J. Robb - Bump in The Night

„Come with me, Grace. Let me show you places you’ve never seen.“

He found her, hot and moist, and took her to the first glorious peak. Stunned, she could only clutch at him as he gave her no time to recover before taking her up and over again. Her trembling body hummed with needs she hadn’t even known she’d possessed.

„Josh.“ She struggled to see him through the haze of passion that clouded her vision. All she could see were his eyes, so fierce, fixed on hers with an intensity that had her heart stuttering.

There was no hesitation now, only a wild exhilaration at this passion they were sharing.

She lifted a hand to his mouth and traced the shape of his lips. „Show me, Josh. Take me with you.“

„We’ll take each other.“

They came together in a kiss that spoke of all the loneliness, all the hunger, all the need. Their lives beyond this cabin no longer mattered. The world had slipped away. Outside a night bird cried, and its mate answered. Neither of them heard. The steady sound of waves slapping the shore matched the beating of two hearts. Their breathing grew shallow, and the air between them grew heated, until their bodies were slick with sweat.

As he entered her, she wrapped herself around him, taking him deep.

They came together in a firestorm of passion and began to climb, to soar. They were beyond thought, beyond words, beyond anything of this world as they felt themselves reach the very summit. For an instant they hovered there, staring into one another’s eyes. In the next moment they felt themselves slipping over the edge, and flying among the stars.

It was the most amazing journey of their lives.

„You okay?“ Too dazed to move, Josh whispered the words against her temple.

„I’m…“ She couldn’t speak over the lump in her throat. Instead, she merely brushed a finger across his lips until they curved into a smile.

„That was…“ He gave a shake of his head. Words couldn’t describe what he was feeling. So alive. As though everything he’d achieved until now was a mere rehearsal for this moment. As though everything that would come after would seem dull by comparison. „That was incredible.“

He leaned up on his elbows to stare into her eyes. „You’re incredible, Grace.“

She managed a smile. „You’re not bad yourself.“

He rolled to one side and drew her into the circle of his arms, nibbling her ear. „That was definitely worth waiting for.“

„I was thinking the same thing.“ She shivered at the delicious curls of pleasure spiraling through her.

He brushed her mouth with his. „Want me to get up and cook the fish?“

„Not especially. Are you hungry?“

He gave an impish grin. „I was. But a very beautiful woman just fed my hunger.“

„Happy to oblige, stranger.“

„Now I know what it means to live on love. Who needs food?“

„I’ll remind you about this in the morning, when there’s nothing to eat but those fish swimming around in a bucket.“

They were both laughing. But moments later their laughter died as they came together in a long, slow kiss.

Inside her mouth he whispered, „Want to go for seconds?“

„Umm.“ It was all the invitation she needed. She wrapped herself around him.

With soft sighs and languid kisses they took each other once more to that place that only lovers know.

Josh pressed kisses over Grace’s eyelids. „Think Barnaby gave up on us and went back home?“

They’d lost track of the time, but earlier he’d carried her to the sofa, where they now lay in a tangle of arms and legs, with only the army blanket for cover.

Grace sighed, too content to move. „I hope so. It must be dark by now.“

Josh lifted his head to gaze at the window. „Not quite. The sun is just sinking. Want to go watch the sunset?“

She nodded, and he helped her up before slipping into his denims, drying in front of the fire.

Grace ignored her own clothes and merely wrapped the blanket around her shoulders for cover.

Hand in hand they walked outside. At once Barnaby came trotting over, looking happy to see them.

„Oh, look at you. You’ve been swimming in the lake.“ Grace paused to scratch behind the dog’s ears. She was rewarded with a few quick licks of his tongue.

„And look at this.“ Josh pointed toward the trees that ringed the lake. The countryside was alive with the most amazing palette. Deep red maples and bright yellow cot-tonwoods. Flaming orange oaks and gold willows, and purple sumac so rich they looked like velvet.

As they made meir way along the dock, they lifted their heads to the sky, painted with waving ribbons of pink and mauve and purple. To the west, the sun was a fiery globe just beginning to sink below the waves. The placid water was no longer dark, but like a looking glass, alive with a reflection of all the magnificent autumn colors.

Grace turned to Josh with a puzzled expression. „Is it possible that this was here all along, and I never noticed?“

Josh’s voice was hushed. „If it was, I was as blind to it as you. But then, ever since I had my first glimpse of you, I’ve been blind to everything else.“ He brushed a kiss to her cheek. „Maybe it takes the two of us, looking through the rosy glow of love, to see what’s really here.“

His words had her going very still. Was that it? Had love cast some sort of spell over everything around them?

They stood together on the end of the dock, watching the spectacular sunset. For the longest time after the sun disappeared, leaving a sky washed with unbelievable color, they remained there, arms around each other, savoring the beauty of the moment. Neither of mem seemed willing to break the spell.

It was the dog’s barking that finally roused them. Barn-aby brushed past them and raced to the door of the cabin, where he stood waiting for them to catch up.

Josh gave a laugh. „I’d say that’s a very broad hint mat one of us is hungry.“

They were still laughing as they opened the door. Barn-aby was the first one inside. He moved about the room, sniffing, pausing, then standing patiently by the fire, watching as Josh tossed a log on the hot coals. Within minutes a cozy fire was burning.

„Make yourself at home.“ Josh knelt to run a hand along the dog’s coat before walking across the room. He picked up a knife and began to fillet the fish.

„Let’s see what I can find to go with that.“ Grace began rummaging through the cupboard.

Josh winked. „We could always eat a salad made of weeds, as you called them.“

„Very tasty weeds, by the way. Or we could drink this.“ Grace held up a dusty bottle of pale amber wine.

„Good thing it’s white wine.“ At her arched brow, Josh added dryly, „I figured a city girl like you would realize that red wine just doesn’t go with fish.“

„Well then, the one who left this here had very good taste.“ While Josh set the fish over the fire, Grace washed out two old, elegant stem glasses that had been hidden in the back of the cupboard. When they were sparkling, she filled them with wine and crossed the room to hand one to Josh.

He touched his glass to hers. „What will we drink to?“

Grace thought a moment before saying softly, „To strangers meeting in the most unlikely places.“

„And to lucky plane crashes.“ Josh’s gaze locked on hers as he sipped.

When the fish was perfectly browned, Josh divided it into three portions. While he and Grace settled themselves at the scarred old coffee table, Barnaby noisily polished off his food in several quick bites before flopping down in front of the fire.

Josh nodded toward the dog. „Looks like he’s ready to stay the night.“

Grace chuckled. „I was thinking the same thing. I hope Wyatt won’t mind.“