Knight Vision by Johanna Bock Page B

journals on the desk.  “These hold my poetry.  You asked to see them.  Pick one,” he directed.
    As Annie scanned the row of journals, she laughed softly. It appeared that he captured his thoughts in the same-style notebooks that she used to capture hers.  Placing the unopened soda on the desk, she ran her finger down the row of notebooks.  “Where do I begin?” she whispered.
    Jeff remained silent; he knew the question was not meant for him. His heartbeat increased as he saw her settle on the open notebook positioned under the light. “That is not finished,” he whispered.  “I just started it today.”
    Annie could only nod in response as she eyed the title, ’ Since I Touched Shoulders With You ’ . It was not the title that silenced her words; it was the two words printed below it.  ’ For Annie .’  With tears forming in her eyes, she read the few lines jotted on the paper.
     
    You will believe what I say is true,
    You appeared before me out of the blue.
    Who am I not to reach and hold,
    This beauty before me, who shimmered in gold.
    I read the sign, I read the clue,
    It happened since I touched shoulders with you.
     
    “Oh, Words Man,” she muttered, looking into his eyes.  She placed the book back on the desk.
    He pulled her back into his embrace.  “Annie,“ he whispered into her hair.  “I want you.“
    “Me, too,“ she whispered, eyeing the bed on the pool table.  “No way.“
    He agreed, laughingly. 
     
    ***

 
    Chapter Nine
     
    With the words of the poem still echoing in her head, Annie watched him move to the wall switch and turn off the overhead light, leaving only the desk light on.  On his way back, he removed the comforter off the bed and spread it at her feet on the tile floor.  She nodded her agreement, feeling too shy to talk.
    Jeff knelt on the spread and reached up for her.  She grabbed his extended hands and knelt in front of him.  Her shyness melted away as she gazed into his ’bedroom eyes.’  He gathered her into his embrace and their lips met.  Closing her eyes, she eagerly returned the embrace and fire of his kiss.  She felt his right hand move from her back.  He backed out of the embrace a little, but his lips never left hers.  Reaching under the front of her blouse, he unhooked her bra in one movement.  Amazement shot through her as she wondered how he knew she was wearing a front-snapped bra, until she remembered his exploration of her back under her jacket just moments before.  Smart boy , she thought.  No, that was wrong.  Smart man, for this was not a boy.
    His hand moved to cup her left breast.  She heard herself gasp at the touch of his hand against her bare skin.  “Be gentle,“ she mumbled against his lips. 
    “Oh, I will,“ he responded.  He deepened the kiss and continued to fondle her until he achieved the desired result of her throaty moan.  He knew her body was taking over her actions.  He released her and she cried out quietly, arching her body to him.  He gently pushed her back while releasing their kiss.
    “Jeff?“ she asked through swollen lips, opening her eyes.
    He softly placed his index finger on her full lips to halt her from saying anything.  He looked deeply into her eyes and she saw the want in his eyes.  She felt him start to unbutton her blouse; his eyes never left her face.  Reaching out, she moved the hair from his forehead.  As she ran her fingers through his hair, he leaned his head into her hand.  What a loving gesture , she thought.
    When all the buttons were undone, he removed her hand from his hair.  He hooked his thumbs on the edge of the blouse and dropped if off her shoulders, followed closely by her bra.  She witnessed him looking down upon her exposed front and her heart froze.  Her body language must have given off her alarm, because he looked up into her eyes and smiled.  God, I love this man , she thought.
    They came together in a bear hug.  Their closeness made her aware of his