3
Harmony woke to an empty bed, but the pillow was still warm where Clothesline’s head had been.
She pulled herself from her bed and went to her window. He was there, sitting by her window.
The night was old, and the sky was growing gray, but the dawn had not yet come.
She reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“You shouldn’t be up.” He whispered.
“I got a chill.” She grinned shyly, but he missed it.
There was something different. She felt that if he left her she would never see him again and the fear of it was choking her.
He turned suddenly.
“Why do you smell like you’re in pain?” He looked puzzled.
“Why do I feel like you’re leaving me?” She asked in answer.
“There are things I need to take care of. I have to.”
His eyes were so black that she could see herself reflected in them.
“I need you here.” She whispered brokenly, and he came to her. He stepped inside and scooped her into his arms.
“You can’t need me Harmony. I can’t be the man you need me to be. I can’t be that for anybody. I can’t. I can’t make you understand.”
She was weeping now, and she couldn’t help it. He was throwing her away. He didn’t want her. No one would ever want her. She was used goods, damaged.
He cursed and then his lips found hers and she forgot everything, but the taste of him. She poured her heartache into their kiss and gave him all that she was.
Her arms wrapped around him to pull him closer and his warmth seeped into her through her thin gown.
He cupped her face. “What are you doing?”
“If you are leaving, please, I…” How could she say what she felt? How could she say the things that were running through her mind?
He looked puzzled, but there was more in his eyes now, a heat that drove her to speak.
“I want to feel you. Please. Don’t leave me like this. Take away the pain. I want to forget it. All I want is the memory of you, of us. If this is goodbye, please give me something to remember.”
She saw the moment he understood. His arms grew tighter around her.
“I don’t think that’s what you need sweetheart.” He said against her neck.
“I want this. I want to feel alive. I want a good memory of what can be.” She stammered, and her face flamed. “I know what I’m asking for. I’m not an innocent.”
“I’m not a gentle man Harmony. I don’t know…”
She lay a finger over his lips. “Please?”
His eyes searched hers for what seemed like eternity. At last he nodded, and his lips found hers again.
Nothing had ever felt so right in her life. His hands were warm and gentle as he lifted her gown and tossed it away. She ran her hands up his chest and he let her take off his shirt too.
Her breasts felt full as they squished against his chest and her nipples were so hard they hurt.
“If you need to stop, you just tell me.” His raspy voice made chills run over her body.
“I don’t want to stop.” She said and pulled one of his big hands to her breast.
He cupped it and rolled her nipple until she moaned. She felt a pulse between her legs and felt dampness on her thighs.
“You smell so damned good sweetheart.” He said and lay her on the bed. He spread her thighs and she tensed until she saw the look on his face. It wasn’t disgust, it was desire, hunger, but not like she’d seen on Don’s face. This was wanted. She was wanted, and she wanted him back.
He lowered his lips to her damp folds and tasted her.
She lifted her hips without meaning to.
“Does that feel good sweetheart?”
He asked, his warm breath fanning her dampness.
“Yes.” She whispered, lost in his touch.
He fastened his mouth to her and suckled her like a babe at a breast. The sensation was more than she could take. She swallowed down her moans as he tugged at her clit. Something was happening, there was a pressure growing in her belly that she didn’t understand.
“Let go for me sweetheart.” He said, and he sucked hard as he pressed two fingers into her.
She shattered, hips bucking, body trembling.
There was nothing but the feel of his mouth on her body and she loved it.
When her body stopped pulsing, he climbed up her body and kissed her. She tasted the musky taste of her own pleasure as his tongue slipped into her mouth.
She expected to feel him entering her, but when her hand slipped down his body she found his jeans still clinging to his hips.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stop here?” He asked, his raspy voice deep with need.
“I’m sure I want to feel you. I’m sure I want to be as close to you as I can while you’ll let me.” She whispered, and she meant it with everything she was. Nothing mattered more to her in those moments than being with him.
When she felt him press against her she didn’t wince. He felt right and when he filled her she had never felt anything so good in all of her life.
All of the pieces of her broken spirit fell into place as he moved inside of her. All of her life had brought her to this moment and she would never look back on it with regret.
She was where she was supposed to be.
“I can’t stay. Tell me you understand. There are things I need to do, I have to. Tell me you understand, tell me you’ll wait for me.” He pleaded as he held her close.
She didn’t know what to say. Her mind was so foggy all she wanted to do was sleep, but she wanted to say something, needed to.
“Please, come back to me.”
He pressed a kiss to her hair. “I will do what I can. You need to heal, and I have to give you time to do that and… I need to take care of a few things.” His hand slid over her skin.
Something burned in her chest. Clothesline jumped as if he felt it too.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He whispered but didn’t explain. He grinned at her and kissed her.
“I need to do this sweetheart. I swear, If I live, I will come back. It’s the best I can do.” He looked down at her in wonder. “That is all I will ever be able to offer you.”
She felt her heart breaking in her chest. He was leaving and there was nothing she could do to keep him.
“I will be here.”
He kissed her hard and slipped from the bed and through the window.
Harmony pulled the quilt around her shoulders and stepped to the window. The sun was starting to turn the sky pink as he climbed on his big motorcycle and looked up at her.
His eyes ran over her as if he were trying to memorize her. Then he nodded and sped away, taking her heart with him.