supplier. Supplying women no one would miss, to act as concubines for hundreds of wealthy men.
Runninghorse had given Smith permission to disclose to Mac that he was on a quest to root out the
man at the pinnacle of the operation.
Satisfied that Runninghorse was alive, Mac hadn·t pressed for further details.
´He·s fine. You don·t need to worry about him. You need to concentrate on getting better,µ
Mac told
Sienna, taking the tea from her hands when he noticed the fine trembling in them.
´God, Mac, I could have died,µ
she said, her voice breaking.
The drama over the last week, ending with a near-death
experience, finally caught up with her. Mac
had been carefully watching her, waiting for it to happen.
She stared up into his face, her face losing its creamy brown color, becoming ashen in
appearance.
Her brown eyes appeared larger, her pupils dilated. One by one, fat dollops of tears began to flow down
her face.
Soon she was crying deep, racking tears. His heart broke as he looked at her. She was huddled,
appearing so small, relief and fear of what could have
happened were stark in her eyes.
Ít·s okay, Sienna, baby, you·re safe. No one will hurt you again.µ He soothed her,
wrapping her in his
arms.
As she cried, he knew she was releasing pain, fear, and hopelessness that she·d
suffered from for
years. This last, dramatic ending allowed her to finally let go.
He ran his hands over her back, murmuring soothing words, wanting her to get it out.
Ít·s okay, you·re safe now, Sienna,µ he repeated, not knowing what else to say as he held her close,
careful not to touch her sore ribs.
Once her tears had eased, her broken sobs turning to an occasional hiccup, he gently lifted her up
and carried her to the bed. In the dark room, he lay her down on the bed, carefully removing her clothing.
He quickly shucked his own clothes and lay down behind her.
He turned her around and placed kisses over her face, over her closed eyelids, down her
tearstained
cheeks, a small moan of
pleasure escaping her lips.
He didn·t want to hurt her, but he had to make love to her, had to feel her body wrapped around his,
feel the reassuring warmth of her feminine sheath gripping his as he rocked into her body.
He moved their bodies so they were facing each other and gathered her closer to kiss her, his mouth
moving over hers, capturing her moan of desire.
Í love you, Sienna. I love you so much.µ He whispered the words past the constriction in his throat
and the desperate kisses he was placing around her mouth.
His hand traveled over the length of her body, past the indent of her waist, over the curvature of her
hips, and crossed over to the small strip of curls protecting the triangle juncture at the apex of her thighs.
He ferreted out the small nub, dipping one finger inside her well, and withdrew his finger, covered in
her sweet juices.
He placed his finger in his mouth.
Śo good. So damn good.µ He rubbed his finger over her turgid peak and stroked her.
´What we have is real, Sienna. I don·t want to imagine my life without you. Wherever you are, I want
to be.µ He captured her lips.
She tasted herself as he kissed her for long moments, before releasing her. ´Tell me you want the
same,µ he begged, his voice breaking.
Sienna stared into his handsome face and wanted to weep when she saw the tears and love shining
brightly in their light gray depths.
She placed her hands on each side of his face and kissed him.
She couldn·t say anything. She couldn·t
think past the tangle of
emotions beating down on her, clouding her mind, her thoughts in a chaotic whirl.
´God, baby, you·ve got to want me. Want us.µ
She said nothing, her mind and emotions all over the place.
Í couldn·t imagine my life without you.µ The words rushed out of him. In the dark room, Sienna felt,
more than saw, the deep breath he took. His frustration and fear were layered thick, the tension in the
room, visible.
Í want you to marry me. Live with me. Let me take care of you for the rest of your life. Let me be
the one to help you shoulder the responsibility of your brother.
Let me in, Sienna. Baby, let me in.µ
Sienna felt as though someone was literally pulling her heart out of her body. Exposed and afraid, she
felt overwhelmed with his love for her. Love he·d shown her in ways that mere words failed to convey.
´Mac, I know you love me. Baby, I know that. And I love you, too.
God, how I love you.µ
In the semidarkness, she saw relief spread over his face, his eyes lightening in relief. She ran a hand
down over the scratchy
roughness of hair covering his cheek.
´But I don·t know that I·m ready for that yet.µ
The beginnings of his smile began to fade, and his hand on her waist tightened. ´Why? What else do I
need to do to prove how much you mean to me?µ
´You don·t have to prove
anything to me, Mac. I know you love me. More than I ever thought any
man would. And I love you with everything I have inside me.µ
Her words seemed to reassure him.
He continued his slow caresses, forcing her to think past the surge of desire sweeping
through her.
Í·ve run for so long. It feels good to finally have peace. My brother is safe now. I have a career I
love. And most important, I have a man I love by my side. One I trust. I·m not going anywhere.
My running
days are over.µ
Śo what does that mean for us?µ
Sienna smiled. Ít means that I want to enjoy my newfound happiness. I want to enjoy the blessing of
you. Of us. Of happiness. I·m at peace. And I·m not going
anywhere. I·m yours.µ
She held her breath, hoping her words would assure him that she loved him. That she didn·t want
anyone else but him. Ís that okay with you? Being stuck with me?µ
A smile lifted the corner of his sensual mouth before it
blossomed into a full-out grin.
´Yeah, I think
that·ll work fine. I·ll work on convincing you to agree to the picket fence and 2.5 kids later.
Right now, I
want my woman,µ he said, and she laughed out loud as he gripped the swell of her hips and surged into
her tight, moist sheath.
He gently stroked into her once, twice, and on the last thrust, he came, holding her body tightly against his as his cum rushed deep inside her. He held her close so that she felt every hot splash of his
cum against her womb.
Í love you, Sienna. Forever mine,µ he covered her cries of release with his mouth. Their tears of joy,
acceptance, and contentment mingled as their kisses sealed their comittment.
Epilogue
´W hy does he insist on putting things so high and out of reach that I need a stepladder to get them?µ
Sienna groused, standing on tiptoe, staring up into her kitchen cabinets.
She turned away in disgust, absentmindedly rubbing her aching lower back.
Śo you won·t try and lift anything too heavy and possibly hurt yourself?µ
Sienna turned and raised her eyebrows, exclaiming, Á jar of mayonnaise? How is that too heavy?µ
Chrissy, Mac·s sister, laughed.
´To my brother, any and every thing is a potential danger for you,
particularly now that you·re pregnant. Let me get it for you.µ
She easily reached over a much shorter and
very heavily pregnant Sienna to pull the jar down. After opening it, she handed the jar to Sienna.
´Thanks,µ Sienna said, smiling at her sister-in-law.
The two women were in
Sienna·s kitchen in the new home she and Mac had recently purchased,
finishing the last of the food preparations for the afternoon Sunday picnic.
The last year had brought about changes³good ones³for her, Sienna thought, as she glanced out of
one of the large kitchen
windows, putting the finishing touches on the potato salad she was making. One
amazing change had been the one in her brother, Jacob.
The wooden spoon she was
stirring with stilled, and a small smile of happiness lifted her lips as she
gazed out of the window that overlooked their backyard.
Mac, his nephew Daniel, and her brother Jacob were playing a game of flag football and even from a
distance she could see her brother·s face set in serious lines as he ran the length of the yard, heading
toward the goal. When he made it to the end, he turned around, his chest heaving with exertion as he
faced Daniel and Mac, in hot pursuit.
She saw a wide smile break out on Jacob·s normally somber face when Mac congratulated him. Mac
raised his hand and Sienna inhaled a sharp breath,
wondering what Jacob would do.
She blew out the anxious breath in a sigh of relief when her brother slapped his hand, returning the
universal high-five. Sienna bit back the tears that burned the back of her throat.
´He·s good with them, isn·t he?µ
Sienna turned slightly and looked into her sister-in-law·s face. The understanding and love she saw
made her own smile widen as broadly as her brother·s.
´He is. It·s really amazing,µ she murmured. ´This is like a dream come true. One I·d never
thought I·d
see.µ
Chrissy smiled at her.
´The addition of you and your brother to my family has been a gift to us,µ she said, and gave Sienna
a brief hug.
Í feel the same way. The way you all have welcomed me and my brother into your lives is truly a gift
to us, as well.µ Sienna returned her hug, and allowed the tears to fall.
´Hey, what·s all this?µ The two women pulled apart when the patio door opened and Mac walked
inside, followed by an out-of-breath Daniel, and Jacob.
Mac walked over to Sienna and wrapped his arms around her rotund belly, kissing her on the neck.
Sienna leaned back into his embrace, moving her head to the side to allow him better access.
Áwww, come on! We don·t
wanna see all that kissing stuff, we wanna eat!µ Daniel groaned.
´Don·t
we, Jacob?µ he asked, turning to the man at his side.
Jacob·s dark brows met in the middle, his expression similar to his sister·s, as he tilted his head to the
side, considering Daniel·s question.
Í think I like it. I don·t ever want her to be the way she used to be. I like my sister happy,µ he replied simply. Sienna felt Mac·s arms tighten around her.
Í guess.µ Daniel shrugged. ´Hey Jacob, let·s play a game until dinner·s ready!µ Daniel tugged on
Jacob·s arm. Jacob allowed Daniel to pull him down until he was sitting next to him, and within moments
the two were engrossed in the video game.
Sienna didn·t think she·d ever get over the sight of her brother not only allowing someone to touch
him, but seeming to enjoy the contact.
Over the last year as he·d come to know Mac and his family, Mac·s careful attention to him and Daniel
treating him like an older brother had amazed Sienna, but nothing had prepared her for the way her
brother had taken to them all.
He now spent his weekends away from the residential home with both her and Mac, or occasionally
with Chrissy and Daniel. The change that had come over her brother had been nothing short of miraculous.
Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks, and Mac turned her around in his arms, pulling her as close as
he could.
Sienna returned his embrace and mumbled into his shirt.
´What, baby?µ he asked, pulling her away so he could see and hear her. Áre you okay?µ he asked,
concern in his eyes as he thumbed away the tears
staining her cheeks.
Í·m fine,µ she hiccupped and laughingly tried to dismiss her obvious emotions. ´These
pregnancy
hormones are rendering me a complete and utter crybaby.µ
´That explains it! I must be having that sympathy pregnancy we·ve been learning about in our Lamaze
classes. Thank God! If word got around how emotional I·ve been lately, I don·t think I·d ever hear the end
of it from Kyle,µ he replied.
Sienna grinned up at him.
Í won·t tell a soul, even Kyle.
Your secret·s safe with me,µ
Sienna promised. Í love you so much,µ
she said, softly, her heart overflowing.
´Good, because now that I·ve convinced you to agree to the white picket fence, all I have left is one
point five children³µ he rubbed a hand over her belly³ánd I will have everything I need,µ he said and
pulled her close to give her a tender kiss.
Sienna laughed lightly,
remembering his promise over a year ago. Then he slanted his lips over her
mouth, their kisses sealing their commitment and love«forever this time.
Turn the page
for a preview of
Delta Dupree·s STRIP!
Coming soon from Aphrodisia!
1
Ó oh-ooh. Girl, I·ll need to change my panties when this is over. He chose the perfect tune to turn us
out. ´Jamaica Funkµ was the baddest hit on record,µ Galaxeé said. She swayed to the hip-hop song·s
downbeat, snapping her fingers as loudly as she popped gum.
´He·s hot, isn·t he?µ
Ńo doubt.µ Rio Saunders
shifted, sat straighter on the bar stool at Killer Bods. The male strip club she
and Galaxeé Barnett owned wasn·t open for business until eight tonight, but the current dance applicant«
mercy.
For a youngster he was a prime specimen, one of Denver,
Colorado·s finest. With a sable mane
hanging well down his thick neck and a startling pair of slate-gray eyes, this tall honey paraded his
attributes. He was God·s
blessed gift to women.
He swaggered toward the
stage·s edge. Under bright spotlights in the darkened theater, his view was
nowhere near as good as hers.
He flaunted all his finery. With broad shoulders, acutely defined pecs with
just enough dark hair and a rippling six-pack, his body was a temple built for some lucky girl·s loving.
´Mm, mm, mm,µ Rio purred
quietly. And he had rhythm.
Hiding a smile, she sipped from the glass of
lemon water the bartender had set down.
´What do you think? Yes? Can·t imagine otherwise,µ Galaxeé insisted.
They·d judged all sorts of wannabes for three hours³lean, stout, cute, plus a few sure-goners. Bryce
Sullivan was the last performer applying for one soon-to-be vacant position.
No one else had danced so well.
No one else had boasted his hard-body physique.
No one else looked this
darn good.
Except Dallas Cooper, a.k.a.
Panther Man. He³rather, his twenty-two-year-old hussy, Shannon Fields
³decided to hang up his G-string for marriage. Dallas was Killer Bods· shining star. At twenty-eight, with
smooth skin blacker than
obsidian, he moved effortlessly during his performances, flexing his bulging
muscles. Had he been a dozen years older, closer to Rio·s age, she·d gladly let him turn her inside out.
Welcome it.
Ĺet·s think about it a couple days,µ she finally replied. ´This is an African American revue.µ
Galaxeé·s huffs would deflate most people·s lungs. ´Girl, time is running out. Panther·s last night is
next week. So what if this guy·s white? As good as he looks, not to mention how well he boogies, he·ll
draw more chicks to the club.
From Silk·s.µ
Killer·s dancers loved their sistahs, although a variety of women, single and married, looking for
outstanding action frequented the nightclub. Quality
advertisement was a must in this business. ´White
women.µ
´Blacks, too. And Latinas, Thais, hell, Egyptians. He is fine. You know it. I know it. Why wait? He could
start tomorrow night. We can break him in for the Christmas rush, ready by«µ
Ślow³µ Rio clamped her mouth shut, shaking her head. Galaxeé talked faster than any
auctioneer·s
banter during a hot sale.
´«We·ve booked four private parties so far, all between now and New Year·s. He could work them.
Shit, he·d clean up and so would we. Think of how much money we·d have coming in for only three real
working days a week.µ
She shook her head again. Í
don·t think so.µ
Two deep frown lines creased Galaxeé·s forehead and her lips thinned flatter than the straw Rio had
chewed on. ´Why not?µ
´You know the sisters hosting these parties. They want
Get Your Sexy On Page 24
