An Impossible Task

Chapter 6

Opening the door to his hotel room, John stepped aside to let Cassie in first and she turned around to face him after he closed and locked the door. He watched her carefully as she tossed her coat on a chair.

Finally, she spoke up. "Well, let me check your chest first."

John took off his suit coat and placed it over Cassie's in the chair. He never took his eyes off her as he pulled the turtleneck up and over his head and placed it with his suit coat. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cassie silently walked over to him.

She checked the stab wound by his collarbone first and told him everything was healing properly. Her eyes followed the line of his chest to his right side and found the gunshot wound healing well also.

Neither one of them moved nor spoke. He was going to have to remove his pants in order for Cassie to check the stab wound on his thigh, but standing inches from him, Cassie remained silent and John didn't move.

Time seemed to stand still as the filtered dusky sun light slowly moved across the room through the big front window. The room was large but classically simple with a king sized bed covered in a black and white comforter, matching the curtains on the window. There was a big credenza against the far wall with a large television on top and a dresser next to that. On another wall was a book shelf with 2 matching chairs, one of them holding Cassie's and John's coats.

John finally stood before her, his hands slowly came up to either side of her face. Automatically, her hands rose to rest on his bare chest. As John leaned down, Cassie's eyes closed and his smooth lips gently brushed hers.

Releasing her but never taking his eyes off her, his thumbs made their way lightly across her cheeks, working their way down to run across her lips. Cassie's eyes were watering as she looked up at him and her arms made their way from his chest to up and around his neck.

John's forehead came down to meet hers and time was quiet and still while Cassie waited patiently. She felt his hair tumble over her cheeks.

"I was married once," he said barely over a whisper in a low, husky voice. "I was married once but she died. Five years ago."

Cassie remained motionless as she answered, "I'm very sorry." Her forehead still touching his she asked, "What do you need? What will help you?"

John didn't look at her.

"...not to be alone," he murmured.

With her arms around his neck, Cassie's head came to rest against the side of his cheek. She felt his hands slowly slip around to her lower back and his head fell against her shoulder. He was hugging her so tightly, she almost had trouble catching her breath. Unable to hold back, Cassie's hand went into the back of his hair and combed it through with her fingers. "Like goddamn satin," she said to herself.

Her hand was lightly tangled in his hair when his face rose from her shoulder to look her in her dark brown eyes. Again his hands went around her face and his eyes closed as he leaned down to kiss her warmly. A feral intensity was building up in him that, try as he might, he couldn't ignore. His arms went around her body and completely enveloped her. Waves of heat and desire flooded over him as his lips pressed Cassie's over and over. Instinctively, his open mouth went to her neck and he tasted her sweet, ivory skin as he gently rocked her back and forth. All the senses that he forced to lay dormant for the last 5 years were coming back alive in his mind and body. There was a bit of fear mixed in there too—fear that his passion would overwhelm Cassie and she would pull away from him. It had just been so damn long, so damn long. In response to his thoughts, his mouth found hers and he kissed her hard. Cassie's mouth opened to him naturally, effortlessly and his tongue hungrily slipped into her mouth. A soft hum came from Cassie's throat.