Page 40 of Charmed
“Ana …”
“Shh.” She soothed and excited as her mouth played softly over his. “Just kiss me.”
How could he not, when her lips were parting so softly beneath his? He brought his hands to her face, framing it with tensed fingers while he fought a vicious internal war to keep the embrace from going too far.
When the phone rang, he let out a groan that was both frustration and relief. “I’d better go.”
“No.” She wanted to laugh, but only smiled as she drew out of his arms. Never had she sampled a powermore delicious than this. “Please stay. Why don’t you pour the tea while I answer that?”
Pour tea, he thought. He’d be lucky if he could lift the pot. System jumbled, he turned blindly to the stove as she took the receiver from the wall phone.
“Mama!” Now she did laugh, and Boone heard the pure joy of it. “Thank you. Thank all of you. Yes, I got it this morning. A wonderful surprise.” She laughed again, listening. “Of course. Yes, I’m fine. I’m wonderful. I— Da.” She chuckled when her father broke in on the line. “Yes, I know what the frog means. I love it. I love you, too. No, I much prefer it to a real one, thank you.” She smiled at Boone when he offered her a cup of tea. “Aunt Bryna? It was a lovely story. Yes, I am. Morgana’s very well, and so are the twins. Not very much longer now. Yes, you’ll be here in time.”
Restless, Boone wandered the room, sipping the tea, which was surprisingly good. He wondered what the devil she’d put into it. What the devil she’d put into him. Just listening to her voice was making him ache.
He could handle it, he reminded himself. They’d have a very civilized cup of tea—while he kept his hands off her. Then he’d escape, bury himself in his work for the rest of the day to keep his mind off her as well.
His story was all but finished, and he was nearly ready to start on the illustrations. He already knew just what he wanted.
Ana.
With a brisk shake of his head, he gulped more tea. It sounded as if she were going to carry on a conversation with every relative she had. That was fine, that was dandy. It would give him time to calm himself down.
“Yes, I miss you, too. All of you. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Blessed be.”
She was a little teary-eyed when she hung up, but she smiled at Boone. “My family,” she explained.
“I gathered.”
“They sent me a chest of gifts this morning, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to call and thank them.”
“That’s nice. Look, I really— This morning?” he said with a slight frown. “I didn’t see any delivery truck.”
“It came early.” She looked away to set her cup down. “Special delivery, you could say. They’re all lookingforward to visiting at the end of the month.”
“You’ll be glad to see them.”
“Always. They were here briefly over the summer, but with all the excitement about Sebastian and Mel getting engaged and married so quickly, there wasn’t much time to just be together.” She moved to the door to let Quigley out. “Would you like more tea?”
“No, thanks, really. I should go. Get to work.” He was edging toward the door himself. “Happy birthday, Ana.”
“Boone.” She laid a hand on his arm, felt his muscles quiver. “Every year on my birthday I give myself a gift. It’s very simple, really. One day to do whatever I choose. Whatever feels right to me.” Hardly seeming to move at all, she pulled the door closed and stood between it and him. “I choose you. If you still want me.”
Her words seemed to ring in his ears as he stared down at her. She appeared so calm, so utterly serene, she might have been discussing the weather. “You know I want you.”
“Yes.” She smiled. At that moment she was calm, the eye of the hurricane. “Yes, I do.” When she took a step forward, he took one in retreat. Was this seduction? she wondered, keeping her eyes on his. “I see that when I look at you, feel it whenever you touch me. You’ve been very patient, very kind. You kept your word that nothing would happen between us until I decided it should.”
“I’m trying.” Unsteady, he took another step back. “It isn’t easy.”
“Nor for me.” She stood where she was, the silver robe shimmering around her in the sunlight. “You’ve only to accept me, to accept that I’m willing to give you everything I can. Take that, and let it be enough.”
“What are you asking me?”
“To be my first,” she said simply. “To show me what love can be.”
He dared to reach out and touch her hair. “Are you sure?”
“I’m very sure.” Offering and asking, she held out both hands. “Will you take me to bed and be my lover?”
