coffee for heat, blowing across the surface before taking a cautious sip. It burned her mouth, but that was the least of her problems. If she didnât handle this conversation, both she and Dallas would sink into a heap of trouble. She tried another sip, and this time it slipped down easily. In the distance, she heard the shower startâa sort of a ticking clock springing to life inside her mind.
Time to get this done.
Her palms were sweaty when she picked up the phone, and she wiped them on her sweats. A tremor shook her hand, but she managed to dial her parentsâ number. It rang for three rings before someone picked up the other end.
âDrummond residence.â
âBridget, itâs Laura. I understand Mother is worried about me.â
âMiss Laura, your mother is at breakfast with her guests,â Bridget said.
Not as worried as she made out to the local cop. Another slice of guilt to manipulate Laura. Normally, sheâd shrug and brush aside her motherâs behavior. Not this time. Anger flared in her, finding an outlet in a white-knuckle grip around the phone.
âWould you mind giving her a message for me? Tell her Iâm at home and will drive back to Clare for the wedding. Iâll wait on the phone while you tell her in case she wishes to speak with me.â
âSheâll want to speak with you,â Bridget said, her Irish accent evident.
Laura finished her coffee and poured another one. The shower shut off.
âWhy didnât you answer your phone?â The crisp voice of her mother was a bucket of icy water dropped on her head. âI dislike talking to that infernal machine. Why isnât your cell phone switched on?â
âI forgot to charge my cell. The battery is dead. Mother, there was no need to contact the local police and bother them. They have more important things to do.â Laura pulled a face at the disapproving silence and continued. âThe rain wasnât bad in Napier. I ran out of milk last night and decided to go out to get some. I ran into some friends and we had drinks.â Aware she was giving too much information, she stopped and waited for her motherâs next salvo.
âYou were expected here.â
âJanice has six bridesmaids,â Laura said crisply. âI doubt my absence has even registered on her radar.â
âJames was expecting you.â
Ah, now they reached the heart of her motherâs objections.
âIâm not interested in James.â
A sharp inhalation filtered down the line. âJames is an eligible bachelor.â
Her motherâs
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