“You look beautiful in that nightgown Alex.”
“It’s a simple nightgown without any fashion. You must have seen much better.”
“Is that your way of asking if I have been with other women?”
“No, I really didn’t mean it that way,” Alex said looking up horrified then as she saw the smile tugging at his lips realized he had been teasing her.
“I have no right to question you Jim.” she said softly and Jim stood taking booth her hands into his.
“You have every right to question me Alex. Let me tell you this. I have not lead the life of a monk all these years but my heart has never been touched. And since the time I have met you all other women of my acquaintance have faded into oblivion.”
You have come dangerously close to touching my heart, he had wanted to add but refrained. Instead, he gently pulled at the pins in her hair and watched her hair cascade down to her shoulders. He then shoved his hands into the mass of auburn curls and brought her head slowly forward as he bent down to claim her lips. At first, she resisted slightly then allowed him access. Then the magic happened. Sensations she had never imagined coursed through her body.
Instinctively Alex looped her hands around his neck and held on for the wild ride of emotions that ebbed and fell inside her as she gave in abandon. Jim drew her closer, their bodies grinding against each other as he deepened the kiss and took mindlessly.
When he finally drew back Alex was so lost in the waves of sensations that she did not even put up a customary resistance as he deftly undid the buttons of her nightgown and pushed it to the floor. And there she stood, completely bared to the inspection of his hungry eyes, bathed in the starlight flooding in from the window, the milky glow complimenting her translucent creamy skin.
Not knowing how much longer he would be able to resist, Jim pulled her down to the bed then slowly pushed her into the mattress, her head resting on the pillow among a halo of her radiant hair. He propped himself up next to her, his head supported by one arm and explored her body with the other.
It pleased her immensely to see the wonderment in his eyes as he slowly rubbed his knuckles over her collar bone then drew his fingers lower, going excruciatingly slow, feathering over the mound of her breast, then down her ribs, circling around her navel, threading over the thatch of light brown hair in the crook of her thighs, he locked it around her waist and turned her to him.
“You are too thin. Have you always been like this or is it the month and a half long train journey that has done this to you.” He said running his fingers up and down along the length of her bare arm, circling back to her breast, then rubbing the pad of his thumb over her nipple bringing it to peak. He enjoyed watching Alex’s honey colored eyes go dark with passion as he repeated the treatment with her other breast.
He bent down then and indulging in his most torturous fantasy closed his mouth over one creamy breast and pulled at it. Alex moaned in delirious pleasure as the exploration and assault continued into the silent night. The glimmer of the moonlight, the sighs of the wind, the chirps of the night time insects outside her window, the distant commotion of the festivities all faded away as the only thing they were now aware of was the potent pulsations of their mutual desire.
Jim had at some point rid himself of the remainder of his clothes. He now lay there pleasuring himself and her with his hands and mouth plundering her lush beautiful body. When he, at last, parted her knees, Alex stiffened.
“Shh, relax. I am not going to hurt you more than what I have to honey. And I promise it is going to be alright soon afterward.”
As she eased back he dipped his fingers into her core and found her wet and ready. He withdrew them then just as she was expecting him to stop he plunged in again and again, kneading his thumb over the folds of soft flesh and the sensitive little nub and Alex whimpered deliriously bordering on the edges of consciousness. When she came shuddering into his arms Jim just started over again.
When he finally knelt between her thighs, parting her knees and positioning her for his entering, Jim was barely in control of his own wanting. Just before he entered her he whispered with tenderness.
“Look at me Alex. I want you to look at me. This is going to hurt sweetheart. Just for a minute. Then I am going to make the hurt disappear.” Alex looked up at him her eyes full of blind trust and Jim hated himself for what he was about to do.
Then he thrust himself into her and Alex screamed out as pain shot up through her core the sheer size of him overwhelming her. Jim continued to thrust going deeper inside with every stroke, spreading her knees further apart to give him better leverage. Alex bit down hard on her lower lip and moaned as the pain dulled down to an ache that transformed slowly into a pulsating volcano of desire screaming for release.
As he brought them both to the peak, there was nothing between them but their frenzy, a race to climax as they were thrown overboard, shattering with release, rising and falling on the waves of desire.
Over and over they made love all night, amazed by the delightful discoveries they made about each other along the way until finally, somewhere just before dawn they fell asleep in each other’s arms exhausted and replete with fulfillment.
Chapter 10
Jim Sullivan sat on a low stool, in a hay field just outside the borders of his estate, his eye glued to his transit, mounted on a tripod. He dictated quick notations to Trevor Rothschild, a young engineer, sent by the WPR to help him with the land survey. Suddenly he lurched back then looked up at Rothschild annoyed as if it was all his mistake, then back into the eyehole of his equipment.
A slow silly grin spread across Trev’s face. “Looks like lunch is here sir. Am I invited to your table?”
“Keep leering like that every time you see my wife and you will soon be surveying land and laying tracks in the Tundra.” Jim threatened good-naturedly as he rose from his stool and wiped his hands down his work pants.
It was not long before Alexandra had realized the secret behind the very successful Sullivan conglomerate. In one of her letters to Mother Bernardine, she wrote that her husband and his grandmother worked for the company with unbridled commitment.
They dealt in mining, lumber, and raw material, capitalized on banking and stock investments, served various charities and funded research. Besides Jim worked from time to time as a consultant with the Western Pacific Railroads. But what Alexandra found most admirable was that they contributed largely to the development of the region.
Usually, Jim left for work early and often returned after sundown. Alex started her day early too. She cooked an elaborate breakfast for her husband and once he left for work she mapped out the rest of the day’s cooking for Rosa, tended to the kitchen garden herself, kept the books, packed a lunch for Jim and Andreadora and sent it to them with Johnson. Sometimes she took it to them herself.
She visited Scot at his clinic sometimes if one of her staff, especially a woman or a child needed medical attention. Sometimes she simply dropped by and helped him for an hour in his duties. Jim did not approve completely of the later but she had somehow convinced him into allowing her to do it. Alexandra had kept her promise and given her husband complete devotion and compliance. But she had also taken Morgan’s advice and not let him manipulate her into becoming a different person.
Now as she approached him, sitting atop a trap cart steered by Johnson, swaying with the motion, her blue sun hat held in place by one hand and a huge lunch basket held in her lap by the other, Jim was mesmerized. She reminded him of a painting he had in his attic that was gifted to him by a man called Oscar Monet, whom he had met several years back in England. He had stashed the painting away simply because he did not consider it as true art but now looking at his wife through the scope of his theodolite he was strangely reminded of it.
“You are the most beautiful thing that has ever crossed the lens of my transit,” he said helping her down from the cart. Johnson was already on his way to the tent, a few yards away, with Trevor a
t his heels.
Alex and Jim walked hand in hand towards the tent. As they were crossing a gigantic bale of hay Jim pushed her against the bale and leaned in for a deep kiss. He thrust his knee between her legs and slid his palm up her thigh. He took his time nibbling at the lobe of her ear, nipping the delicate column of her neck and plundering her soft lips.
“Jim, you are at work.” Alex hissed in disapproval trying to push him away.
“You are a piece of work.” he said nuzzling the crook of her neck and leaning farther in.
“Stop this now.” She said mortified.
“That’s not what you said at dawn,” he grumbled and a pink hue spread up from the base of her neck. They had made wild consuming love late into the night till they had both fallen asleep spent and worn-out. Just before dawn, she had woken up with his fingers plunging her wetness. He loved to see that shock in her molten gold eyes, hazy with somnolent desire. Even after four months of marriage Alex never ceased to surprise him. So he had stretched the play so far that she had finally begged him for release.
When finally, they entered the field tent, Johnson had already laid out the table. Trevor was nicking pieces of cheese, fruit and smoked ham as he promptly answered all questions Andreadora was throwing his way. She was seated at a side table with a proposed plan of the Western Pacific Railroads in front of her.
When Jim and Alex entered she was overjoyed to see Alex. She hurried to the younger woman and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“Alex, how are you darling? You haven’t been to see me all week.”
Since after the wedding Andreadora had been living at Gray cottage, Alex visited her frequently there. Sometimes she read to her or helped her with the garden. But her conversations with Eileen were restricted, though the other woman had always been friendly and welcoming. And she almost never showed any interest in her work, for she knew Jim would not approve.
So when the week before Eileen had asked her advice about some of the books she was using and asked to discuss curriculum and methodologies with her, Alex had declined, saying she was busy and would come back later. Since then she had been avoiding a visit to the cottage. Now before she had a chance to explain Jim said peering down at the map his grandmother was studying.
“Ara and Archi would never agree to this. This stretch would go right through their ranch.” He said shaking his head and drawing a finger across the chart.
“Imagine what it would do to our business.” Andreadora hissed with a twinkle in her eye.
“Many people are going to lose their land,” warned Jim.
“Oh, there is no shortage of land here. There’s plenty to be had, and with the right price you can buy any piece you want. Andreadora drawled breezily waving her hand.
“What about Archi and Ara?” Jim asked
“We will talk to them after the bash,” Andreadora assured him. Then turning to Alex she said,
“Archi and Ara celebrate the Harvest festival every year. It's next Sunday. Ara came to invite you but the two of you were in town last Friday. So she left your invitation with me.” She said and handed it over to Alex before continuing. “I am traveling there tomorrow. I always go a week before the bash to help them. Eileen is going with me. She wanted me to ask you if you would look after the school for her for a week.”
From the corner of her eye, Alex saw Jim go very still while he was still bent over the map.
Jim never spoke about his mother and on the rare occasions Alexandra had tried to get him to talk about it, he either changed the subject completely leaving her to take the hint or shut her out for hours afterward. So Eileen was not a welcome subject between them. It had not escaped Alex’s notice that apart from her husband everybody else treated Eileen with friendliness and dignity and Andreadora had a clear affection for her.
“Alex, I would never have asked if I had had a choice. Please, do it as a personal favor to me.” Andreadora implored and Alex nodded a reluctant consent silently imploring Jim to help her out but he did not.
Chapter 11
Jim returned home late that day. He had sent word with James asking Alexandra not to wait up for him for dinner and when he returned home he found her at the kitchen table preparing her lessons for the morrow.
As he came in she laid out his dinner, poured him a glass of wine then sat back down watching him.
“How was your day?” she asked lamely and the hollowness of her question rang loud in the huge empty kitchen.
Jim just nodded consent as he continued to eat. She made a few more redundant inquiries and his answer was each time either a grunt or a nod. He didn’t even look her in the eye, instead, he kept his attention on the food in front of him.
“Eileen sent over the books with Rosa.” she said motioning to the books on her table.
Once again Jim nodded then rose to take his plate to the sink. Alexandra could not take it anymore and getting up from her place, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly from behind.
“Don’t do this to me Jim. The reason I did not go see Andreadora for a week was to avoid this request. I knew somehow it was coming. And I knew equally well you would not approve. And today when she begged me for it, I could not refuse. But later when I came home and thought about it I realized I should have had more courage. I am going to go there tomorrow and put up a sign saying that the school will remain closed for a week for harvest. Then when Andreadora comes back I will tell her I could not do it.”
He turned then slowly and framed her face between his palms and placed a light kiss on her lips.
“Don’t you dare to go back on a promise you made to Andreadora. She will find out you did it due to me and then I will have hell to pay for.”
“Are you sure?” she asked looking up into his eyes and he smiled reassuringly.
“Forgive me, Alex, I did not mean to hurt you. In fact, I wanted to be angry at you and all day I tried to work up an ugly mad. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay mad at you” he said the last words softly placing his forehead against her.
“Well, since you are feeling such profound regret, come sit down a bit and help me with this math a little.” she said drawing a chair for him and taking a place across from him.
“Oh no…” he exclaimed horrified. “Not Eileen’s math again. I have had more than enough of my share while I was growing up.” He said sitting down next to her.
At that declaration, Alexandra just gawked and it was a full minute before she could think of anything to say. Not only had Jim spoken of Eileen and uttered her name, but he had done so in good spirit.
“She taught you math? But…she was never around?”
“Not as a mother no…but she was my school mistress. And there she drilled it into me plenty. I did everything correct. But she just would find a mistake somewhere and then make me stay back for remedial.”
“Eileen has run the school since the time you were a boy?”
“Even before. Before she was married. She came down from the east with a group of missionaries during the civil war. When they left she stayed back. She wanted to run the school. She loves her profession. Perhaps more than she ever loved her own child.” He said looking down in defeat.
“Jim I am pregnant,” Alex announced taking his hand and looping her fingers through his over the table top. His head came up with a jolt.
“What did you say?”
“We are going to have a baby Jim,” she said
“When did you know?”
“Well, I have been suspecting for a couple of weeks. But after I saw you today I went to see Scot. He confirmed it. Aren’t you happy Jim?” she asked urgently.
A slow smile spread across his face and he simply picked her up and took her up to their room. He placed her down on the bed then laid his hand across her abdomen.
“Are you feeling fine? What can I do for you?”
“You can stop treating me like an invalid,” she said slapping away his hand and sitting up in bed. Jim narrowed his eyes and growled.<
br />
“Why were you riding that quirky trapcart today?”
“Jim I am pregnant not fatally ill.” She said with utmost patience.
“We are not going to the harvest bash on Sunday. It will be too taxing for you.” He continued as if he had not heard her earlier statement.
Alex got up from the bed in exasperation, raking one hand through her hair and the other planted firmly on her hip. He walked to the window then whirled back on him.
“This fawning is getting out of hands. So Jim Sullivan next time I get pregnant, I am going to tell you about it a week before I deliver.”
Chapter 12
Jim and Alexandra Sullivan attended church together on Sunday morning. After the service they had a light breakfast and left for the Sullivan farm for the harvest bash that evening.
As the ranch came into view, Alex was surprised. The Sullivan twins lived in a completely different world from that of their grandmother and their nephew. It was basically an abundance of nature and the wild as opposed to developed industry.
The house, where Ara and Archi lived, unlike the magnificent villa Sullivan was a small farmhouse surrounded by a series of outbuildings with patches of vegetable gardens.
As the carriage came to a stop, Ara came running out to greet them. She was followed by a black and brown cocky Rottweiler.
“Hi there. Guess you got our invitation after all.” she chided good-naturedly as her nephew jumped down and helped his wife out.
“Sorry, we were out both times you came by,” Alex said sincerely as she hugged Ara. The dog went mad around Jim and Ara introduced him as Shep.
“The doc and Trev rode over just after sunrise,” Ara said looping her hands through both of theirs and walking between them as was her habit.
“Some of us are civilized and we attend Sunday service. Besides, I don’t remember inviting Trevor. He was supposed to work on the plans today.” Jim grumbled.
Romance: The Bad Boy Affair: A Second Chance Romance Page 25
