Recaptured Dreams Read online

  The sun glinted blindingly off the water below, making Sophia’s tears feel like they were from the burn of the salty sea instead of her shattered heart. The wind spiraled around her, chilling her already-cold body. She zipped her jacket and curled her arms around herself.

  Footsteps crackled along the rocks. He had come for her. As he drew nearer, she turned away. She couldn’t dare look at him now. She would surely fall apart knowing she loved a man who wouldn’t return the emotion.

  What could she do now? Running back home seemed like a viable option. Anne Marie could help her clear this mess out of her head. No. Sophia did not run away from things she feared. Not anymore. If so, she would have never made it to right here, right now. That was part of the problem, wasn’t it? Maybe if she hadn’t been so determined to find her memory she wouldn’t have been in this situation in the first place.

  “Sophia.” Hearing her name roll off his lips sent spirals of ache through her. “Sophia, can I talk to you?”

  She nodded but kept her body away from him, stiffening her back and sticking her chin out toward the rolling, endless sea. No matter what, she was going to leave there with some dignity.

  Xavier sat down beside her. Sophia jolted when his thigh brushed hers, but he didn’t acknowledge it. He reached over and interlaced his fingers with hers, undeterred when she maneuvered away. Grasping harder, he pulled her hand into his lap and caressed her palm with his fingers.

  “Look at me, Sophia.” His voice was hoarse, pained even.

  She shook her head and tried to jerk away.

  “Please. I need to explain something.”

  A hint of curiosity slithered into her mind. Was he going to apologize? Or was he just going to make her feel more like a fool? She wasn’t going to stay there and find out. She went to rise, but Xavier tugged on her arm and trapped her back next to his warm, honey-scented body.

  “You’re not going anywhere until we work some things out, Sophia.”

  She found the courage to glance at him. His eyes were cloaked with darkness, and his brows were drawn together. Agony etched across his beautiful features. But above all, he looked like home.

  “I don’t have anything else to say—”

  Xavier crushed his lips to hers with a fury she’d never felt before, taking the words and the breath right out of her mouth. With the unpredictability of the sea, he washed over her like a storm that catches a ship in the middle of the night. Tossing and turning her until she didn’t know which way was up, pounding all her senses. He was everywhere. And he drew her deeper, consuming everything in his path. The walls of her ship buckled like twigs under his force.

  He cupped her face as he slowed the kiss, bringing her back from the brink of total, euphoric meltdown. He eased away from her slightly.

  “Sophia,” he whispered across her lips.

  One small kiss had her smiling. Two small kisses to each of the corners of her mouth had her trembling for more. With no walls to hold her up, she was his. Now and forever. There hadn’t been a love before and there would never be another.

  “I’m not in love with memories, Sophia. I’m in love with you.”

  Shock made her go rigid. “What?”

  “I. Love. You.” His lips swept across her cheek. “I always have, and I’m sorry it took so long for me to tell you.” He cupped her face again, met her gaze, and kissed her left eye then her right. “Seeing you up there in the lighthouse, so angry, so hurt because of the way I treated you…it turned me inside out.” His fingers caressed the side of her face. “I was afraid. I wanted nothing more than tell you how much I love you and need you. But I didn’t want to scare you off. I wanted you to find your memory first.”

  He kissed her gently when she tried to speak.

  “But that hurt you, too,” he continued. “I see now that the distance I’ve put between us has had the opposite effect I wanted. I don’t want you to ever think I don’t care for you. It was stupid of me to think that you couldn’t handle what I was feeling. I don’t want to ever hurt you. Losing you again would destroy me.”

  Xavier’s lips curled as Sophia’s mouth dropped open. Finally saying those words had lifted a thousand-pound weight off his shoulders. She didn’t run away; she just looked stunned at the moment. Stunned he could deal with.

  To his utter shock and astonishment, she threw her head back and laughed. He could do no more than sit and watch her while the rolls of laughter kept coming. His face hardened as he considered all the possibilities.

  With a hand clutching her belly, Sophia looked over at Xavier.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, quelling her chuckles. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “What’s so funny?” His eyes narrowed, readying his heart to be broken.

  “I’m sorry,” she said again, making her tone more serious. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Not many people like to be laughed at.”

  “You don’t understand. I get the laughies when I’m really happy.”

  An eyebrow shot up. “The laughies?”

  She laughed again, the spray of the sea making her skin glisten. “Yeah, that’s what Anne Marie calls them. I get them a lot more often than you would think.”

  He eased back into a comfortable position on the rocks. “Why are you so happy?”

  “I don’t know if you’d believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me,” he said as he lay back on his elbow, careful to avoid the pointy rocks.

  She leaned toward him, taking her time as their bodies brushed together. Inch by inch, she leaned closer to his face, her essence warming every part of him. She stopped in front of his lips and let out a long, soft sigh. He drew his bottom lip between his teeth and clung to her waist. Continuing past his mouth, Sophia stopped at his ear and let her lips trail over the lobe. She then rubbed her cheek against his and drew in a slow breath.

  “Because,” she said airlessly as warmth spread between their bodies. “I love you as well.”

  “That was the longest drive ever,” Xavier said as he led Sophia though the front door. In one swift move he picked her up in his arms.

  Her body molded perfectly against him. She giggled and threw back her head. He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent with a hint of sea.

  “You smell wonderful,” he said. “I wonder if you taste just as good.”

  He carried her up the stairs, down a hallway that had grown a mile long, and made his way to his bedroom. His need for her grew with every step, and he felt he would explode if he had to wait much longer. Groaning in frustration as he kicked open the door, he pressed his smoldering lips to hers.

  Kissing her sent a tornado of pleasure roaring through his body. It pushed him to conquer and devour. Wild and reckless, just like the first time. But as Xavier lowered her down on the silken sheets, something inside him clicked—this time he’d have to garner all his will and pleasure them both painfully slowly. He would take his time and show her just how much he loved her.

  Her body stretched against the sheets, her pale face a beautiful contrast to the silvery thread. Xavier positioned himself above her and took her mouth again. Lips parted, mouths connected, he swept his tongue around hers in a lazy fashion. Drawing it out, he traced the outline of her lips.

  In seeming anticipation of what he would do next, Sophia’s breath came out in slow pants. An airless moan escaped when he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and gave it a gentle nip.

  Then, without warning, he leaned back and pulled her into his lap so they were both sitting up and facing each other. He ran his lips along her jaw and neck, stopping to lick and kiss in all the right spots.

  He shucked her thick jacket, tossing it carelessly to the floor. Her cotton shirt was thin, and the heat of her skin nearly burned Xavier’s fingers as he circled her waist. His hands skimmed along her curves, kneading the supple skin. Spreading his fingers apart, his hands traveled north. They stopped for a moment at the bottom of her ribs and then mo
ved higher until they stopped at her heart. It pounded against his hands, the vibration thrumming through his veins.

  “Mine,” he whispered over her skin.

  Sophia buried her head in his shoulder and began a gentle assault of her own, tickling his senses in a way only she could, almost as if she was asking him to beg for more. Having her like that, pliant and willing beneath his hands, made him feel powerful and alive.

  As their hands and bodies continued to tease, Xavier recalled the memories of their first few times. They had been awkward but beautiful; now, they were confident and assured. They could pleasure each other tonight in a way neither of them had been pleasured before.

  Xavier let out a low growl against the swell of her breast, then drew away from her again as he rose to his feet. The sun was setting over the horizon, and an orange-blue hue covered Sophia’s body. It made her glow like an angel, his angel.

  As Xavier removed his clothes as fast as he could without seeming too hurried, Sophia reached out and traced the lines of his stomach with the tips of her fingers. Xavier tensed all his muscles at the trail of fire that followed.

  Sophia stood, and with calm hands, started to undress.

  “No,” Xavier said as he lightly tugged her hand away from her shirt. “I want to undress you.” He tugged her close and put his lips to her ear. “I want to see every part of you before the sun goes down. I want to touch every part of you before we make love. And before the night is through, I want to taste every part of you.”

  Sophia moaned as Xavier flicked the buttons of her shirt apart and allowed the fabric to fall to the floor. His fingers skimmed the length of her torso, latching onto the waist of her jeans. A snap later, the jeans shimmied down into a heap. After each piece was taken off, his fingers and lips spent several moments reconnecting with each part of her. He groaned as the bra and panties fluttered lifelessly to the wood floor. Once she was bare, he stepped back and took a good long look.

  “You’re more than beautiful.” It took every ounce of strength to keep the guttural growl out of his voice.

  A smile, easy and seductive, lifted her face. “Same goes.”

  Xavier laid Sophia down on the bed and spread her legs. Her sweet scent surrounded him. Her warmth engulfed him. As he moved over her body, he could feel the slick heat on his thigh. Trailing kisses down her neck and chest, he stopped at her breasts and cupped one with his hand and the other with his mouth. Sophia cried out as his tongue hardened her nipples.

  The curls covering her sweet spot awaited him. It was hot and ready as he placed his mouth over it. Clutching the sheets, her body reared against him as she called out his name. He took hold of her hips with bruising force in order to control his own fire, now grown to a raging inferno.

  Sophia shook as Xavier’s body slid on top of hers. Her eyelids fluttered, then closed. His hand was on the back of her neck, his lips caressing hers.

  “Open your eyes, Sophia,” he said softly. “I want to see your eyes as I make love to you.”

  She obeyed. She opened and invited him in, spreading her legs even farther. He slid into her slowly, taking great pleasure watching her arch toward him.

  They moved slowly, allowing their bodies to mold to each other’s—each taking and each giving everything they had in return. They both reeled in their control so as not to quicken the pace. They wanted to let the slow fire burn until there was nothing left but ashes.

  The sky was dark, the white glow of the moon raking over their sweat-slicked skin as they moved with a slowness that tortured them in the best possible way. But soon, purrs became growls and low moans became loud groans as they clung to each other. Movements became faster, harder. Their bodies exploded as they came together in a tangle of sheets and panting breaths. Legs and arms entwined, they fell back onto the warm covers.

  Snuggled closely together, they lay in silence. Sophia didn’t know if she’d ever be able to speak again. She’d thought he’d consumed her before. She’d been wrong. Tonight, as they’d made love and said those magic words, Sophia had felt the vine curl around their conjoined bodies and transform from weak greenery to strong, unbreakable stone so they could be together, always.

  “That was breathtaking,” Sophia said quietly as she curled her body into Xavier’s.

  “You took the words right out of my mouth.” He kissed her forehead and nuzzled his face in her hair.

  As they lay in the dark, Xavier caressed her back with his hands. His fingers then traced the curves of her thighs, the skin of her stomach, his eyes never leaving hers. She stretched out, lying flat, giving his hand better access. A wolfish grin spread across his face. The tips of his fingers caused a million little fires to light wherever they caressed. As if he knew how he affected her, he trailed the touches with a cooling kiss. Goose bumps sprang up over every inch of her skin.

  Xavier’s hand splayed out between her belly button and the curly hairs of her sex. He traced the thin white line of a scar that spread several inches across her skin. Frown lines formed on his brow. “Where did you get this?”

  She sighed, relishing the stroke of his thumb. “From the accident.”

  His fingers danced over the scar as he studied it. He outlined it once, pausing in the middle, and then again before blowing out a breath. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”

  He drew her in close and placed a quick, passionate kiss on her lips. Sophia moaned and urged him deeper.

  “I love that sound,” he murmured against her neck. “I’ll be right back.”

  Xavier shifted his weight and flung the sheet back as he rose from the bed. A sting of desire rippled through Sophia’s body again as she eyed the taut muscles in his back. Everything felt so right; she was content to the extreme, and nothing would be able to duplicate the euphoric feeling radiating through every pore of her body. She wished she could stay, just like this, for an eternity.

  Once alone, she wondered why they hadn’t always been like this. They had been teenagers and lived in different countries, but with the strong love she felt for him now, she only imagined it had been as strong then. She had been less than a year shy of her eighteenth birthday; why hadn’t they waited for each other until then?

  Light filtered in when Xavier opened the door and reentered the room. He cradled a large notebook in his hand, and a wicked smile lit his face. Still completely naked, he walked with masculine glory across the wood floor, flicked on the light sitting on the nightstand, and sat down in bed beside her. Wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him, he laid the notebook on the sheets in front of her.

  The notebook was red but very faded. The cover had worn through in some spots, and the cardboard underneath peeked through. The edges were battered and split on the corners, the metal ring along the left side bent in several places.

  She ran her hand across the cover, outlining the black lettering with her fingertip. The letters were smooth, written in marker and not as worn as the notebook itself. Two letters dominated: XS.

  “XS?” She crooked her head toward Xavier. “As in your clothing line?”

  “Open it.” He nudged it toward her. His hand circled up and down her bare back.

  She flipped the front cover open and blinked several times, making sure what she saw was real. With both hands, she picked up the notebook and brought it closer to her face. A huge lump formed in her throat.

  It was a washed-out picture of her and Xavier, sitting on a red blanket at the beach. Sophia saw the little red bikini Xavier had talked about before, and she smiled. Xavier’s young body and face gave her pause, but when she focused more on how she looked, her eyes narrowed. She’d been thinner—much thinner—than when she’d woken up from after her accident. Had she been so upset over losing Xavier that she’d eaten herself into a chubby stupor?

  She shifted her attention to how, in the picture, Xavier held her closely. Sophia was laughing and had her face tilted up toward his with he
r hand pressed to his chest. They sat atop creamy sand, surrounded by crystal blue sky. A single boat floated in the distance.

  Beautiful. Magical. Sophia held a hand to her heart. Love. A tear fell down her cheek. Xavier’s finger gently wiped it away.

  “I hope those are tears of joy,” he said.

  She angled her head toward him. He was grinning all the way up to his eyes.

  “Of course.”

  “Don’t fall apart on me now.” He interlaced her fingers with his. “It’s a big notebook…lots of stuff to look at.”

  Sophia looked back at the picture. It was all she’d seen on the page at first glance, but there was writing, too. It looked like hers and said:

  Xavier Cain & Sophia Montel

  Two hearts that beat as one

  Our love shall not be undone

  XS shall be a great thing to come

  Xavier had kept that binder all those years, just for her. She reread the last line again and looked at him. The boyish smile was still on his face.

  “I don’t understand.” She paused, trying to find the right words. “The XS part, I mean.”

  He shook his head and continued to smile. “Turn the page.”

  With unsteady hands, Sophia did so. Page by page, she stopped to stare. She brought her fingers to her lips, not allowing herself to gasp in amazement as she went through the book.

  The notebook was full of designs drawn out by Xavier. Swatches of fabric were glued to the pages, along with pictures of patterns and places. Her handwriting was scribbled all over the place as well, with such sayings as more color!, make me feel it!, think happiness, love, and purity. Xavier had entwined that entire book into his fashion line. It was there in every inch of fabric, every color. Every completed design was a piece of her. A memory of her.

  When she reached the last page, she closed the notebook. Emotions ran through her so fast she felt nauseated. She couldn’t believe all she’d just learned and was overwhelmed at the thought of everything she had missed not being with Xavier all that time.