Limp and gasping for breath, she looked up at him. She curved her hand to his jaw, wanting to know what it would be like to cradle him within her body, to feel his strength inside her, to give him the same pleasure he’d given her.
He smiled and nodded when he read the look in her eyes.
“You’re my bride, no question about that,” he said hoarsely. “Now it’s time to make you my wife.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll try not to hurt you, honey.”
She kissed him. “I’m not made of glass. I won’t shatter.”
He still looked worried as he positioned his body over hers. Gently, he eased into her. He filled her near to bursting, yet she welcomed him. She felt a tearing sensation and one quick, sharp pain. He held himself still for a few moments as he watched her carefully. When she drew him down for a soft kiss, he looked relieved. Then he began to move within her, slowly at first.
Ripples of almost painful delight spiraled from her abdomen outward. Jarrod’s face grew intense with concentration. The sensuous sounds of their bodies coming together mingled with his ragged breathing and her own soft sighs of pleasure.
As tension built within her again, she knew she’d been wrong before. She just might shatter into a million pieces.
Then Jarrod went still for a moment, his eyes closed. He gave a harsh cry, a rough sound that burst from his throat as he thrust into her. One last lunge, then he shuddered.
Jarrod lowered himself into her, rolled onto his side, and gathered Abby against him. His face turned toward her and his warm breath stirred her hair. They lay like that, spent and content, for a long time. His breathing grew even, telling her he’d fallen asleep.
Abby sighed, brushing the hair from his forehead. Loving Jarrod had been even more wonderful than she’d thought. And more terrible. Now that she knew the ecstasy of being with him, how could she go back to the desolation of being alone?
But she knew she had to. He hadn’t said he loved her, and she couldn’t settle for less. That’s what had destroyed her own family. She wouldn’t do it to herself, and especially not to Jarrod.
Abby looked up from the bowl of eggs she’d been stirring when Jarrod entered the doorway to the kitchen. He was wearing nothing but denims. The sight of his bare chest covered with a dusting of hair made her catch her breath. He had loved her thoroughly all afternoon, until the shadows of twilight had crept into the house. Then he’d dozed again and she had come downstairs to think.
“What are you doing?” His voice sounded uncertain, but with a note of anger.
She understood his uncertainty. She felt the same thing. As well as sad and wistful. If only things could have been different. But she didn’t know how to go back. “I’m hungry.” That wasn’t a lie. “Aren’t you?”
“I suppose.”
“What’s wrong, Jarrod?”
“I woke up and you were gone. I was afraid you’d left for good.”
She looked down at the eggs she had broken into the bowl and sighed. “You were right when you said I was being a coward with the children. I can’t leave without telling them good-bye. They deserve to know what’s going on.”
Even though that meant the pain of staying on alone with Jarrod until they returned from their trip.
He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I don’t know what’s going on. How can I explain it to them?”
“I can’t say what’s going on with you, but for myself, I’ll tell you one thing—I’m finished running away.” Before she left him, she wanted to make sure he knew one thing. “I love you, Jarrod Blackstone. You’ve never said how you feel. And I’m not asking for anything. I just needed to say it once.”
A surprised expression crossed his face before he shook his head. He moved forward and caught her in his arms. “You’re my wife. Stay with me, Abby. The family you’ve always wanted is right here. All you have to do is reach out and take it.”
“You said you wanted me to stay for you and the children. But you haven’t once said how you feel about me.”
“I thought I just showed you how I feel.”
“I’m not in the mood for teasing.” She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip.
“Neither am I. Don’t let your pride tear us apart. Don’t leave me, Abby.” His expression was anything but playful. “I love you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I was waiting for the right time. So much has happened. I almost lost you when you were sick. Whether I said the words or not, the love was there. I should have told you. I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll say it, and go on saying it while we grow old together. I love you, Abby.”
She released the breath she’d been holding. She studied his face for several moments. His eyes were full of intensity. She believed him.
“All right, then.” She pulled away from him and started stirring the eggs again. “Do you want biscuits and bacon with your eggs?”
“Abby?” Puzzled, Jarrod scratched his chin. “What does that mean, ‘All right, then’?”
“It means that was all I needed to hear. If you’d told me that yesterday, you’d have slept better last night and saved yourself and Gib a lot of trouble.” She shook her head and tsk-tsked him. “Scheming, and plotting to get rid of the children. All you had to do was tell me you loved me.”
“I planned to tell you, there by the waterfall. You never gave me a chance. That temper of yours—”
When she grinned, he pulled her to him in a fierce grip that would have convinced her even if his words hadn’t. “No way on God’s green earth would I have let you walk away from me, Abby.”
“Good. If I’d known that, I’d have slept better last night.” She reached a hand up to smooth the frown lines on his forehead. “I love you, Jarrod.”
Holding her face in his hands, he stared into her eyes. “Are you still hungry?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly.
“For me?”
“Yes,” she said again, then pulled away. “And as soon as I cook up these eggs and replenish my strength, I plan to have my way with you.”
“Hot damn,” he said grinning. “Firecracker sure fits you.”
Epilogue
Abby pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders as she rocked on the back porch after dinner. The nights had turned cool, as it was getting on toward fall. These six weeks since Jarrod had told her he loved her had been the happiest of her life. He’d made sure to show her every night exactly how he felt. She smiled as a shiver of anticipation rippled through her. How she looked forward to bedtime, and a night in his arms. The children had come back from their camping trip, and if they noticed the intimate changes between her and Jarrod, they never said anything. They went about their day, happy and normal. She loved every minute of watching them grow. Well, almost every minute. Oliver did manage to get dirtier than any two four-year-olds. Katie never stopped asking questions. And Joe Schafer found a lot of errands to bring him out to the ranch—and Lily. How that girl would fret every time he left.
And Tom.
She smiled as she thought of him. Since he’d let go of his grief, his loving nature had shone through. He was forever bringing her something—a flower, a rock he thought was pretty. She sighed, glad that Jarrod hadn’t let her pride ruin everything. Truth to tell, it was Jarrod who had left her no pride. Thank heaven.
The kitchen door opened and her husband walked onto the porch.
“I thought I’d find you out here,” he said.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
“Yup. Have you had enough for tonight? The children sent me to fetch you.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked, bolting out of her chair. Dizziness hit her and she swayed on her feet.
Jarrod steadied her with his hands on her shoulders. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. I think I just stood up too fast.” She suspected it was more than that.
“Come off it, Abby. You move like a whirlwind and n
ever get light-headed. When are you going to admit to me that you’re probably in the family way?”
Abby looked surprised. “How did you—”
“I know every inch of your body. I’ve been noticing changes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was waiting for you. When did you plan to tell me?”
Jarrod asked.
“I wasn’t sure how you would take the news. This makes five children, Jarrod!”
He put his arms around her and lifted her feet off the ground. She laughed when he swung her in a circle. “I couldn’t be happier.” He set her on the ground and looked at her seriously. “My parents built lots of bedrooms in this house. They intended to fill it with children. Sally did her part. Now we can do the rest.”
She grinned up at him. It was a big place, with enough room for a lot of love and lots of children. What fun they’d have filling the house with noise and laughter and all the family she’d ever dreamed of.
“Speaking of children, you said they sent you to get me. I take it there’s nothing wrong?”
“I don’t think so. This is a family meeting. I found out a while back that it’s something Sally did with them. They let me in on it about the time we went in front of the judge.”
“I know,” she said, remembering how miserable she had felt about being left out. “I heard you that night.”
“You never said anything.”
“It was family. I wasn’t part of it.”
“You are now.”
She smiled up at him. “What are we waiting for?”
Jarrod led her upstairs to the open door of Lily’s room. Katie and Oliver sat on the bed dangling their legs back and forth. Lily stood in front of the dresser, and Tom leaned on the wall beside the door leading to his room.
“I thought you’d never get here,” Oliver said.
“What took you so long?” Katie asked.
“This is real important,” Tom said.
“Quiet everyone.” Lily held her hands up. “Abby, we wanted you both here at this family meeting because we have something we want to ask you.”
“I was hoping you’d include me.”
Tom took a step forward. “Is that why you wanted to go look for your pa? Ya never said nothin’ more about it, and I just wondered.”
Abby sighed. “Yes. I wanted to reunite my family, and nearly missed out on being a part of this one. Thanks to your uncle, that didn’t happen.”
Tom cleared his throat. “In that case, Abby, I wanted to tell you that I finally decided on a name for my horse.”
“Tom,” Lily said, “this isn’t the time for that.”
“Yes, it is. I decided to call her Abby.”
Katie clapped her hands. “Do you like that, Abby?”
“I like it just fine,” she said, looking at Tom. “You’re sure it won’t be too confusing with two Abbys?”
“Not if we call you Ma,” he said. He flushed as he looked from her to Jarrod. “We wondered if you’d mind if we call you Pa.”
Jarrod’s hand squeezed Abby’s waist as he pulled her against him. She pressed her cheek to his chest as a lump of emotion caught in her throat.
Four pairs of eyes stared at them. Finally Tom said, “Why don’t ya say somethin’?”
Jarrod swallowed hard. “Abby and I would be pleased for you to call us that and think of us as your parents. Right, Abby?”
She nodded, too full of emotion to speak.
They held their arms out and the children rushed into them.
Oliver pulled away first. “Ma, are you sure you like that name for Tom’s horse? I think Lady would be better.”
“What do you know? You’re just a baby,” Tom said.
“Am not.” He looked up at the two adults, his head tipped so far back Abby thought he might topple over backward. “He keeps callin’ me baby ’cause I’m the youngest. Ma? Pa? Can’t you make him stop?”
Jarrod looked at Abby and smiled. “I reckon we can. In about seven or eight months.”
Oliver frowned. “Huh?”
“We’re going to have a baby, Oliver,” Abby said. “Then you won’t be the youngest anymore.”
“Good,” he said, nodding emphatically. “I’m gonna be a big brother.”
Lily smiled and hugged Abby again. “A baby? Really?”
Katie jumped up and down. “We’re gonna have a baby. Right, Uncle—I mean, Pa?”
“That’s right,” he said. “This means you’ll all have to help Abby when it gets here. That’s what families do.”
They nodded solemnly and swore they would.
Abby studied the contented children around her and the warmth and strength of the man at her side. Love, support, family—the things she had craved all her life. Happiness bubbled up inside her and tears trickled down her cheeks.
Her dream had come true the moment she became Jarrod Blackstone’s bride.
Stolen Kisses
“Don’t you kiss me, Jarrod Blackstone,” she warned.
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What makes you think I’m going to kiss you?”
“That look on your face. It’s just like last time—”
“I knew it! You can’t forget about it either, can you?”
“Haven’t given it another thought since you promised you wouldn’t do it ever again.” A ripple of need ran through her, undermining her resolve. “You are a man of your word.”
“What if I did it again, Abby? What would you do? Would you wrap your arms around my neck and press yourself close like last time?”
“You’re imagining things. I never did—”
“That’s it, isn’t it? You liked it when I kissed you. You wanted more. That scares you more than anything.”
“Ridiculous,” she said, trying to duck under his arm.
“Then don’t run away.” He caught her and pulled her back. “You’re afraid that if you admit you care for me, you might have to give up your dream.”
She drew in a sharp breath, feeling exposed—and cornered. She shook her head. “You and I—we can’t ever be.”
Books by Teresa Southwick
Winter Bride
Reckless Destiny
Blackstone’s Bride
Copyright
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This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1996 by Teresa Southwick
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