So he held her.Tipping her head back, Pam studied his face.In total relaxation he looked young and vulnerable.Not that thirty was old.But he hadn’t been vulnerable for a long time.He was strong and independent, a man of friends and means.She was the vulnerable one.His world had broadened.She could lose him so easily.
A faint shiver passed through her.His arms tightened, but it was an instinct.The evenness of his breathing told her that he had dozed off.Nestling her cheek in the soft, curling hair on his chest, she closed her eyes, breathed in the warm, male scent of his skin, and concentrated on the pure heaven of being there with him.
The contentment was a sedative.She dozed, too, awakening to find him perched on an elbow eyeing her appreciatively.
“You look like an angel when you sleep.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.”She stretched, felt the glide of her skin against his, snuggled closer.Then she remembered the point of her visit and flattened a hand on his chest.
He moved it over his nipple, which was already tight, and let a low moan slip from deep inside.
“Oh no you don’t!”She snatched back her hand and sat up.Sweeping her hair from her face with her thumb and forefinger, she settled cross-legged facing him.
“I meant what I said before.About marriage.”
His eyes were on the juncture of her thighs.
“Cutter?”
He looked up quickly.“Hmm?”
“Let’s get married.”
“When the time is right, we will.”
“Let’s do it now.I’m tired of waiting.”She had his full attention.He was studying her curiously.“I’m out of school and earning good money.You’re earning even better money.You can’t give me the argument that I’m going to pass by you in life, because it’s more like the other way around.So let’s get married.”
She watched his curiosity slip into disbelief.“Just likethat?Just like we’re two people who met last year and fell in love?Just like we haven’t been wanting to get married since you were seventeen?”
“Just like that.”
His disbelief deepened.“But nothing’s changed, Pam.John is still there, still threatening.”
“We’ve changed,” she argued.“We’re older.Stronger.I’m tired of living my life by John’s rules.”
Cutter ran a hand over his eyes and left his arm on his forehead.Peering at her from beneath it, he said wearily, “I think we’ve been through this before.”
“And I’m as tired of it as you are.So let’s do something.Let’s get married.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because the time isn’t right.”
“That’s what you said before, but it’s as right as it’ll ever be.John won’t just grow old and fade away, and if you think he’ll mellow sometime soon, think again.He has this thing about you, Cutter.He’d as soon slash my throat as have me marry you.”
“That’s why the timing has to be right.”
“But I want to get married now.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
“What else is new?”
Hearing the bitterness in his voice, she felt a sinking inside.She had known that he wouldn’t jump at the idea, since they’d discussed it before.Still she wished he would show a little enthusiasm.
