In Rapture (Destined) by Elissa Daye Page B

the mantle.
    Malinda
had thoroughly lost her appetite, so she left the dining room after closing the
doors quietly behind her. She saw another faint glowing light down the hallway.
“Again?” She walked purposefully to the door and yanked it open, ready to tell
the specter to shove off, but a completely different sight filled the space
before her. A handsome young man sat at the desk in front of her. His long
blond hair curled in thick strands that wove gently around a face that was set in
fierce concentration. She could not tell what color his eyes were, but she
could tell they seemed troubled. He sported a small rugged beard that ran from
the top of his mouth, down around his mouth to the bottom of his chin, tracing
small pathways up to his ears. The breath seemed to suck out of her lungs when
he looked up at her from his perch at his desk.
    “And
you are?” The deep timber of his voice shattered the silence in the room.
    “I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m Malinda Grier…I mean Timberlin, I suppose.
And you?” Malinda fidgeted in front of his piercing gaze, hoping that he would
not see the discomfort his gaze brought to her.
    “I
see. Well, that would make me your husband.”
    He
rose from the desk like a panther on the hunt and made his way slowly over to
her. Malinda had enough time to see the taut fabric of his white buttoned shirt
strain against the muscles hidden underneath. Malinda was not quite prepared
for the heat of his golden eyes when his face came close to hers. She looked
away nervously as butterflies took off in her stomach and tumbled in several
directions at once. When his hand gently crept across her face to pull her face
closer to his, she could not fight the tingling warmth that rose through her
body. His lips were just inches away from hers and all she could think about
was the dream that had haunted her for years. A flash of images raced across
her mind. Their bodies moving together, mouths touching, hands reaching,
searching for the exhausting ecstasy she had found only in her dreams. It was
him. It had always been him.
    When
his mouth touched hers she struggled not to bolt from the emotions that flared
deep inside. His hand crept down her neck and lured her body closer to his. She
gasped in surprise when he cupped her bottom in his hands as he deepened his
assault on her lips. When his tongue made its way into her mouth, she felt a
piercing heat splinter the stillness inside her, as her own moan of desire left
her mouth. When he pulled away from her she could not meet his gaze.
    ***
    Grant
gazed at Malinda, his eyes taking in the old nightgown that teased his senses,
as her womanly curves were outlined underneath when the flickering light of the
fireplace behind them lit up the material like the tail of a firefly. He ran a
finger down the front and found a nipple that was hiding deliciously
underneath.
    ***
    Malinda
intended to move away from his touch, but something almost mystical kept her
trapped in time. Finally sanity returned and she pushed herself away from him. “I’m
sorry. I was just returning to bed. I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening.”
She turned around swiftly and walked as fast as her feet would carry her, away
from the study, from her husband, from the lover from her dreams. She heard him
call after her.
    “That’s
right. Run while you still can.”

Chapter 9
     
    Malinda’s
heart was still racing as she climbed the stairs to the master bedroom. This
time, she was especially thankful for the darkness that would hide the red that
crept up her throat, all the way to the top of her face. She could feel the
heated flush staining her, the same exact flush she had felt many times before
when her mystery lover had invaded her dream life. She opened the door to the
bedroom, looked behind her to make sure he had not followed her, then entered
swiftly before the door closed behind her. She leaned into the door, gathering
her courage for the third time this