Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

marrying her.
    “Is her husband autistic as well?”
    A shadow passed over them and he glanced up to see a flock of birds wheeling overhead.
    “Why would you ask that?”
    “I don’t know much about autism,” he admitted. “I just thought maybe two people who have a similar difference might find each other.”
    “Thank you for not saying disability. Rikki is different, but she’s whole, complete, and she’s wonderful. Fortunately, her husband thinks so as well. He isn’t autistic, but he’s very protective of her. He helps her stretch her comfort zone a little, so that’s good. Levi dives as well. They’re a good match.”
    Levi. Stefan almost said the name aloud in disgust. Lev, you’re such a hound. I just might have to beat you within an inch of your life. He found himself furious that his own brother would commit such an atrocity. There had to be a code didn’t there?
    “Do all of your sisters get along with her new husband?”
    The wagon bumped over rough road. “I didn’t say he was new.”
    He shrugged as casual as ever, but she was sharp, there was no question about it. He had to be careful of her probes. “I presumed from your earlier remarks that only you and your sisters bought the farm. You didn’t mention him working it or building with you.”
    Faint color stole into her cheeks. She pushed at the long fall of hair, a gesture betraying nerves. She didn’t like talking about good old Levi. Bastard .
    “I guess I didn’t.”
    Which told him nothing and yet everything. She wasn’t going to tell him when Levi had come into her life. And that meant Lev had drilled it into all of them that his life was in danger and they believed him. Ivanov had come sniffing around this farm; he wouldn’t miss Rikki being a sea urchin diver. Somehow she’d put the exterminator off the scent long enough that he’d filed a report and set Stefan up as bait to ferret out his brother.
    “And Blythe?”
    “She’s a spinner. She owns a yarn shop in Sea Haven. She makes the most beautiful quilts as well as sweaters and all sorts of amazing things. Her yarn is sought after all over the world.”
    Once again enthusiasm and love poured into her voice. He was a man for detail, and Blythe was respected by Judith. It would be Blythe’s approval that counted the most with Judith.
    All around him were rows and rows of vegetables. He caught a glimpse of a house in the distance, but she didn’t volunteer any information about it, so he ignored the structure as well. The road curved around and a lovely little meadow lay in front of them. He could see a large irrigation pond several yards away from the meadow. One side had been sectioned off and a shiny John Deere tractor sat invitingly out in the open.
    “The attachment is a plow,” Judith said helpfully. “Lexi’s cultivating this area.”
    “How does it work?”
    She stopped the trail wagon right there on the dirt road and hopped out. “The plow breaks up large lumps of earth much faster than we could ever do by hand.” She glanced up at him. “I don’t know how much you want to know and I don’t want you to be bored.”
    He slid out of the wagon and walked around to get to her side. Leaning in close he caught a fistful of that inviting silky black fall of hair and tugged gently until she took the inevitable step into him. His mouth descended on hers and he had the distinct feeling of coming home. Her body melted into his, her soft breasts pressing into his chest, her arms sliding around him, holding him tightly, clinging as if to a safe anchor.
    He wasn’t safe—and neither was she. The moment his mouth settled over hers, the earth moved. Heat flared. The world changed. He was highly skilled at sex, and exceptionally practiced at the art of seduction, a cold, calculated seduction with him in complete control at all times. His brain always functioned and he completely controlled his body. That was all gone the moment her lips moved against his.
    He hadn’t ever taken pleasure in kissing. Not like this. Not this shocking loss of self, merging with her until he didn’t want to live anywhere but in her. He didn’t trust instant attraction, yet this was so much more. This was need. This swept emotions he’d forgotten he had into the forefront like a tidal wave.
    He tasted innocence in her, tasted home. And that was crazy because he hadn’t had a home since he was boy and probably didn’t know what the word even meant. Judith. He was coming home.