Chapter Fourteen
Michelle watched the play of emotions on Utah’s face. It quickly became clear to her that he saw himself in a different light than she did.
She took hold of his hand and rose to her feet. “Come on.”
At his questioning look, she elaborated. “I think what you’re seeing is your last memory before your— Before the fire. You’re making new memories now.”
Utah allowed her to tug him forward and lead him into her frilly pink bathroom.
She bent and turned on the shower. “Take off your pants.”
“I’ve tried before,” he admitted in a wooden voice. “It doesn’t work that way.”
Michelle raised an eyebrow. “Like your shirt lying back there next to the couch?”
“I don’t know how that happened,” he murmured. “I’ve never been able to take it off. Besides, what would I do then? Haunt the shipyard in the nude?”
Michelle’s lips twitched. “Now, that I’d pay to see.”
She reached for his belt. “May I?”
Utah didn’t answer. He simply stared back at her with hooded eyes.
Gripping the belt, Michelle fought back the sudden bout of shyness that snaked through her and slid the leather through the buckle. It freed with no problem.
She then popped the button on his pants and dragged down the zipper.
He wore black boxer briefs, she noticed.
Taking an unsteady breath, she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of his navy-blue pants and tugged them down.
Utah’s hands rested on her shoulders as she dropped to her knees to unlace his boots.
She glanced up at him, her stomach a ball of nerves, and attempted a reassuring smile. “Almost done.”
The look of awe on his face turned her insides to mush. God, but she wanted him.
How? she wondered, removing his boots and pants before rising to divest him of his briefs. How could she want him? He wasn’t even alive.
He’s just as much alive as Malik and Cassie, her mind whispered, conjuring up an image of the newlyweds kissing outside Scruples. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that they could be vampires.
The boxer briefs suddenly stopped their descent as they hung up on Utah’s rather large erection.
Michelle’s breath caught. Not only did he seem more than alive to her, but he had the most amazing—
“Michelle?” Utah whispered, pulling her out of her fascinated perusal of him.
Averting her gaze, she dragged the briefs down his legs and turned to check on the water.
“Michelle…”
She couldn’t face him. Not after she’d been caught staring at his overly endowed package. No, she wouldn’t look at him. She slowly turned around.
Utah stood before her in all his beautiful glory. He was cut in all the right places, reminding her of a painting she’d admired in a museum a few years back.
“You did it.” He took a step toward her, his hand lifting, palm up. “I don’t know what power you hold over me, but you have brought me back to life.”
Michelle’s stomach flipped. She knew somewhere deep in her heart that Utah Baines wasn’t alive, but it sure as hell felt as if he was. She could see, hear, and taste him. Not to mention smell his amazing scent.
She wasn’t sure how much time she had left with him before he found his way to wherever he was meant to be. But she was determined to make the best of the time she did have.
Without answering him, she gripped the hem of her T-shirt and lifted it over her head.
Utah’s soft intake of breath was the only sound he made as her breasts were freed from the lacy pink bra she wore.
She stepped out of her sweatpants, taking her panties down with them, all the while holding Utah’s passionate gaze.
He stepped in closer. His voice came out so low she could barely hear him. “You’re beautiful, Michelle. I’m almost afraid to touch you.”
Michelle took hold of his hand, stepped over into the shower, and pulled him in with her. She gently pushed him back under the spray of the water. “Clear your mind and just feel.”
His eyes remained open as if he feared she would somehow disappear.
Michelle had never been more turned on in her entire life.
She leaned forward to grab the shampoo bottle, her nipples hardening where they brushed against his chest.
A groan rumbled from deep in his throat, but he didn’t move.
Squeezing some of the strawberry-smelling liquid into her palm, she set the bottle behind her on the side of the tub and lifted her hands to his dark hair. The feel of the silky strands sliding between her fingers felt amazing.
Gone were the thoughts of ghosts and vampires. There was only Utah, the man, standing in her shower. And tonight, he belonged to her.
Michelle stared into his hazel-colored eyes, eyes so alive and full of life. Eyes that watched her back with an intensity that weakened her knees.
Were those tears she saw swimming in their depths? She couldn’t be sure with the water cascading down his face.
She finished washing his hair, bypassing the washcloth to feel his skin beneath her palms.
Soaping up her hands, Michelle coasted them over Utah’s shoulders in slow, sensual strokes. His muscles jumped and flexed with every pass of her hands.
She moved to his hips, slipping her palms around to his ass before sliding them down his thighs.
The sight of his erection pulsing before her drew her in. She lowered to her knees, wrapped her hands around him, and guided him to her mouth.
“Michelle…” he groaned, burying his hands in her hair.