Marie screamed as she held the cup for dear life. Large arms wrapped around her in a warm embrace. Her face rested against a man’s naked chest which wiggled as he chuckled. She took a deep breath, smelled John’s scent of light musk, and relaxed in his embrace.
“Sorry, a nighean,” my girl. “I only meant to play with ye. I didn’t think I’d scare ye.”
Marie huffed and pushed against him. “Well, ye scared me all right. Thought I found the ghostie, the Green Lady of Dunstaffnage, in the flesh.” She lifted her head, peeked at him, then rested her hand on his naked chest.
John stepped back as he took her cup. It clinked as he set it on the counter. She felt him move away as his form shifted towards the stove. The clank of the kettle told her he’d picked it up.
His body moved to her and he reached around her to turn on the water. The kettle filled with a gurgle. He amazed her at how he easily navigated the kitchen in the darkness.
In a flash of lighting, his white teeth glowed as his voice calmed her. “Didn’t ye want some tea?”
Marie blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and his face outlined in the dark, close to hers.
She took a deep breath. “Aye, tea would be nice.”
John chuckled as he moved away. “This happens every storm.” At the stove, with his eyes on hers, he opened the drawer, took out a long lighter, and held it up. He smiled, flicked it on, then lit the stove manually casting him in shadow. He stretched over her and lit the candle. A warm light illuminated the room and cast a golden glow around them.
As he pulled back, he stopped when their faces were a mere breath apart and stared into her eyes. He stepped closer and smiled as he reached to the cabinet behind Marie and retrieved another cup.
Marie shifted out of his way, but he placed the cup on the counter stopping her motion. He put the lighter on the other side. John leaned on the counter trapping her between his arms.
He gazed into her eyes as he opened the drawer next to her hip. His hand shifted around, then pulled out the tea and tea strainers and set them on the counter. His gaze held hers.
Marie raised an eyebrow. “I see ye’ve made tea in the dark before.”
John smiled. “Aye.”
Lightning lit up the room, and thunder reverberated off the walls. Marie jumped, and her hands gripped his shoulders. John took her hands into his, kissed one, then placed them around his neck as he wrapped her in his embrace. She rested her head on his chest, her ear aligned with his heart. Beneath his warm skin, its steady beat calmed her. Marie took a deep breath, and they stood there in the night as they held each other. The rain made shadows on the moonlit window and ran down the glass in wavy patterns. Thunder rumbled, but farther away now.
She wasn’t sure who moved first, but she gazed into his eyes. He shifted closer, and his lips brushed hers lightly. She didn’t stop to think, only feel.
Their lips twirled and his heart beat against hers, then her heartbeat rushed. His hand caressed her face while the other anchored her to his body. She relished the play of their mouths as warmth spread from her neck to her toes, making her knees weak. Her hands traveled over his chest as she ran her fingers through the soft hair.
He deepened the kiss, and she molded her palms over the muscles of his shoulders, then trailed them back to his chest again. John’s kisses sent tingles from her fingertips to her toes. She tilted her head and moaned as John trailed kisses down her neck.
The tea kettle whistled loudly. Marie jerked away, but John held on to her.
He whispered, “Stay here. Don’t move an inch.” John crossed to the stove, shut off the gas, and shifted the kettle to another burner. He stopped and lowered his head as he rubbed his neck. They stood there momentarily. She glanced down, took a deep breath, and turned away.
Before she proceeded farther, he came beside her and took her into his arms, her face in his hand. “Where are ye going?”
Marie wouldn’t look at him. “Back to bed.”
John’s thumb shifted under her chin as he tilted her head till their eyes met. He gazed at her a moment, glanced over her face, eyes, and mouth.
His hand caressed her hair. “Sit up with me, please?” His eyes shifted to her face again. “I can’t sleep in storms. Spend the time with me over a cup of tea. We can sit by the fireplace in the hall.”
Marie blushed. “Aye, I can’t sleep either. I’ll sit up with ye.”
John kissed her nose, then stepped away. His easy manner soothed the storm jitters away. John moved close to her, handed her a cup, and placed his hand on her back as they made their way out of the kitchen.
Marie stopped. “John, the candle. Ye need to blow out the candle.”
He leaned down and blew out the candle. “That’s the second time I’ve blown that candle out tonight.”
