Page 52 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘Please tell me you’ve never brought another woman here before or I’ll doubt your sanity.’ Fee glanced around the run-down motel room and couldn’t help laughing.
Somehow Fee doubted the dark wood-panelled walls, orange lava lamp, garish psychedelic curtains and matching bedspread were even fashionable back in the seventies. She shuddered to imaginewhat the numerous stains were on the bright green shag carpet.
‘Hell, no,’ Tom insisted. ‘We don’t have to stay.’
She grinned. ‘Oh, you’re not cheating me out of this experience. When I write my memoirs this place will need a whole chapter to itself.’
‘I swear I didn’t have a clue it was likethis. I’ve driven past before and it looked decent enough.’ He stumbled over hiswords and Fee threw her arms around his neck.
‘Trust me I’ve slept in much worse places. This would be considered luxury accommodation in many parts of the world. Anyway I’m sure you can make me forget my surroundings.’
A tempting grin creased his face. Tom rested a finger on the curve of her cheek before trailing down to skim the top button of her shirt. ‘The question is…’
‘What?’
‘I was wondering how clean the sheets are judging by the rest of the place.’
‘The sheets?’
‘Yeah, you know those things people make beds with.’
She slid her hand down to rest on his belt buckle and Tom exhaled a sharp, audible breath. ‘Do youreallycare because I don’t?’
‘I thought British people were supposed to be very particular about thosesorts of things, honey.’ His voice roughened.
Fee pressed her mouth against his and Tom plunged them into a long, wonderful kiss.
‘All right. I get the hint.’ Tom’s soft drawl made her skin tighten all over.
‘Good.’
For a big man he moved fast. Zips. Belts. Socks. Shoes. He got everything out of the way in record time.
‘This has to go.’ Tom ripped the offensivecover off the bed and tossed it in a heap on the floor. ‘I don’t want to burn my eyeballs out while I’m making love to you.’
For several lingering seconds she swept her gaze down over him. Tom didn’t have a young man’s body but he was strong and comfortable in his own skin. He’d been around for a while and had the marks to prove it the same as she did.
‘Do I pass muster?’
It helped to know she wasn’t the only one with insecurities.
‘Absolutely. How about me?’
‘You’re so beautiful it takes my breath away.’ The rasp in Tom’s simple words made her throat tighten. ‘I love that what I see is what I get. No artifice. Nothing hidden.’
Except my heart. I daren’t let you near that. I’ve seen what caring too much does to people. ‘Can I love younow?’ he whispered and smiled at her shy nod. Tom swept her into his arms. With a couple of strides he placed her gently on the bed.
Fee pulled him down to her.
Fee hated to wake him but needed to get to the bathroom. Shaking him had no effect and neither did gentle pokes in his ribs. ‘Tom,’ she called in his ear. He jerked awake and stared at her in obvious confusion. ‘I needyou to move.’
‘Yeah, right,’ he mumbled, shifting enough for her to wriggle out of the bed. After freshening up she sneaked back into bed and his arm automatically slid around her again.
He idly stroked her hair. ‘It’s grown.’
‘I’ve never had it this long since I was a child,’ Fee murmured. ‘Short is easier to maintain with my lifestyle. I’ve taken the scissors to it myselfmany times.’
