Touch Me In The Morning Read online

A frown creased his mouth. “We should b-be able to c-control it, yes. It’s just – you’re so d-damn attractive and, d-damn you, you’re also – sweet.”

  Her heart pounded. “I could say the same about you.”

  “I’m not nice.”

  “We won’t quibble. We can control ourselves though.” As she spoke the words, her lips continued to tingle with pleasure.

  “I d-didn’t even want us t-to be friends.”

  “I know.”

  “B-but after how you helped me with Aiden, I guess we’re friends.”

  His admission of their friendship felt wonderful. “I feel the same after you protected me from Gavin. It’s sensible for us to be friends.” Were they just friends? “What we need to do is fight the lust between us.”

  He met her gaze, and after a pause to think, nodded in wholehearted agreement. “Sounds like a plan. Friends, but f-fight the lust.”

  Encouraged, Heaven continued. “We have to realize that, no matter how strong the lust is, we can never act on it. Too many issues.”

  “T-too many,” he nodded. “My damn stuttering b-bothers me.”

  “It shouldn’t.”

  He shrugged.

  “I’m still married and that bothers me.”

  “My past – it’s atrocious and c-can’t be undone.”

  She kept nodding. “I’m pregnant. Another obstacle.”

  “Yes. I c-can’t be a parent.”

  “So you say.” She didn’t believe it, but she knew he did. “And Gavin – I never want to have a real sexual relationship after what he did to me.”

  “I understand, damn him!”

  “All in all, we have too many problems to even consider going beyond friendship.” Her gaze lowered slightly and she saw a huge bulge behind his zipper. Lord, he seemed a lot larger than Gavin and sex with Gavin had hurt like hell. No way would that fit inside of her.

  They found each other’s eyes again and Damon’s had softened. “I’ll f-find you a place out of state as soon as possible. So we can stop lusting.”

  “The sooner the better.” Why didn’t she feel it in her heart? She liked it here. She didn’t want to leave this safe haven yet.

  “But right now you’re still here,” Damon said. “I c-can’t leave you alone with those night t-terrors.”

  “You’ve been so kind about them.”

  “I had night t-terrors as a teen at St. Vincent’s.”

  “Really?” Another bond. She didn’t need it.

  “Therapy helped me sleep well. If you go t-to a therapist who works with traumatized people, perhaps you’d get some quality sleep.”

  Heaven suddenly couldn’t resist teasing him. “So you kissed me to soften me up so I’d agree to see a therapist?”

  He grinned. “I’d like that, but the kiss combined gratitude with – lust.” He sobered. “If necessary, I know exactly how to put a damper on your lust for me. I’ll d-do it, if forced.”

  Heaven’s gaze raked him over. His beautiful imposing, muscled form soaked her in, as did his eyes. The dark hair and sensual lips blew her away. She knew nothing could dampen her desire to kiss and hold him and have him return both. Hell, she’d want to make love to him, but after Gavin…she didn’t think she could.

  “Come to my softball game tonight.”

  “You have softball?”

  He nodded. “I don’t want you here alone. Again. Also, I think you may have fun. Francesca will be there.”

  She tried not to read too much into his wanting her there and troubled her lip with her teeth.

  Damon grinned. “I’m pretty good. In college, had I finished, many thought I c-could turn pro.”

  “Bragging?”

  “A f-fact.”

  “Why do you want me to watch?” She wanted to see, but she also wanted his answer. She felt butterflies, pleasant ones, fluttering in her stomach.

  “If we have t-to be friends, why not?”

  “I’ll come.” She wanted nothing more than to become his good friend, although that would be the limit of their relationship.

  “We’ll need to be there at seven.”

  She checked the clock on the wall. “I’ll make dinner now.” She could feel mounting excitement inside of her. She tried to quell it. Why the hell did this mean so much? Because he would share this with her? Why did that matter?

  He was her friend. It mattered. He mattered. After all, she did care about him, even minus the lust.

  Damon put a friendly hand on her shoulder. Or she thought it meant friendliness. “I’m going t-to change before the softball game. I’ll see you for dinner.”

  She watched him jog up the stairs and focused on his adorable, rounded buttocks.

  Damon and Heaven kept up a steady stream of teasing as they drove to the ball field. Once there, they both noticed the strong smell of grilling. “Do you cook out at these games?” Heaven asked, as they walked on the grass towards the field.

  “Never before.” Damon took her hand and dragged her along.

  “Looks like a party,” Heaven said, noticing men, women standing around talking and children running around.

  “Hmmmm.” Damon shook his head. “This isn’t the norm.”

  As the two of them almost reached a huddle of people, several called out greetings to Damon and waved him over. They joined the group; men in their softball uniforms and women clad in shorts. “What’s going on?” Damon asked, baffled. One man standing next to him said, “The game tonight was canceled. Other team couldn’t make it. We decided to barbecue and just goof around. Dave and Francesca got a grill and food. You staying?”

  Damon knew his groin would kill him all night if he stayed alone in his house with Heaven. Better to stay here. “Count us in.”

  “Definitely,” Heaven agreed.

  Her quick response made him wonder if she had similar thoughts.

  Damon looked across the field and waved at Dave. As his gaze turned towards Francesca, knitting in a lawn chair, he suddenly had an idea. “I’m going to help cook,” he said. “Coming, Heaven?”

  “Sure.”

  He hoped this worked. As he headed towards his friends, Heaven tagged alongside him.

  “Need help with the food?” Damon asked as he approached Dave.

  While cooking, he watched Heaven and Francesca, seeing how they got along. Both women sat on lawn chairs, munching chips and talking as if they’d been lifelong friends. A good sign.

  Dave’s voice broke into his thoughts. “I’m going to run to the field and tell the group that the food is done.”

  Damon nodded and Dave jogged towards the crowd.

  For a moment, Damon watched Dave. He wanted to postpone a possibly unpleasant confrontation with Heaven for as long as he could.

  Delaying this would accomplish nothing. Damon walked over towards the women and looked down at them, aware of feeling tongue-tied. He forced his throat to relax.

  Francesa looked up at him with a bright smile.

  Damon’s eyes wandered towards Heaven. He found her already staring at him. The sparks started flying. That damn lust!

  “Did Francesca tell you her occupation?” He asked, matter-of-fact.

  “At the ice cream shop. Why?” She looked wary.

  Damon swallowed hard, his fingers intertwined with one another. Heaven kept her eyes on him, which made it harder, but he forced out the words. “Would you consider therapy with Francesca? I know you like her.”

  “I already told you – no! Why are you bothering me with this again?”

  “Why did you t-tell me to be nicer to Aiden?”

  She paused. “It made you unhappy to fight with him. I wanted to help.”

  “I want to help you, too.”

  Heaven dropped her head into her hands and groaned.

  “I want you to be happy, too,” Damon continued, and he meant it with all his heart.

  Heaven dropped her hands and took in a breath. She glanced at Francesca. “So—you understand people who’ve—gone through—stuff�
��.” She couldn’t continue.

  Francesca put her arm around her. “I work with rape victims. You’d be amazed at how well many do.”

  “I wouldn’t send you to somebody I d-didn’t know and tr-trust. Will you try?” Damon held his breath.

  “Heaven, tell you what,” Francesca said. She took in a breath and patted her shoulder. “I don’t have to be an official therapist. I’d like to be your friend and, if stuff comes up, and you want to talk about it, I’ll be around. Damon won’t pay me. I’ll just hang around, and you can talk to me, if you like. What do you say?”

  “Not real therapy?” Heaven looked from Damon to Francesca, and back to Damon again. He could see the indecision in her eyes. “You wouldn’t really be my therapist? No couch sessions?”

  “No.” Francesca’s voice rang firm. “Heaven, to be honest, I’m so close to Damon that I feel it would be unethical for me to be your therapist. I’d have to refer you to somebody else. But we get along great as friends and I’m easy to talk to. I can sort of help you along the bumps in the road, as a friend does.”

  “We do get along well,” Heaven mused.

  People started arriving from the ball field. Chatter and laughter threatened to drown out their conversation.

  Damon kept sharp eyes on Heaven.

  She stared back at him.

  The damn air crackled with that intangible electricity that they always created when in the same space.

  “This means a lot to you,” Heaven said. “What do you think of Francesca’s idea? It’s more comfortable for me than therapy sessions.”

  “It sounds great.” He meant it. Francesca was a loyal, reliable friend that he cherished, and Heaven needed good people like her in her life.

  Heaven troubled her lower lip with her teeth. The air screamed with silence for a long time.

  “It does sound pretty good,” Heaven finally said, her eyes twinkling at Damon. “I’d want to spent time with Francesca anyways.”

  A weight seemed to lift off his shoulders; a weight he hadn’t known he’d carried. He flashed her a grin. “I’m glad the two of you like one another.” Francesca would know how to help her without the confines of a therapist’s office. Hell, she helped him with problems at times.

  “Damon!” One of his teammates called from the food line. “Are you going to pitch to that lovely lady of yours? We’re giving the ladies a chance to hit.”

  Damon slowly stood, lips twitching upwards. “I don’t think she has the strength to pick up a bat.” After that tension, it was time to tease her.

  “Sure she does,” his friend said, with good humor. To Heaven he winked. “Show him! Ram one down his throat!” Having received a few hot dogs, he grinned and stalked off.

  “I’m not weak,” Heaven said to Damon, flexing her arm at him. “See? I have muscles!”

  “I’m frightened,” he said, somberly. Then a thought hit him. “Hey, you can’t lift a bat anyways. You’re pregnant.”

  She rolled her eyes. “So? The bats really aren’t that heavy and pregnancy isn’t a disease. No, I’m going out there and you’re pitching to me. Understand?”

  Damon, amused, grinned at her. “Do your worst.” He shrugged. “I’ll meet you out there in a minute. Just want to grab a hot dog.”

  As he went to the grill to stand in line, he felt somebody grabbing him from the side. He looked down and saw Heaven. Surprised and pleased, he laughed, “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look and feel like I’m doing?” She laughed back. “I’m giving you a friendly hug. Again.”

  “Why?” He put his hand in her hair, an erection starting to stir as she pressed into his side.

  “For, once again, giving a damn about my state of mind,” she said, staring up at him with warm eyes. Then, a moment later, she tiptoed and kissed him quickly on the lips.

  His head reeled and his manhood twitched.

  She ran off, leaving Damon’s blood hot, his body tingling and aroused, and the crowd around him grinning at him in amusement.

  Chapter Eleven

  Heaven picked up an aluminum bat from a pile. A mean smile spread across her face. Damon had been teasing her. These bats didn’t weigh that much, but how should she hold it? Did it matter?

  “Let me show you how to do this.” A friendly male voice spoke to her and Heaven turned to face the man.

  “I’m Tony, Damon’s friend. Hold on a sec. I’ll help you get into batting position.”

  “Thanks. I admit baseball has never been my sport.” Heaven kidded with him.

  “Let me move your body for you.” Tony moved behind her and put his hands on her hips, positioning her. “Spread your legs apart a little now…right. That’s good. I have to admit its fun teaching such a beautiful chick…”

  “If she needs anymore instruction, I’ll do it.”

  Damon! Heaven looked up at him, her mouth hanging opened.

  His breath puffed quickly, as though he’d sped across the lawn to reach her. His eyes narrowed wickedly at the other man.

  Tony let go of her bat and stepped back. “Fine, Damon,” he said, an amused grin on his face. “Possessive, aren’t you?” He chuckled as he jogged off.

  Heaven felt her face heating and saw color rising in Damon’s cheeks behind the tan. They looked at one another. “People make the d-damnest assumptions,” Damon mumbled, averting his eyes.

  “Yep.” His reaction puzzled her. For a moment, he had seemed like a jealous boyfriend. She must have interpreted it wrong.

  “You ready?” Damon asked, looking towards the empty pitcher’s mound.

  “Very. I want to show you that I’m not the weak, helpless damsel that you seem to think I am.” She smiled at him sweetly.

  “We’ll see about th-that.” He turned around and called out to the others who stood around, most of them talking to one another. “I’m b-borrowing the pitcher’s mound for a few moments. Heaven is going t-to try to lift her bat and hit the ball. So get out of the way. She promises it will be a st-staggering blow.”

  The others clapped, cheered, and caught the spirit, gathering around to watch.

  Damon stood fairly close to her; far closer than the pitcher’s mound. It annoyed her. “Move back,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re practically on top of me.”

  “The closer I am, the easier it will be for you t-to hit the ball.” He flashed her a dazzling grin and his eyes goaded her.

  “Please!” She repeated. “You’re too close!”

  “I’m not.” He wore an arrogant, but teasing smile.

  Heaven shook her head. “You’ll be sorry you didn’t back up.”

  “Come on, Heaven,” a voice called to her. “Show him!”

  Heaven intended to. Pumped with energy, she gritted her teeth and watched while he swung his arm back, then brought it forward, releasing the ball.

  What happened next could only have taken a few seconds, however, it seemed as though the speed of the world had switched to slow motion. First, she closed her eyes, and then she swung her bat. The ball cracked against the aluminum with shocking force and her eyes opened, seemingly at a very unhurried pace.

  The bat slid out of her hands and she watched Damon put his arms up and attempt to turn away, trying to get out of the way of both the slow motion ball and the slow motion bat. He couldn’t quite make it, and the ball struck him on the right side of the nose while the bat struck him on the temple. Blood spurted everywhere, also in slow motion, and he grabbed his face, and then crumbled very slowly to the ground.

  Too shocked to move, Heaven watched, also in slow motion, as everyone else ran towards the fallen body. The people who reached him first dropped to the ground and the others formed a tight knit circle surrounding him, blocking him from view.

  “Oh, my God!” she whispered to herself, the trembling starting at the top of her head and spreading to her toes. Her voice suddenly emerged from her throat in a loud, piercing cry. “Oh, my God! What have I done? What the hell have I done? Damon!” />
  The world quickly accelerated and she ran madly to the huddle of bodies, sobbing, calling Damon’s name, and trying to push her way through to him. Somebody held her back. “Let go of me! Let me go to Damon!” she cried out, kicking backwards at whoever held her from behind.

  “You shouldn’t look,” a male voice said, worriedly. “It isn’t pretty.”

  “I called 9-1-1,” somebody else shouted, waving a cell phone.

  Heaven elbowed a few people out of her path.

  She could hear Damon’s voice, which gave her only mild relief.

  “Don’t t-touch me,” his voice was thick and slurred. “Lemme alone.”

  “Stay down, Damon,” somebody said to him. “Stop fighting, man. Stay down!”

  “No, damnit, I’m f-fine.”

  “You have to stay down, Damon,” another voice put in. “You got hit on the head and you’re a bloody mess. Somebody get a few cold packs from the first aid kit!”

  “Francesca’s getting them.”

  Heaven couldn’t stand it. Since she couldn’t see Damon from where she stood, she bit the hand of the man who restrained her. He yelped and let go. Not worrying about anybody else, she fought her way to the front of the crowd and to Damon. When she saw him, she let out another cry and fell to the ground right beside him, gaping in horror and disbelief.

  Damon looked badly hurt. Blood spilled from both of his nostrils and covered his lips, chin and softball uniform. Dazed, half-opened eyes couldn’t focus and his teeth clenched in pain. He tried to get up and some of the men worked hard to hold his massive form firmly down. “Damon, with a head injury and that bloody nose, you can’t get up, man. You can’t.”

  Heaven shivered. She’d done this to him. Heaven hadn’t known, until then, that her eyes clogged with tears. Everyone else seemed to recede from her world and Damon alone remained with her. Reaching out gently, she put her hand on his chest, feeling the hard, quick beat of his heart and the swiftness of his chest raising and falling. He tried to get up again.

  “Please stay down,” she pleaded.

  “Why?” His bloody nose made it sound as if he had a terrible cold.

  “Because I did it, and I want you to be all right. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please do what they say. Don’t get up.”