Page 82 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
“Mmm.” She lay back with a sigh of pure bliss. “That feels good.”
He picked up her other foot, his dark eyes glinting as his hand slid along her calf. And further, up her smooth thigh. As he laid down beside her, she turned into his arms and their lips met, and lingered, long and sweet.
His skin smelled of sandalwood and the sea. She moaned softly and moved against him, his name soft on her lips. Any other dreams had been forgotten — this was the only dream she wanted.
Her pulse was racing as his hands stroked up over her waist and round to the firm swell of her breast. He was dusting tender kisses over her trembling eyelids, across her temple and over the delicate shell of her ear. She could hear the ragged drag of his breathing, feel the powerful thump of his heartbeat.
These past few weeks their kisses had been growing hotter, more urgent, but they had always stepped back from the brink. But tonight, as if through some unspoken agreement, they both knew it would be different — something had changed, clicked into place.
Maybe because she had turned eighteen, would soon be leaving school. She was no longer a child.
He undressed her slowly, his hand smooth over her skin. Overhead the stars were spinning as time drifted away like the ripples of the sea. In all her dreams she had never imagined it could be like this.
His head bent over hers as he kissed her again, his sensuous tongue swirling deep into her mouth. She curved her body close against his, wrapping her arms around him.
She hadn’t even noticed that he had shed his own clothes until she felt the rasp of his hair-roughened chest against her naked breasts. She moaned softly, revelling in the movement of the hard muscles across his shoulders and down his back.
His hand slid down between her thighs, seeking the sweetest, most secret caresses. And then he moved above her,and with a hand that shook slightly he brushed her hair back from her face.
“Cassie?” His voice was a husky growl. “Is this right?”
“Yes.” It was no more than a sigh. “Oh yes please.”
She was vaguely aware that he had slid open a small foil pack, and then there was nothing but a golden flow of pleasure that seemed to melt her bones.
Time slipped away as their sensuous dance echoed the hushed whisper of the sea lapping against the moon-silvered sand, and she felt herself soaring, soaring, over the edge of the world, to collapse at last wrapped up in his arms . . .
* * *
A sharp nudge from her sister brought Cassie abruptly back to her surroundings. The organist was playing ‘Unchained Melody’ as the bride and groom walked back down the aisle, followed by their bridesmaids — Vicky’s stepsister and two little cousins in pale tangerine dresses — and both sets of parents.
How had she paid so little attention to the ceremony? She must have been on autopilot, standing and sitting with the rest of the congregation, probably even singing along to the hymns. Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed her distraction.
Her heart was still beating a little too fast as the vestiges of those memories lingered in her brain, but she managed to get to her feet. Then as she stepped out of the pew, she came face to face with Liam.
“Oh . . . Hi.” Somehow she forced a smile. Past and present swirled together. She had to struggle to remind herself that it had been ten years, not just a few moments ago, that she had lain in his arms on that moonlit beach.
“Hello.”
His smile was friendly, polite. She had almost been afraid that he would see in her eyes where she had been for the past three-quarters of an hour.
She hesitated, trying to think of something to say, but there was the pressure of people behind them wanting to get past and out to the front of the church, where photographs were being taken.
“Oh . . . Sorry.” Liam moved out of their way, falling into step with his brother and sister-in-law, holding Robyn’s hand. “See you later,” he added to Cassie over his shoulder.
“Yes . . .”
Outside, the golden September sun was shining through the trees — already the leaves were starting to shade into their autumn colours. Vicky was laughing merrily as the photographer herded the wedding party into the line-up. The two young bridesmaids were dancing, swirling the skirts of their lovely dresses.
“Auntie Cassie!” Robyn came running over to her. “Wasn’t that pretty?”
“Yes, it was.” She smiled down at the excited child. “And you were very good. I saw you sitting with your daddy and Auntie Julia.”
“I drawed Auntie Vicky and Uncle Tom. And I had lots of sweeties,” she added, leaning in to whisper as if it was a guilty secret.
“I just bet you did! And I expect you’ll want lots of wedding cake when we get down to the hotel.”
The child giggled, her eyes wide. “Lots and lots!” Then she spotted her best friend Amy and hurtled over to hug her.
