Faith in You (5 page)

Carmen sensed it in the way he held her, gave her his heart with the way his lips cradled hers, loving, treasuring. She gripped him tighter, wanting him to know she cared as much as he. The kiss went on and on, gentle, tentative, giving. When it finally ended, she felt cherished in a way she never had before.

She looked at him and he was smiling easily, his aquamarine eyes glittering brightly. She dropped one quick kiss on his lips, jumped up, and announced, “Time for lunch and then work, remember?”

Paul chuckled, wiping at the stray tear at the edge of his eye. As she returned to her chair and settled herself in to finish lunch, Paul filled her glass. She smiled at him, forked up some of the shrimp salad he had made, and he smiled back, thanked whoever it was up there that had brought her to him.

Chapter 7

In the shade of the tree, it stayed cool throughout the day as Paul read his case files and Carmen copiously took notes and highlighted portions of a review book.

Paul had glanced over more than once as she worked, noticing her intensity as she studied the materials for her upcoming test. It was a new side of her and it intrigued him. He wondered whether she gave everything she was interested in this much attention.

She raised her head, seemingly musing over something she had just read, and noticed his perusal. “Something wrong?”

He shook his head and laid down the file he had just finished reading. “Just fascinated.”

“An interesting case?” she asked, clearly unaware she was the object of his attentions.

“Very,” he replied and rose, afraid he would be unable to stop himself from blurting out too much too soon. “I’m going to fix some dinner.”

Carmen put aside her books, pen, and highlighter. “Let me help.”

He hesitated for a second then nodded, held out his hand and helped her from the low chaise lounge. But when she would have walked away to the house, he brought her near, and embraced her. “Thanks,” he said and dropped a kiss on cheek.

“For what?” Carmen asked.

Paul smiled. “For suggesting we could get together like this. I don’t know how I would’ve finished my work this weekend otherwise.”

“I’ve gotten a lot done as well, so there’s no need to thank me.” A slight gust of wind kicked up, shifted a short lock of hair down onto his forehead. Carmen reached up, fingered his hair back into place, and a shiver of desire danced along his insides.

Paul took hold of her hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “Most women I know wouldn’t have considered this much of a date.”

Carmen opened the hand he held and brushed her fingers against his lips, tracing their hard outline. The soft brush of his evening beard tickled her index finger as she swiped it across his upper lip and she smiled, glanced up at him. “Most women you know are fools then.”

His brow furrowed as he considered what she said, and she reached up, smoothed it with her fingers.

“Why?” he finally asked.

“They should have been satisfied just to have your company,” she replied, somehow knowing he needed this kind of reassurance. That few in his life had ever taken the time to just be with him. She eased out of his embrace, but held onto his hand and pulled him in the direction of his house.

“Come on. We are going to make each other dinner and then hang out and relax.”

Paul smiled and followed her without further hesitation.

#

Dusk began to set as he finished eating the dinner Carmen and he had prepared together.

Paul settled back into his chair, his belly full and replete from the simple meal. A sirloin steak, which Carmen had marinated with onions and lemon juice, baked potato, and salad had never tasted so good. Better than any gourmet restaurant and he knew it had little to do with the food and everything to do with the delightful sprite sitting across from him.

Carmen finished the last bite of her steak and wiped her mouth with the napkin. “That was delicious,” she said earnestly and he smiled, appreciating her joy of life.

“I’m glad you liked it. Would you care for dessert?” he asked, thinking of the strawberry shortcake he had purchased that morning.

She patted her stomach and groaned. “I’m just a little full right now. Maybe later.”

He nodded. “I’m stuffed as well. Maybe a little exercise will help. How about a swim?”

Carmen turned and looked with longing at the pool behind her. The coming night enclosed them in her secret embrace, turning his backyard into their private place. As it had darkened, Paul had turned on lights in the garden and in the pool, and lit a small candle on their table. It had made their dinner intimate. The lights from deep in the pool provided muted light and turned the water a bright aqua that was inviting and reminded her of the color of his eyes. Regretfully, she wasn’t prepared. “I’m sorry. No suit.”

Paul leaned close, smiling devilishly. “You have your birthday suit,” he reminded.

Carmen blushed, stammered a hesitant, “
Sí
, I do.”

He reached over and skimmed a finger over the flush on her cheek. “Do you know you mix in Spanish when you’re nervous?”

Her flush deepened and she wondered whether he could feel the burn as his fingers continued to trace the line of her cheekbone. “
De verdad
,” she began, but stopped short at his chuckle. “Okay, you win. I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. I won’t press about the swim.” He rose, began to clear off the table, and when she would have risen to help, he stopped her with a polite, “Please don’t. You’re my guest and I need some time alone.”

Carmen studied his face in the dim light. His eyes were hooded, the light blue now darker and turbulent. “I just wanted to help,” she offered by way of apology.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I just need to try and forget the thought of you in your birthday suit.” He grinned and walked away, leaving her at the table.

Carmen watched him go and gazed at the pool again. Unfortunately, he had opened a Pandora’s box she couldn’t close and she pictured herself in the pool, her body bare to the cool waters. Bare to the heat of his gaze and her insides warmed and trembled.

She had enjoyed herself today and come to see another side of him. She hoped he had seen another side of her and she knew it was time to do something about this relationship.

#

Paul left the dirty dishes soaking in the sink, not wanting to waste a minute of his time with Carmen. But when he returned to the table she was no longer there. He searched the garden and noticed the pool lights had been shut off although the lights along the walkways were still illuminated. Combined with the fairly bright moonlight, he was able to make out the edges of the pool, but nothing else. He approached and a splash at the edge of the pool reflected back the moonlight, giving him an idea of where she was.

His heartbeat accelerated as he walked to the edge. She waited there, her bare arms leaning on the rim of the pool, her short-cropped hair glistening wet, sleek black like the coat on a seal. He bent at the knees, hunkering down until her face was visible. She was smiling hesitantly and he grinned back and kidded, “I see you found your suit.”

Carmen pulled closer to the edge, denying him any view. “The water’s warm. Are you going to join me?”

Paul stood, unbuckled his belt as he glanced down at her, and caught a quick glimpse of the curve of her back beneath the surface of the water. The view, short as it was, had him growing hard and his hands fumbled at the snap of his jeans. “In a second, if you promise not to look.”

She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “Seems fair to me. I’ll turn around.” She did as she promised, her arms crossed in front of her, still preventing him from seeing anything. Trusting her, and yet knowing her penchant for the spontaneous, he took a precaution. He turned his back to the pool and began to draw down the zipper.

The rasp of metal broke through the night sounds. She bit her lip, intent on keeping her promise, until the thud of his sneakers hitting the cement proved to be too much temptation. Slowly she whirled in the water, gently so as to not make any noise.

He stood not inches above her, his body illuminated by the moonlight as he peeled off his jeans and bent at the waist to remove his socks.

He was glorious, tanned everywhere but along his buttocks where his skin was whiter, untouched by the Miami sun. Long, ropy muscles shifted along his back and legs as he removed the last bit of clothing. She groaned, sucked in a breath and he half-turned, still holding his pants in front of him.

“You promised,” he admonished.

Carmen shrugged again, giving him her best “I’m sorry” kind of smile. “It was just too much temptation,” she admitted ruefully, her insides tightening in anticipation.

He raised one eyebrow, looking decidedly wicked, and turned around completely, his pants still providing strategic cover for his most private parts. When he bent, leaned over until he was nearly in her face, he kept his pants glued there somehow, denying her best attempt at voyeurism. “And what do you think should be the punishment for breaking that promise?”

She hesitated, wanting this to progress further and yet for the moment, uncertain as to how to accomplish that. Until an idea came into her head, a naughty one she couldn’t drive out with what little common sense remained. She raised herself on her arms until the tops of her breasts were visible and she was almost nose to nose with him. “Maybe punishment isn’t quite the right thing,” she said huskily, raising one arm to wrap it around his neck, draw him the last little bit until his lips were brushing hers. “Maybe I should make it up to you somehow,” she suggested and met his gaze as he looked down at her breasts.

“Maybe --” was all that he got out as she tightened her hold on his neck, pushed off the pool wall with her legs, dragging him into the water with her.

Paul came up sputtering next to her, his pants still clenched in his hand. He tossed them onto the deck of the pool and reached out and laid his hands on her waist as her arms came up to rest on his shoulders, baring herself to his view.

He hardened instantly and heat raced across his body. Paul wondered if she could feel it as she lazily stroked his shoulders. Wondered if steam was coming off his skin as the water of the pool sluiced off him. He met her gaze and trembled at the invitation there.

“I like your suit,” he said lowly as he drifted closer to her, moving his hands up to cup the undersides of her breasts.

She drew a quick little inhale and glanced down at his hands. Finally he moved the last tiny inches, encircled her tight nipples between thumb and forefinger until she moaned, closed her eyes and moved her hands restlessly against his shoulders.

When he shifted his hands to her waist, she murmured a protest, until he raised her light weight out of the pool, bringing her breasts up to his mouth. He suckled her and she held his head to her, cradling him.

Carmen rained kisses across the top of his head, his forehead as he tugged on her breasts with his mouth, creating a restlessness in her. She ran her hands across his shoulders, so broad and big. His muscles were tense beneath her hands, and she kneaded them until he relaxed, dragged her entire body against him. He groaned against her breasts, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

She encircled his waist with her legs, embracing him with her entire body. “Paul,
mi amor
.”

“Mmm,” he murmured and kissed the tip of her breast again as he slowly edged them to the steps of the pool. “Say that again. I like the way it sounds.”

Carmen laughed huskily and he rejoiced in the sound of it. “
Mi amor
,” she repeated as he asked and dropped a kiss near his cheekbone.

Paul shifted until he was beneath her, her body resting against his as he lay on the hard steps of the pool. Her head was nestled on his chest. He moved his hands up and down her back, to the small valley at the top of buttocks. He ran his index finger gently up the line of her spine there and she shivered above him.

“What does it mean?” he questioned, his Spanish almost non-existent despite a life spent in Miami.

She held him tighter then and stroked her hand across his chest. There was a moment’s hesitation on her part before she responded softly, “It means ‘my love’.”

Unrestrained joy spread through him and yet it was still difficult for him to have faith. He pulled away slightly, bumped his head against the top pool step and winced.

“Are you okay?” Carmen reached around and rubbed the back of his head where he had struck it.

“I’ll be fine if you tell me you really mean it. Am I your love?”

Carmen stared down at him and was about to give him a teasing response until the earnestness in his face stopped her. The hopefulness that could be shattered so easily by a too glib response. Gently she ran her hand to his cheek, cupped it, and with one finger she traced the outline of his lips.

“I think that you are a wonderful man. And that I care a lot for you.”

He smiled then and warmth spread through her, from the finger detailing the shape of his smile, up her arm to her breasts and then lower. “I think,” she continued, “that you are handsome and fun. Even better when you’re you, like today.”

He grabbed her finger, stilling its motion. “You haven’t answered the question yet,
mi amor
,” he said in low tones, the words hesitant on his lips and yet somehow feeling right.

His Spanish was stilted with his accent, but it sent a little thrill through her to hear those words on his lips. “Say it again.”

Paul brought his head up, brushed his lips with hers, but just barely, teasing as he whispered, “
Mi amor
, Carmen,” he repeated with more certainty. “But do you mean it?”

Their lips were barely in contact, and yet electricity arced between them. She rubbed her lips back and forth across his, generating yet more sizzle.

“Do you?” she questioned back.

He gently grasped her head then to ease her away so he could see her face, his mood suddenly changing, growing intense. “I’ve never felt this before in my life.” His voice was rough. His body tense with the admission.

It brought tears to her eyes that this very caring sensitive man had not had anyone to love him. But she did love him she realized, wanting him to know her feelings for him without doubt. “I love you, Paul.
Mi amor
. You are my love and I want you like I’ve never wanted any other man.”

Paul closed his eyes and held her tight, his heart beating so loudly he thought she could feel it as she laid her head against his chest. He wanted her too, and not just for the sex. In the past two months, he had come to need her the way an addict needed a fix. She was his joy, his happiness. Her smile made even the dreariest of days come alive. She was everything he had thought was impossible for him. He loved her, with all his soul.

“I … love … you,” he said past the thick lump in his throat, his voice rough to his own ears from the emotion. “And I want you. I want to make love to you, if you want that too.”