Page 69 of Stolen Kiss

When he gave her a second glance that summer, she thought she was the luckiest woman on Copper Island. He was on acompeting boat in a gig race and her boat had beaten his. The rowers as tradition would have it got drunk that Saturday night to mark the beginning of the summer. School was finished, she’d graduated from midwife school and wanted to spend the summer like a teenager with no responsibilities. She knew when September came the real work would begin. He’d fallen against her at the bar and that was it. Eyes locked, his arm around her back to stop her toppling over. She never seen him at The Anchor in all the years she’d been gig racing. He pulled her tight against him and whispered in her ear.

“I shouldn’t, Keith would kill me, but I’d really like to kiss you.”

That was it for her. She was smitten. Jason didn’t want her brother to know, and neither did she, so they spent their summer hidden away, getting to know each other, every inch of each other. They’d disappear into the sand dunes and come out hours later, hurrying away to their homes keeping their secret.

“Somehow my aunt found out about us. I thought we were so careful. Your brother never knew until she told him. Keith’s face last night when he spat out the words. It was like I’d betrayed him.”

“Keith barely tolerated me after he gave me the message you didn’t want to see me anymore. Our relationship fell apart, and he was in a permanent bad mood. The only time he was ever happy was on his surf board.”

“I’ve missed my friend,” Jason said. “I hope one day he’ll forgive me for falling in love with his sister.”

“Jason,” Heidi said, blowing out a long breath to stop the emotion seeping from her eyes.

“I never told you I loved you back then, but I did, so very much,” he said cuddling her closer. “I’m so very sorry my aunt caused us to split up.”

“It sounds like Keith was played too.”

Heidi couldn’t say the words back. She loved him back then, and she loved him now but she couldn’t say the words. Heidi curled into him and sniffed.

“No tears, sweetheart.” He said lifting her chin.

Her heart ached, like it was being strangled inside her chest. She met his gaze, and the tears dripped down her cheeks. The sob was stuck in her throat as she watched him look back at her, hurt etched in his features.

“Will you let me love you again?” he whispered.

“Jason,” she said and then the sob came.

He stood with her in his arms and walked them up the stairs pressing kisses over her cheeks as he took her to his bedroom. He carefully placed her on the bed like she was precious. Then he stood back, stripping out of his clothes before her.

She felt like he was baring more than just his skin and this was decision time. The moonlight lit the room. Heidi took her time taking in his broad chest and trim waist. Then his erection and his firm thighs.

There was no doubt she wanted him, loved him but could she cope with his aunt in her life.

“Heidi, I’m dying a thousand deaths here,” he whispered, taking a step forward.

Heidi opened three of her buttons of her blouse and then pulled it over her head. She stood and reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Jason took another step forward, and she lifted up her hand and shook her head. He stayed where he was and she continued to undress until she was naked too.

“Christ,” he said it like a prayer, gazing down her body.

This wasn’t the first time he’d seen her naked, but she felt like it was the first time he was looking at her.

“Come here,” she said.

“Not until you answer me.”

Heidi had to think of the question he asked and then widened her eyes. “Yes. Yes, I’ll let you love me again.”

“Still,” he replied. “I never stopped.”

“Jason,” she said and then he was at her front, and then covering her on the bed with his mouth on her neck.

It wasn’t long before he was sliding inside her and she sighed, lifting her legs to wrap around him. This was another type of sex, slow, taking their relationship to a more intimate level. She cried when she came around him. Jason kept moving while she sobbed taking his time until he came, buried deep inside her.

“This is it now, this is us, no matter what,” he said, still covering her body. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I understand. I don’t believe it but I understand you think we’ll be okay.”

“I will spend every moment I can, making you believe it, sweetheart.”

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