by Sable Hunter
She lay on his broad chest and stroked the smooth muscles rippling beneath her touch. She rose up on one elbow and just looked at him. “I cannot get enough of you. Look at this chest,” she marveled. “It’s so wide and sexy. It’s just a playground for my fingers…” She stroked his nipples with the tips of her fingers. “…a playground for my tongue…” She began to taste him with tiny little licks, like a cat treating herself to cream. “…a playground for my breasts.” She rose up so her nipples were just grazing his sensitive skin, enflaming his passion once more. He took all he could, then he twirled her over, and before she knew she had moved, he rammed his hard cock deep into her soft center. He felt the tiniest of flinches and immediately remorse halted his thrusts. “Oh, Arabella, did I hurt you? God, I should have prepared you.” She stopped his words with her lips.
“Hush.” She wound her legs around his hips and her arms around his neck and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. “You didn’t hurt me; you just surprised me, that’s all.” She didn’t allow him to stop—rather she made it impossible for him to stop as she began those magical movements that drove him wild. After their loving, he held her until she went to sleep. He vowed to be more careful with her. Despite the male pride that came from knowing he had an extra-large penis, came the responsibility to make sure his love was always ready to accept him.
Then a thought occurred to him that ought to occur to any male over the age of eighteen, if he is sexually active and cares anything about the woman he is sleeping with. He knew their circumstances had been unique, but that didn’t give him even an iota of an excuse. He was shocked to admit it, but not once—in all the glorious times he had worshiped her body—had he even thought about protecting her against pregnancy.
Chapter Thirteen
Something was eating Lyle Sessions. His skin burned and itched. Hiding out in the damned countryside had not been his original plan. Why was the Lord testing him so? Had he not fulfilled his calling? Oh yes, but not with the witches. They still walked free and unencumbered, while he—the Lord’s anointed—slunk and hid like a cast away dog.
He clawed at the blisters, which had risen on his arms and legs. Must have got into a patch of damn poison ivy. Didn’t think there was any of that shit around this time of year. Soon, it would be over and then he would be free.
* * * *
Tyler finally got a break. Three of the five women had been identified. One of them had been from Houston, a Margie Raddison. She had been a single mother who had disappeared on Interstate 35 at a gas station. A speeding ticket in Sessions’ name had popped up on the computer and put him less than two miles from the incident within minutes of the abduction. “Shit,” Tyler swore. The woman had probably been in the trunk when the officer had been giving the old bastard the speeding ticket. The more information the coroner pulled from the women’s remains the more convinced they became that Sessions had given them an injection to knock them out so they would be easily transported and remain manageable until he could get them back to his place.
Yet, despite everything Detective Garrison and his men had done, Lyle Sessions remained elusive. He had posted officers to watch his home, Wildflower Way, his church and every other place they could spare a man to survey a likely target area. It was as if he had dropped off the face of the earth. Tensions were running high at the herb farm and he knew for their sake, as well as his own that something had to give. And when it did, Tyler Garrison had every intention of proposing to Elizabeth Landry.
* * * *
Arabella was happier than anyone had a right to be. Her mother was just blossoming under the attention of the now constantly underfoot detective. Dr. Francois had given Jade an absolutely clean bill of health and had talked a normally aloof Angelique into actually going out on the town. It wouldn’t surprise Arabella to find out he was looking into transferring his practice to New Orleans.
Nanette had relented and allowed Evangeline to enroll at the University of Texas for the next semester and she had been busy getting all the paperwork done to have all of her records and hours transferred from Tulane. Nanette, herself, was still immersed in casting spell after spell to protect them and to stop Lyle Sessions from doing anyone else the slightest bit of harm.
As for herself and Jade, things could not be better. Jade spent his nights at Wildflower Way and his days in Austin. He had taken up his Congressional mantle and she had begun a scrapbook of all the articles in the newspapers and magazines written about his service and his bright future.
Arabella was so in love with Jade, she literally walked around in an euphoria of happiness. She delighted in doing things for him, preparing his meals, taking care of his clothes and satisfying him in bed. She wondered if every woman was as deeply affected by their lover as she was. During the day while they were apart, he would cross her mind and instantly just the thought of him would almost bring her to her knees. Her vagina would feel like an open chasm of emptiness and all she could think about was him filling her, stretching her, bringing her to an earth shattering, mind numbing release. She would probably never admit it to him, but sometimes when she took a shower, thoughts of him would fill her and she would find herself plucking at her own nipples and thrusting her fingers between her own legs trying to relieve the torment of their separation.
Not that he ignored her in any way. On the contrary, their nights were full of passion and tender loving. She’d noticed he had begun to wear a condom when they made love. When she first watched him stop before he mounted her, and put on the condom to protect her, she’d felt ashamed because she hadn’t been the one to take steps to prevent a pregnancy.
Before Jade, birth control had never been an issue. She had no female problems or hormonal issues that would warrant a prescription for the pill. After Jade, the joy had flowed at such a level she never let her mind wander beyond the sheer thrill of loving him to consider the possibility of pregnancy. She now realized the foolishness of such an act.
When she had seen him take the small gold packet, open it and stretch the rubber over his manhood, she had felt conflicting emotions. At first, she had doubts the rubber would fit over his throbbing rod—she so wanted to help him—any excuse to run her hungry fingers over his velvet cock. Then second thoughts had emerged later, after the loving—did he not want to have a baby with her?
She didn’t have the courage to mention her doubts to him. It would have seemed logical she would be confident enough in his love and secure enough in their relationship to broach any subject with him. Jade gave her absolutely no reason to feel otherwise. He was perfect—a considerate, protective, loving, gentle man. Nevertheless, the little niggling doubts remained.
He had never mentioned marriage. Arabella told herself it didn’t matter. She was perfectly happy just as things were. And she was. But still, to be asked to be his wife would be the pinnacle of joy.
It was odd, but Arabella could not read Jade’s mind at all. She couldn’t read anything he touched or foresee any action he might take. In some ways, she was grateful, but to know how he felt about these things would alleviate a lot of her questions. Whatever questions or worries she might have, did not for a moment detract from the love she felt for him, or the joy she experienced while they were together.
* * * *
Elizabeth, seer that she was, had honed in on some of her concerns. She, unlike Arabella, could read Jade’s thoughts. Most of the time, she tried to be good and stay out of her family’s brain, especially now, since she had Tyler to occupy her mind. But every once in a while a vivid picture or a phrase would leap into her thoughts and she would just know what the other person was thinking or feeling.
Later that afternoon, Elizabeth got the chance to speak to her daughter alone. Arabella was in the drying house mixing up a batch of arthritis tincture when Elizabeth found her. Jade had not come home from work and everyone else was otherwise occupied. “Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?”
“Just great, Mom.” And her words weren’t a
lie, Arabella was content.
“Is there anything you’d like to talk about, baby?”
“Like what, the murders?”
“No, let’s talk something much nicer than—let’s talk about your Jade.”
At the mention of his name, a smile danced across her daughter’s features, she just couldn’t help but show the great love she felt for him. “What about Jade, Mama?”
“I know you are going through a couple of things, I’m not saying you’re not happy, because obviously you are.” Her daughter was watching her warily. “What I am saying is you have questions and I—well, I have answers.”
Arabella couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, of course you do. What do you think I want to know?”
“First of all, deep down inside, you wonder why, if he loves you so much why he hasn’t asked you to marry him.”
Arabella didn’t move a muscle she just listened. “Okay,” she finally said slowly.
“Arabella, Jade loves you with all of his heart. I hear his thoughts and they are the purest I have ever heard. I have never picked up on the least inkling of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, cold feet, or interest in other women—absolutely nothing.”
Arabella couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t say I’m sorry to hear that. What else?”
“He is using protection for just that—to protect you—not because he doesn’t want a child with you someday.”
Elizabeth placed her arms around her daughter. “I’m not butting in, sweetie. I just hear your concerns loud and clear and I also hear his honest, sweet little thoughts and I couldn’t stand you worrying yourself to death for nothing.”
“Thanks, Mama. What you’ve told me—it means a lot.”
“Actually, for a politician he is quite a surprise. There is not a hint of guile, greed or ambition. I sense only a pure heart and a desire to serve. Now, I do have my suspicions—I bet loving you has gone a long way in making him this knight in shining armor. He is so happy; he doesn’t have time to worry about being bad.” She whacked her mother upside the head with a bunch of dried lavender, laughing at Elizabeth’s slip into sarcasm.
* * * *
When Jade came home, Arabella met him at the door with open arms and a more peaceful heart. Tyler came back over for dinner so they had an enjoyable family meal—only Angelique was missing, which was fine, because she’d been swept off to dinner with the debonair Dr. Francois. The only thing marring their good time was the black cloud of Lyle Sessions that hung over their head.
The family had become adept at making themselves scarce so Jade and Arabella could have time alone. They seemed to realize the few hours between bedtime and midnight were not enough for all of the small talk, dream sharing, hand holding and mind-blowing sex the couple craved. Their bedroom had become their haven—their world away from the world. Today was no different.
“This bill I’ve been working on is really going to make a difference for a lot of college students. Some of us are trying very hard to freeze the tuitions so that getting a good education is not such a burden on our students.”
“I know Evangeline would appreciate a law like that. Tell me more.” Arabella laid on her side on the bed, facing the sexy hunk, who, unbelievably, belonged to her.
“Another bill I am sponsoring would bypass the governor’s attempt to refuse the additional stimulus funds that will help our state’s unemployed.”
Arabella was trying to listen, she really was but all she could think about while she watched Jade talk was how much she would love to kiss those sweet lips of his. She tensed one leg against the other trying to fight down the sexual tension already building between her thighs. She so wanted to be everything he needed in a woman, but sometimes all she wanted was him—hot, and hard and all night long. Stop it, she fussed at herself. She refocused her eyes on his face, and then she realized he was looking at her with the slightest of smiles. He knew! He was getting as bad as her mother!
“Is there something I can do for you, Arabella?” She wasn’t about to make it easy for him. No use giving him the big head. Ohhhhh, even that innocent thought made her quiver—his head was big—both of them, actually. She was melting, right where the heat sizzled in the hot pool between her legs.
“I’m not sure what you mean, Jade. There’s nothing I need from you. I am completely self sufficient.”
He began to lean toward her, moving in the slowest of increments. “Are you saying you don’t need anything, sweetheart? You can take care of yourself, is that it?” Only a fraction of electrified air separated their lips, but he was going to make her come to him—if only that last, little distance. Oh, she tried—it would do him good if she could just roll over and pretend to be interested in a movie it would do him good, if she could just make him think, for a moment, he wasn’t the most irresistible stud on the planet. But he knew better and so did she. He stopped that small distance away from her and the look in his eyes could have melted rock. “Come to me, Arabella.”
Those were the same words he had first said to her in their dream. They were the most precious words in the English language. Every bone in her body melted and she closed the distance instantly, cuddling up to him, giving herself to him, making everything she had available to his kiss and to his touch. She was so ready for him, she had been all day. Clothes were stripped off and pushed to the floor. Thinking this would be the one time when his tantalizing, infuriating control would be lost—she was wrong. He sat up in the bed and rested his back against the solid headboard. Mystified, she let him turn her around until she sat between his thighs with her back leaning on the flat, hard, mountain of his chest. It made her feel so small and helpless she quivered with excitement.
Facing away from him, she was totally at his mercy and the only part of him she could reach was his oak-hard legs framing her lower body. His hands began their torment. They started at her neck, lifting her hair so he could kiss the curve of her neck and tease the shell of her ear. He gently rubbed her shoulders, like the tenseness in her body had anything at all to do with her shoulders—she just might scream. He stroked both muscular hands down her arms, and with feathery light touches brought them back up. Then, his hands began their torture of her breasts. It hadn’t taken him very long to find out how to absolutely drive her mad.
Her breasts and nipples were the hot button area of her body—not that her loins didn’t scream out for him—they did—but she adored how he worshipped her breasts. She laid her head back on his shoulder and swooned. He circled them, cupped them, and weighed them with his hands. He lifted them, massaged them, rubbing the nipples between his fingers until she screamed with joy. And just as soon as she thought he was through, he would begin again. This time, he pushed her all the way. Not a finger went any lower than the underside of her breasts and he made her orgasm—trembling, her hips pumping up and down, giving themselves the only stimulation he would allow. She arched her neck and begged for his mouth and he met her lips and kissed them reverently as she shook with the richness of her climax.
“More,” she whispered into his mouth.
“You are insatiable, witch.” When he said the word, he might as well have said the word angel, because it was said with all the depth of feeling he possessed. His hands encircled her breasts once more and then they both moved lower. He put one on either side of her most tender flesh and pulled her tightly back against him. She could feel the rock hard presence of his penis right behind her hips and nestled against her lower back. His cock was so big, and it was getting bigger by the second.
He spread her legs wide against his own, and then both hands occupied themselves between her thighs. One hand went toward the place of her greatest need, the emptiness she had longed for him to fill all day. And he filled her vagina with one finger, and then two. The other hand massaged and manipulated her clitoris. The double onslaught drove her mad. “Please, Jade. I need you so.” She didn’t really know what a G-spot was, but she knew when he found it. The combination of the measured insiste
nt finger thrusts and the constant, circular petting of her clitoris drove her into a frenzy. She writhed in ecstasy, she bucked, she rocked against his hand, she threw both arms over her head and around his neck and she thought she would die from the longest, hottest release imaginable.
Best of all, it was only just the beginning. Now, Jade would give her what she really wanted all along. His hands and fingers had brought her pleasure, but what she wanted most lay between his legs. He laid her down and brought himself over her, their gazes locked together. He leaned back until he could fit the condom over his cock, then spread her legs wide and eased himself into her.
* * * *
“God, you feel incredible. It always amazes me how, impossibly tight you are.” Her muscles were toned and strong, she had incredible muscle control and he loved what she could do to his raging rod. Slowly he pushed down into her moist, hot depths. Her inner muscles hungrily grasped him—inch over inch. When they first began making love, he had known she was more responsive than any woman he had ever been with, but now that she had tasted the complete banquet, she was beyond belief in bed. Jade did not know what he had ever done to deserve such a treasure. It wasn’t something he bragged about, but he would have liked to shout it from the rooftops—his woman was a wildcat in bed! She enjoyed him and she had no problem letting him know it. She fed his ego more than anyone ever had.
When he was completely buried within her, he watched her face. Her eyes closed with the sheer pleasure of it, her sweet hips lifted off the bed and she began to rock him and stroke him. “I’ve been dreaming about this all day,” she whispered. So had he. He didn’t have to move at all, but he wanted to. He let her enjoy herself just a moment longer, and then he took over. He sat up and pulled her up in his lap, with her head still back on the pillow but her hips across his thighs. Her legs crossed behind his back. He braced himself and began thrusting. Over and over again, deeper and deeper. Arabella began to moan and grabbed the bottom sheet on the bed and held on to the Egyptian cotton for dear life.
