Beyond the Fire

by Cheryl Pierson

  She could do no less. She unbuttoned her blouse, pulling it off along with her bra, then kicked off her shoes and socks. Finally, she slid her jeans and panties down over her hips until all her clothing puddled on the floor, intermingled with Jack’s. He pulled her to him in a breathless moment, holding her close, their flesh touching the length of their bodies. His hands slid over her skin, as if memorizing the contours of her body.

  “Kendi...” he breathed. His lips claimed hers as his words failed him.

  She urged him to the bed, straddling him carefully as she put her mouth to his. She touched him, guiding him gently, gasping as he slid into her with one thrust. “Jack,” she whispered, shifting to fit the soft curves of her body to the hard planes of his.

  His breathing was ragged and harsh as she rose above him, and when she met his eyes, there was an apology in their depths before he voiced it.

  “Damn hospital. Drains the stamina right out of you. I’m sorry—”

  “Shhh.” She placed her fingers gently across his lips. “Don’t ever be sorry, darling. I understand.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, then a smile curved his lips.

  “Next time,” she whispered. “And the next. Before long you’ll be—”

  “Makin’ love to you all night,” he finished. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

  Kendi stopped moving, reaching to meet his lips with hers. “Forever, Jackson. That’s what I’m talking about.”

  He grinned as she rose up again. “You’ve got it, Kendi.”

  Epilogue

  Jack awoke several hours later as the afternoon was slipping into evening. The light filtering through the newly-replaced window was gray-tinged, and there was a chill in the air. More snow on the way, most likely.

  He gently disentangled himself from Kendi’s long legs, grimacing as much from leaving the relative warmth of the bed they shared as from the residual pain of his injuries. He walked to the fireplace and put some logs on the grate, then reached for the box of matches. During the few minutes it took to get the wood to catch and begin to burn, he made a mental note to call a plumber and see about getting a gas starter pipe put in.

  By the time he was finished and the fire was burning well enough, he was thoroughly chilled. Part of it, he knew, was due to his body’s recovery process. But it was damn cold, and he knew Kendi was trying to save money. He strode to the door and leaned around the facing, turning the thermostat up. He wasn’t going to allow her to ever be cold again. There was so much he wanted to give her…and paying the utility bill was only the tip of the iceberg.

  When he turned back toward the bed, Kendi was awake, watching him through heavy-lidded eyes. She held the covers open as he approached, and he slid beneath them gratefully.

  Kendi laid an arm across his belly very carefully, and he drew her closer, her head nestling against his shoulder.

  “Thanks,” she murmured drowsily. “I was dreaming ’bout a fire.”

  “Must’ve been all that hot lovemaking we did.”

  She smiled against his skin. “Must’ve been.” Her fingers traced a pattern against his ribcage. “Mm-hm. I’m thinking I better feed you if I want more of the same later. Gotta keep your strength up.”

  His lips quirked up, but he made no response. She lifted her head and looked into his face. He needed to say it now. It was a decision that had to be made, but one he regretted not talking over with her beforehand. Not that Rick gave me much choice, he thought wryly.

  “What’s wrong, Jack?”

  “I...Rick Jameson came to see me yesterday.”

  “Your boss?”

  Jack hesitated, then said, “Not...not anymore. He felt it would be in everyone’s best interests if...I resigned.”

  Kendi’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  “I’m too ‘entwined’ with you, according to him.”

  Kendi sat up, fired by her anger. “Oh, so you aren’t allowed to have a family? You have to...to choose whether to work for them, or have a life?”

  He reached to finger a strand of her fiery hair, remembering how, only a few days ago, he hadn’t been able to touch it with anything other than the bandaging she’d wrapped around his hands. It slid through his fingers like fine, shimmering silk. Her indignant words hung in the air, curving his lips once again. No one had ever defended him like she did.

  “Yeah. Basically, that’s how it works, Kendi. You are one of the most dangerous distractions a man in my line of work should never have. Tends to pull a guy’s mind off his job; makes him careless...then, dead. I think, in his own weird way, Rick kinda likes me. Doesn’t want to see that happen.”

  Kendi worried her lower lip between her teeth. “It bothers you, though.”

  “It’ll take some getting used to,” he agreed. “I’ve never been unemployed before, not in all my adult years, anyhow. So, now I’m a jobless bum and you’ve already said ‘I do’.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone. “I should’ve told you. It might have made a difference somehow, in whether you wanted to marry me or not.”

  “Not a chance. I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”

  Jack watched her face, seeing that what she said was true. “Well, my savings account will only take us so far, Ken. I…heard what you said to Jason. Part of it, anyhow. You’re pretty strapped for cash, too.”

  “I have a couple of ideas. Dreams of my own.” She leaned down and gave him a light kiss.

  “Well, let’s hear ’em, angel-girl. I’m all ears.”

  Kendi laid her hand across his hardening shaft, moving to lie down beside him once more. “Well, maybe not all ears, Mr. Taylor, huh?”

  He drew in his breath sharply, letting it out on a groan. “Talk fast.”

  Kendi looked up at him, and he knew he would do anything she asked of him. Her dreams were already his, and he had no clue what they consisted of yet. He had another surprise, an ace in the hole, but he wanted to hear her out first.

  “My parents made a living off the land, here. I’ve always thought we had a good life when I was growing up...until Heather died. Until then it was all good, though we never had much. What I mean is, we weren’t rich, but we had everything we needed. We raised chickens and sold eggs. We had some cattle and a few horses. In the summers, we gave trail rides. Mom baked bread and cakes, and we sold those and the eggs at the farmers’ markets around here. It was really...country living.” She looked away. “I’m not sure that kind of life even exists for anyone in the world today, or if it would be something you would consider. But we were happy. That’s what I want for us, Jack. To be happy.”

  He pulled her to him. Why couldn’t they have it all? It sounded to him like Kendi just wanted a normal life, the way she’d grown up, for herself and their family. Baking, cleaning, taking care of their home, being a homemaker. She loved this old homestead, and he had come to care for it, too. It was totally unlike any place he’d ever imagined for himself. But now...it was home. He was happier than he’d been for as long as he could remember.

  “What if...what if you didn’t have to work at it, Kendi?”

  She propped on her elbow, biting her lower lip thoughtfully. “I don’t see any other way. Since Tal and I divorced, I’ve spent everything I had to buy out his half of this place. That money came from the insurance policy Dad took out before he passed away. Since then, I’ve made ends meet as a medical transcriptionist—just part-time.”

  “I’ve been offered a job,” he said hesitantly, looking for her reaction.

  Kendi raised a brow warily. “What kind of a job?”

  Jack smiled at her expression. “Nothing as dangerous as my previous occupation, but with its own pitfalls, I’m sure.”

  “Well? Don’t keep me in suspense.” An uncertain smile touched her lips.

  It was odd to think of himself in any occupation other than the one he’d done for so long. But this was a way of being able to help stop drug trafficking in another direction—one he never would have considered, had it not
been providentially dropped in his lap.

  “Your brother had a visitor the other day. One of his old classmates, who is now the principal over at Classen High.”

  “Bill Foster?”

  Jack nodded. “On Jason’s recommendation, Mr. Foster came to see me and offered me a position. They’re starting an aggressive program at Classen to reach at-risk kids and try to make a dent in drug activity. I’d be the liaison there for the kids, law enforcement, and school officials.”

  “Oh, Jack!” She sat up excitedly, legs crossed Indian style. “That sounds wonderful!” Her smile faded as she peered down at him seriously. “That is...if it’s something you think you’d like to do.”

  He grinned. “How else are we gonna keep that rowdy high school crowd off our property, lady?”

  She laughed and slid down beside him again, gently caressing his side.

  “So, you’ll be getting everything you want, Kendi—finally.” He said it jokingly, but when she didn’t make any response, he moved away from her until she looked up into his eyes.

  “There is something else I want, Jack.”

  “Name it.”

  She glanced away, her uncertainty obvious. “I want kids. Lots and lots of kids.”

  A slow smile spread across his mouth as he pulled her to him again. Suddenly, the possibilities were endless. “That,” he said, “is one thing we can start working on right now.”

  As he bent to kiss her, he could swear he saw heaven reflected in her eyes.

  About the Author

  Cheryl is a native Oklahoman with nine novels to her credit as well as numerous short stories and novellas. Founding Prairie Rose Publications with Livia Reasoner is a dream-come-true for her—there’s something new every day. Helping other authors is at the top of her list, and she enjoys every minute of it. Cheryl is a past president of Western Fictioneers, a professional organization for western authors. She has two grown children and lives with her husband and her rescue dog, Embry, in Oklahoma City.

  See Prairie Rose Publications’ website for more of Cheryl’s work: www.prairierosepublications.com

  Amazon link: www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.pierson.92

  CAPTURE THE NIGHT by Cheryl Pierson

  Alexa Bailey intends to celebrate her one-year divorce milestone at the luxurious Riverwind Hotel in Dallas. Instead, she’s plunged into a deadly hostage situation at the hands of a rogue faction of the Irish Republican Army led by madman Kieran McShane. The roof of the hotel is her only escape from the seething danger below.

  Johnny Logan is an undercover cop assigned to protect the visiting British Prime Minister. When McShane takes over the Riverwind, all hell breaks loose and Johnny is badly wounded before he manages to escape to the roof.

  But the relative safety of the equipment building offers only temporary sanctuary for Johnny and Alexa, and they soon realize even in that remote haven, they’re not alone. With a small hostile army occupying the Riverwind, and the lives of the hostages hanging in the balance, the only thing they can do is try to keep McShane guessing until help comes.

  Has love come too late for Alexa and Johnny? The clock is ticking, and time is running out. In a wager that means life or death for them all, Johnny pits himself against McShane in a “winner-take-all” battle high above the city. Will he be able to save the handful of hostages who are depending on him to CAPTURE THE NIGHT?

  Amazon Link