Deadly Deception - By Andrea Johnson Beck Page 0,24

he said in a soothing baritone.

“I don’t need protection. I need the truth and not some construed version—the actual truth because I know there’s more going on.” Anne’s voice was beginning to tremble.

“If I tell you the truth then you will need more protection. The less you know right now the better. Please, Anneliese, you need to trust me on this,” Carter asked, sauntering toward her. “I need to touch you,” he whispered, reaching out for the curve in her neck.

His fingertips slid across her skin, running along the cotton collar. They stopped at the V of her dress hovering over the metal button. In the silence, she could hear uneven breaths and she was certain he could hear the thunder that echoed in her chest, rumbling through her ribcage. Anne shuddered while her hairs stood on end, tickling the already sensitive flesh.

Without realizing it, their bodies had molded to one another, and a familiarity shifted between their arms, chests, hips and legs. Carter’s heat seeped through their fabric, spreading a fever through their embrace. Anne laid her head in the crook of his neck, tasting his aroma that engulfed her senses. She had missed his smell.

The more their limbs explored, the more their ache grew. She craved his kisses, his embrace, and this made her a fool. In the darkness they stood feeling the fury gathering between their bodies. Restraining her desire that held tight within her was maddening; she feared all the cells in her body were going to implode at any moment.

Her moral compass was spinning out of control and before she could gain any type of willpower she was indulging herself in an all-consuming kiss. His lips formed to hers so perfectly; though it was wrong, she didn’t want to stop his strong hands from undressing her right there in the middle of her living room.

Their naked flesh crumpled to the floor as they felt each other in pure rapture. Breathing in each the fire that immersed them, panting and groans filled the still dark air. Anne remembered every stroke, every caress and every grip. They clawed into one another feeling the hunger and yearning of the past three years. They may have been thousands of miles apart but their souls had felt their unyielding passion.

“I belong here,” Carter moaned filling Anne with flourished heat.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Anne lifted herself into the frenzy, begging for it to never cease. Feeling her body surge high above the earthly lights, she allowed Carter to take her away from all the pain and confusion. The elation she felt was enough to sprout tears; they trailed down into her hairline. Carter quickly placed his lips on each damp stream, transferring them to his satin lips.

“I’ve ached for you. Can you feel my love, Anneliese?” he asked.

“I can. Please.” She gasped for air.

“Please what?”

“Please stay tonight.”

This simple request thrust Carter over the edge. Her heart called to him, pleading with him to never let her go but she knew better. She knew he would leave again. She just didn’t know when.

Draped on her sofa they remained intertwined; the only movements were their shared breaths and small touches. They laid there embracing the quiet. Anne listened to the sweet symphony of Carter’s beating heart. She smiled against his chest as she ran her fingers through the dark curls that designed his Herculean chest.

“My sweet Anneliese, you’re so beautiful. I’ve dreamt of your ivory skin draped across mine for so long.”

He ran his fingertips down the sides of her arms leaving a trail of heat behind them.

“Look what you do to me,” Anne replied.

She heard a soft chuckle echo in his throat.

“You should try to sleep, Anneliese. The sun will be up soon.”

She knew what he was trying to do. Once her eyes surrendered to the sandman he would creep out, leaving her alone once again. She tightened her arms around him, willing them to remain this way so he couldn’t move but a handful of hours later she would discover that that tactic didn’t work.

While the hush of dawn filtered through the window casting a warm glow over her body, she shifted under the blanket, feeling nothing but cold fabric. Damn him, she thought.

***

Anne was caged in on Interstate 94 heading away from St. Paul. A sea of automobiles filled any empty space that was around her. This was typical Saturday morning traffic in the Twin Cities. She was actually starting to form a foot cramp at the constant brake tapping. She had