He laughed as she echoed his earlier thoughts. Her hands were trembling at the placket. As her fingers brushed the tip of him, the smile fled. He gasped in shocked pleasure, amazed at what just one touch could cause between them. Fire coursed through him, and with a muffled curse, he expertly wrenched the remaining buttons open.
His mouth slanted across Lindy's. She opened for his plundering kiss, her fingers closing around his hard shaft. In the next moment, he stepped back and slipped the borrowed shirt she wore from her slim shoulders, dropping it to the floor.
God, she's so beautiful. It was his first look at her, and he was torn between wanting to go slow and needing to possess her body, heart, and soul completely. Immediately.
"Now you," she whispered, pushing at the waist of his jeans. She let one hand glide up over his back to lock in his clean, shower-damp hair, then pulled him to her, electric heat flowing through them as their lips met.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Now me." He stepped out of the jeans, and kicked them aside, his hands leaving her for only a scant second. She teased him unbearably, her kisses hot and eager, her hands boldly moving over his bare skin. He tumbled her onto the soft sheets, his lean body following, coming atop hers in a pantherish movement which left her breathless.
There was nothing between them now. Finally, as it should be—the way Jesse had wanted for days.
Jesse slid into her in one smooth stroke, filling her. Braced above her, he looked down into her beautiful features. Her dark velvet eyes were aglow with passion, reminding him of the first time they'd made love there in the deli bedroom, when she'd gambled everything on him. Her hips rose impatiently against him, and he began the rhythm, a grin touching his lips. God. They fit so perfectly—just as he remembered. He had thought of nothing but this moment for three solid weeks.
"It's better this time," he whispered, leaning down to put his mouth to her pebbled nipple. "No clothes…"
Lindy moaned softly as he filled her, and she took him deep. "No crazy maniac—"
"Shh—hey, I'm sorry," he comforted instantly. "Don't let Hardin in here with us, Lindy. It's just you and me…just you and me…forever."
"I know. I was so afraid."
Jesse smiled at her breathless admission, then sobered. "I was, too."
She arched toward him, silently entreating him to suckle the other nipple. "You weren't. You were strong." He bent his head, touching the taut peak with his tongue, teasing her. She moaned, biting her lip.
After a moment, he moved upward over her again, looking down into her face wordlessly. She opened her eyes.
"What?" she asked softly, her legs tightening around his as they tensed with each stroke he made deep into her core.
"Just…wanted to see what love looks like…"
Lindy reached up to push a strand of raven dark hair out of his eyes. "I do love you…with all my heart."
"Yeah, I know. I see it in your eyes every time you look my way."
"Jesse…" Her body tensed beneath him, seeking release.
He increased the pace, his own body craving the climax as well. Her fingers clutched his arms, her teeth gritted as she opened herself completely to him. He felt as if he were splitting her, but was powerless to stop himself.
"Jesse—"
"'m I hurting—"
"Huh-uh, don't stop—"
"Wouldn't do that."
Her body surged upward and she cried out his name on a sob. In that moment, he exploded inside her, his mouth claiming hers, holding them together as the shattering climax riveted them. His breath was hers, and hers, his. He shuddered, spilling his hot seed deep within her, only barely aware of her hands at his back moving across his skin.
They lay spent, their legs tangled, his fingers locked with hers. Finally, he gently lifted himself off her, rolling to lie beside her. It seemed she couldn't get enough of him, touching him, seeing him, having him near her. She immediately moved to lay her head on his shoulder. His arm came around her possessively, his hand idly stroking her back as their breathing gradually slowed.
"I couldn't love you more than I do right now, Lindy."
She smiled. "You only think that, Jesse. I think I can prove you wrong…in about fifty, sixty years."
He laughed softly. "I won't mind."
* * * * *
The evening shadows had become full dark now, the only light in the room from the small corner fireplace.
If only they could stay here forever. Four days would never be long enough…Lindy's fingers swept lightly over Jesse's ribs, lower, to settle on his hard-gridded belly. He took a deep, contented breath, tucking her head beneath his chin.
Lindy gradually became aware that the silence had subtly changed somehow. The wind had gotten up outside, howling around the eaves of the small house. The storm that had been forecast was moving in, but lying in Jesse's arms, she felt sheltered and safe…and loved completely. In the silence, she heard something more. Jesse was trying to decide how to tell her something.
"I love this place," she whispered.
It was the key he needed. She felt him smile against her hair. "I do, too. Almost as much as I love you."
She heard that careful note in his voice that she'd come to recognize. "What's wrong, then?"
He shifted. She rose, propping on her elbow, so she could see him. Whatever he had to tell her was serious. She waited while he chose his words.
"How would you feel about…living here? Permanently, I mean?"
"Oh, Jesse," she breathed. "How could we? I thought this place belonged to you and your brothers."
"Ramie and Sam sold me their shares years ago. I'm the one who's always seen to the place after Mom and Dad died."
"And Jake?"
Jesse's lips quirked. "He came around a few days ago. He needed money for Melissa's gambling debts…for their divorce settlement. He asked me if I wanted to buy his share in this place."
"I hope you said yes."
Jesse nodded. "That's why we haven't gone house hunting. I should've told you before I gave him the money, but—"
Lindy gently kissed him, stopping his words. "No. You helped your brother. And now the house is really yours."
"Ours." He let his fingers sift through Lindy's auburn hair. "I ran into an old friend last week when I was down here cleaning this place up." His voice remained casual, but Lindy knew there was something important he wanted to tell her.
"I have a job with the Choctaw Nation," he said hesitantly, "…if I want it. If we were to decide to live here."
At her quick glance, he explained. "Nothing dangerous, Lindy. But it would mean going back to college for my Masters degree. I'll be working with displaced Indian kids."
Relief flooded through her. "That sounds wonderful, if it's what you want. That nothing dangerous part is very appealing." After a minute, she went on more seriously. "Jesse…I understand about the sugar ring."
"Huh?" His gaze narrowed in puzzlement.
"Why you always ordered a sugar ring."
"Oh, yeah? Why's that?"
"It was like fry bread. Sort of."
"What do you know about fry bread, little white girl?" he teased, tugging gently at a lock of her hair.
She cocked her head. "Someone told me they'd teach me to make it, if I remember correctly. When we were playing the question game."
Jesse laughed. "You're right. I can't argue there." He looked up at her, and her heart caught at the shining glow of love in his eyes. "What's all this about? You gettin' hungry?"
"I guess I am," she admitted, adding softly, "now that I'm eating for two."
The grin faded slowly from Jesse's face to be replaced by shocked disbelief. "Lindy, don't joke…"
She'd been wondering how she'd tell him, what he'd think. And she'd tried to prepare herself for every possible reaction. Waiting to add a baby to the mix of this new family of theirs might have been best, but there was no changing it now. She shook her head. "I'm not. I should've started while you were in the hospital. It never happened."
Jesse closed his eyes.
"Say something."
He pulled her to him and swiftly covered her body with his own. He placed a large sheltering palm over her still-flat belly, as if he thought to feel the life they’d made there already.
"What is there to say?" he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "It was all true…the lie I made up to tell Hardin…that you were already pregnant. I was just trying to buy us a chance."
"Professional liar?"
His eyes were warm. "Yeah, it paid off in spades, didn't it? When I think of how this all started, Lindy…what you've given me. And now, a baby, too."
"How it all started…you gave up your favorite pastry one morning, a sugar ring," Lindy reminded him teasingly.
He put his mouth to hers in a scorching kiss that left her breathless. "The sweetest deal I've ever made."
About the Author:
Cheryl was born in Duncan, OK, and grew up in Seminole, OK. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and holds a B.A. in English. Cheryl lives with her husband in Oklahoma City, OK, where she has been for the past 29 years.
Writing is so much a part of her life that recently, she and long-time friend Livia Reasoner, opened a publishing house for western and historical stories.
PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS
http://prairierosepublications.com/ furthers the western-themed writing offerings of women.
As if that weren’t enough, there were so many requests for a publishing house for young people interested in the west that they decided to open the unique imprint, PAINTED PONY BOOKS http://paintedponybooks.com/. This line will be open to all authors, male and female, who have submissions for Middle Grade readers, Young Adult, and New Adult.
The contemporary/futuristic imprint for these age groups is TORNADO ALLEY PUBLICATIONS http://tornadoalleypublications.com/, and for adult contemporary/futuristic, check out their imprint FIRE STAR PRESS http://firestarpress.com/.
All imprints are open and accepting submissions.
Cheryl's latest novel is a western historical romance, THE HALF-BREED'S WOMAN through Prairie Rose Publications.
You can e-mail her at
[email protected]
Sweet Danger Page 27
