A Desperate Longing, by Brenda Williamson

Excerpt

“Are you ready to see the stars?” she asked.

“I already see them.” He smiled placing his forehead against hers. “And they’re beautiful.”

Everything a girl dreamed of in a man stood holding her. Only she felt herself withdrawing. She didn’t want to take a perfectly decent guy and ruin his life by making him tend to her dementia. She felt safe with him, and yet all it took were words to push her into that other world, the one in which she doubted she’d ever fully trust anyone.

“Gulliver, don’t involve yourself with me.” She blinked and tears dropped. “I’m going crazy very slowly and I don’t want to take anyone with me.”

“What if I don’t let you go?” He brushed the tears from her cheeks. “What if it’s too late, what if I like crazy? Though I still contend you’re not, never were, and never will be.”

Kacy wanted to push him away. She could save him and she knew how. She would, too, if she hadn’t hurled headlong into the trap of love. Who’d believe it really did happen at first sight?

Gulliver wanted to protect her from everything, including herself, and she clung to the idea.

“Then I’d say you’re crazy.” She hiccupped a laugh and brushed her lips over his. “Come look at the skylight and the real stars.”

“Kacy?” His fingers threaded between hers as she tugged him toward the bed.

“Yes?”

“I have something I have to tell you.” He kissed her knuckles.

“Oh?”

He scooped her up in his arms and she squeaked in surprise.

“Sorry, I forgot to warn you I was going to touch you.”

“I don’t want you to warn me ever again.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him firmly. “Now what was it you wanted to tell me?”

“The best view has to be lying down.”

She giggled as he tossed her on the bed. He glanced at the skylight and then her. She held her hand up, wiggling her fingers for him to take them.

“View is better from down here.” Her voice lowered and she marveled at how seductive her tone could become with little effort. It worked, and he dropped down next to her.

“Hey, I like this.” He pulled her close.

“Me too.” She shifted on her side and snuggled tighter, never turning her gaze away from his features.

Gulliver kissed the corner of her mouth. “I was talking about the view up there.” He pointed.

She heaved a heavy sigh of resignation and flopped over on her back to look.

Brightly lit by both the moon and the stars, the sky floated like a picture on the ceiling. If she ignored the framed opening, she could well imagine the room didn’t exist.

“I use to go camping with my parents.” Kacy searched for his hand on the bed next to her. “I loved being outside at night and I miss it.”

“Night comes every twenty-four hours, what’s too miss?”

“Not being there when things go ‘bump’. I don’t go outside after dark.”

Gulliver sat up and swung his legs off the bed. “Come on.” He took her hand and tugged her off the bed.

“Where are we going?” She watched him take a pillow and the comforter from the bed. “Gulliver, what are you doing?”

“Trust me.” He towed her along behind him.

“I do,” she whispered, and followed as he took her to the kitchen door. “We’re not—?”

“We are.” He led her to the middle of the backyard and spread the thick comforter on the grass. “Here we go. Better than the skylight, isn’t it?”

He sat and took his shoes off.

Kacy stood, apprehensive about being outside at night. Gulliver and intimacy took a backseat to her worries when she stared into the darkness surrounding them. Could someone see them?

“Kacy?”

She forced herself to look at Gulliver.

“I recall a short while back a woman wanting spontaneity. Is this a stupid idea?”

She shook her head. Wanting it didn’t mean she could handle it.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” He drew his pant leg up, showing her the gun.

She smiled timidly and sat alongside him.

“It’s supposed to rain.” She plucked her shoes off and tossed them near his.

“Will you melt or shrink?” He fixed the pillow to the one side and lay down.

“No.”

“Then come down here with me.” He patted his chest and she laid her head on him.

“This can’t be very comfortable for you.”

“No? You’d be surprised at how much I like this.” He pulled the other half of the comforter over them. “Now watch the sky and if we’re lucky, we’ll see a shooting star to wish on.”

“I wouldn’t suggest holding your breath.” She sighed. “I never have good luck.”

As for wishes, she’d had one granted already—lying in Gulliver’s arms. It made her not want to be greedy and ask for more.

Gulliver kissed the top of her head. “Have faith,” he whispered.

Kacy didn’t say much as her brain picked through the conversations they’d had, replaying all the nice things he’d said. Five, ten, fifteen minutes went by without a word from Gulliver and she wondered how long they’d stay outside.

“Oh look,” she gasped as a shooting star made a liar out of her.

When Gulliver didn’t say anything, she turned her head and smiled. Adorably peaceful, he slept. She traced his lips and schemed of ways to wake him. She leaned close and brushed his firm mouth delicately with hers. His sleepy sigh excited her.

Taken by surprise, she didn’t fight the restraint of his hand behind her head. His kiss held her spellbound for a long time. The deep passion curled her toes as his tongue stroked hers. She pulled his hand from her waist up to her breast.

“Patience,” he whispered.

“I haven’t any.”

Gulliver read all the signals and his touch began a steady trek downward. Across her belly, over the front of her denims and right to the sensitive hub of her crotch, he rubbed. He applied pressure with his steady pushes to and fro, and Kacy moaned with delight as tears came to her eyes.

Greedily, she kept kissing him, hoping he’d not stop. His arm tightened around her. In his fervor, his lips traveled her cheeks and her eyelids and she reveled in his physical attention.

He tugged on her denims and the snap popped open. An exhilarating warmth spread over her entire body. Then he slid her zipper down. She tilted her head and watched his hand ease the waistband over her hip. Shifting to make it possible, she closed her eyes and concentrated on not giggling with excitement. A draft of air rushed inside the heated front of her panties and the laugh bubbled up and out of her.

“I like blue.” He slid his fingers between her legs.

“Okay,” she replied, not understanding why he brought up the subject of colors.

“Your panties and bra.” His stroke touched the silk against her clit, and his mouth claimed hers.

Reviews

…in the mood for a well written and highly charged romantic suspense then this is the perfect book. Brenda Williamson brings her flair for well written romance to the forefront… The story is intense and the romance is super hot. This is the kind of book that has you reading from beginning to end in one sitting. The twists and turns will have you guessing until the very end.

... Kimberley, Spinney, eCataromance Sensual Reviews

...For a mystery buff ... trying to figure out the ‘whodunit’ before the end of the story ... the author managed to keep me guessing ...

... Jennifer Ray, Ck2s Kwips & Kritiques

a very readable romantic suspense story,... most intriguing...Kacy starts running around as if she is determined to win an Emmy for the best actress in some woman-triumphant TV movie of the week... and that's how she reels me into her story...

... Mrs. Giggles

…just the right amount of suspense to keep me riveted to the pages and the passionate tension between Kacy and Gulliver was sizzling. Gulliver was a believable and delicious hero that had me turning the pages for more…

...Bella, Fallen Angel Reviews

...a white knight shrouded in mystery... an amazing woman who possesses an immense amount of courage and strength. A Desperate Longing is an intense and moving story.

...Nannette, Joyfully Reviewed

...a very fast paced story that will leave you on the edge of your seat... filled with action and suspense... leave you waiting until the final chapters to discover who the true villain is. Every time you think you have solved the mystery, the author leads us to other suspicions. This book will show you that deception causes lack of trust between people. You will discover how hard it is to earn someone’s trust once that bond is broken between two people. The passion between Kacy and Gulliver builds to a shocking climax that will leave you reading until the final words.

...Sherry, My Book Cravings

...a story of betrayal and survival, fear and hope... with the issue of rape and its aftermath with a realistic touch, never glossing over the effects rape can have on its victim. Kacy deals with her fears as best she can and her ability to trust Gulliver speaks of her strength. That only makes the betrayal from Gulliver that much more poignant and heartbreaking... I think A Desperate Longing is a story that will stay with me for years to come, always reminding me of the personal strength we are all capable of.

...Tara Renee, Two Lips Reviews

...a story of suspense so riveting that you'll be kept guessing until the very end… full of enough suspects to keep you on your toes… an emotion-packed thrill ride that had me wavering between tears and genuine fear…Ms. Williamson is a rising star in the world of romantic suspense and for fans of this genre A DESPERATE LONGING is definitely a recommended read.

...Jenn L, Romance Junkies

...It would have been impossible to read this book without the tenderness and gentle handling that Gulliver brings to the storyline. The tension really does draw out through the entire story, so you may see this more as a good suspense book because of the feelings of desperation that it brings out in the reader. I have never read a book that was this intense before. It will take a long time before I can unwind from the stress that Kacy lived through.

... Erotic Escapades