“It was you. You foundme. You were with me at the hospital, talking to me. It was you whobrought me back.” Chloe whispered.
All this time she had beenmistaken, and had thought it was Patrick. Tears swam in her eyes asshe remembered Todd’s strong arms holding her, the fear in hisvoice. She remembered his hand clasping hers, talking to her whenshe drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling to get back tothe surface. She remembered lying in the hospital room, when hesaid he thought he loved her.
She rememberedeverything.
Todd cupped her upturned face inhis hands, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears trickling downher cheeks, and then placed the softest of kisses in their wake. Helonged to remove that hurt from her eyes, to reassure her that heonly had the best of intentions, that he never wanted to see herhurt or in pain again. He heard Chloe’s sob catch in her throat,and it nearly broke him. He placed his lips against the curve ofher neck, just under her ear. His stubble brushed her cheek,rasping against her soft skin as he brought his mouth round towithin centimetres of hers, poised, waiting, wanting to taste her,to drown in her kiss. His lips glided over her trembling mouth,caressing, reassuring. He pulled back to look at her, before hepicked her up effortlessly. Cradling her in his arms, he turnedtowards his bedroom. She had given no indication she welcomed hiskiss. He would take it no further until she did.
“Shhhhhhhh. Pleasedon’t cry. It’s going to be okay, Chloe.” Todd placed her on theking-sized bed, lay down and wrapped himself around her.
Held her gently while memoriesflooded her senses. He understood that the trauma of the past fewmonths, the death of her father, the loss of her career, the painof the fall, had taken its toll. She had understandably reached herlimit. The tears she hadn’t shown before flowed freely now. Withlove guiding him, he held her and gave her what she needed for thatnight. Someone to hold her. Someone to protect her. Someone to loveher and ask for nothing in return.
At 4 am, Todd’s body woke up afew minutes before he did. He felt his erection growing betweentheir spooned bodies, desire for Chloe instantaneous given thecircumstance. As realisation dawned, he slipped quietly out of bedbefore she awoke. The last thing she needed or wanted was to bemade aware of his carnal appetite. He only intended to comfort herwhen he brought her to his bed. He could never take advantage ofthe situation. Something he was condemning his brother for hoursearlier. If anything were to happen, it had to be at herinstigation.
CHAPTERTEN
Chloe, however, hadbeen fully aware of Todd’s wake-up call. Prior to the moment Toddmade the decision to leave, she had been trying to summon thecourage to turn around. She had remained still, eyes closed, andbattled with both the insecurities her leg injury conjured up,believing she was damaged goods, and the now obvious fact of hisattraction to her. He wants meregardless. As his engorged flesh brushedagainst her buttocks, her nipples puckered and her breasts pushedagainst the silk nightgown, longing to be touched. Every nerveending along her spine flicked on to high alert.
Then, unexpectedly, he got up andleft.
Oh God, I wanthim. No denying itnow!
The time had come to take arisk.
Chloe slipped quietlyinto the granite and glass en-suite. The only illumination in thevast space came from two small down lights above the vanity mirror.Todd faced away from her, towards the back wall. His head bentforwards, his hands flat on the tile at shoulder level on eitherside of his body, and his legs slightly apart. Multiple jets ofwater streamed over his body, steam filled the glass enclosure. Thehot water aimed at the back of his neck, cascaded over broadmuscled shoulders then down over tightly clenched buttocks, andwell-toned thighs. He looksmagnificent. Chloe’s last remnant ofindecision faded away. Her body responded to the sight of his nakedglistening wet flesh. She recognised that need, although it hadbeen a long, long time between drinks.
She walked fully clothed into thestream of water and reached out to touch him. His back tensed. Heturned towards her, surprise reflected in his eyes. Alreadydrenched from the shower jets, her fair hair plastered to her head,she flicked ropey tendrils back over her shoulders. She didn’thesitate. She ran her hand over his hard chest. Arousal caused thewet silk clinging seductively to her body to enhance her nipplesinto two peaks of pleasure, which protruded from an otherwise sleekgarment.
“Why did you leave me?You obviously wanted me.” Chloe remembered the feel of his hardbody against hers.
“Now is not the righttime.”
“Why? Because I wasupset?”
“Yes. The last thingyou need is a man taking advantage …”
“You said you thinkyou love me. I remember now. In the hospital. Do you, Todd? Do youlove me?” Chloe stepped nearer. Only her hand on his chestseparated their bodies. She looked up at him.
“Yes.”
“Then show me.” Chloetook his hands and cupped her breasts over the wet silk, all thewhile looking into his troubled eyes. “I won’t break. Haven’t Ibeen able to prove that? I bounce back.”
Todd did not move his hands,although every muscle in his body tensed. He searched her faceintently.
He needed to be sure. Did shereally want him? Or did she feel sorry for him? “Chloe, I want tomake love to you, I want to worship your body inch by inch. Butfirst I need you to tell me if that’s what you really want. This isnot a casual fling for me and you need to know that. There are deepfeelings involved here. I have fought them, believe me. I have atlast come to that realisation, and I can’t deny them anymore. Irespect you enough to tell you the truth and I hope that you can behonest with me.”
“Todd, I want you, Ireally do. You have slipped into my heart when I wasn’t looking.Until last night, I wasn’t aware of how much you cared about me.Until last night I wasn’t sure of the feelings I had foryou either. Noweverything has changed. No one has been
