Lover of My Dreams by Lynnette Bernard Page B

for another couple of hours before stopping for the night. She knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but she would get a room at one of the hotels on the way and do her best to get some rest before continuing her trip in the morning.
    She wondered if she would have more dreams tonight. She had dreamed about her mystery lover every night since she had arrived home from New York City. At first, the dreams were frustrating and she didn’t want to experience them. But now, she looked forward to each one of them. Each dream made her feel protected and loved.
    She continued to drive with a smile on her face, thinking about her cousin, his wife Paulette, and the place where she had grown up surrounded by friends and family. It wouldn’t be long before she was safely home deep within the mountains—the one place she had always felt protected and loved.
     
    * * * *
     
    Paulette placed her cell phone on the bedside table, turning over slowly so she could face her husband. She smiled when Roy’s arms surrounded her immediately, and he drew her close against his chest.
    “So, how’s Rache?” he asked softly.
    “Not bad considering what happened to her,” Paulette said honestly.
    Roy nodded, his jaw clenching as he thought about the attack on his younger cousin. “She told you about it?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Was it bad?”
    “Yes.”
    “I could kill that guy.”
    “Me, too.”
    Roy concentrated on calming himself. Just thinking about Rachel going through her attack made him sick to his stomach. He never understood how any man could hurt a woman.
    “What else did she say?”
    “She told me about some of the things he said to her during the attack,” Paulette answered honestly. “Rachel doesn’t want me to tell you.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because it’s humiliating to her.”
    “She needs to come here and live,” he said firmly.
    “She needs to fall in love,” Paulette whispered, leaning forward and kissing the underside of Roy’s jaw. She smiled at the soft growl that escaped him at her touch.
    “She’s already in love,” Roy said, trying really hard to concentrate.
    “I know, honey,” Paulette agreed. “We’re going to make sure that she finally gets her man.”
    Roy laughed softly, easing back and looking down at his sweet wife with obvious love in his eyes. He reached up and brushed back her soft hair from her face, smiling at the richness of her brunette hair. When he looked into her gentle brown eyes, he melted with the love that shone there for him. He was truly a lucky man.
    “Sweetheart,” he whispered, leaning forward and kissing her lips lightly.
    “I love you, Roy Monroe,” she whispered against his lips.
    Their baby took that moment to move within her body, drawing both of their attention. Roy smiled broadly as he slid his hand across Paulette’s belly, loving the feel of his son moving so strongly within her womb.
    “You need to take your clothes off, Roy,” Paulette whispered, reaching up to tug at his T-shirt.
    “Paulette, it’s not safe, honey,” he protested. “I don’t want to hurt you or the baby.”
    “You won’t,” she told him, tugging his shirt over his head and throwing it behind him before reaching down to pull at his sleep pants. When he tried to stop her hand, she cupped his groin and traced the hard length of his cock. “I want you, Roy.”
    Roy moaned as her fingers traced his hardness. “Baby, this isn’t a good idea,” he told her, knowing he was putty in her hands. He could never deny her anything.
    “This is a terrific idea,” she told him. “You need to love me. The doctor said it’s safe. Honest, Roy.”
    Roy eased back to look down at her, seeing the way she looked at him with open desire. “I love you, Paulette,” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly.
    As he pulled her nightgown over her head, he groaned softly at the beauty of his naked woman. He loved everything about her. Her body called to his. Her heart matched its rhythm