Part 22 (2/2)
”h.e.l.l, the funeral's tomorrow.”
”Can't you explain all this to the sheriff?” Ren said.
Blackjack sighed. ”He'd probably point out that I could just as easily have aimed all the evidence at myself with the intention of arguing that n.o.body as smart as I am would make so many dumb mistakes. No, I've got to find the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who helped Eve make all this happen.”
Ren s.h.i.+vered and said, ”Hold me.”
”I am holding you.”
”Lie down with me,” she amended. ”Make love to me.”
She didn't have to ask him twice. Blackjack lay her down, but refused to let her undress him. ”I want to take my time, love.”
He'd missed all the hours of necking when they were teenagers, the eager antic.i.p.ation of the s.e.xual act with the woman he loved. Missed the teenage anxiety of not knowing when or if he'd ever feel the silky texture of her skin. Of wondering whether her nipples would be pink or dusky brown.
In one insane moment on a sunny afternoon, he'd become her fantasy lover. The experience had been something he'd never forgotten, and the spiritual bond they'd forged that long-ago afternoon had been strong enough to tie them together for a lifetime. But he'd never had the opportunity to sip at the fount. He'd swallowed everything whole without fully tasting.
Now he feared he would never have the chance to love her at his leisure.
He kissed her sweetly, as though they were newly met, as though kissing was all they could do. He deepened his kisses and reached for her breast tentatively, as though he'd never touched her before, as though he expected her to be innocently shy. And in fact, she tensed for a moment at the first hesitant brush of his knuckles against her clothing.
He reached beneath her s.h.i.+rt to unhook her bra, not nearly so clumsy as he'd been as a youth. Petting brought heated bodies and panting breaths. He kept his hands above her waist, as though that was all he was allowed.
Blackjack backed off to let the wanting grow. He kissed Ren's mouth, letting his tongue taste her, plumping her lips with his, nibbling gently on her lower lip. He tongued the frenulum behind her upper lip, then tested the sharpness of her teeth. Suddenly, he thrust deep, in an imitation of the s.e.x act.
Ren moaned and her body arched toward his.
He held tight to her waist, keeping them separated, imagining them as young and innocent lovers, without any knowledge of what it meant to go all the way. Except it was impossible not to know, when they were both experienced adults.
He hadn't been nearly so patient as a young man. He hadn't appreciated the finer points of necking and petting. His aim had been to achieve the ultimate pleasure as quickly as possible and repeat it as often as he could. Now he knew how to savor a fine wine... and a fine woman.
”I love you, Jackson,” Ren said, her kisses increasing in fervor.
”I love you, too,” he said, keeping his kisses slow and easy, refusing to be rushed. ”I want you to leave Three Oaks and come live with me at the Castle,” he murmured.
She leaned back and stared at him, her eyes troubled.
He pulled her close again and kissed away the wrinkles in her brow. ”Not right away,” he said. ”But soon. As soon as you can.”
”What am I supposed to do about Three Oaks?”
”I thought you told me Sam could manage it on his own.”
”He can.”
”So give it to him,” Blackjack said.
She broke away from their embrace and sat up. ”I don't want to do that.”
”Why not?”
”Because then this d.a.m.ned feud will go on for another generation.”
”I don't want your land, Ren,” he said, caressing her cheek with his thumb. ”I want you.”
”I know that,” she said, brus.h.i.+ng aside his hand. ”But you can't have me without the land.”
He smiled ruefully. ”What is Sam going to say about that?”
”The land isn't his, it's mine, to do with as I please. It seems to me the best thing to do is merge Three Oaks and Bitter Creek. Once the two spreads are united, there won't be an excuse for our families to fight anymore.”
”Some folks don't need an excuse,” Blackjack said. ”I figure Sam is one of those. How's he going to take all this change?”
”He won't like it, but he'll get used to it. He can handle the cutting horse end of the business. Sam's got a good eye for a fast horse with a quick stop.”
”You think he'd be willing to work for me?” Blackjack asked, lying back and crossing his arms behind his head.
”What choice will he have?”
Blackjack grimaced. ”He could leave. Have you considered that possibility?”
”It's a risk I'm willing to take for the chance to end this feud.”
”All right, then,” he said. ”Once I get myself cleared of murder charges, we'll work it out so that when we get married, Three Oaks will become a part of Bitter Creek, and all our kids will inherit equally.”
She snuggled back down against him, waiting until his arms enfolded her again before she spoke. ”I like the sound of that,” she said. ”Our kids. What about Summer... and Billy? Shouldn't they both be included, especially now that they're married?”
”I'm not convinced their marriage is going to last,” Blackjack said.
”Why not?” Ren asked. ”I believe they genuinely care for each other.”
Blackjack thought of the deal he'd made with Summer to come home in exchange for giving Billy back his job. ”I don't want to encourage it,” he said.
”It seems to me you owe that boy more than you've given him. Considering everything, he's turned out to be a pretty decent man.”
”He's not good enough for Summer,” he said.
”Not good enough? Or not rich enough?”
”Is it wrong to want more for her?”
”A good man is worth a great deal,” she said, leaning over to kiss his mouth.
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