This Loving Land - Dorothy Garlock [75]
“Slater will believe it, and so will Jack. Stay here and I’ll figure out something. You’ll be safe here until I get back.”
Sadie remained still. Reality was coming back. There was a long silence before she spoke.
“You won’t come back.” Her voice held a queerly resigned, almost laconic note. “You won’t come back, ’cause Mrs. McLean won’t let you. She’s pretty and rich and has nice manners. I don’t blame you, Jesse, for wantin’ to be with her.” The eyes she lifted to his were those of some stricken little animal caught in a trap and surrendering to its fate. “Mrs. McLean won’t let you come back,” she repeated. “She’ll . . . not ever let you go.”
“We’ll not talk of Ellen now. Close your eyes and get some sleep. It’ll be dawn in a couple of hours, and I suspect Jack will find a way to cross the creek.” He held his palm against her cheek. “You’re awfully pretty, Sadie.” He smiled gently. “Awfully pretty and . . . sweet.”
At McLean’s Keep, the wind tortured the heavy branches of the oak trees and hurled the rain against the glass window panes. The two figures that lay pressed closely together in Slater’s bed were unmindful of the raging storm.
Summer sighed contentedly and kissed the side of Slater’s neck.
“This is a wonderful soft bed,” she murmured drowsily. Her hand searched for his face in the dark, touched his lips before slipping about his neck as he leaned over her.
“I thought you were asleep, you’ve been so still,” he whispered, his lips playing on hers.
“I don’t want to waste time sleeping,” she replied softly, wistfully. “Dawn comes so quickly.”
“Never thought I’d be grateful to the creek. Think I’ll name it Witch’s Creek, for this beautiful witch in my arms.”
She drew him to her and closed her eyes in ecstasy as his kisses came upon her mouth, warm, devouring, fierce with love and passion, then traveled lower to spread their heat over her quivering breasts, which thrust forward in eager anticipation.
Passion spread in the heat of their touch. His caresses were searching, and Summer opened her legs to his questing hand, rolling her head in bliss. His wandering fingers brought soft, breathless whimpers of trembling joy. She felt the hard, manly boldness of him against her thigh, and then the flame was within her, consuming, searing, setting fire to every nerve, flaming, filling her with an almost unbearable pleasure. His heart beat wildly against her naked breast, and beneath her hands the hard muscles of his back tensed and flexed. She heard harsh breathing in her ear, and hoarse, whispered words of love. Then they were riding high on the surging, swelling tide of rapture.
The wind howled and the rain pounded against the windows, but in the aftermath of their own storm, Summer and Slater lay peacefully content, legs entwined, slender fingers gently interlaced in a knot of love. Slater’s lips nibbled at the soft flesh of her shoulder, paused to take her earlobe into his mouth, then sucked gently at the flesh of her slender neck.
Summer wiggled away, laughing softly. “You’ll make a mark for all to see!”
“They’ll wish they were me.”
“Slater, darling.” The corners of her mouth curved softly. “I love you.”
Slater smoothed her tumbled hair and nuzzled his face into its fragrant mass, breathing in the sweet scent of her.
“I think I’ve loved you forever.”
Summer giggled and nestled closer. “You haven’t known me forever.” Then, suddenly serious, she murmured, “You’re sure no one will know I spent the night in your bed?” Her hand caressed the ridge of scars on his chest before moving to the ones under his arm and over his rib cage.
Slater leaned on an elbow. “Don’t worry, love. Jack and Bulldog went to the bunkhouse and the captain brought his men up to the shed by the blacksmith. Raccoon is with Sadie and I suspect Jesse is, too. He was asking questions about Sadie. Actually, one question, but that was a lot for Jesse.” He laughed and pressed kisses on her face. “Don’t