Acquainted With the Night (27 page)

“To the three things in the universe that last forever,” Alex said, with as much passion in her voice as CJ had ever heard. “To faith, and to hope, and to love.”

“To love,” everyone said in unison.

* * *

When Alex walked in the front door to the condo on Friday, the first thing she noticed was CJ’s shoes. A pair of beige pumps lay strewn on the floor of the foyer. The sight of them almost brought tears to her eyes.

Alex hung up her jacket, and tossed her keys on the table. “Where are you?” she exclaimed.

“In here,” CJ called out.

Alex walked down the hall and into their bedroom. CJ was sitting on the side of the bed.

Alex said, “I almost tripped over your shoes again. What is it with you and neatness?”

CJ looked up at her wonderingly. “You noticed?”

Alex admitted, “I missed them when they weren’t there.”

“Did you? I guess that shows you how important it is to be flexible.”

“No, it shows me what a slob you are.”

“This is a surprise?” CJ smiled tentatively.

Alex returned the smile. “Oh, honey, I already knew about that minor character flaw.”

“And you wanted me back anyway?” CJ ventured.

Were they still talking about her untidiness?
Alex thought not. “I wanted you back every day, every hour, every minute,” Alex said quietly.

CJ looked up at Alex. “Do you still want me?” CJ whispered.

Alex felt her heart speeding up wildly. “Yes,” she answered softly. “Do you want me, too?”

“Yes, please,” CJ said softly.

Alex went to her. She gathered CJ’s face in both hands and leaned down to kiss her, a lingering kiss. Alex felt CJ’s lips part under hers, and she teased CJ with her tongue, waiting for CJ’s invitation.

CJ kissed her harder, and sought out the warmth of Alex’s mouth. Alex responded, dropping her hands to CJ’s shoulders, then moved them lower, cupping CJ’s breasts in her palms.

“Oh, Alex,” CJ pulled away to whisper brokenly.

Joy rained down on Alex, submerging her in desire. She gently pushed CJ back onto the bed beneath her.

* * *

CJ was lying on her stomach, sprawling limp and untidy on the sheets. Alex had her head resting comfortably in the small of CJ’s back, idly stroking her hand up and down the back of CJ’s bare legs.

“Why is your back always warm?” Alex asked.

“I come from a warm climate,” CJ muttered.

“Hot-blooded, are you?” Alex teased.

“Apparently so. Oh my goodness, I cannot move a muscle.”

Alex dropped her fingers down into the valley between CJ’s legs, and CJ pulled her away with a weak hand. Alex laughed and said, “See, I knew you could move if given proper motivation.”

“Oh, stop being a tease.”

Alex shifted upward and CJ rolled over to face her on the same pillow. “I wasn’t teasing you a few minutes ago.” Alex smiled.

“That’s true,” CJ agreed happily.

She gave Alex a couple of soft kisses. Then Alex said, “Are you all right? I mean, why now?”

CJ blinked at her. “Do I need a reason for you to make love to me?”

“You do when you haven’t wanted me to touch you since you came home to me, sweetheart. Tell me what changed for you.”

CJ saw more than a trace of worry in the gray-blue eyes. She ran one hand up Alex’s arm and said, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever apologize for that again, CJ. Just talk to me.”

“What happened to you?” CJ tried a little teasing. “You were the one who always wanted less talk and more action.”

“Stop it,” Alex said seriously. “I never want to wonder what you’re thinking again. Answer the question.”

CJ lay back and Alex propped up on one elbow to watch her face. With her other hand she trailed gently down CJ’s torso to rest low on her belly. CJ covered the hand with her own and said softly, “You feel good. Your hands on me feel so good.”

Alex stroked her gently and said, “Please quit ducking the question.”

“I forgot the question.”

“Why now, sweetheart? What changed?”

CJ closed her eyes to concentrate on the feel of Alex’s fingers on her belly and said, “I was thinking about what Dr. Wheeler said to me when we met with her.”

“Which of many things that she said might that have been?”

“Do you remember when she told me the only way we really know how other people feel is by what they say and what they do?”

Alex nodded.

“You kept telling me you didn’t blame me, that you forgave me. And I thought if I couldn’t find a way to stop feeling guilty about leaving you, and about everything Laurel did—well, we weren’t going to make it. And I need to be with you, Alex. We belong together.” She met Alex’s eyes. “You told Dr. Wheeler you were getting better every minute. And I thought, ‘She’s getting better because I’m here.’ That’s right, isn’t it, darlin’? It’s because we’re together again that you’re healing?”

Alex leaned over to kiss her. “You know it is.”

“When I came home this afternoon, I just, well, I realized being with you again could heal me, too. If I let it. If I let you.” Her tone lightened, and she added, “So I just thought I’d give you a chance to show me how you feel about me.”

Alex said wryly, “Oh, this was all for my benefit, was it?”

CJ laughed. “Exactly. It only looked as if I were the one having all the fun. It was really all about you.”

Alex laughed with her a moment, then grew serious. “Are we okay, CJ?”

“We will be, darlin’,” CJ answered her, with confidence. “We will be.”

Alex moved to take CJ in her arms again. The night was endless.

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