by Eden Carson
She should have known Jackson wouldn’t let her off that easily, Ruth thought testily. “Charlie’s handsome enough,” Ruth offered. “And Sue likes him.”
“Sue likes him because he flirts shamelessly with all women, and flatters her most of all,” Jackson replied, dismissing the boy out of hand.
“That’s not true,” Ruth blurted out, arms crossed.
“Oh I’m not saying he isn’t taken with you,” Jackson conceded. “But he’s young and restless. He’ll love you for a few months, and then be gone before the passes close for the winter, chasing gold. And where there’s gold, there’s women. Ask Sue about that one.”
“You’re just jealous,” Ruth accused.
“Perhaps I am,” he said. “But that doesn’t make what I’ve just said any less true. I admire the boy as much as Sue, if not more. He works hard and he’s never cheated me. But there’s many a hard-working man who doesn’t consider leaving his wife for years at a time, and taking comfort where he can get it, to be a dishonorable thing. So long as he fends for her financially and wanders home eventually, he’s done his duty by most standards. Things can’t be that much different where you’re from. I haven’t been gone from polite society that long,” Jackson insisted.
Ruth could not deny a truth that described the life of most of the women she had ever known. “I know what you’re saying is true, but my father never once left my mother’s side and adored her ‘til the day he died.”
Jackson paused for a moment before replying. “I’m happy for you Ruth. There’s nothing sweeter for a child than a happy home, with parents who love each other and not just the children. My father felt the same toward my mother. But that’s a rare thing. I think you’ve only got a shot at that kind of life if both the man and the woman experienced it first-hand growing up. I knew Charlie’s father. He was a skirt chaser. A damn fine fighter who’d lay down his life in a heartbeat for a friend, but he had a roving eye until the day he died. His son’s just like him, only more successful, because he got his mama’s good looks.”
“Well, he’s not my only choice,” Ruth countered, refusing to give up their verbal battle.
“True enough. There’s also Thomas Minor. He’s decent and steady – a one-hundred percent reliable fella. I have no doubt he’d treat you with as much kindness and respect as he does his other wives.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What? He’s married?”
“Twice over, last I heard,” Jackson confirmed.
“What happened to his first wife?” Ruth asked, thinking that being widowed was common enough in the West.
“Nothing happened to her. He’s no widower. He’s a Mormon, tried and true. Never misses a Sunday prayer, never had a mistress, but surely doesn’t want for female company. He’s got two wives already. Since he’s come by the ranch three times since you arrived, my guess is he’s itching for a third.”
Ruth had no idea men did such things, but knew instinctively she would not take well to that lifestyle. Even if she never came to care enough for him to feel jealousy, she could not imagine sharing a home with not one, but two other women.
“What if they both had personalities like your Aunt Kate’s?” Jackson suggested. “That’d be a challenge unlike anything I could imagine.”
Since Jackson was echoing her thoughts exactly, Ruth had no retort, but whacked him hard with his own hat for laughing at her.
He dried his tears of laughter and sat down across from Ruth. “So where am I on this list of good husband material that you and Sue have got going?”
“You’re not on it,” Ruth baldly lied.
“But why not?” Jackson asked.
“Your perverse sense of humor.”
“You like my sense of humor, Miss Ruth, just so long as it’s not directed at you. Now tell me what I have to do to get on this list? And I’m a man who likes being on top, so why don’t you just lay it out for me.”
“For starters, you can stop making be blush at every turn,” she began.
“Only you can do that, my love. I think if you had a bit more experience under your belt, you’d not blush quite so readily. I could help you that way, if you’d like.”
“I think I’d like to decide who does that too, thank you very much,” she replied, unconsciously straightening her skirts so they covered her exposed ankles. “And you’re not the only man on that list either.”
As much as Jackson knew that statement was pure bravado, he felt a surge of jealousy nonetheless. But he tamped that down and kept his reply light. “But surely, I’m at the top.” He pulled on Ruth’s arm just strongly enough to cause her to lose her balance and fall into his embrace.
Jackson rolled on top of Ruth’s softness and took her protesting lips under his. He stroked the undersides of her arms, stretching them up over her head, until he could clasp both easily in one hand. With his other hand free, he slid it down her arm, until it rested alongside her quickly swelling breast. He didn’t move his hand further, just held her gently as he kissed her over and over, sliding his lips along her jaw, her cheek, back over to her now silent mouth.
His large hand itched to move across Ruth’s nipple, to feel the sensation of it tightening under his touch. But he wouldn’t rush this for her. He wanted her to remember every aching moment of this for the rest of her days. So he bent his head slowly over her still-covered nipples, so close she could feel his breath, but still not touching. And then he took her lips once again into his, to satisfy the safer urge, but leave the other wanting.
Ruth ached to touch Jackson’s bare skin, running both hands over every unfamiliar inch of him. She wanted to know if she could make him feel the way she did when he stroked her, hot and wanting inside – restless to feel more and never stop.
But Jackson ignored her gentle attempts to free her hands, instead soothing her restless fingers with lips, placing his warm mouth in the center of each palm. Soothing her with gentle strokes of his lips across the surface of each hand, back and forth repeatedly, until he felt her hands strain toward his touch.
He watched Ruth’s face until her swollen lips parted. Then he replaced his stroking lips with his tongue, tracing the ridge of her delicate hands fully along the base of her thumb. Jackson repeated the caress along both hands, brushing the pattern on first one hand and then the other. When he returned his patient tongue to her left hand, he grasped it from behind, folding his calloused fingers through Ruth’s, squeezing and releasing.
She felt his hold through her core, when he caressed the insides of her fingers with his tongue. She ached for his touch on both hands, and whimpered in protest when he pulled away to focus his attention on the other. The feel of Jackson’s teeth gently biting down on the sensitive flesh at the base of her thumb made Ruth arch her back in need. Her body wanted more, but she could not name the touch she wanted next.
Jackson took the decision from Ruth as he settled both her wrists firmly into the grip of his left hand, and extended her arms once again above her head, laying them firmly against the cool grass.
When she felt his fingertips start to undo the buttons of her dress, she opened her eyes in a token protest, knowing she should stop, but having little will to insist.
Jackson felt the change in Ruth and quickly soothed her mind and body with sweet words and gentle stroking along her fully-clothed breasts.
“Let me look at you, Ruth - just a bit. I need to watch your eyes when I touch your bare skin - just one touch. I promise to leave you fully dressed; fully untouched; fully a virgin still.”
Ruth’s aching heart heard the soothing words and her body took what it wanted, allowing her eyes to drift closed once again and succumb to her desire.
Jackson moved on to the next button, shifting his weight closer to Ruth, lying alongside her so she could feel his taut muscles from fingertip to thigh. He carefully undid the buttons on her wool dress, just enough to slide his large hand along the underside of her left breast. He left it partially covered, as he stroked his hand ba
ck and forth, learning her body, letting her learn his touch. He was careful to only touch the edge of her breast, letting the coarse wool of her outer garment press against her puckered nipple.
She felt the contrast of her coarse dress on her left breast and the smooth silk of her still-intact undergarment against her right. She strained against Jackson’s hold, but he only chuckled, knowing she had no real desire to be let go.
He used his hold to thrust her swollen breasts upward, toward his waiting mouth. “Open your eyes, Ruth. I need you to watch me.”
Her green eyes opened in blatant curiosity. She sucked in her breath when she saw Jackson’s mouth so close to her nearly naked breast. She held her breath, anticipating the touch of his warm mouth on her distended nipple.
He smiled slowly and fully at Ruth’s waiting gaze. He watched for her pleasure as he carefully took the edge of her dress into his teeth and pulled the cloth slowly away from her breast, until the bare flesh was exposed to the cool breeze. He let go of the dress and pulled back an inch, to watch her reaction to the air rushing across her heated flesh.
Ruth’s body tightened in pleasure at the feel of the wind and the wanton picture she knew she made in his gaze. She closed her eyes, waiting for Jackson to undress her further.
But he had other ideas. He blew carefully across her naked breast, contrasting the cold wind with his warm breath, but did not touch her or suckle her. Instead he turned his attention to her other breast, still covered by her chemise. Jackson took that nipple fully into his mouth, where he suckled first gently, and then with more force, until the wet of his mouth soaked through the silk.
She thrashed on the soft grass, pushing her aching breast against Jackson’s teasing lips. She unconsciously twisted her burning body to the side, wanting to thrust her naked breast into his mouth.
But Jackson ignored her cries of need, leaving his attention focused on her covered breast. He suckled again on her right breast, leaving its naked pair wanting. He carefully let her nipple free and turned his attention to the top of the same breast, kissing her repeatedly, careful not to touch any bare flesh.
Ruth’s body burned uncontrollably, and she had no clear thought beyond gaining the sweet release that Jackson had so recently taught her. She moaned incoherently, wanting relief and pleasure and uncaring of the state of her clothing.
Jackson’s entire being tightened at her sweet sounds. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed to move away from her exposed flesh. He closed his eyes and consoled himself with the feel of her lips again.
He let go of her hands to pull Ruth fully into his arms, taking her waiting lips into his. Jackson thrust his tongue into her wet mouth, imitating his desire to join their bodies fully. He thrust in and out, then retreated to slow the pace of his penetration. He pulled her along into his burning desire, until they moved perfectly in unison; bodies fully pressed against each other, but their mouths the only bare flesh against bare flesh.
He swore himself to patience, promising himself to hold back and see only to Ruth’s pleasure, as he steeled his resolve and pulled away from her compliant lips.
Before she could even form a protest at his withdrawal, she felt his hands carefully raise her skirt off her legs. He lifted only the outer wool dress, which he carefully folded and laid across her restless hips.
Ruth thrust up uncontrollably when she felt his hands stroke her slowly and deliberately along the full length of her hips, touching her swollen sex with only a thin layer of silk between them. He repeated the caress over and over, until he felt her response soak fully the silk lying against her sensitive flesh.
Jackson’s view of Ruth was barely inhibited, as the delicate silk was nearly see-through when wet. He stroked his forefinger gently across her, again and again, until her soft hips thrust up to meet his every touch. With each stroke, he felt her body release more liquid heat.
Ruth nearly screamed in pleasure, when she felt her silk garments peeling away from her damp and humid skin. She burned for Jackson’s touch and the release she knew waited for her in his hands. But as soon as she thought to feel his bare finger where the silk had once been, he had replaced her delicate garment, smoothing it down once again against her damp flesh.
“Touch me there, Jackson,” she demanded. “I want to feel your hands on me.”
“No,” he denied her in a strained voice. “I promised you fully-clothed. And I always keep my word.”
She tamped down her disappointment that her near lover was about to pull away from her, when she felt him surprise her once again and slip both hands under her hips, thrusting her knees up and settling his large frame in between her legs. He spread her knees apart, but regretfully covered her waiting flesh with her silk garments.
He took his time settling her chemise across her sex, making sure she was fully covered. He leaned into Ruth’s pliant body for a kiss, thrusting his tongue into her surprised mouth, seducing her again with the rhythm of their joined bodies.
Jackson pulled back and carefully placed two fingers on her red and swollen lips. He didn’t move, waiting for Ruth to satisfy her curiosity and open her eyes. When her emerald green eyes slitted open to watch him, he started his descent and stroked his two fingers slowly down the length of her body. When he felt the full wetness of her response against his stroking fingers, he reversed direction and stroked back up. He repeated the caress, back and forth, until her hips lifted off the soft grass to meet him.
When Ruth felt Jackson’s strong hands spread her knees even further apart, she unconsciously stilled her hips and held her breath. When she felt his hands gently separate the lips of her sex through the damp silk of her chemise, she cried out in pleasure, wanting more of his touch. When his fingertips thrust inside her, barely an inch, pushing the smooth silk into her wet body, Ruth came apart in his arms. Her body thrust up to meet his touch, begging for further penetration.
But Jackson held her hips in place, allowing her frantic thrusts to take him inside no more than an inch at a time, until she came in abject pleasure, losing all control and raining over his knowing caress.
He stroked his hands along Ruth’s undulating hips as her body calmed itself and a sweet languidness consumed her entire being. He gently smoothed the silk of her chemise down her body until she was once again completely covered. Jackson slid his warm hands along the silk, up and over her hips, her stomach and along the soft undersides of her arms, until he clutched her soft hands once again within his rough ones. He took her swollen mouth into his for a slow kiss, as he stretched the length of his still taut body along hers, rubbing every inch of his strength against her.
When she reluctantly felt Jackson break their kiss and move away, Ruth sighed in pure content and stretched fully, smiling to herself as he began to praise her beauty.
“You’re beautiful lying there, Ruth, with my scent still on you. And the pleasure you felt clear on your face. Let me show you more.”
Jackson’s words didn’t truly penetrate her fog of pleasure until she heard the first piece of his clothing hit the ground.
She opened her heavy eyes to watch her new lover slowly undress before her. It was full daylight. The thought that she was the only one turning red seemed entirely unfair to her, as she opened her mouth to voice a token protest.
He cut her off before she could break the spell. “Don’t worry, my love. I haven’t forgotten my promise. You’ll still be untouched after this.”
Ruth shook her head as she replied half-seriously, “After this, I’m not sure I’m still in the virginal state the church might expect of a lady.”
He laughed openly at her comment. “Don’t worry, my dear. I won’t hold it against you on our wedding night.”
Ruth did her best not to smile at his arrogance, but felt entirely too good to hold back.
Jackson grinned back as he stood before her, naked and fully aroused.
“You’re amazing, Ruth. I’ve never known a woman who responds to my touch the way you do. I
want to give you more. Will you let me show you?”
Her green eyes widened – faintly shocked that there was still more to be had. With her body fully flushed with pleasure, she could not find the will to say no, much less turn her eyes away from the sight of Jackson before her.
She had seen naked men before, during the War, when volunteering at the local make-shift hospital. But that experience had not prepared her for the full six feet of muscled strength before her – fully aroused, healthy, and unable to take his eyes off her, lying in the grass.
He let Ruth look her fill before kneeling at her side. He gently brushed her tousled hair behind her ears before placing a gentle kiss on her parted lips. “Touch me if you’d like.”
Her startled eyes fluttered open, tempted suddenly by the open invitation.
“Touch me,” he repeated. “Everywhere.”
Jackson took her hesitant hand and placed it on his chest, hoping silently that he could stand the temptation of her soft hands slowly stroking his already aroused body. As he felt her tentative caress explore the strength of his chest, the texture of his skin, and stroke downward to pass across his stomach, Jackson sucked in his breath and swore to himself to sit quietly for as long as Ruth desired to touch him.
She was entranced by the feel of Jackson’s heat on her sensitized skin, and made brazen by her still fully-clothed state. She thought idly that she should have been embarrassed, but the chance to fully satisfy her curiosity with a man she was half in love with was too much to resist. The feel of her own flushed skin still burning from within drew her hands to Jackson. When she felt her skin brush against his, her insides burned deeper. And when she lifted her eyes carefully to watch his reaction, Ruth realized her power to affect him.
His fully dilated eyes were nearly black, even in full sunlight, and watched her every movement with the stealth of a caged animal.
Ruth brazenly stroked just one hand down his chest, along his side, and paused to cradle his hip and carefully watch his reaction. She felt his energy flex in response to her touch and reveled at the power beneath her fingers.
