Page 61 of Landry
Chapter 16
His expression was grim as he continued to hold her. Tears soaked his shirt and still she continued to cry. Their wedding night! he thought grimly. How much more was he going to hurt her? Their wedding night and here she was crying as if her heart was breaking.
He had brought her nothing but pain. And he was selfish. He should have left her alone. But how could he? How could he even consider it, when the very thought of being without her was making him panic?
But if he loved her, wouldn't he want what's best for her? His mind was in a whirl, his thoughts a boggy minefield that threatened to explode. He was so mired down in his thoughts; it took him a moment to realize that she had stopped crying and was running her hands up and down his back.
Easing her away from him, he studied her tear-stained face. Her lashes were spiky, and she looked so vulnerable he wanted to take her away and hide her from the world. But the only thing he could do was apologize for his part in it.
"I'm sorry." His voice was heavy and laced with weariness. "If I could take back-" he closed his eyes. "He had a gun to your head! That's not an image I'm likely to forget."
"Neither will I." Her hands lifted to frame his face. "But it's over now."
"Is it?" he asked bitterly. "I was supposed to save you, and you were the one who saved me." His fingers encircled her wrists, his face tormented. "I'm not good for you."
"Just shut up. Please." Leaning into him, she brushed her lips against his, feeling his breathing accelerating. "We're going to put it all behind us, starting now. If we need therapy, we will decide on that later, but for now, this is still our wedding night." Shifting, she settled on his lap and took the robe off, tossing it to the foot of the bed. "And I do believe we have reason to celebrate."
"Kady-Ann-"
"No." She shook her head, fingers busy unbuttoning his shirt. "We're alive. A madman held a gun to my head and we're alive. I want my husband to make love to me. I want you to plant your seed inside me." She pushed the shirt off his shoulders, sliding her hands over his shoulders and chest. "I want to feel you deep inside me."
Her words were having a devastating effect on him, making him forget the horror of a few minutes ago. They should talk, Godknows, they had a lot to say to each other. But he could not think. His mind was muddled, his body already hardening.
"I just-"
"Stop talking," she whispered against his mouth.
"All right." He helped her with his belt and then with the zipper. Heat, like a bolt of lightning, slammed throughout his body all the way down to his toes when she found him. Curling her fingers around the spearing heat of him, she caressed and stroked him until he was vibrating.
"Make love to me," she whispered against his mouth.
He needed no second bidding. With his mouth fused to hers, he kicked away the trousers and underwear. Lifting her up, he positioned her over him, his hips lifting as he plunged himself into her.
Swallowing her gasp, he held her still as he drove into her. He didn't use finesse because he suspected she wanted nothing of the sort. Desperation lent an added air to the passion that was already spiraling out of control.
It didn't take long for her to climax. The release was long and brutal, pummeling her body like waves crashing against the rock, leaving her breathless, the tremors racking her body.
"More," he demanded harshly when she collapsed against him.
"I can't," she whispered brokenly. Her world was still tilted on its axis, and she could not get her breath back.
"More," he repeated. And to make certain she took more, he reached between them to toy with the swollen flesh that was sensitive to his touch. The explosion had her crying out his name.
Landry felt as if his body was bursting. His heart was hammering, his skin feverish. Gripping her hips, he made one last plunge, fingers digging into her flesh as he emptied himself inside her.
Flopping back on the pillows, he brought her with him, arms wrapped around her. For several minutes, they did not speak. There was nothing to say, nothing that was appropriate for the shattering moment.
***
"It's over." Kathy watched as he paced the length of the room, a frown knitting his brow. They had abandoned all pretense and were staying in the same suite. It was as if what had happened recently had brought things into sharp focus.
"He held a gun to my sister's head."
"And he's going away for a very long time."
"That's not good enough." He whirled to face her. "Is this what's to be expected from your family?"
His tone and the words had her stiffening. "I know you're upset-"
