Page 56 of Home Body
“Ah, sweetheart, that’s the problem.”
Coquettishly, she led him across the yard and out to the barn. “The weather is so beautiful the sheep are in the pasture for the night. We have it all to ourselves.” She shoved open one side of the heavy barn doors.
They stepped inside and he couldn’t get the door closed fast enough. Within seconds they lay upon a pile of fresh hay, moonbeams filtering in through thin slats between the wallboards to stripe the lovers in misty blue light. He palmed her breast with one hand while balancing himself over her with the other. She cupped his hard buns in her soft hands and pushed him harder and harder with each thrust. He paused for a split second as if considering trying to slow down, but it was far too late. They reached their climaxes in unison, the rush of ecstasy overpowering them.
The full weight of his body fell on her and she reveled in the feel of him, all of him, as their bodies became as one. He rolled over to lie on his back beside her so as not to crush her to death. She hated his leaving but breathing was good, too.
They looked at one another and started to laugh.
“Damn.” He clapped a palm to his forehead in disbelief. “How long did that take? Thirty seconds?”
“Oh no. It was at least forty-five.”
“Under a minute, I’m sure.”
They couldn’t help but laugh as they rolled onto their sides to face one another, their hands instinctively going to each other’s bodies. She ran a hand down his hip. He took her breast in hand and stroked it as delicately as if it might break.
“Dalia, I’m in love with you.”
Taken aback, she became stock-still, unsure of what to say to that. They’d known each other for such a short time. But then a tide of desire and need and happiness rolled over her like an exhilarating ocean wave, lifting her up to look up into the light of love.
“I love you, too.” And she did, a realization that surprised her as much as it delighted her.
Brody took a sharp breath, kissed his beloved, and made love to her again until deep into the night. This time he went slowly, deliberately savoring every inch of her, every scent of her, every sight of her.
Dalia had fallen into a fairytale dream, she reckoned, because real life couldn’t possibly be this good. Or could it? What was it her mother had said when she’d said she was afraid of being hurt again?
“Boo dear, that’s all the more reason you deserve true love this time.”
CHAPTER 33
Kenyon shifted nervously in the living room armchair. She had to leave in an hour to meet Dalia and Dr. Crow to go to Amberton. But her parents had insisted on a big family meeting this morning, something they’d never done before on a Sunday.
She considered telling them what she was up to but waited to see what they had to say first. It might be something about Zach leaving for college soon and how their lives would all change now or something. They’d done that when she went to college, even though she’d never left home, choosing to live right there in her parents’ cushy house instead of a crowded dorm room or sorority house. Best of all, rent had been free and the food was great.
Zach came in looking exceptionally adult in clean khakis and a polo shirt. Sometimes he seemed twelve, like when he graffitied a billboard, and sometimes he seemed thirty-two, like when he said he didn’t do drugs or have unsafe sex. Only after he sat down in the armchair next to hers did she notice he had on his shiny black leather Sunday shoes and black socks, just like a grownup.
What’s up with that, she wondered.
“Hey, sis. What’s up, Ken-Ken?”
Ah, he was twelve again. “Nothing,” she lied.
Their parents came in looking all chirpy, so Kenyan’s guess changed from a talk about lifestyle to maybe a nice family vacation, perhaps even overseas or something. They’d done that three times – to the highlands of Scotland, to Ireland, and on a cruise of Scandinavia. She waited with anticipation.
“Hi, kiddos,” their dad said cheerily.
“Hey, sweethearts.” Their mom seemed rested, as usual on a Sunday morning, unlike her groggy Saturday morning self after a long week at work.
They sat side-by-side on the sofa facing their children.
“Well, you’re no doubt wondering what this is all about,” their mom said.
“Yes, so we won’t waste any time.” Their dad always liked to get straight to the point.
His children had long enjoyed the practice of trying to divert his attention.
Kenyon said, “Do you two always talk in turns?”
