Chapter Thirteen – Frankie

“I think I’ve got everything,” Frankie said as she placed her suitcase next to Adam’s bag in the trunk.

He chuckled. “If this is what you pack for four days, I dread to think how much luggage you’d take on vacation.”

“Not fair,” she replied, digging him in the ribs. “I’m nervous. I want to make sure I have a choice of outfits if we do get to meet Delia’s family.”

“It doesn’t matter what you wear.”

“Says the man who spends his life in a suit.” She jabbed her finger into his hard toned chest, her mind dragging up an image of him naked in her bed last night. Smooth skin over toned muscles. Any minute now she was going to start drooling. “You know that first impressions count.”

“I also know that what’s on the inside matters the most. They’ll be more interested in what sort of person you are.”

“And if I’m looking after their precious gift.” She placed her hand on her heart. These last couple of days, things had changed, she felt more...integrated. As if her heart was beginning to accept her. Which was weird, because she’d been warned her body might reject the heart, see it as an alien organ in her body. Yet it had always been the other way around.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Adam asked as his arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her close. She tipped her head back to look into his face, the face she wanted to gaze upon for the rest of her life.

“Yes.” She kissed his lips, a quick peck, but then went back for more. Their lips moved against each other, sending delicious sensations through her body. “Thank you,” she said at last when their lips parted. “For coming with me, for not thinking I’m crazy.”

“I think I have a little crazy inside me, too.” Adam wound his fingers in her hair. “I’d go with you to the ends of the earth and off into oblivion if you needed me to.”

Frankie sighed and rested her head on his chest. “I’m so very lucky.” Despite everything that had happened to her, she never thought of herself as an unlucky victim. Her mother might have died, but Ruth had picked her up and raised her. Her heart might have been irreparably damaged by a virus, but she’d been given another chance. And she might have lived her life alone, but Adam had come into her life now.

“We need to go.” He eased her gently away from him. “If you are sure. I can’t promise where this road will take us.”

“I know.” She took hold of his hand and kissed it. “But wherever it takes us, we’ll travel there together.”

“I can promise you that.” He led her to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. “Always together.”

Frankie got into the car and did her seatbelt up, relaxing in the comfortable seats. “It’s a long journey, I’m going to appreciate this car of yours.”

“And my company, I hope.” Adam drove the car away from her house, heading into the unknown.

“Of course.” Frankie opened her purse. “I brought snacks, too.”

Adam glanced sideways at her. “We’re not living on candy bars.”

“I brought healthy snacks.” She waved an apple at him. “So tell me, being a hotel manager, does that mean you’ll compare every hotel and restaurant to The Catherine?”

He frowned as he thought. “I’ll try not to. Anyway, nothing could compare to The Catherine, just as no one will ever compare to you. I am nothing but loyal.”

“Good answer.” Frankie watched the road signs go by as his car ate up the miles between Bear Creek and Reaminster. They stopped at a roadside diner, which passed Adam’s high standards, and ate dinner. Then they drove on as the sun went down. It was strange seeing it set on the horizon, rather than behind the mountains. She missed Bear Creek. Missed the town, the people, and the mountains.

“Okay?” Adam asked after she’d been quiet for a while.

“Yes, I was thinking how quickly Bear Creek has become my home.”

“When we get back, I want to start house hunting.” Adam turned off the highway and followed the road signs leading to Reaminster.

“Are you sure you’re ready to leave your other woman?” Frankie teased, despite her growing fatigue.

“The Catherine? Yes, I’m ready to start our new life together.”

Frankie yawned and put her hand to her mouth. “I’m ready to go to bed.” The car was comfortable enough, she could just lean the seat right back and sleep right here. But she fought to stay awake, not wanting to miss a moment of Adam’s company.

At last, Adam turned off the road and followed a short driveway that led to a modern looking hotel. It didn’t have the same character as The Catherine but was stunning in its own way. “Well, this is the hotel Julius recommended.” Adam drove the car into the parking lot and switched off the engine. “I’ll grab the luggage from the trunk.”

“Thanks.” Frankie got out and stretched, unkinking her body. Her bear grumbled under her skin, wanting to be free. Since meeting Adam’s bear, her own bear had been obsessed with making a date for another adventure with him. But Reaminster was not the place, there were no wide open spaces or mountain peaks to climb.

“Ready?” Adam asked as he joined her, a look of concern on his face.

“I’m okay,” she reassured him as they walked toward the hotel entrance. “My bear has been hassling me about your bear. It’s like having a child constantly asking to go on a playdate.”

“Tell me about it,” Adam said in agreement. “If my bear had his way, we’d go and live in the mountains, find a nice little cave and spend our days hunting and sleeping. And mating.” He cast her a sideways glance.

“At least they like each other.” Frankie pushed the door open and held it for Adam as he entered the lobby. It was nice, clean and modern, and the hotel receptionist greeted them with a warm smile.

“Hello, welcome to the Duke of Reaminster Hotel, do you have a reservation?” The name conjured up images of an old style inn, it seemed out of character for such a modern building.

Adam glanced at her name badge. “Yes, Joanna, I called earlier and made a reservation. Adam Painter.”

“Oh, yes, here we are.” Joanna tapped on the keyboard and brought up their details. “If I could just take some details.”

A couple of minutes later, they were riding the elevator to the third floor. A tingle of excitement passed through Frankie. They were going to spend the night together. All night, without Adam getting up at an early hour before the sun was fully in the sky to drive back to the hotel.

“You look happy,” he commented. “I thought you liked Bear Creek.”

“I do.”

“So why are you happy to be in Reaminster instead?” Adam watched her and the heat in her body grew.

“Because I’m here with you, just the two of us for a whole night.”

“That sounds like a good enough reason.” His voice was soft and seductive in the confined space of the elevator.

She moved to stand next to him, her body brushing against his. “It is.” Their lips met as the elevator doors pinged open.

“This is our floor,” Adam murmured against her lips.

“Pity.” She stepped away from him reluctantly and then turned and walked out of the elevator, and headed down the corridor to their room. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open to reveal a tastefully decorated room that had what looked like the comfiest bed she’d ever seen, or was that her fatigue influencing her mind? She turned around and flopped down on it, definitely the comfiest bed she’d ever lay down on.

“Nice room,” Adam said, taking a good look around.

Frankie turned over and rested her chin on her hands. “Nice view.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Adam asked, circling the bed like a predator and hell, she wanted to be his prey.

“I might be.” Frankie rolled over onto her back and patted the bed. “Come see how comfortable it is.”

“I like the view from here.” He placed his hands on either side of her head, the mattress sinking under his weight. Teasing her, he leaned down and kissed her lips lightly.

“I thought we could get an early night since we’re so tired from the journey, and we have to be up early tomorrow.” She reached up and took hold of his jacket, pulling him down toward her.

“If you’re that tired, maybe you should go straight to sleep.” His voice was silky smooth as he teased her.

“Want to tuck me in?” she asked, circling his neck with her hands and caressing the nape of his neck.

“You need to undress first. You won’t be comfortable with all those clothes on.” Adam pulled back, and she let him go.

Turning onto her front, Frankie pushed herself to a kneeling position and shrugged off her coat. Then she grabbed the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. She rocked from side to side on her knees. “Want to join me now?”

“No, I still like the view from here.” Adam folded his arms and arched an eyebrow. “Still too many clothes.”

Undoing the button on her jeans, Frankie then wriggled them down over her hips and changed her position so she was sitting on the bed, while she kicked them off. Adam fought to keep his expression serious as her jeans got stuck on one foot and she had to tug harder. At last, she moved back to a kneeling position, wearing only her bra and panties. His eyes flickered over her body, lingering on the scar on her chest.

His face creased into a frown, and she wanted to cover her body and hide from him. When they’d made love the night before, she’d kept her top on in the car, and the lights off in her bedroom. Her smiled faltered, and she sat down on her heels, the moment past. Frankie no longer felt sexy, she felt damaged.

Adam moved with purpose, he came to her, pushing his jacket off his shoulders and pulling his shirt over his head as he crawled onto the bed. “Don’t hide from me.”

Frankie met his eyes, reading his fierce hunger there, and her arousal increased, her nipples taut as he reached out and stroked her skin. His fingertips were light as he touched the scar, and then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the place where the surgeon’s knife had cut her skin as he operated to save her life. Heat pooled between her thighs as he trailed his tongue over her flesh as if he could wipe away the scar and with it her fears.

Frankie cradled his head in her hands and then lifted his face so she could look into his eyes. “I can never hide from you.” She leaned forward and kissed his lips. Adam’s hands cupped her breasts, and his thumbs rubbed against her nipples, exciting her, increasing her need for him.

In perfect symmetry, they rolled down onto the bed. Holding each other, kissing each other as they removed the last of their clothes. Then, Adam moved between her thighs and guided himself into her. His body was perfect, incredibly strong, the protector, and she felt safe in his arms. As he made love to her, she believed that he would protect her from anything that might ever want to hurt her.

And she would protect him. As they raced together to a shuddering climax, Frankie cried out, a mixture of physical pleasure and emotional pain. For the only thing that she would never be able to protect Adam from was herself.