Page 74 of Landing Love

“Hello, Mrs. O’Donnell,” said the woman at the front desk, clearly having gotten to know her over the past two weeks. “And who is this you have with you?”

“My daughter-in-law, Ann. We’re both anxious for news of Bill. Can the nurse speak to us now?”

The woman at the front desk walked out through a door and then came back a moment later. “She’ll come out shortly.”

Shannon reached out for Ann’s hand as they waited and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Ann was too worked up to speak, but she’d never been more grateful for company. Two minutes later, a nurse came out to the front lobby and headed straight for Mrs. O’Donnell. “Hello, Mrs. O’Donnell. And I assume you must also be Mrs. O’Donnell?” she said to Ann.

“Yes, I’m Bill’s wife.”

“You look just like his description,” the nurse said. “I’m Nurse Carter. I’ve been caring for your husband. He has quite the sense of humor. Keeps the other patients entertained and lifts their spirits. While I’ll be happy to see him go home to you, I know it will be a loss for the other patients when he does.”

Clenching and releasing her fists to vent her anxiety, Ann asked, “How is he doing, Nurse Carter?”

“I’m happy to report he’s improving. If he keeps it up, we might be able to release him within a week.”

Ann’s hand flew to her heart. Relief flooded her at the nurse’s words. “Thank heavens!”

Leaning in, the nurse said quietly, “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but he’s out on the south lawn right now. You’ll have to keep your distance, but you might be able to catch a glimpse of him.”

“Thank you so much, Nurse Carter. You have my deepest gratitude.” What a gift this stranger had given her! She couldn’t wait to see her husband, even if from a distance.

Ann handed over her letter and linked arms with Shannon who had a spring in her step as they headed outside and made their way toward a fenced-off area to the south of the building. In the distance she spotted his tall frame, and it sent a jolt to her heart. She loved this man so fiercely, it shocked her. Waves of tumbling emotions rocked her as she watched him, and she knew the moment he saw her. They locked eyes across the long distance, and all the unspoken words she had in her heart passed between them. He waved frantically and blew a kiss. She did the same.

An unfamiliar nurse saw them and shooed them away. Waving a regretful goodbye, Ann turned away to walk back to the O’Donnells’, feeling as hopeful as she’d felt in weeks.

28

Freedom. Bill walked down the steps of Nassau Hospital with a sense of profound relief. After three weeks, he was finally well enough to go home. He still felt a bit weak and still had a bit of a lingering cough, but he was worlds better. They gave him a bottle of the hospital’s cough serum to take home. It tasted like its main ingredient was whiskey, but whatever the doctor ordered… Truth be told, the bath and clean clothes this morning were all the medicine he needed, aside from his wife’s captivating green eyes, which he could not wait to see.

He asked the nurse not to tell Ann and his mother he was being released so that he could surprise them. As he walked the few blocks back home, he hummed, enjoying the bite of autumnal coolness in the morning air. Fall was upon them and not a moment too soon. The summer heat was relenting at last, leaving Bill refreshed and awake.

His heart pounded in his chest at the unaccustomed exertion of the walk to the apartment, but anticipation thrummed through his whole body. As he climbed the stairs to the apartment, his grin grew wider and wider, until he turned the doorknob and opened it to see Ann’s face.

Because of the early hour, she was still in her nightgown and was in the midst of brushing her glorious hair while Junior napped in his crib. She froze when she saw him, dropping her brush and staring wide-eyed. She was backlit by the morning sun through the window, and he could see every curve of her silhouette outlined beneath the thin fabric. A swell of equal parts love and desire ran through him at the sight.

He dropped his bag on the floor and ran to her, folding her into a tight, desperate embrace. “I love you, Ann,” he whispered as he clutched her even closer.

“I love you too, Bill.”

Though she’d written the words, it was something else entirely to hear them from her lips. Her declaration made him as giddy as his first airplane flight.

She kissed his cheek again and again. “I’m so glad you’re home. I had no idea you were coming home today.” She cupped his face in her hands and looked at him.

Bill wanted to bask in her adoring gaze forever. “I asked Nurse Carter to keep it secret so I could surprise you. Also, I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case they changed their minds.”

Rising to her tiptoes, she angled her face toward his, lips parted, eyes half closed, every feature an invitation, and she kissed him. In the past when he had kissed her, he had always been the one to initiate and take the lead, but this was her kiss. Her lips drew him in. Her tongue peeked forth and found his own. It was a kiss to drown in, so filled with passion and softness. No one had ever kissed him like this before.

He kissed her back with everything that was in him, letting himself get carried away on the tide of love that passed between them. Her lips tugged him in, then tantalized him until he completely lost his bearings. He didn’t know up from down, and he didn’t care. All he wanted in that moment was to drift with her current, to let go and flow with the force of her passion.

One of her soft hands guided his to her breast, and he moaned as he caressed the taut nipple and felt the weight and swell of her in his hand. He teased the swollen pebble beneath her nightgown, as the kiss grew deeper and she leaned into him, inviting more.

Her other hand grazed the growing swell between his legs as she continued to kiss him into oblivion. Lightning bolts of desire crackled all through him. As she kissed her way down his neck, she murmured, “I want to be with you, Bill. I want to show you how much I love you, how much I missed you.”

The backs of his knees bumped against the bed before he realized they had been moving. Her hands feathered down his chest, unbuttoning his shirt. He thought his heart might explode with love for this amazing, passionate woman he’d married. Her love enveloped him, ensorcelled him. He was hers to command, as his shirt dropped to the floor.

He kicked off his shoes as she unbuttoned his union suit and pants and stripped them from him, along with his socks. He was naked and exposed, trembling with need. She took her nightgown in hand and slowly drew it up, revealing herself bit by bit—her long tapered legs, the lovely swell of her bottom, then up over her belly to reveal her breasts before she took it off entirely. Her loving hands pressed him gently but firmly back into the bed as she straddled him.

Leaning over him again, she kissed him deeply then began kissing a trail down his neck. Yes, Ann. Taste me. Consume me. Take all of me. I’m yours. Her kisses traveled down to his chest where she tasted and nipped, the soft warm feel of her full perfect lips driving him wild.