"Yes. I love it here. It's peaceful."
Brandon sat down and kicked off his boots. "Peaceful when it's just you and me," he said. "It was a pretty wild place earlier, with all the boys." He smiled as he spoke, and Allie couldn't help but grin, herself. He was taking to his role, enjoying the boys, just as she'd known he would.
She took off her shoes, then the skirt and blouse, leaving on her chemise. When she glanced back at Brandon, he stood naked in the dim light. A light breeze ruffled the long strands of his dark hair, the dappled light playing over his sculpted body.
Allie's breath left her in a rush. She turned to face him completely, and he closed the space between them, but didn't touch her.
"Take that off, Allie."
"But, I—"
"No. I want you naked with me in the water. Nothing between us. No secrets, no uncertainty – and no clothes."
She reached to pull the cotton chemise over her head, setting her breasts free. The air skimmed over her body, somewhat cooler than it seemed to have been before.
His dark eyes burned with desire as his gaze moved over her, touching every inch of her flesh, marking it as his. He put his hand out and she took it. He walked to the creek, slowly wading in, and she did the same. They stood unmoving for a moment, and Allie savored the cool rush of water around her ankles, across her feet and toes. She sighed in contentment.
Brandon grinned at her. "C'mon."
The water deepened gradually as they neared the waterfall, forming a pool that came over Allie's head. She let go of Brandon's hand, floating in the blessed cool depths, her eyes closing for a moment.
"This is heaven," she murmured, letting the heat, the ache, and the worry release as she floated, her face turned up to the moonlight.
Brandon's lips grazed hers gently, his arm coming under the back of her head in support "No," he whispered, his teeth closing gently over her bottom lip. "This is heaven."
He pulled her to him, leaning back against the rock wall, and slipped into her as she came down on the burgeoning length of him.
His eyes closed as she positioned herself, and began to move up and down slowly. He moistened his lips, pushing upward into her. "Allie," he whispered on a ragged sigh.
Allie moaned softly as he filled her once again. She leaned forward, forcing him even deeper, his fingers tightening against her back.
He said her name again as her mouth closed over his, his tongue stroking hers as it slid against it. Her heart was not her own any longer. She had given part of it to him long ago, only thinking he had it all. But with that look in his eyes just before she kissed him, and her name on his lips, she realized the very last piece of her heart was his, now. He was her breath, her life, her love.
She wanted him to know it. Lifting her mouth from his, she started to speak, but how could she ever put a feeling, a realization that wondrous, into mere human words? It couldn't be done. In the end, she said simply, "I love you." So inadequate. So paltry.
But he cupped her cheek in a gentle, rough hand, his tone the reflection of his touch. "I know."
And there could be no understanding any deeper.
****
Later, they lay close together on a long flat rock, still carrying the heat of the summer day in full sunlight. Brandon relaxed, letting it seep into his skin. Something was on Allie's mind, though she'd tried to force herself to relax, too, as she lay beside him, their legs tangled with one another.
"What is it?" he asked, finally, when it became apparent she couldn't find the words she needed.
"Earlier, you said there was no controlling everything. That some things just happen."
He sighed. Carver and Johnson, Arnie Smith, the whole damned town of Spring Branch had no place here – not tonight. This was a time for Allie and him – no one else. But he knew this all had to be sorted out. A lot had happened in a short space of time, and while he was able to deal with it all, now, he sensed that Allie wasn't totally at peace with it.
"You know I did what I had to do."
Allie came up on her elbow, looking down at him. "Bran, we don't ever have to talk about Tom Carver or Abe Johnson again. Ever. It's done, unless – you have anything more to say about it."
"I don't." He sighed. "Allie, I'm gonna have a lot to answer for someday."
"Keeping us safe?" She reached to cup his cheek. "Protecting us?" She gave a low laugh. "You won't have to answer for that, darling."
When she put it that way, he had to smile.
"I…had something else I wanted to talk to you about. It's about Sam."