Local Hero

she rose, it felt natural to hold out a hand to him, to have his close over hers. She switched off lights as they walked to the bedroom.
    Mitch closed the door. Hester turned down the bed. He knew it could be like this every night, for all the years they had left. She was on the edge of believing it. He knew it; he could see it in her eyes when he crossed to her. Her eyes remained on his while she unbuttoned her blouse.
    They undressed in silence, but the air had already started to hum. Though nerves had relaxed, anticipation was edgier than ever. Now they knew what they could bring to each other. They slipped into bed together and turned to each other.
    It felt so right, just the way his arms slipped around her to bring her close. Just the way their bodies met, merging warmth to warmth. She knew the feel of him now, the firmness, the strength. She knew how easily hers fit against it. She tipped her head back and, with her eyes still on his, offered her mouth.
    Kissing him was like sliding down a cool river toward churning white water.
    The sound of pleasure came deep in his throat as she pressed against him. The shyness was still there, but without the reserve and hesitation. Now there was only sweetness and an offering.
    It was like this each time they came together. Exhilarating, stunning and right. He cupped the back of her head in his hand as she leaned over him. The light zing of the wine hadn’t completely faded from her tongue. He tasted it, and her, as she explored his mouth. He sensed a boldness growing in her that hadn’t been there before, a new confidence that caused her to come to him with her own demands and needs.
    Her heart was open, he thought as her lips raced over his throat. And Hester was free. He’d wanted this for her—for them. With something like a laugh, he rolled over her and began to drive her toward madness.
    She couldn’t get enough of him. She took her hands, her mouth, over him quickly, almost fiercely, but found it impossible to assuage the greed. How could she have known a man could feel so good, so exciting? How could she have known that the scent of his skin would make her head reel and her desires sharpen? Just her name murmured in his voice aroused her.
    Locked together, they tumbled over the sheets, tangling in the blanket, shoving it aside because the need for its warmth was long past. He moved as quickly as she, discovering new secrets to delight and torment her. She heard him gasp out her name as she ranged kisses over his chest. She felt his body tense and arch as she moved her hands lower.
    Perhaps the power had always been there inside her, but Hester was certain it had been born in her that night. The power to arouse a man past the civilized, and perhaps past the wise. Wise or not, she gloried in it when he trapped her beneath him and let desire rule.
    His mouth was hot and hungry as it raced over her. Demands, promises, pleas swirled through her head, but she couldn’t speak. Even her breath was trapped as he drove her up and up. She caught him close, as though he were a lifeline in a sea that raged.
    Then they both went under.

Chapter 12
    The sky was cloudy and threatening snow. Half dozing, Hester turned away from the window to reach for Mitch. The bed beside her was rumpled but empty.
    Had he left her during the night? she wondered as she ran her hand over the sheets where he’d slept. Her first reaction was disappointment. It would have been so sweet to have had him there to turn to in the morning. Then she drew her hand back and cupped it under her cheek.
    Perhaps it was best that he’d gone. She couldn’t be sure how Radley would feel. If Mitch was there to reach out to, she knew it would only become more difficult to keep herself from doing so again and again. No one knew how hard and painfully she’d worked to stop herself from needing anyone. Now, after all the years of struggling, she’d just begun to see real progress. She’d made a good home for Radley in a good neighborhood and had a strong, well-paying job. Security, stability.
    She couldn’t risk those things again for the emotional morass that came with depending on someone else. But she was already beginning to depend on him, Hester thought as she pushed back the blankets. No matter how much her head told her it was best that he wasn’t here, she was sorry he wasn’t. She
was
sorry, sorrier than he could ever know, that she was strong enough to stand apart from him.
    Hester slipped on