Page 11 of Sexual Healing

She was tearing at his sanity, his hold of his senses, and his control. The look he saw in her eyes was glazed with a profound need, and her movements on top of him reflected that. When he saw that lying still was no longer an option, he nearly lifted his hips off the bed to thrust upward into her at the same time as she surged downward, burying himself inside her to the hilt.

Each time they touched, her stomach, pelvis, and thighs rubbing against his, a gnawing ache that had been within him since the last time they’d made love almost five years ago was being soothed. And when she increased her pace, pistoling her downward and upward strokes to a degree that was as intense as it could get, his hips surged up, making each thrust deeper, more meaningful…unforgettable. Reese closed his eyes when he heard her scream out his name, and he drove himself deep inside heras he locked his legs around her. He might have hell to pay later, but he needed this. He needed her.

A coil of need tightened inside him and then snapped when his climax exploded in a ball of sensation that ripped through every part of his body. He felt himself flooding her inside with his essence and called out her name in triumph. He felt all the love any one man could have for a single woman emanating from deep within him. Emotions he’d held back for almost five years broke free.

“Reese.” His name was whispered from Leah’s lips in a hoarse, enervated breath before her exhausted body collapsed on top of him.

Reese shifted his body in bed and pulled the covers over his head as his dreams intensified. He had dreamed that he and Leah had made love several times, and that she had taken control of their joining. His body felt hard at the thought, and in sleep, he grabbed the extra pillow in the bed and sank his face into it.

His eyes flew open when he inhaled the scent. Leah’s scent. He jerked up in bed and glanced around, suddenly realizing it hadn’t been a dream. He and Leah had actually made love in this very bed. And now she was gone.

Hell!

Jumping out of bed, he slipped into his pajama bottoms, wondering where to search for Leah first. He was worried that last night’s activities would cause a setback. And they’d come so far. He had to find her, apologize for losing control, and —

“Going to a fire, Reese?”

He jerked around. She was standing in the doorway holding folded laundry in her hands. And she looked…at peace. He blinked. Hoping it wasn’t his mind playing tricks on him, he inhaled deeply and slowly walked over to her, stopping in front of her. Searching her face, he asked softly, “You okay, baby?”

She nodded as a small smile touched her lips. “Yes, Reese, I’m fine. I washed my clothes earlier and thought I would dry them while you were…”

“Forget about the clothes, Leah. How do you feel?” he asked with deep concern in his voice. She glanced at the floor beforelifting her head to meet his gaze again. Then, to his surprise, the corners of her lips tilted into a smile. “Mainly sore.”

He was startled by her words for a quick moment, and then he released a relieved sigh before taking a step closer to her. “You wanted it,” he said in a low, husky voice, not taking his eyes off her as he thought back to the glorious way she’d made love to him.

He watched as her smile widened. “Yes, and if I recall correctly, I even took it. The nerve of me being so bold.”

He grinned. “Yes, the nerve of you.”

Moments later, the amusement vanished and was replaced with concern. “Other than being sore, how do you feel, Leah?”

This time it was Leah who took a step forward. “Other than sore, I feel wonderful. Reborn. Rejuvenated. I feel like a woman who has been given her life back, Reese. I had to be shocked into it, I guess. The thought of losing you, not sharing my love for you in a physical way again, made me forget about Neil and what he’d done to me. Suddenly, I realized that what is important is moving ahead with you, sharing my love and my life with you, for better or for worse. Good times and bad. I love you. I want to marry you. I want to have your babies. And--” she said softer, “I want to get your family together and tell them what happened. I couldn’t stand it if they opposed our marriage.”

He took the clothes from her hand, placed them aside, and gathered her into his arms. “You don’t have to tell them anything, Leah. All they need to know is that I love you.”

“But I want to tell them. I have to. Your mother and brother deserve to know the truth. And I want them to know what a wonderful man you are to have stuck by me for these six months and to have gotten me through some pretty difficult times. You are truly a special man, Reese Singleton.”

And then she was on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with all the intensity of a woman in love.Reese swept her up and carried her to the bed. A quiver of love and happiness flowed through her because she knew that, once again, she would receive sexual healing in the purest form in the arms of the man she loved.

“Why did you call this family meeting, Reese?” his mother asked, looking from him to Leah as she entered Reese’s home.

Leah glanced at the individuals as they came in--Reese’s mother, Rachel, Daniel, and Rita. She figured Lil Danny was with his maternal grandparents.

Leah turned to them. “Thanks for coming to our home.” Saying that made her feel good inside because she now truly accepted this house as theirs−hers and Reese’s.

Reese was standing beside her, and he reached out and took her hand in his. His hold was strong and comforting. It had been her decision to call this meeting, and he was letting her have the floor. However, as usual, he was giving her the support she needed.

“Please have a seat, everyone. There is something I need to tell you. It’s something I wish I had told you long ago, but I haven’t had the strength to do it until now.”

Rachel must have heard the anguish in her voice because she leaned forward in her seat and asked in a concerned voice, “What is it, Leah?”

Leah closed her eyes and fought back the tears that threatened to fall. This was the first time since her return that Rachel Singleton had called her by name. It was as if her name had become too distasteful for the older woman to say. When Reese’s hand tightened on hers, she knew he’d noticed as well. She reopened her eyes and saw three people looking at herintently. And with Reese by her side, she found the strength to continue.

“I want to tell you about that night I left town five years ago. I ran away because I…I had been raped that same night by Neil Grunthall.”

Ignoring the shocked gasps, she continued, “I knew if I’d told Reese or my father what had happened, they would have found Neil and killed him with their bare hands. I could not let that happen.”

She paused momentarily and then went on. “Reese and Neil never got along. Most people knew that. A lot of people even wondered why Dad had hired him in the first place, with Neil being a drifter. However, those who truly knew Dad understood. He was a man who always gave a helping hand to anyone who needed it. To Dad, everyone deserved the benefit of doubt.”

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