Breathe Again Read online

  She saw him inspect the store cupboard door one last time. “Why are you always so obsessed with checking things and making sure everything is safe? The house is fine. The baby will be fine.”

  He took in their surroundings. “I'll check the windows and make sure there are safety catches on them.”

  She let him go. She wouldn't be able to stop him.

  She started unpacking the boxes in the kitchen.

  When he came down, she was on the last box, and she could swear there was a smile of satisfaction on his face. “All good. It's all safe.”

  “Great, makes me feel heaps better.”

  He stepped into the kitchen and took the kettle, filled it with water and then put it on to boil. “Tomorrow we’ll go out and buy an electric stove.”

  Obsessive-compulsive much? “Why?'

  “I will feel more comfortable with an electric stove. Less chance of an accident.”

  This conversation might be long overdue or maybe he’d told her, she was unsure. She waited for the kettle to boil and then she accepted the cup of tea he made for her and waited for him to mix two sugars into his coffee.

  “You going to tell me why we’re really getting an electric stove?”

  He removed the spoon from his cup and took his time putting it into the dishwasher.

  His wistful gaze left an empty feeling in her chest.

  “I'll take this out into the garage and start unpacking.” He pointed to the boxes in the living area.

  There had to be a starting point. “When Dad died, it was after a very long battle with cancer.”

  He stood at the entrance to the kitchen. She held her breath, because he could have left. Maybe he knew this was an important step, so he stayed.

  “Mum just disappeared. She couldn't take it. Dad was the love of her life. Dad was the love of both of our lives. When I was growing up, he always told me that I could do anything I wanted. I always believed him. I was twelve when he died. I ended up losing both of my parents that day. It was never the same.”

  Nick’s gaze never left those damn boots. “I'm sorry.”

  “I am too. It was the loneliest time of my life. Since then I’ve been trying to get that feeling of family and happiness back. I never came close. Until you.”

  You could hear a pin drop.

  Nick lifted his chin.

  “You try so hard to keep yourself at arm’s length so that nothing can get in or out. At least I tried. I made mistakes, but I tried.”

  He tensed. Maybe she was getting through to him. Maybe she should push a little harder.

  “Our parents screwed up. We both ended up alone.” She took a step closer to him and put her hand on her tummy. “This is what's important. You don’t want a part of this, and I am okay with that. It doesn’t mean I don’t want you in my life.”

  She went closer until she was next to him. He took her into his arms. Pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. His body was still tense. Hard. Unyielding.

  “I'm scared.” She wrapped her arms around him.

  This time when he pulled her harder against him, his head came down and he kissed the side of her neck. She could feel the warmth in his kiss, and she wanted more.

  She lifted her gaze. Her breath caught. What was it about this man that could make her go all marshmallow-on-fire gooey? “Nick, I want you so much that I burn inside.”

  Chapter Eight

  This wasn’t raging hormones making her feel frisky. It was primal need for the man in front of her.

  Skylar waited. Stayed still.

  His fingers twisted a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Soft lips grazed hers, causing her to dart her tongue and lick the tip. It was too much of a temptation to have those lips so close and not to taste. He bit her lip lightly then sucked gently before letting his tongue into her mouth.

  Skylar sighed in anticipation. He was teasing her with his tongue and his mouth, but it wasn’t long before she was enjoying having the kiss deepened.

  He always tasted so much like Nick. There were times she could say exactly what that was, and then there were times like this when he tasted like what she needed him to be.

  His hands felt warm as his fingers threaded through her hair. His mouth left hers and travelled down her neck.

  He stopped nuzzling the side of her neck for a moment, and she moaned. She didn't want this to stop. Her fingers went through his hair and she pulled his head down, hungry for his taste. He was in a playful mood and it wasn’t long before he was teasing her again with his tongue and his teeth.

  When his lips reached her neck, she squirmed as he sucked her flesh. Her pelvis pressed against him. His arousal was no surprise. She slowly moved her hip clockwise until she heard him groan.

  His fingers flicked against her nipple, and she gasped as pleasure and pain both sliced through her. She let her head fall back and let her tongue roll out slowly to wet her parched lips. Skylar knew he’d stopped to watch her.

  She didn’t know how or when her top came off but his mouth replaced his fingers and this time she groaned as he sucked hard causing her to bite down on her lower lip.

  Blood was racing so fast through her veins that she could hear her heart thudding in her ears. His tongue flicked against her nipple, more heat flooded and filled her panties. She threaded her fingers into his hair, enjoying the silkiness of the dark softness as she pulled his head closer. She couldn’t get enough of his sweet torture.

  His gaze lifted. His pupils were wide and dark. “This is crazy,” he whispered.

  Damn straight it was. “Maybe what’s crazy is waiting so long to do what’s right.”

  His hand went from her breast to her bellybutton. She took a deep breath in as heat built inside her. She swayed and shifted. His hand travelled even lower, and she moaned. His mouth was still at her breast. His tongue still teasing her nipple.

  He stopped and sucked a trail from one nipple to the next and then started his torture once again. Her head turned from side to side in restless need. Insatiable want.

  Her hand clutched at the strong muscles of his shoulder, and then she let her hand move lower. She pressed her body closer, feeling the heat, and wanting more.

  She lifted his t-shirt and touched those abs she had been dreaming about.

  Those rock-hard abs she needed to feel. Touch. Lick.

  She wasn’t sure how or when his tongue got to her ear, but a swirl across the shell of her ear, and she had to squeeze her thighs shut.

  His mouth found hers. She deepened the kiss, letting her tongue drive deep into his mouth, capturing him in a dance that made her heart stop and start. When she gently swayed her hips against his, he moaned into her mouth.

  She kissed her way down his torso. He took in a deep breath the closer she got to his bulging erection. She tugged at his fly. She wanted to touch him, feel his velvet smoothness harden in her hands. This time he gasped.

  She found his dark gaze watching her every move. Power surged through her, and she licked her dry lips. His eyes were on her. Slowly she unbuttoned his jeans and then she pulled the zip down.

  Her body was going wild. She was hot. Wet. Liquid. He watched her and then as if he knew exactly what she needed, he moved his hand to her jeans. Impatiently she helped him to unbutton them, and in seconds his fingers were on her hot center.

  She bit down as the first wave of heat ripped through her. Damn, he felt good. He hitched her up so her could get better access, and then his fingers were going deeper. She wasn't sure if she could concentrate on what she was doing, but the feel of him in her hands was too good. His hardness. Velvety hardness in her hands. She started moving her hands, and he said her name. She squeezed and released and when he groaned, she looked up into his eyes, fascinated by the desire she found there. Was this for her?

  His fingers were moving faster, deeper. Her breathing was coming in faster spurts. She felt restless. She could stop touching him, he felt so soft and hard. It wasn’t enough. He was making h
er feel like she was losing all control. She tugged at the corner of his lip and sucked hard.

  Damn, why was it always like this with them?

  She glanced up, and his gaze told her that this time was different. She shifted, coming apart with that one look. Slowly she bent down.

  The guttural sound from him surprised her. She hesitated, but her body was becoming pliant, ready to fall apart. She wanted all of him.

  She closed her mouth over his long, hard shaft. He moaned, letting his fingers run through her hair.

  She took the length of him deep into her mouth and swirled her tongue around him. His fingers tightened the grip on her hair, and he drew her head closer. Slowly she withdrew her mouth, running her tongue run along the tip. She met his dark gaze, feeling the heat spreading, as she spilled hot liquid from her center. She licked the tip of his shaft. His eyes melted into pools of green need.

  He moved his hands from her head, and moments later, he was touching her, forcing her to come apart at the seams, like stepping off a high rise. She took him deeper into her mouth, held his length at the base as she pushed up and down, while he plunged deeper into her mouth. He pushed his fingers deeper into her, while he flicked her clit. Moments later, she was gasping for air.

  “Skye.”

  He slowly took his shaft out of her mouth. She looked at him with lust–filled, disappointment.

  “I need to be inside you.”

  That was the first time he’d said anything. He carried her to the floor.

  He pulled a blanket from one of the boxes, placed it down and then rolled her onto it. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She wanted him too much to care, but she was glad he cared enough to ask so she nodded.

  Then he entered her. Slowly at first. He tested her with his length and his strength and as she stretched to fit him, he slowly lifted her hips so she was against him, and then they were moving together.

  When the next wave came, she clutched at him thinking she was going to pass out from sheer pleasure. The flashes behind her eyes were like a rainbow. She screamed into his shoulder. A stifled scream holding all the pleasure her body had to give.

  He'd stopped his rhythmic movements and thrust deeper so she could enjoy the full effect of her orgasm. Holding her close, he sucked her nipple. She was beyond thinking. The sweat between her breasts formed lines and ran down.

  She opened her eyes, and he shifted. She gasped. “That was amazing.”

  His tongue twirled around her nipple, and then he sucked and pulled.

  “You're. Driving. Me. Insane.”

  He went back to her ear and kissed the shell. This man wasn't trained in combat. He was trained in torture. Sexual torture. Torturous pleasure.

  He moved again and then he was plunging in and out of her again. This time she clutched his firm buttocks. She matched him move for move until she could see him close to the edge. Her excitement rose.

  “Don't stop,” she said.

  She went faster, forcing him to follow. Her body bucked against his in a frenzied dance. She squeezed him tight and held on, so afraid to let go. She wanted this moment to last forever and even if he couldn't say the words, she wished she could.

  If she knew for sure he wouldn't run a mile in the opposite direction, she would have pulled him even closer, as if that were even possible, and she would have said it.

  Three simple words. I love you. She looked into his eyes, knew the very moment he let go and felt triumph. Just when she thought there was no hope, Nick flew her to parts unknown and showed her heaven.

  *****

  “What do you mean he's gone?” Skylar looked at the nurse at triage and then the roster.

  She had gotten up that morning to find Nick had left a note saying she should rest and he would see her later at work. She was hoping this wasn't his way of avoiding her. Their night of lovemaking was amazing, but still neither of them had spoken about feelings or what it meant.

  “There is a man gone missing down at the Bays, and Nick volunteered to go on the rescue team.”

  “He did?” Had he not heard her about being more careful and more responsible?

  “He had the search and rescue experience they needed.”

  That would be right. Whether he would like to admit it or not, Nick couldn't help himself from being the designated protector.

  “Hey, where are you going?” the nurse asked.

  Skylar gave the nurse a sobering look. “Hopefully, I am going to make sure he comes back in one piece.”

  When she got to ground zero at the search and rescue site, she realized the weather was going to have a huge impact on what could be done in the small bit of daylight they had. After flashing her badge to the police officers helping with crowd control, she looked around for the medical team, then spotting to group of men wearing bright yellow huddled in a tent, she made her way to them. She had on her own bright yellow jacket with medical team in black writing.

  She recognized some of the medics and a few of the nurses and doctors.

  “What are you doing here?” John, one of the medics, asked her.

  “Making sure you guys are keeping out of trouble. Is everything under control?”

  He rubbed his hands together and pointed to the flurry of activity up ahead in the distance. “There are at least two search parties out there trying to get as much area covered as possible.” He looked up at the sky. “With this weather, it's going to make it close to impossible to do much more for much longer.”

  Skylar nodded. The last week had been extremely cold with temperatures down to two degrees. She looked around at the ranges and saw the grass was wet, the entire place was poorly lit due to cloud cover.

  “This guy has been missing since yesterday. The last thing his friends heard from him was that he was running late. He called on his cell phone, but the cover wasn't great.”

  “He's alone?” she asked.

  John nodded. “As many times as we tell people, they never do listen. He didn't have warm clothes, so he's going to be hypothermic.”

  Her gaze couldn’t find Nick. “Have you seen Nick around?”

  “He went up with the first search party.”

  Skylar hunted around for anyone that would look like Nick. “I thought the medical team was supposed to wait until they had a confirmed sighting.”

  John winked. “We are talking about Nick.”

  Yes, they were talking about Nick.

  She waited in the medical tent while Nick was out there in the cold, wet thick of the Hawkes Bay Ranges.

  After a few hours of waiting, she was cold to the bone and even the two cups of coffee did nothing to help warm her. She paced the width of the tent and even though she was driving everyone else antsy with her restlessness, she couldn't help herself.

  When John came back and pulled her to the main tent, she knew that there had to be a development. He pulled her aside and whispered, “The first search party has run into some trouble. Just keep out of the way and you can stay up to date.”

  Skylar felt her heart kick at her chest wall, but she breathed in quickly. Nick. Dammit.

  “One of the rescue party has slipped into a crevice near the falls.”

  Skylar looked at the leader of the rescue party and then at John who motioned for her to keep quiet.

  Surely it wouldn't be Nick. He knew better to go and slip on some dumb rocks, didn't he?

  She listened to the people around her communicate with each other and the story slowly fell into place. The rescue party saw something flutter on the other side of the falls. They reported it and went in to investigate. Due to the winds and rain, it was impossible for any helicopters to survey the area.

  The rescue party had chosen their best hikers to move forward, but one of them slipped. Now the rescuer was stuck in between the rocks, and there was no way they could move him. At this point, they didn't give any names, so Skylar still didn't know if Nick was in danger.

  “We’re going to need a medical team t
o go up and assist. We will have a possible patient with hypothermia and possible leg or foot fracture. John, can you arrange a medical team?”

  John nodded and made his way out with Skylar following him.

  “I know what you're going to say, and the answer is no.” John shook his head.

  “I'm qualified, and you need me. I don't see anyone else with my qualifications. I’m an ED nurse. You might need an IV line or someone to stabilize that fracture.”

  “I can get a medic to do that.”

  Skylar rubbed her hands together. “I need to go. I need to make sure Nick is okay.”

  “If Nick is okay, he's going to kill me if he sees you there.”

  Skylar forced John to meet her gaze. “Please, John.”

  “Don't look at me like that. Those puppy dog eyes might work for Nick, but they do nothing for me.”

  She smiled. “They don't have to. I am more than qualified and that’s all that matters.”

  “You drive a hard bargain and if Nick says anything, I’m going to say you forced me at knifepoint.”

  “Say scalpel, more believable,” she said, placing a kiss on his cheek.

  The hike up to the rescue site was more than she bargained for. The path they had to take to the area of the Falls was tricky and with the biting wind and thrashing showers, it was like a game of catch-me-if-you-can and now you see me, now you can't all rolled into one. She could see why even a seasoned hiker would have a problem threading their way through these tracks.

  When she reached the site, she pulled herself up. By now, it was dark enough for her to get out her flashlight. She shone it on the three members hovering over the edge of the crevice and then looked down.

  Head swirl. Light-headed feeling. Slight nausea.

  “Don't look down.” One of the figures in the yellow raincoat as they tried to steady her.

  “Maybe lead with that, next time.” She grabbed onto a hand that had come out of nowhere.