Savage storm (59 page)

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not replace the slow gentle caress of his fingertips with the deeper pleasure his muscular body could provide. His smooth, sweet touch lured her to the brink of rapture and held her there, suspended, as he whispered. "When I am the worst of husbands, why do you want me so badly?"

Gabrielle heard his question only faintly, as though he were miles away rather than in her arms. What he was doing was the most exquisite torture for he'd created a desperate longing in her just to use her weakness to his own advantage. He'd aroused her emotions to a peak only to ask a question she felt her desire to preserve their marriage had already answered. Flames of anger leaped at the edges of her newly found composure, but she forced them away, not letting her temper overcome her reason. Seeking the only way he offered to end the torment of desire he'd created, she clung to him as she whispered softly in his ear, "I love you."

Jason was as shocked by that confession as he had been to discover her a virgin when they'd first made love. The emotion in her husky voice washed over him, creating a sea of wonder so deep he could not control the fury of his own response. His mouth captured hers in a shattering kiss, and he moved swiftly to conquer her vibrant body as well as her defiant heart, finally giving expression to the torrent of emotion raging within him. Her love was a prize he'd never dared dream would be his, and the thrill of her words inspired a passion so intense he was lost in its beauty. Only later, when reason had returned, did he relax his embrace and draw back, afraid that he might have hurt her in his quest to give her pleasure. But one glance at her radiant smile was all he needed to reassure him that his fears were groundless.

"I would have said that long ago had I known how desperate you were to hear it," Gabrielle purred softly.

Jason kissed her again, his mood now a far more tender one. "I swear I fell in love with you when you knocked upon our door in Kansas City, and it has been agony to think you would

never love anyone but Beau."

"He is a charming boy, Jason, but you are the man I want for my husband." Gabrielle drew his mouth back to hers, sealing her words with an unspoken vow of devotion. "I have loved you for a very long time too. Please forgive me for lacking the courage to admit my feelings to you, but I had no idea they would be returned so sweetly."

"Oh, Gabrielle." Jason tightened his embrace, nearly crushing her with an enthusiastic hug. "I love you more with each new day, or should I say night?"

Gabrielle laughed throatily as she put her hands upon his chest in a playful attempt to push him away. "I love you too, my darling, but I must ask you not to be so forceful with your affection or I shall be so bruised Til not be able to get out of bed in the morning."

Jason laughed at that possibility and then lowered his voice to a seductive whisper. "If you can't leave our bed, then neither will I."

"Your company would be very nice, but I'm afraid it would get rather crowded in here after a while," Gabrielle advised.

"Crowded?" Jason leaned back to observe his bride's teasing smile and suddenly knew exactly what she meant. "You mean you're certain now? We are going to have a child?"

"Yes, now I'm certain." Confident of his love, Gabrielle no longer had a reason to keep such a secret from him.

"When did it happen, do you know?"

"Do you remember when we were at Fort Walla Walla and you came to meet me? I asked you to kiss me goodbye, but you took our farewell much further."

Even with Gabrielle snuggled so warmly against him, Jason could not help but shiver as the cold wind of fear swept over him, leaving him as confused as he'd been only an hour earlier. "Tell me the truth, Gabrielle, is this the real reason Beau left you? Because you're carrying my child?"

His tension was so easy to feel that Gabrielle wasn't angry.

**I did not tell Beau, or anybody else, Jason. This is our baby and I wanted you to know first." She covered his face with light kisses. "I love you; that's why I refused to go with Beau, not because of the baby."

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to insult you again."

"Do I seem insulted?" Gabrielle slipped from his arms, her tantalizing touch and teasing kisses supplying the answer to her own question. She adored him and wanted to show it, but he quickly caught her in an easy grasp and tossed her upon the pillows.

"Did you really mean what you said tonight? That you won't mind Hving here while I ply my trade as a scout?"

"Of course, I know that is what you truly want to do."

"Then I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you," Jason admitted slyly.

"Disappoint me? In what way?"

"I'm not ever going to leave you, Gabrielle. The whole damn Army can get lost on the plains for all I care, I'll not go out looking for them."

"Why, Jason, do you truly think you'll be content here?" Gabrielle reached up to push his curls off his forehead with her fingertips, the same gesture she'd often seen him make. He caught her hand in his then and brought it to his lips.

"Duke is a fine stallion; there's no sense in Sunny getting all the mares you want to buy. I rather like the idea of raising horses because it will be a damn sight more exciting than raising crops ever was."

Now Gabrielle knew Sunny was the far superior of the two stallions. His conformation was perfect, his color handsome/ and his greater speed easily proven; but she held her tongue. She knew the difference in the quality of colts their horses sired would soon prove her point effectively without her ever having to utter a word of argument against her husband's plan. My aunt would be proud of me for finally conquering my temper, she thought, recalling the dear lady with a wistful

smile. "I wish my aunt could have met you, Jason."

"I think Fm damn lucky she didn't," Jason mused thoughtfully. But the mention of her aunt made him curious. "As I recall, it was your temper to which she objected most strenuously, but Fve seen no evidence of your usual fiery disposition in the last two days. Is it motherhood which has made such a difference in your temperament?"

Gabrielle hesitated to confess the truth to him, but after several of his enticing kisses she spoke. "I was afraid I'd lose you if I became as angry with you as you were with me. It's not motherhood which has made me so cautious, simply desperation."

Jason gave her another hug, this time being far more gentle. "I love you, Gabrielle. Do you understand that now? You needn't change the way you are to please me. If I upset you, scream at me as you always have, for I will love you still."

"Is that a promise?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes. Now isn't that enough conversation for one night?" Jason hoped his bride would not take offense at his teasing hint.

"I'm sorry if I've been too talkative but it is simply that I enjoy being with you again. When I left Liberty I never expected to meet a man as wonderful as you. I've really missed you, Jason. Welcome home."

Jason thought Gabrielle was sometimes delightfully innocent for such a complex young woman. While she had the manners of a perfect lady, she was a wanton seductress in his bed. She was the most fascinating of female creatures and he wished to hear all she wanted to say, but morning would be soon enough to listen.

"Good night, my love."

He pulled her into an affectionate embrace, giving her a good-night kiss so passionate she quickly realized that although he had ended their discussion he was clearly not ready to go to sleep. Nibbling his ear playfully, she let him

know she wasn^t the least bit sleepy either.

When Saturday arrived, Gabrielle dressed in the stunning gray suit she'd worn for her wedding; then she helped Jason^ put on his suit. His arm still caused him considerable discomfort and she knew he could use her assistance. He was in a festive humor for he was to be the best man for Clayton and for Michael as well. Her own mood was not nearly so ebullient, however. Recalling her last visit to church, she tried to think of some way to warn him of what her reception would be.

"Jason, did Clayton tell you Iris was with him the day he came here and met Beau?"

Jason handed his tie to her and stood still while she tied it for him. "No. Is that important for some reason?"

"Well, yes." Gabrielle did her best, then stood back to admire his appearance. "You look splendid," she finally offered with a shy smile.

Jason readily saw that Gabrielle was preoccupied about something and he wanted to know what was troubling her. "I know you and Iris have never been friends, but Clay adores her and she seems to be delighted with him, judging by the times I've seen them together. Since Erica and Michael are getting married too, why don't you simply forget Iris and concentrate on celebrating with them."

"I have done my best to ignore Iris for several weeks, Jason, but she's told anyone who will listen that I had a lover living here with me while you were away. You'll see the way people react to my presence in church, and I don't want you to be hurt by it."

Jason's expression darkened to a menacing scowl as he considered the pain such malicious gossip had obviously caused her. "Why didn't you tell me about this before today? I would have gone into town and insisted Iris retract her lies. You may be gracious enough to ignore her slander, but I'm certainly not."

"I had hoped the story would have ceased to circulate by the

time you returned home, but I am afraid it hasn't. I don't want to cause any bad feeling between you and your best friend. Please don't say anything to Iris. In time the people of Oregon City will learn which of us deserves their respect."

Jason saw no point in arguing the issue. "Let us simply go into town and see what happens, Gabrielle. Perhaps the fact that we are together will silence whatever gossip there may have been." That sounded reasonable to him, but the moment they stepped through Clayton's front door the stares they received changed his mind. Losing Clay's friendship seemed like a small sacrifice compared to the damage to his wife's reputation, and when she went upstairs to see if Erica needed any assistance, he took the man aside.

"I'm going to speak with Reverend Murdock. I don't think he'll want to perform a ceremony for you and Iris when she is so lacking in Christian spirit."

"What?" Clayton was aghast at that threat. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the scandalous lies she spread about Gabrielle. I expect her to retract them immediately." Jason smiled knowingly. "I don't envy you your task. Clay, but perhaps, in time, you can make a lady out of Iris."

Clayton grew flustered, "If Iris has been indiscreet, I can assure you it will not be repeated, but—"

Jason was nearly a head taller than the older man and he now straightened up to his full height to emphasize the seriousness of his words. "I mean it. Clay. You must speak with Iris immediately. First she must apologize to Gabrielle, and then I want her to admit to each of those she entertained with her imaginative gossip that her tales were complete fabrications. She mistook my wife's childhood friend for her paramour, a ridiculous error which has embarrassed Gabrielle needlessly and infuriated me."

Clayton gestured helplessly. "Damn it all, Jason, had you been there you would have assumed the same thing!"

''Assuming a beautiful woman is not also a virtuous one is a grave error. Clay. Had I been there this ugly rumor would never have gotten started! Iris is going to put a stop to it before your wedding or there will be none. Either she apologizes to Gabrielle or I am going to Murdock. The choice is yours."

Clayton knew Jason too well not to know his threats weren't idle. He left his study and in a few minutes' time returned with Iris. When she saw Jason she smiled coquettishly until she realized his expression was far from civil. As he stated his terms, she grew pale and then turned to Clayton, "I'll not take any of it back!' she shrieked. "How dare you let him treat me this way?"

Clayton grew stern as he addressed the volatile young woman, "Perhaps I am responsible for this regrettable situation, for I overheard the vicious innuendos concerning Gabrielle and should have realized they could have had only one source. Now cease your complaining. March up those stairs and apologize to Gabrielle and whomever else you can find before it gets any later or it won't be Jason who calls off our wedding but I!" The fury in his expression convinced her immediately that he meant precisely what he said.

Iris' dark eyes widened and then filled with a new glow of respect. She had not even suspected her future husband could be so masterful. "Well, if it will please you, Clayton, then I will be happy to do it," she purred sweetly, and hoping to extricate herself from an impossible situation, she swiftly left the room.

Clayton shook his head. "Manipulating little bitch, isn't she?"

Jason laughed aloud at that remark since it was so unexpected. He was greatly amused to learn that Clayton knew exactly what kind of woman he was marrying. "As long as you know it. Clay, I will cease to worry."

Iris had moved to another bedroom once the household had grown less crowded. Now, wanting to get her humiliation over quickly, she went straight to Erica's room where she knew

she'd be certain to find Gabrielle.

'*I am dreadfully sorry if I embarrassed you, Gabrielle. Whom you wish to entertain in your home is your own business, and I should never have mentioned that I met Beau there to anybody. Will you please forgive me?" Her large eyes filled with tears as her voice trailed off to a whisper, her sorrow almost convincing.

Gabrielle was surprised for only an instant, then she knew exactly what had prompted Iris' suddenly contrite attitude. "Only if you promise that each person who heard your lies will know you have apologized to me."

Since Iris knew neither Jason nor Clayton would be satisfied if her apology were not a sincere one, she agreed at once. ''I will see to it today."

'Thank you. Iris. Since Jason and Clay are such good friends it would be a shame for us to be enemies when there is no cause," Gabrielle said graciously.

Iris nodded, too embarrassed to respond, and excusing herself to complete the preparations for her wedding, she returned to her own room.