flute as the music Ryan played carried on the wind and wrapped around them. Such a beautiful gift to be able create music like that. Standing above them, high on the cliff the stone dance caught the ribbons of moonlight, making it seem rippled with magic. She wished they could just run away somewhere her father couldn’t find them.
These stolen moments made it easier to deal with her father and his abusive behavior. Opening the picnic basket next to her, she placed the carefully prepared meal on the blanket spread across the sand.
“A present from Skye, baked chicken and strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.”
“He’s so sweet.”
Warm, strong hands touched her gently on the shoulders. Tender. Kind. Kate turned into Ryan’s embrace and held him tightly to her. “I wish you didn’t have to go back. When are you leaving?”
“I don’t want to talk about that now. I missed you like crazy, Kate.”
His eyes were hungry when she gazed into them, starving almost. For what? For her? Sometimes it was easy for her to forget those five years between them, but not now.
She shivered with nerves as he pressed his lips to hers, taking her deep into the kiss, pulling her under a current of emotions until all she had left was him. “I love you, Ryan.”
“Mo chroi, I will love you forever.”
She lay back on the blanket, taking Ryan down to lie alongside her. The love she felt overwhelmed her, until her heart ached with the force of it. Ryan had always been a part of her life, first as Liv’s brother, then a friend, but the strength of their emotions couldn’t stay innocent forever.
“Be sure.”
“I belong with you, Ryan. I need you. This is what I want.”
They took each other slowly, a kiss, a touch, a taste to savor as though time stood still. New lovers with old souls moved together in a dance of pleasure. She needed no test or magical skill to read the love in Ryan’s eyes. Mine. Covered only in moonlight, the cool ocean breeze and the heat of her lover’s body, she clung to Ryan as they flew over the edge, passion into heartache.
The moon rode high in the sky and reflected off the waves gently breaking on the shore. She lay naked on a blanket spread out on the sand. Kate glanced at her watch. Midnight. She must have been dozing, since an hour or so had passed without her notice. Stretching out her hand, she rolled to her side and nuzzled an equally nude Ryan.
“When I go back to classes, I want you to come with me, Kate.”
“Can I do that?”
“We’ll find an apartment off campus.”
“What are you asking?”
“I love you. Marry me.”
* * * *
Ryan ended the song with a flourish of notes and the spell was broken. He looked back at Kate and the tension between them returned full force.
No one spoke until Jack cleared his throat.
“Thanks for dinner, Molly. It’s getting dark, so we really should be heading home.” Jack kissed his mother-in-law on the cheek, and then helped Liv up out of the chair.
“Bye, Ma.”
“Bye, dear. I’ll be round to check on things tomorrow.” Molly saw them out and closed the door.
Skye stared at Ryan intensely, probably seeing all there was to see and a good deal more than he wished for.
“So, pretty Katie, I’m heading back to the pub. Care to join me for a round, or a dance, or anything you like?” Skye took Kate’s hand and kissed her fingers. Ryan shot him a killing look.
Kate smiled at Skye and tugged on her hand.
“Maybe another time.”
“Whenever you like, darling.”
Molly stepped between her sons. “Shouldn’t you be getting back, Skylar? Rain is coming in. Stop teasing Mary Katherine.”
“See you tomorrow, Ma.” He was whistling when the door closed behind him.
“Ryan, you should drive Kate back to the clinic. Allie’s spending the night with me. She’s had a big day. Well. I’m going to put the leftovers away. Keys are still on the hook by the front door. Be careful. I’ll bring Allie over in the
These stolen moments made it easier to deal with her father and his abusive behavior. Opening the picnic basket next to her, she placed the carefully prepared meal on the blanket spread across the sand.
“A present from Skye, baked chicken and strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.”
“He’s so sweet.”
Warm, strong hands touched her gently on the shoulders. Tender. Kind. Kate turned into Ryan’s embrace and held him tightly to her. “I wish you didn’t have to go back. When are you leaving?”
“I don’t want to talk about that now. I missed you like crazy, Kate.”
His eyes were hungry when she gazed into them, starving almost. For what? For her? Sometimes it was easy for her to forget those five years between them, but not now.
She shivered with nerves as he pressed his lips to hers, taking her deep into the kiss, pulling her under a current of emotions until all she had left was him. “I love you, Ryan.”
“Mo chroi, I will love you forever.”
She lay back on the blanket, taking Ryan down to lie alongside her. The love she felt overwhelmed her, until her heart ached with the force of it. Ryan had always been a part of her life, first as Liv’s brother, then a friend, but the strength of their emotions couldn’t stay innocent forever.
“Be sure.”
“I belong with you, Ryan. I need you. This is what I want.”
They took each other slowly, a kiss, a touch, a taste to savor as though time stood still. New lovers with old souls moved together in a dance of pleasure. She needed no test or magical skill to read the love in Ryan’s eyes. Mine. Covered only in moonlight, the cool ocean breeze and the heat of her lover’s body, she clung to Ryan as they flew over the edge, passion into heartache.
The moon rode high in the sky and reflected off the waves gently breaking on the shore. She lay naked on a blanket spread out on the sand. Kate glanced at her watch. Midnight. She must have been dozing, since an hour or so had passed without her notice. Stretching out her hand, she rolled to her side and nuzzled an equally nude Ryan.
“When I go back to classes, I want you to come with me, Kate.”
“Can I do that?”
“We’ll find an apartment off campus.”
“What are you asking?”
“I love you. Marry me.”
* * * *
Ryan ended the song with a flourish of notes and the spell was broken. He looked back at Kate and the tension between them returned full force.
No one spoke until Jack cleared his throat.
“Thanks for dinner, Molly. It’s getting dark, so we really should be heading home.” Jack kissed his mother-in-law on the cheek, and then helped Liv up out of the chair.
“Bye, Ma.”
“Bye, dear. I’ll be round to check on things tomorrow.” Molly saw them out and closed the door.
Skye stared at Ryan intensely, probably seeing all there was to see and a good deal more than he wished for.
“So, pretty Katie, I’m heading back to the pub. Care to join me for a round, or a dance, or anything you like?” Skye took Kate’s hand and kissed her fingers. Ryan shot him a killing look.
Kate smiled at Skye and tugged on her hand.
“Maybe another time.”
“Whenever you like, darling.”
Molly stepped between her sons. “Shouldn’t you be getting back, Skylar? Rain is coming in. Stop teasing Mary Katherine.”
“See you tomorrow, Ma.” He was whistling when the door closed behind him.
“Ryan, you should drive Kate back to the clinic. Allie’s spending the night with me. She’s had a big day. Well. I’m going to put the leftovers away. Keys are still on the hook by the front door. Be careful. I’ll bring Allie over in the
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