Did he get through? He could not be sure. One thing he had learned about Nina Forest: getting through to her meant a lot of work. Whatever lay hidden inside that woman had long ago been surrounded by minefields and barbed wire and walls. It would not be enough to break in; she would have to try to work her way out from behind the defenses.
A familiar string of cords drifted from the speakers. Trevor broke the silence not with words, but by standing in front of her as she sat on the sofa and he held an open hand to her.
'May I have this dance, miss?'
Crazy…I’m crazy for feeling so lonely…
Her eyes widened like a deer in a headlight.
'I don’t dance. Or…I don’t dance very good.'
'It’s okay,' he said. 'I don’t dance very good either.' She searched for another excuse. 'I don’t want to embarrass myself.' He looked left, looked right, then returned his eyes to her.
'There’s no one watching.'
What she said next nearly made him melt on the spot. He actually felt his legs weaken. 'You’re watching.'
He studied her. He knew her strength. Despite all that strength and courage there she sat, vulnerable. Afraid not of some monster conjured by that insane new world but by something so basic and human.
He whispered, 'I promise not to stare.'
She hesitated. Her eyes blinked bashfully.
Trevor asked her to, 'Take a chance.'
Her hand rose slowly, tentatively, until finding his grasp. Trevor guided her to the middle of the small living room where he gently grasped her right hand with his left and politely slipped his other arm around her waist. She searched for an awkward second before placing her free hand on his shoulder.
He swayed her gently and found her blue eyes. As he did, his body trembled. There he stood, the great leader who had vanquished a legion of nightmares trembling with fear even though he danced as conservatively with her as if her father, pastor, and big brother watched.
Nerves translated into mumbled words.
'See, you’re doing just fine. Why, you’re a regular-'
'Shut…up,' she softly stopped his babbling.
Nina closed her eyes and rested her cheek on his shoulder. He felt her lean against him. More than her weight: her entire person. She placed herself in his arms. Trevor wondered if she had ever done such a thing before. Yet, a strange thing happened as she did. His trembling-that fear-slipped…quietly…away.
As he felt her give to him, his strength grew. Strength greater, more powerful than all the gifts of the Old Man or any other force in that new world.
She slipped both hands around his waist and stepped closer. He felt the pulse of her heart. He felt her at peace. He felt himself there, too.
…and I’m crazzzyyy…for lovin’…youuuuu…
She whispered as much to herself as to him, 'This isn’t easy for me.'
He answered, 'I know.'
She must have felt the need to explain further. She pulled her head away from his shoulder to tell him — the very tips of their noses brushed. Trevor felt certain his heart stopped. It was instantly the greatest single moment of his life.
A magnetism pulled their lips together for that first, magical time. Soft and gentle and long and oh-so-nice. Everything they could possibly hope it to be. And it served as only the start. There would be no turning back.
In a world where merely living another day seemed a tall request, they found no reason to stop what they both wanted so much; what they had both waited so long for already.
They kissed again and again. She pressed against him; he pulled her even closer. Her body…her whole person…hugged him…an intoxicating feeling and unbearably exciting. Yet as forceful the emotion, as powerful as they both were, their embrace remained gentle, not harsh.
His hands felt along her waist and back. Such a perfectly sculpted frame. He knew her body to be well built for battle. Now he felt those lines and curves offered in passion.
Somewhere…far, far away…another melody crooned from the stereo.
Nina did not consider or think. She knew she had instincts for a steady trigger finger, a quick and powerful blow. She found other instincts dwelling beneath the surface. Nina let the longing for her that radiated from Trevor unlock it.
Her hands slid under his pullover shirt, which went up and off, forcing his arms from her waist into the air. She first kissed his smooth chest then moved those kisses to the base of his neck before finding his lips again. Her hands encouragingly stroked across his upper body.
She felt the goose bumps on his flesh and knew the reason for them: he was electric for her. She had never been the object of such complete desire, certainly not in this way. And she wanted him, too, so strongly that she nearly drowned in the emotion.
Her heart-that cast iron lock box-splintered and broke open as if it had been made of glass. Never before had she been so willing to give everything. Now she wanted nothing less than giving all. The defenses tumbled down. The minefields and barbed wire and walls could not slow the tsunami of emotion breaking loose from the prison within.
She trusted him completely with her heart and she craved offering it to him.
As her clothes came off-some by her own hand, others by his-she did not wonder if she would be judged. Just as she knew, even before their bodies twisted and rolled together first on the sofa then in the bedroom, that she would be happy, and pleased, and satisfied.
No insecurity. No bashfulness. No hesitation. Best of all, there were smiles and laughs. This was not desperate love, it felt exciting and new and fun. Happy.
As Trevor felt and caressed her bare person, he was amazed. So strong, everywhere. Her legs, her abbs; that same body that could be unforgiving and destructive could also be warm and inviting.
He had been with only one other lover in his life. That did not matter now, because she would be the end for him. He could not imagine anything more wonderful, more fulfilling, or more exhilarating than holding Nina…
…moving with her as her back arched…her body tensed…shivered… as she straddled him while her short ponytail bobbed and swayed.
Then to feel her beneath…her rigid and firm muscles…her legs wrapped around him…despite her might she still surrendered.
Her sighs-so gentle for a woman who proved so powerful.
Her body was so perfect in the ways she used it-sometimes passively, sometimes more direct-so wonderful that no man dare ask for more. Yet, he found the greatest satisfaction in her eyes. When he looked into them, he could see that she went far beyond flesh and energy. That she gave everything.
He knew that gift to be precious. He knew what a chance she took. He knew because he gave her more than he had ever given to anyone before. More than he thought possible to give.
When their endurance reached its breaking point; after their bodies expended every last drop of energy, after their passion had been fully fed and satisfied, they fell together and slept peacefully through their first night of being in love.
26. Round Trip
Trevor and Nina sat in the church basement picking at scrambled eggs and bacon.
Lori Brewer-wearing one of the biggest, cockiest grins ever seen by the likes of man-carried her tray over and sat at the table across from the two. 'Mind if I join you?'
Nina welcomed, 'Hey. No, sit down.' 'So…' 'Don’t,' Trevor stopped her. 'Don’t or I’ll have to-'
Reverend Johnny rushed into the basement shouting, 'Hells bells! Raise the alarm and man the
