The Officer and the Southerner (Historical Western Romance) (Fort Gibson Officers Series, Book 2) (22 page)

~Chapter Thirty-Four~

He brought his lips to hers and skated his hands up along her ribs until bringing them to rest just below her breasts.

He moved his lips on top of hers, parting them to take her bottom lip between his. He nipped it with his teeth, then soothed it with his tongue. She gasped his name against his lips, opening her mouth to him. He slid his tongue past her teeth to sweep across the inside of her cheek. She sighed his name again, this time sinking her fingers into his hair and moving in a way that made her breasts brush the top of his hands.

He groaned and rolled her onto her back. “Scoot up,” he rasped.

She moved to the top of the bed and he climbed on top of her. He kissed her lips. Her cheek. Her jaw. Behind her ear. The crook of her neck. Ella rolled her head to the side, giving him better access. Which he took without hesitation as he moved his fingers to the buttons on her bodice.

He slipped the first two free and dragged his lips from the side of her neck to the plane of her chest. Her skin was so soft and delicate beneath his lips. He undid another button, then another, then another; his lips following the same path as his fingers. He released the buttons on her bodice and covered her breasts with his hands.

She swallowed audibly and he brought his mouth back to the plane of her chest. Reluctantly, he released her left breast and used his fingers to lower the top of her chemise so he could kiss the curve of her right breast, then her left.

He buried his lips as deep as her chemise would allow them between the valley of her breasts, then continued to unbutton her bodice.

“Sit up,” he encouraged when he’d reached just above her waist, rolling off to the side to allow her room.

She sat and reached for the top of her gown.

He stayed her hands. “May I?”

Ella’s only answer was to release her hold on her gown. Jack closed his fingers over the fabric and eased the left side off of her shoulder. His mouth grew drier with each inch of her shoulder that he revealed. He lowered her gown off of the point of her shoulder then held it there, bringing his parted lips to her skin. He slowly ran his tongue from the point of her shoulder, across her clavicle, and to the hollow of her throat. He loved the way she shuddered and shivered under his touch.

Without taking his lips from her skin, he began to lower the other side of her gown, continuing to move his mouth with deliberate slowness to her other shoulder. He pulled back and lowered both of his hands at the same time, taking Ella’s gown to her waist. Desire shot through him at the sight in front of him: Ella in nothing but her chemise with her breasts swollen and her erect nipples straining against the fabric.

He eased her back against the pillows then slid her gown off of her the rest of the way, along with her stockings. Now she was truly clad in nothing but her chemise. He let his eyes do a slow perusal of her, stopping only when he reached the knowing smile on her face.

“You do desire me,” she said, coming up on her knees to walk over to him.

“
Yes, I do,” he confirmed. “But I don’t just desire you, I love you, too.”

She straddled him where he sat on the bed and reached for the top button on his shirt. “I know you do.” She undid the buttons that went down his shirt, dropping kisses on his skin as she undid each one. “And I—” she tugged his shirttails from the top of his trousers— “love you.”

Jack slipped his hands under the hem of her chemise and put them on her waist, whether to help her maintain her balance or him his sense of reality, as she pushed his shirt off of his shoulders and began kissing his neck and chest. “Ella,” he groaned.

She pulled his hands from her waist and pushed his shirt off. He shook out of the sleeves and flung his shirt across the room, then framed her face with his hands and brought her lips back to his. Where they most belonged.

He deepened their kiss and had to choke down his own groan when she mirrored his actions and tentatively explored the inside of his mouth.

“
Ella,” he rasped, reaching for the straps of her chemise.

She pressed her forehead to his and locked gazes. He moved the thin straps to the edges of her shoulders then let it drop into a pile of cotton and lace where her waist met his. Heart racing, he lowered his head and took her in. Her bare breasts were just as wonderful as he’d hoped they’d be. A perfect combination of full and pert, her pink-tipped breasts looked as though they’d fit perfectly into his hand.

He turned his eyes back to hers and moved her arms up so they were wrapped around his neck. Then he put his hands against her sides and slid them up to her breasts. He stroked the undersides with his thumb before moving to cover them both with his hands.

“
Is this what you wanted to know?” he whispered.

She bit her lip and jerked her gaze from his, her face flushing.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’m the only one in the room. The only one who will ever know of your desires.” He gave her breasts a gentle squeeze and nearly gasped himself at the way she reacted to his touch. “The only one to see your face flush with pleasure. And the only one to give you such pleasure. Let me, Ella. Let me satisfy you.” He moved his left hand down to cup her breast, exposing her nipple.  Then, before she could protest, he bent forward and took the point into his mouth.

“
Uh,” she squeaked, then groaned. Her arms tightened around his neck and her legs began to tremble.

Jack moved his hands from her breasts and took hold of her hips, keeping her stable and upright. A very pleasurable position for both of them. He opened his mouth wider, taking more of her breast into his mouth. Her fingers sank into his hair again, holding him there. He wanted to comply, truly he did, but he also wondered if her other breast would be just as satisfying of a feast.

It was.

“
Jack,” she gasped. All of her skin had turned to gooseflesh under his roaming hands.

Jack pulled back to take her in. Flushed and trembling and completely naked, she was beautiful. He urged her up onto her knees. “Trust me.”

“I do.”

“
Good.” Having to stay in his room at West Point to study every night had its advantages. They were few, of course, but one was overhearing Charles Goodell tell Frank Smith of a way to pleasure his intended without risking pregnancy. Jack didn’t want to know what she’d been asked to do in return, but he wondered how Ella would respond. He ran a single finger through that triangular patch of curly hair below her waist.

Her eyes widened and a choked sound erupted in her throat.

“It’s all right. If you don’t like it, just tell me to stop.”

She nodded and he continued to touch her.

He reached the bottom of the curls and moved to touch her sensitive skin. The muscles in her arms tightened slightly, but she didn’t ask him to stop. Encouraged, he continued until he found her entrance. Aware of her trembles, he pushed in slowly, watching her for any sign of unease or discomfort. “Do you want me to stop?”

She hesitated a moment, then gave her head a single shake.

He pushed in a little more. Her body was warm and tight. His throat ran dry and he pushed to the knuckle, stilling to wait for her response. “Is this all right?”

“
Wh-what are you doing?”

“
I want to make this good for you.”

Confusion came over her face.

“Don’t question it, Ella. Just close your eyes and see if you can enjoy it. If you don’t, I’ll stop.” He waited for her to close her eyes and slid his finger until he was almost out, then pushed back in again.

She shivered and bit her lip.

He did the movement again. This time she let out a little gasp.

He moved again, a little faster. Then again. Then again.

She gasped again, louder than before.

He continued his movements, speeding them up and pushing a bit harder when her breathing grew rapid and her face lost all expression except pleasure. She lowered her head and her fingers curled in his hair. Her breathing becoming more rapid and uneven by the second, until finally, she breathed a sigh that could almost be confused with a cry and collapsed against his chest, her inner muscles spasming around his finger.

He withdrew and held her close.

A few minutes later, her breathing returned to normal and she lifted her head. “I believe I’m sitting on a loaded gun.” She pressed down to emphasize her point.

He chuckled and bucked his hips. “Indeed.”

She rolled off to the side. “Do you plan to wear the...um....whatever it’s called.”

“Sheath. And yes, I do.” He got up and went to his drawer to retrieve it. Then he turned back to her and lowered his trousers. “Would you care to do the honors?”

Her eyes grew wide as he’d hoped they would, then she reached for it. “There. I think that’s how it goes,” she said as she secured the last tie.

Jack nodded, his mouth suddenly too dry to speak. He reached for her and she came up on her toes to kiss him. He returned her kiss and walked her back toward the bed. She fell against the mattress and made room for him. He wasted no time settling between her legs. Then his lips and hands were back on her. Kissing and caressing her everywhere he could until she was sighing his name and his rod was as hard as granite.

“
Try to relax,” he whispered, sliding into her.

She jerked at his intrusion and he stilled for a moment to let her get accustomed to his size, then moved forward.

He held still and kissed her neck. Then made a path of open-mouthed kisses to her chest where he lavished attention on her breasts. She lulled her head back and he moved inside her again. He shaped her breast with his right hand while his mouth continued to kiss and explore the other. Excitement built in his abdomen, stealing his breath. He released her breast and pushed in faster, harder, more deliberately. In his mind, he wanted to slow down, to make this last and bask in the moment forever; his body, however, would have none of that. Every nerve in his body was excited and threatening to push him over the tipping point. He gritted his teeth and fought release the best he could. Just then, Ella let out another cry of pleasure and her body squeezed him, triggering an unstoppable climax that stole every ounce of his strength as it tore through him.

Gasping for air, he was vaguely aware he’d collapsed on top of Ella. He rolled to the side, still panting.

“I love you.”

Jack pushed a lock of Ella’s hair from her face. “I love you, too.”

Ella rested her head on his chest and Jack brought his hand up to run his knuckles over her cheekbones. He loved the way her skin felt. Warm and soft. Delicate.

He closed his eyes and started drifting to sleep when a commotion started outside.

“What’s that about?” Ella asked, lifting her head a little and turning up to look at him.

“
Rounders must be over.”

“
Oh.” She rested her head on his chest again. Then, she jerked up to a sitting position, offering him a very generous view of her perky, bare breasts. “What if that commotion is because my father’s here?”

Jack shrugged but refused to take his eyes off of her luscious breasts. “What if it is?”

“What do you plan to say to him?” she asked, hesitation and panic in her eyes.

“
Good afternoon, sir. My name’s Jack.”

She gave him a playful nudge in the side. “Aren’t you supposed to salute him?”

“Yes. He’s of a higher rank than I am, but considering the circumstances, with me being his son-in-law and the fact that our first meeting will be here in our private room, I think it’s safe to dispose of formalities.”

“
His son-in-law or not, he’ll probably insist I return home. I can think of no other reason for why he came than to do that.”

Jack pulled her on top of him and wrapped her in a warm embrace. “I won’t let that happen, Ella. I don’t care who he is or what he demands, he cannot have you. You belong right here. With me.”

Epilogue

Thirty Minutes Later

Ella jerked awake in Jack’s embrace. “Jack, did you hear something?”

Jack wiped his hand over his sleepy face. “Hmm?”

“I thought I heard something.”

Just then, a not so discreet knock rattled the door. “Ella?”

Ella froze. That was her father’s voice. “Jack! He’s here.” She looked over their naked bodies and flushed with embarrassment. “Get up! Get dressed!” She reached for a nearby sheet and held it over herself. “Just a minute, Pa. We were just napping.” She got off of the bed and reached for her gown, then tossed Jack’s trousers at him. “Hurry. Knowing him, he probably already got a key from Colonel Lewis.”

Jack shrugged. “If he comes in here and sees something he’d rather forget, that’s his own fault.” But even as he said those words, he rolled out of bed and pulled his trousers on.

Ella tossed him his shirt and stepped into her slippers. Her hair was probably a fright, but there wasn’t time to worry about that right now.

As soon as Jack had his shirt on and had begun to button it, Ella steeled her spine and went to the door. They’d been fortunate Pa had waited this long. She knew he wouldn’t be put off much longer.

“Pa,” she greeted, swinging the door open and praying he’d be in a good humor.

“
Ella,” he said softly. His eyes traveled over her then went to Jack. He took a step into their room. “So this is my new son-in-law?”

“
Yes. Pa, I’d like you to meet—”

“
Good afternoon, sir. My name’s Jack,” Jack said, extending his hand to Pa.

Despite herself, Ella laughed. That’s exactly what Jack said he’d do!

Pa gave her a strange look as he shook Jack’s hand.

“
Is there a reason you’ve come to visit?” Ella forced herself to ask, taking a step closer to Jack.

As if he knew what she wanted, Jack reached for her hand and interlaced their fingers.

“Only to meet my new son-in-law,” Pa said.

“
Meet?”

“
Yes, Ella. I only wished to meet him.” He sighed and removed his hat. “I suspect one day that you’ll have children, too, and will understand that all I care about is what’s best for you. I have it on the best authority that the man you married is what’s best for you—even if he does sneak off in the night to socialize with Indians.”

A smile split Ella’s face and she ran to wrap her arms around her father. “He is the right choice,” she whispered in his ear.

He gave her the usual one-armed hug with a pat on the back, then let her go back to Jack.

“
I see that I’ve interrupted some quiet time, but I’d like for the two of you to join me for dinner in an hour over at the colonel’s house tonight so we can become better acquainted.”

“
We’ll be there, sir,” Jack said.

“
Very well. I shall let Michaela know she’ll get to see you. That should perk her right up.”

“
Michaela’s here?” Ella practically squealed.

“
Yes. She’s out in the carriage taking a nap. She claims four hours isn’t enough time to sleep at night. Hogwash, I say, it’s plenty of time! Right, Jack?”

“
Right, sir. Sometimes less around here when it’s watchtower duty.”

Pa shuddered. “It’s words like ‘watchtower’ that make me glad I’m retired. All right, my girl, I’ll see you both tonight.”

Ella saw him out then turned to kiss Jack. “Thank you for agreeing to dine with my father.”

“
I don’t think I had a choice.”

“
Of course you do.”

“
No, I don’t think I do,” he said adamantly, shaking his head. “Now that I’ve had real cooking, I have no desire to go downstairs to eat. You’ll be off eating with your father and we’re out of jerky. See, no options but to go eat over at the Lewises.”

She laughed at his logic then went to the window to see if she might glimpse Michaela when her father woke her. “Jack, come here,” she said in a harsh whisper.

Jack walked over and stood behind her. “Hmmm?”

“
Isn’t that Gray?”

“
Yes.” He leaned closer to the window. “What is he doing?”

Ella squinted her eyes. It was hard to tell from this distance. “I’m not certain, but I think he’s kissing my sister.”

“Oh look, and there’s your father...”