Love me till the end

Chapter 4

Luke got out of bed before Charlie woke the next morning. He'd spent a sleepless night, ever conscious of the woman sleeping on his couch, the unwelcome memories she stirred, and the hunger. Maybe he could have ignored her presence had it not been for the muted sounds of moaning and thrashing throughout the night, revealing she'd suffered a troubled night, too.

It had been easy to assume she'd been replaying the plane crash in her dreams, until she cried out the name of someone. The name was too muffled to make out, but it was clear by her low agonizing wail that she was tormented by the memory.

It had been Luke's intention to give her his bed, but once she'd fallen asleep he hadn't wanted to disturb her. He'd more than once gone down to check on her to make sure she stayed covered. Keeping the generator for the lights and small appliances, and using the heater only when he knew the temperature was going to drop drastically meant, once the fire burned out, the cabin would get cold.

A couple times when he'd checked on Charlie, he found the covers on the floor, kicked there by her restlessness no doubt. This time when he rounded the sofa he stopped short, unprepared for the sight of Charlie in the early dawn hours.

Everything in him froze, including his breath. Shit!

A mystical aurora seemed to envelop her, but Luke knew his eyes were playing tricks on him. It was nothing more than the way the early rays of sunlight filtered through the window, landing on her reclining form. Long black lashes swept against her flawless skin, and her rosy lips were parted. Soft and moist, inviting as she breathed gently in and out. Her high cheekbones were dotted with natural color and surrounded by a waterfall of luxurious, silky hair.

He clenched his hands into tight fists, fighting the impulse to run his hands through that mane. He was determined to fight her allure. If only he could make himself glance away, but like a magnet, her presence held him prisoner.

She was lying on her side with one leg thrust out and bent slightly, oblivious to his thorough inspection. The parted robe revealed that graceful limb all the way up to her cream-colored, shapely thigh. An inch higher and he wouldn't have to wonder if her auburn locks were natural. His gaze ran over the bare limb with growing interest, knowing he was inviting trouble. He sucked in a sharp breath, surprised at the surge of heat exploding through his senses, rousing desires left dormant too long. Luke knew he should walk away, instead his eyes continued to travel lazily over her still form, lingering on the curve of perfect breasts revealed through the parted folds.

A Sleeping Beauty, waiting to be awakened by the kiss of her lover, and perhaps more? His mouth went dry, the sight of her leaving him shaken, and hard. Charlie stirred slightly, moaning softly, but he was too mesmerized to move or look away. He wanted to drink in her soft beauty, he wanted to explore it and experience it.

As she settled onto her back her long hair fell over her breasts, hiding them from his view. Luke had been without female companionship for so long that he hadn't realized how much he missed a woman until now. The closeness, the heat, the tenderness in their touch. Damn Charlie for reminding him of those things. For reminding him of what he'd lost.

Susan's face flashed before his eyes and before Luke realized it he was making comparisons. Charlie wasn't anything like the woman who'd been his wife for seven years. Susan's ambitious passions made her determined to succeed in everything she did. She'd been hell on wheels, knowing what she wanted and going after it. Sophistication had cloaked her from the top of her stylish haircut, tailored suits and pearls to her Yale education, and the lawyer's degree hanging on the wall of her uptown law office.

Everything about Charlie screamed innocence. She seemed soft, sensitive, bringing out his protective instincts. She was more sexy than stylish with that warm look in her eyes and that soft tempting mouth. There was nothing chic about her waist-length hair either, yet it didn't stop Luke from being captivated by it. Imagine it clinging to their sweat-dampened bodies as they made love. She was just far too appealing for his peace of mind.