Swans and Storms
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They sat in the middle of a small lake fed by the waters of Brices Creek. It wasnt large, maybe a hundred yards across, and she was surprised at how invisible it had been just moments before.It ectacular. Tundra swan and ada geese literally surrouhem. Thousands of them. Birds floating so close together in some places that she couldhe water. From a distahe groups of swans looked almost like icebergs.
"Oh, Noah," she finally said softly, "its beautiful.
They sat in silence for a long while, watg the birds. Noah pointed out a group of chicks, retly hatched, following a pack of geese he shore, struggling to keep up.
The air was filled with honking and chirping as Noah moved the oe through the water. The birds ighem for the most part. The only ones who seemed bothered were those forced to move when the oe approached them. Allie reached out to touch the closest ones aheir feathers ruffling under her fingers.
Noah brought out the bag of bread hed brought earlier and ha to Allie. She scattered the bread, fav the little ones, laughing and smiling as they swam in circles, looking for food.
They stayed until thunder boomed in the distance - faint but powerful - and both of them k was time to leave.
Noah led them back to the current of the creek, paddling strohan he had earlier.
She was still amazed by what she had seen. "Noah, what are they doing here?"
"I dont know. I know the swans from up north migrate to Lake Matamuskeet every winter, but I guess they came here this time. I dont know why. Maybe the early blizzard had something to do with it. Maybe they got off track or something. Theyll find their way back, though."
"They wont stay?"
"I doubt it. Theyre driven by instinct, and this isnt their place. Some of the geese may winter here, but the swans will go baatamuskeet."
Noah paddled hard as dark clouds rolled directly overhead. Soon rain began to fall, a light spri first, then gradually harder. Lig<bdi>?9９ｌiｂ.</bdi>htning, a pause, then thunder again. A little louder now. Maybe six or seven miles away. More rain as Noah began to paddle even harder, his muscles tightening with every stroke. Thicker drops now. Falling... Falling with the wind... Falling hard and thick... Noah rowing ... rag the sky.., still getti.., cursing to himself.., losing to Mother Nature...
The downpour was steady now, and Allie watched the rain fall diagonally from the sky, trying to defy gravity as it rode oerly winds that whistled over the trees. The sky darkened a little more, and big heavy drops fell from the clouds. Hurrie drops.
Allie ehe rain and leaned her head back for a moment to let it hit her face. She khe front of her dress would soak through in a couple of minutes, but she didnt care. She did wohough, if he noticed, then thought he probably did. She ran her hands through her hair, feeling its wetness. It felt wonderful, she felt wonderful, everythi wonderful. Even through the rain, she could hear him breathing hard and the sound aroused her sexually in a way she had in years.
A cloud burst directly above them, and the rain began to e down even harder. Harder than shed ever seen it. Allie looked upward and laughed, giving up any attempt at keeping dry, making Noah feel better.
He hadnt known how she was feeling about it. Even though shed made the decision to e, he doubted that shed expected to be caught in a storm like this.
They reached the dock a couple of minutes later, and Noah moved in close enough for Allie to step out. He helped her up, then got out himself and dragged the oe up the bank far enough not to drift away. Just in case, he tied it to the dock, knowing another minute in the rain wouldnt make any difference.
As he was tying the oe, he looked up at Allie and stopped breathing for just a sed. She was incredibly beautiful as she waited, watg him, pletely fortable in the rain. She didnt try to keep dry or hide herself, and he could see the outline of her breasts as they pressed through the fabric of the dress that g tightly to her body. It wasnt a cold rain, but he could see her nipples ered protruding, hard like little rocks. He felt his loins 〔pl.〕【解剖学】腰；耻骨区；生殖器官 begin to stir and quickly turned away, embarrassed, muttering to himself, glad the rain muffled any sound of it. When he finished and stood, Allie took his hand in hers, surprising him. Despite the downpour, they didnt rush toward the house, and Noah imagined what it would be like to spend the night with her.
Allie, too, was w about him. She felt the warmth in his hands and wondered what it would be like to have them touch her body, feeling all of her, lingering slowly across her skin. Just thinking about it made her take a deep breath, and she felt her nipples begin to tingle and a new warmth between her legs.
She realized then that something had ged since shed e here. And although she couldnt pinpoint the exact time - yesterday after dinner, or this afternoon in the oe, or when they saw the swans, or maybe even now as they walked holding hands - she khat she had fallen in love with Noah Taylor Calhoun again, and that maybe, just maybe, she had opped.
There was no uneasiness between them as they reached the door and both of them went inside, pausing in the foyer, clothes dripping. "Did y a ge of clothes?"
She shook her head, still feeling the roll of emotions within her, w if it showed on her face.
"I think I find something here for you so you get out of those clothes. It might be a little big, but its warm."
"Anything," she said.
"Ill be ba a sed."
Noah slipped off his boots, then ran up the stairs, desding a mier. He had a pair of cotton pants and a long-sleeved shirt under one arm and some jeans with a blue shirt iher.
"Here," he said, handihe cotton pants and shirt. "You ge in the bedroom upstairs. Theres a bathroom and towel up there too if you want to shower."
She thanked him with a smile a up the stairs, feeling his eyes on her as she walked. She ehe bedroom and closed the door, thehe pants and shirt on his bed and peeled everything off. Naked, she went to his closet and found a hanger, put her dress, bra, and panties on it, and theo hang it ihroom so it wouldnt drip on the hardwood floor. She felt a secret thrill at being naked in the same room he slept in.
She didnt want to shower after being in the rain. She liked the soft feeling on her skin, and it reminded her of how people used to live long ago. Naturally. Like Noah.
She slipped on his clothes before looking at herself in the mirror. The pants were big, but tug in the shirt helped, and she rolled up the bottoms just a little so they wouldnt drag. The neck was torn a little and it nearly hung off one shoulder, but she liked the way it looked on her anyway. She pulled the sleeves up almost to the elbows, went to the bureau, and slipped on some socks, theo the bathroom to find a hairbrush.
She brushed her wet hair just enough to get out the snarls, letting it rest on her shoulders. Looking in the mirror, she wished she had brought a clasp or a couple of hairpins. And a little more mascara. But what could she do? Her eyes still had a little of what shed put on earlier, and she touched up with a washcloth, doing the best she could. When she was finished, she checked herself in the mirror, feeling pretty despite everything, a back dowairs.
Noah was in the living room squatting before a fire, doing his best to coax it to life. He didnt see her e in, and she watched him as he worked. He had ged his clothes as well and looked good: his shoulders broad, wet hair hanging just over his collar, jeans tight.
He poked the fire, moving the logs, and added some more kindling. Allie leaned against the doorjamb大门柱, one leg crossed over the other, and tio watch him. In a few mihe fire had turo flames, even and steady. He turo the side thten the remaining unused logs and caught a glimpse of her out of the er of his eye. He turned back to her quickly.
Even in his clothes she looked beautiful. After a momeurned away shyly, going back to stag the logs.
"I didnt hear you e in," he said, trying to sound casual.
"I know. You werent supposed to." She knew what he had been thinking a a tinge of amusement at how young he seemed.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"A couple of minutes."
Noah brushed his hands on his pants, then poio the kit. " I get you some tea? I started the water while you were upstairs."
Small talk, anything to keep his mind clear. But damn, the way she looked...
She thought for a sed, saw the way he was looking at her, ahe old instincts take over.
"Do you have anything stronger, or is it too early to drink?"
He smiled. "I have some bourbon in the pantry. Is that okay?"
"That sounds great."
He started toward the kit, and Allie watched him run his hand through his wet hair as he disappeared.
Thunder boomed loudly, and another downpour started. Allie could hear the r of the rain on the roof, could hear the snapping of logs as the flickering flames lit the room. She turo the window and saw the gray sky flash lighter for just a sed. Moments later, another boom of thunder. Close this time.
She took a quilt from the sofa and sat on the rug in front of the fire. Crossing her legs, she adjusted the quilt until she was fortable and watched the dang flames. Noah came back, saw what she had done, ao sit beside her. He put down two glasses and poured some bourbon into each of them.
Outside, the sky grew darker. Thunder again. Loud. The storm in full fury, winds whipping the rain in circles.
"Its quite a storm," Noah said as he watched the drops flow iical streams on the windows. He and Allie were close now, though not toug, and Noah watched her chest rise slightly with every breath, imagining the feel of her body once again before fighting it back.
"I like it," she said, taking a sip. "Ive always liked thuorms. Even as a young girl."
"Why?" Saying anything, keeping his balance.
"I dont know. They just always seemed romantie."
She was quiet for a moment, and Noah watched the fire flicker in her emerald eyes.
Then she said, "Do you remember sitting together and watg the storm a few nights before I left?"
"Of course."
"I used to think about it all the time after I went home. I always thought about how you looked that night. It was the way I always remembered you."
"Have I ged much?"
She took another sip of bourbon, feeling it warm her. She touched his hand as she answered. "Not really. Not ihings that I remember. Youre older, of course, with more life behind you, but youve still got the same gleam in your eye. You still read poetry and float on rivers. And youve still got a gentlehat not even the war could take away."
He thought about what shed said a her hand lingering on his, her thumb trag slow circles.
"Allie, you asked me earlier what I remembered most about the summer. What do you remember?"
It was a while before she answered. Her voice seemed to e from somewhere else. "I remember making love. Thats what I remember most. You were my first, and it was more wonderful than I ever thought it would be."
Noah took a drink of bourbon, remembering, bringing back the old feelings again, then suddenly shook his head. This was already hard enough.
She went on. "I remember being so afraid beforehand that I was trembling, but at the same time being so excited. Im glad you were the first. Im glad we were able to share that."
"Me too."
"Were you as afraid as I was?"
Noah nodded without speaking, and she smiled at his hoy.
"I thought so. You were always shy like that. Especially in the beginning. I remember you had asked if I had a boyfriend, and when I said I did, you barely talked to me anymore."
"I didnt want to get betweewo of you."
"You did, though, in the end, despite your professed innoce," she said, smiling. "And Im glad you did."
"When did you finally tell him about us?"
"After I got home."
"Was it hard?"
"Not at all. I was in love with you."
She squeezed his hand, let go, and moved closer. She put her hand through his arm, cradling it, aed her head on his shoulder. He could smell her, soft like the rain, warm.
She spoke quietly: "Do you remember walking home after the festival? I asked you if you wao see me again. You just nodded your head and didnt say a word. It wasnt too ving."
"Id never met anyone like you before. I couldnt help it. I didnt know what to say."
"I know. You could never hide anything. Your eyes always gave you away. You had the most wonderful eyes Id ever seen." She paused then, lifted her head from his shoulder, and looked directly at him. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I think I loved you more that summer than I ever loved anyone."
Lightning flashed again. In the quiet moments before the thuheir eyes met as they tried to undo the fourteen years, both of them sensing a ge since yesterday.
Whehunder finally sounded, Noah sighed and turned from her, toward the windows. "I wish you could have read the letters I wrote you," he said.
She didnt speak for a long while.
"It wasnt just up to you, Noah. I didnt tell you, but I wrote you a dozeers after I got home. I just never sent them."
"Why?" Noah was surprised.
"I guess I was too afraid."
"Of what?"
"That maybe it wasnt as real as I thought it was. That maybe you fot me."
"I would never do that. I couldnt even think it."
"I know that now. I see it when I look at you. But back then, it was different. There was so much I didnt uand, things that a young girls mind couldnt sort out."
"What do you mean?"
She paused, colleg her thoughts. "When your letters never came, I didnt know what to think. I remember talking to my best friend about what happehat summer, and she said that you got what you wanted, and that she wasnt surprised that you wouldnt write. I didnt believe that you were that way, I never did, but hearing it and thinking about all our differences made me wonder if maybe the summer meant more to me than it had meant to you ... And then, while all this was going through my head, I heard from Sarah. She said that you had left New Bern."
"Fin and Sarah always knew where I was - "
She held up her hand to stop him. "I know, but I never asked. I assumed that you had left New Bern to start a new life, ohout me. Why else wouldnt you write? Or call? Or e see me?"
Noah looked away without answering, and she tinued:
"I didnt know, and in time, the hurt began to fade and it was easier to just let it go. At least I thought it was. But in every boy I met in the few years, I found myself looking for you, and when the feelings got to, Id write you another letter. But I never sent them for fear of what I might find. By then, youd gone on with your life and I didnt want to think about you loving someone else. I wao remember us like we were that summer. I didnt want to ever lose that."
She said it so sweetly, so ily, that Noah wao kiss her when she finished.
But he didnt. Instead he fought the urge and pushed it back, knowing it wasnt what she needed. Yet she felt so wonderful to him, toug him.
"The last letter I wrote was a couple of years ago. After I met Lon, I wrote to your daddy to find out where you were. But it had been so long since Id seen you, I wasnt even sure hed still b９9ｌiｂ?here. And with the war..."
She trailed off, and they were quiet for a moment, both of them lost in thought.
Lightning lit the sky again before Noah finally broke the silence.
"I wish you would have mailed it anyway."
"Why?"
"Just to hear from you. To hear what youve been up to."
"You might have been disappointed. My life isnt too exg. Besides, Im ly what you remembered."
"Youre better than I remembered, Allie."
"Youre sweet, Noah."
He almost stopped there, knowing that if he kept the words inside him, he could somehow keep trol, the same trol he had kept the past fourteen years. But something else had overtaken him now, and he gave in to it, hoping somehow, in some way, it would take them back to what theyd had so long ago.
"Im not saying it because Im sweet. Im saying it because I love you now and I always have. More than you imagine."
A log snapped, sending sparks up the ey, and both of them noticed the sm remains, almost burhrough. The fire needed an, but her of them moved.
Allie took another sip of bourbon and began to feel its effects. But it wasnt just the alcohol that made her hold Noah a little tighter and feel his warmth against her. Glang out the window, she saw the clouds were almost black.
"Let me get the fire going again," Noah said, needing to think, and she released him. He went to the fireplace, opehe s, and added a couple of logs. He used the poker to adjust the burning wood, making sure the new wood could catch easily.
The flame began to spread again, and Noah returo her side. She snuggled up against him agaiing her head on his shoulder as she had before, not speaking, rubbing her hand lightly against his chest. Noah leaned closer and whispered in her ear.
"This reminds me of how we once were. When we were young."
She smiled, thinking the same thing, and they watched the fire and smoke, holding each other.
"Noah, youve never asked, but I want you to know something."
"What is it?"
Her voice was tender. "Theres never been another, Noah. You werent just the first. Youre the only man Ive ever been with. I dont expect you to say the same thing, but I wanted you to know."
Noah was silent as he turned away. She felt warmer as she watched the fire. Her hand rahe muscles beh his shirt, hard and firm as they leaned against each other. She remembered when theyd held each other like this for what theyd thought would be the last time. They were sitting on a sea wall desigo hold back the waters of the Neuse River. She was g because they might never see each ain, and she wondered how she could ever be happy again. Instead of answering, he pressed a o her hand, which she read on the way home. She had saved it, occasionally reading all of it or sometimes just a part. One part shed read at least a huimes, and for some reason it ran through her head now. It said:
The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are ected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe weve lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them weve found each other. And maybe each time, weve been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this good-bye is both a goodbye for the past ten thousand years and a prelude to what will e.
When I look at you, I see your beauty and grad know they have grown stronger with every life you have lived. And I know I have spent every life before this one searg for you. Not someone like you, but you, for your soul and mine must always e together. And then, for a reasoher of us uands, weve been forced to say good-bye.
I would love to tell you that everything will work out for us, and I promise to do all I to make sure it does. But if we never meet again and this is truly good-bye, I knoill see each ain in another life. We will find each ain, and maybe the stars will have ged, and we will not only love each other in that time, but for all the times weve had before.
Could it be? She wondered. Could he be right? She had never pletely disted it, wanting to hold on to its promise in case it was true. The idea had helped her through many hard times. But sitting here now seemed to test the theory that they were destio always be apart. Uhe stars had ged sihey were last together.
And maybe they had, but she didnt want to look. Instead she leaned into him ahe heat between them, felt his body, felt his arm tight around her. And her body began to tremble with the same anticipation she had felt the first time they were together.
It felt sht to be here. Everythi right. The fire, the drinks, the storm - it couldnt have been more perfect. Like magic, it seemed, their years apart didnt matter anymore.
Lightning cut the sky outside. Fire danced on white-hot wood, spreading the heat. October raied itself against the windows, drowning out all other sounds.
They gave io everything they had fought the last fourteen years. Allie lifted her head off his shoulder, looked at him with hazy eyes, and Noah kissed her softly on the lips.>?</a> She brought her hand to his fad touched his cheek, brushing it softly with her fingers. He leaned in slowly and kissed her again, still soft and tender, and she kissed back, feeling the years of separation dissolve into passion. She closed her eyes and parted her lips as he ran his fingers up and down her arms, slowly, lightly. He kissed her neck, her cheek, her eyelids, and she felt the moisture of his mouth linger wherever his lips had touched. She took his hand a to her breasts, and a whimper rose ihroat as he gently touched them through the thin fabric of the shirt.
The world seemed dreamlike as she pulled back from him, the firelight setting her face aglow. Without speaking, she started to undo the buttons on his shirt. He watched her as she did it and listeo her soft breaths as she made her way downward.
With each button he could feel her fingers brushing against his skin, and she smiled softly at him when she finally finished. He felt her slide her hands ioug him as lightly as possible, letting her hands explore his body. He was hot and she ran her hand over his slightly wet chest, feeling his hair between her fingers. Leaning in, she kissed his neck gently as she pulled the shirt over his shoulders, log his arms behind his back. She lifted her head and allowed him to kiss her as he rolled his shoulders, freeing himself from the sleeves.
With that, he slowly reached for her. He lifted her shirt and ran his finger slowly across her belly before raising her arms and slipping it off. She felt short of breath as he lowered his head and kissed between her breasts and slowly ran his tongue up to her neck. His hands gently caressed her back, her arms, her shoulders, and she felt their heated bodies press together, skin to skin. He kissed her ned nibbled gently as she lifted her hips and allowed him to pull off her bottoms. She reached for the snap 搭扣on his jeans, undid it, and watched as he slipped them off as well. It was almost slow motion as their naked bodies finally came together, both of them trembling with the memory of what they had once shared together.
He ran his tongue along her neck while his hands moved over the smooth hot skin of her breasts, down her belly, past her navel, and up again. He was struck by her beauty. Her shimmering hair trapped the light and made it sparkle. Her skin was soft aiful, almost glowing in the firelight. He felt her hands on his back, being him.
They lay back, close to the fire, and the heat made the air seem thick. Her back was slightly arched as he rolled atop her in one fluid motion. He was on all fours above her, his knees astride her hips. She lifted her head and kissed his and neck, breathing hard, lig his shoulders, and tasting the sweat that lingered on his body. She ran her hands through his hair as he held himself above her, his arm muscles hard from the exertion. With a little tempting frown, she pulled him closer, but he resisted. Instead he lowered himself and lightly rubbed his chest against her, and she felt her body respond with anticipation. He did this slowly, over and over, kissing every part of her body, listening as she made soft, whimpering sounds while he moved above her.
He did this until she couldnt take it anymore, and when they finally joined as one, she cried aloud and pressed her fingers hard into his back. She buried her fa his ned felt him deep inside her, felt his strength aleness, felt his muscle and his soul. She moved rhythmically against him, allowing him to take her wherever he wao the place she was meant to be.
She opened her eyes and watched him in the firelight, marveling at his beauty as he moved above her. She saw his body glisten with crystal sweat and watched as beads rolled down his chest and fell onto her like the rain outside. And with every drop, with every breath, she felt herself, every responsibility, every facet of her life, slipping away.
Their bodies reflected everything given, everything taken, and she was rewarded with a sensation she never ked. It went on and on, tingling throughout her body and warming her before finally subsiding, and she struggled to catch her breath while she trembled beh him. But the moment it was over, another oarted to build again, and she started to feel them in long sequences, ht after the . By the time the rain had stopped and the sun had set, her body was exhausted but unwilling to stop the pleasure between them.
They spent the day in each others arms, alternately making love by the fire and then holding each other as they watched the flames curl around the wood. Sometimes he recited one of his favorite poems as she lay beside him, and she would listen with her eyes closed and almost feel the words. Then, when they were ready, they would join again and he murmured words of love between kisses as they ed their arms around one another.
They went on throughout the evening, making up for their years apart, and slept in each others arms that night. Occasionally he would wake up and look at her, her body spent and radiant, and feel as if everything were suddenly right in this world.
Once, when he was looking at her in the moments before daybreak, her eyes fluttered open and she smiled and reached up to touch his face. He put his fio her lips, gently, to keep her from speaking, and for a long time they just looked at one another.
When the lump in his throat subsided, he whispered to her, "You are the ao every prayer Ive offered. You are a song, a dream, a whisper, and I dont know how I could have lived without you for as long as I have. I love you, Allie, more than you ever imagine. I always have, and I always will."
"Oh, Noah," she said, pulling him to her. She wanted him, needed him now more than ever, like nothing shed ever known.
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