"All right, I could use him." Her mama eyed Hank for a long minute, her practical side showing. "I cain’t pay much, but he could bunk in the barn with Jacob and George, and take his meals with us. Thank your ma for thinkin’ of me."
"Yes ma’am. You just lay the law down to him and he’ll work just fine." Leroy winked at his brother, as his eyes slid to Josey once more.
Ruby shot Hank a quick once over and nodded keenly. "I’ll do ‘er. Hank, you talk to George, he’ll let you know what needs doin’ around here."
"Yes ma’am." Hank nodded, and then cast a quick grin at Rose. She smiled and batted her lashes at him.
Josey knew she should go in the house, time to leave Rose and Leroy alone, but his leaving created a void in her heart that she couldn’t explain. She looked from Leroy to Hank and then mumbled as she went inside. "Goodbye Leroy."
"Bye, Miss Josey," he called after her, roughly. Her heart did another flip. Miss Josey.
Josey bit her lip, forcing the tears she held in check. She wouldn’t watch them. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from gazing out the window. Even Hank seemed to hang back and stare at them. She studied him. Did Hank have feelings for Rose too? The way he kept eyeing her and Leroy.
Rose tiptoed to kiss Leroy on the mouth, long and leisurely, and Josey saw how Hank reddened. It had never dawned on her that Hank could be sweet on Rose too. But why not, Rose was the prettiest girl in the county, maybe even in all of Texas.
Her heart did a flip-flop when Leroy kissed Rose back. If he ever kissed her like that, she’d die right there in his arms, she was sure.
"You’ll wait for me, won’t ya?" Leroy asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"You know I will." Rose waltzed around him. "I’ll miss you so…why must you go, Leroy? We’re not part of this ugly ole war. I don’t understand. Besides, we just got engaged."
"I’ll miss you too, Rose. I’ll carry the memory of you in that dress forever. You look so lovely, with your cheeks burning, your eyes sparkling. I-I don’t know exactly how to answer your question about the war. It is kinda complicated for a woman to understand much less myself." Leroy hesitated, his expression serious. "But as for going…I don’t know. After much thought, one day I made a decision. The South needs its men, and…a man must face his duty. I go for Texas, I guess. No other reason. To protect her, and see she don’t get run over by the spoils of war. If we don't fight, then the Yanks could just walk in and take what they wanted."
For Texas, what a noble thought. Josey sighed.
Josey couldn’t stand another minute of their goodbyes though. She shut her eyes and moved away from the window. She didn’t want to hear them. Her heart was breaking and no one would ever know how much.
Finally, after several minutes of quiet, Josey heard the clopping of Leroy's horse, and she peeped out the window once more. Leroy rode out of the yard, his shoulders squared, and his back straight, his head held high, he rode out of their lives and into the biggest, meanest war of the century.
Josey hung her head and forced the tears down so hard her stomach hurt.
He was gone…and she knew she would never feel complete again, until he returned.
~*~
That had been two years ago…two very long years ago today, Josey had noted in her hand written journal. Oh, the letters she had written him, in that journal. Letters he’d never get. Letters from her heart. Letters no one would see as she hid them from everyone.
Josey wrote in her journal everyday about the things she noticed, the feelings she had. Even a little about the war she did not understand. Today was a sad day for there was still no sign of his return.
Chapter Two
"I thought you were promised to Leroy." Hank kissed her on the soft exposed shoulder; a shoulder strap from her dress innocently fell against her arm.
"Of course, I am…you know I am. Nothing has changed. I never tried to hide that from you or anybody, but Leroy is gone to that old nasty war and there’s no tellin’ if he’ll come back or not." Rose protested with an enticing pout to her full lips.
"That’s for sure. And you don’t have to worry your pretty little head; I’ll take care of you," he said through his warm kisses."‘Course you know, my mama would have my butt if she knew I was out here making love to you almost every day. I sure wouldn’t be workin’ here no more. But she’s not around so she has no idea what we get up to. Neither does Leroy. I told you when he marched off to war that I could keep you happy. Why I even promised my brother I would. Fool that he is…" Hank snickered as his lips trailed down her neck and shoulders repeatedly.
Rose sighed, enjoying every minute of Hank’s attention. She’d found him a precocious student in the art of lovemaking.
"He certainly wasn’t thinking of me when he left. Or how lonely I might be."
Rose let Hank’s lips wander to the crevice of her cleavage. It was a fun game he played and she enjoyed it no end. The way he kissed the top of her breasts so breathlessly. She brashly took a deep breath so her breast pouted against her dress. She knew the charm of her feminine wiles and used them frequently.
"You do have a way of entertaining me that I never dreamed I’d enjoy so much."
She smiled and dodged his next kiss, running into the empty stall for more privacy and giggling.
He caught her by the waist and pulled her down to the soft hay. She fell back against the hay, her dress moving down just a tad so her breast was almost fully exposed to Hank. She laughed with pure delight. Playing with Hank in the hay had become an everyday ritual.
"You know of course when he comes back that I’ll belong to him, then…" She looked up into Hank’s freckled face, a soft blush touching her cheeks. She had so wanted to count those freckles, but there were too many, so she satisfied herself just kissing them, one by one.
"Can he make you as happy as I have?" Hank asked, loosening his hold of her so he could sit up in the hay. His face screwed up in frustration as she watched him.
"Well…I don’t rightly know. We never got this far." She smiled mischievously. Hank reached to move a piece of straw from her dress, as she laid waiting.
"Leroy don’t know nothin’ about pleasurin’ a woman. He’s too busy bein’ the hero of the family." Hank turned to look down into her beautiful face. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes dark with a fire.
"Are you jealous?" She reached to touch his arm.
"Only that he’s your betrothed." He kissed her again, this time till she was breathless. Hank had developed a fine art of kissing that had Rose in a stir. Perhaps she had taught him too well.
"You’re young Hank, younger than me…you got plenty of time to find yourself a woman." She took a piece of straw and tickled his ear.
He batted at it.
"Of course you’ll be quite experienced once you do. Thanks to me."
Rose knew he was sensitive about his age, since she was older by four years.
"I found myself one, right here." He stood up and glanced at her. "Lying there with pieces of hay stuck in your hair," his voice softened, his eyes glittering with fire. "You're the most gorgeous creature I've ever known. You’re maybe more than I can handle. But you know as well as I do, age don’t matter. I’ve proved that enough. I know all your little secrets, now. Everything that makes you tingle. Leroy don’t have a clue. Think about all the nights and days we’ve been in here makin’ love. You taught me everything you like. Would you teach Leroy?" Hank questioned staring down into her lovely dark eyes. "Would he even let you teach him? Would he be the proud warrior who thinks he knows how without the slightest idea?"
A dark cloud passed over her eyes. "I don’t know. Leroy’s older. He should know how to pleasure a woman."
"Age has nothing to do with experience. You are the only girl he’s been interested in. How could he know how to please you? You and him never…" He lifted a brow arrogantly. "Besides, you have more than your fair share of an appetite. He won’t be able to keep you from runnin’ back to me."
&nb
sp; Before he could finish, she reached to pull him back down to her, her tantalizing lips scorched him with another tempting kiss. She didn’t want to talk about Leroy, she wanted Hank.
"Show me how much you know, Hank," she whispered.
Rose waited with bated breath; obviously he’d take the challenge. Hank made her as comfortable as he could. She quickly realized he was hot and ready for her as his lips trailed down the edge of her dress to her bosom once more. She felt a tingle. He slipped the shoulder strap down her arm, lifting her arm out of the dress. She moaned. He kissed her nipple then pulled her other arm out. Her dark rose-colored nipples hardened as she saw the heat in his eyes. She watched as his eyes seemed to glass over.
"My God Rose, it ought to be against the law to be so beautiful."
"You really think I’m beautiful?" Her eyes widened.
He looked at her again. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She laughed. "You haven't seen that many women, Hank."
"Maybe not, but I know beauty when I see it."
She squirmed, and pulled him down for a kiss.
He pulled himself up, his eyes appreciating her. "I know you just think it's lust…but it isn't."
"How you carry on Hank." She took her finger and pulled his shirt open a bit. "I like to look at you too. You've got the nicest chest."
He smiled.
He kissed another nipple and his tongue ran circles around it.
"See, they react to me, every time." he whispered. She squirmed restlessly, already on fire for him.
"Do you want me, Hank?" She asked seductively.
"You know I do."
He smothered his nose against her cleavage, holding her breast together, he moved so his tongue circled the tips of her nipples, slowly. Just the way she'd encouraged him many times. Nothing fazed him. Hank's tongue worked her breasts pushing her dress further down her body. His masterful manipulation of her breast made her hot and wet as her nipples reacted again, and tingles spread through her like wildfire.
His lips burnt a long trail of love nips down to her waist, his tongue shot out to run around her navel.
Hank was very good at making love. She sighed aloud; it felt so good to be with him, instead of out in that hot sun, picking corn.
"I guess Leroy will have a lot to learn, won’t he." She panted as his hand reached down to pull her dress off of her. Her legs pushed it away and she lay naked for his viewing.
Hank stared at her so long she thought something was wrong.
She moaned with a lazy smile when his head dipped to her love nest. He splayed his hands in the curls, running his fingers through it with fascination. "Do you like that?" She giggled.
"Beautiful. Ever wonder why you have curls here and not up there."
"Would you rather it be curly on my head too?"
"Nope. You are perfect the way you are."
His fingers continued to caress her there, and she lay back and smiled. Hank knew just how to touch her. Just how to make her burn for him.
Suddenly she spread her legs, allowing him every freedom.
He gasped, at her boldness.
Then she closed them and giggled.
"You're teasing me…"
"You like to play so much…" she laughed.
"You never answered my question?"
"What question?"
"Will you teach Leroy how to make love to you?"
She raised up on her elbows. “Somehow it wouldn’t feel right, trying to teach him. He’s a fully growed man."
"Forget Leroy," Hank muttered hotly. "Leroy’s gone, I’m here. I’m the one you’ll come to." Hank assured her as his fingers slid between her legs and nestled deep inside her as though they knew the way. She cooed in his ear, how gently he had accomplished his feat. She'd taught him well.
"You set me on fire, sometimes. Especially when you take your time like today. A man that takes his time can have anything."
Rose lifted her head to see him work his magic. She sighed with passion, twisting herself closer, growing hotter by the moment at Hank's touch. Hank always satisfied her so she hadn’t given a minute of thought of whether Leroy could or not. Now the notion niggled in the back of her mind. What if he couldn’t satisfy her? There were men who merely had sex and considered little how a woman felt, she’d been told. She remembered her mother’s frown when she had offhandedly remarked about it. How would she deal with that? But as Hank’s hands worked their magic, those worries flew out of the barn that bright, hot day. There was always Hank.
She groaned aloud, her hips beginning to move against Hank as he continued to please her. "You do have some very redeeming qualities Hank. I just may have taught you too well."
He pulled at his own clothes until he unleashed himself, her eyes flew to his manhood, and she groaned aloud. "Ah…you are always so ready. How do you do that?" The urgency to be with a man was so strong within her. She didn’t understand. She didn't want to.
His pleasuring her body was to be soaked in like a wet cloth. His mouth felt exactly like that as she moved to give him complete access to her. She moaned. "I did teach you well, didn't I darlin'."
Josey wasn’t that way, but Rose had to have a man's love. She needed it, craved it, and sought it. And she knew exactly how to get what she wanted.
Then with a long, hard thrusts, Hank entered her, and she put the things in her mind to rest as she enjoyed the moment. Her dress was in the way and Hank disposed of it entirely, leaving her naked against him. He moved his hips so that he could plunge deeper over and over until she was frantic. Her breast brushed against him, begging his attention, to be touched and kissed as he nuzzled her until she moaned and then almost screamed from the wanting. To keep the womenfolk from coming out the door she guessed, he covered her mouth with his own. As hungry as he was for her, she felt his lips soften against hers, making her claw at his back as her hips thrust upward. She saw the wave of desire in his eyes, sure that they matched her own, and all else was forgotten as he carried her higher.
Hank could kiss like no other man she had met. And not just her lips. He knew her like a map.
She sighed happily as he teased and cuddled and manipulated her.
Moments later, she whimpered and lay spent in his arms, her breathing slowly returning to almost normal. She could have stayed there forever, making love, but Hank’s words brought her out of that. If only he wouldn't talk, they could play at this all day…
"Can he do that for you?" Hank whispered in her ear seriously.
Hank had an uncanny way of putting Leroy back into the picture at the most unwelcome times. She wished he wasn’t so jealous of Leroy. After all, her feelings for the two of them were so different. Hank was her pupil and a fine one at that. Leroy was simply her betrothed.
"I don’t know." She sighed heavily aware of how her breast beckoned his touch and kisses. AS though he knew, he bent his head and circled her nipple with his tongue, she moaned and giggled. "Lord I hope so. I mean, you’ve spoiled me. I guess we’ll just have to make time for each other Hank. I’m not sure I can give you up." She sighed, enjoying the way his lips covered her nipples over and over. He never tired of her breast. But then no man did. She had small ones that were pert and perfect. Sometimes if he didn't shave he would make them so raw that she could hardly stand to wear her clothes.
"I mean, I invested a lot of time with you. I’d hate for some other lucky girl to have you now. I’m not sure I could bear that."
"You bet we will make time…and one day, you’ll come to see that it’s me that pleases you, and you’ll leave Leroy. Age won’t matter then."
Hank declared as his lips dipped to her breast once more and he nuzzled them playfully, pulling, tasting, and teasing. She didn't mind the rawness as the pleasure outweighed the pain.
"How come they stand up so perfect."
"They want your constant attention." She giggled.
He pulled her on top of him and held her close. He kissed her long and
hard.
When he closed his eyes, she took a stalk of hay and tickled his nipple.
"I want to marry you Rose."
She stirred restless in the hay, squirming at his touch as he pulled, tugged, and laved each nipple until she was hot once more. He knew exactly how to touch her, and he was gentle. Rose was more than sure that Hank loved her. For he would never hurt her. No matter what she said or did. He never even looked at another woman.
But sanity slowly returned once they indulged in their love making again.
Rose kissed him thoroughly on the lips, biting his lower lip, and mingling her tongue with his.
But sanity prevailed when Hank ask her to leave Leroy.
"Honey, I can’t leave Leroy, he’s my promised. What would the family say?" She protested, and sat up, once he stopped kissing her. She didn’t bother to hide herself from him. She could tell he enjoyed just looking at her. And she liked to stretch herself over him. She loved his attention as he couldn’t quite take his eyes from her. Hank wasn't modest either. He didn't bother fastening his pants as she glanced at the length of him. Well-endowed she smiled at his hidden strength. His gaze devoured her. The one thing about Hank, he never became distracted from her. She enjoyed his full attention. Now if she could just get him to quit talking about Leroy, and marriage everything would be perfect. Why couldn't Hank see that life was perfect as it was?
Hank cuddled her to him, his hands ever busy as his fingers slid back inside her and he held her against him, panting, whispering love words to her. She nourished his needs and smiled patiently at him, liking the fact that he never seemed to get enough of her. She felt the same and with Hank she never had to hide the fact. They indulged themselves as often as possible.
"What would the family say if they caught us here? Mama would just die." Rose declared, as she found his lips again. The kiss went everywhere, and she looped a leg around him possessively.
"This wouldn’t be happenin’ if you hadn’t waylaid me in the barn two years ago. I mean, Leroy was hardly down the road good before you started makin’ eyes at me. I saw you watchin’ me work when I took my shirt off."
Always Remember Page 2
