Dorothy Garlock (39 page)

She lay quietly for a long while. “Is that why you’re not going?”

“Yes. In all honesty, I must tell you that if I thought there were a chance of getting to Virginia before the trial was over, I’d go.” Jeff could feel her soft body next to his begin to withdraw, and he tightened his arms, holding her close. “It would be my duty, sweetheart. I took on that job before I met you. I’d have to finish it.”

“But why didn’t you tell me you’d be going and that I’d be left here to live alone? Didn’t I have the right to know that the man I love might not live to see the child we were making? Did you ever stop to think how I would feel, waiting here for you, wondering if you would ever return?”

“Yes, I thought of that. I almost didn’t tell you my feelings for you because of it. But—” He wrapped her in his arms and crushed her to him. “I’m a selfish sonofabitch! I wanted you so much that I ached for you. I thought it would be easier to die knowing my child lived on in the body of the one I love above all others, where I’d planted him during the happiest moments of my life.”

“You still should have told me,” she said stubbornly, but breathlessly, too.

“I didn’t want to see the light go out of your eyes, sweetheart. I didn’t think I could stand to see you sink down into the pit of despair you were in when Zan died. You’ve been so glowing, so soft and warm, so loving—”

“I’m a woman, Jefferson,” she said against the warm skin of his neck. “I’m a woman who wants to share everything with her man.”

“You will from now on, darling.”

“Then this business with Aaron Burr is over?”

“As far as Will and I are concerned it is. All we’ve got to worry about now is this business of getting married.” His voice teased for the first time. His hands were pulling at the gown wrapped about her thighs. “I don’t like this thing. Why did you put it on?”

“Will and Callie are getting married, too!” Her laugh was one of pure happiness. “I put this on because I thought I’d be sleeping alone until you sent me back to Saint Louis.” She raised her hips so he could tug the gown higher.

“Whatever gave you that idea? I told you that you would never sleep alone again.” The gown came over her head. He sighed with contentment and rolled over onto his back again, taking her with him.

“Jefferson!” His name came shiveringly sweet from her lips.

He settled her on top of him and spread his thighs to make room for hers to lie between. His hand found her smooth rounded bottom and he smacked it sharply.

“That was for scaring the life out of me.” His whisper rasped in her ear.

She could feel his body’s arousal, responding to the softness of hers.

“You were so angry,” she whispered into his furry chest.

“You’re damn right I was. I was boiling mad. I died a thousand times while we waited for darkness.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I’ll behave. I promise.” Her hips made a slow circling movement, grinding against his arousal.

His hands clutched her buttocks and pulled her up so his lips could reach hers. She closed her eyes, panting and breathless, pliable beneath his caresses. His hands roamed her back, his hard belly caressed the softness of hers. The fur on his chest excited her nipples to hardness. His mouth trailed across her cheek to her ear, and teased it with a soft, warm breath and darting tongue.

“I love you. I can’t image life without you, now. I hope Zan knows that you’ll be with me forever.”

“He knows, my woolly-headed darling,” she crooned and sank her fingers in the tight curls at the nape of his neck.

His hand caressed downward along her spine to press her hips close to his. He rolled, tucking her beneath him, and they came together with a heat that melted them into one, oblivious to where one body left off and the other began.

“Ahhh . . .” The sound came from deep in his throat. “There’s nothing more wonderful than the feel of you surrounding me. We fit together so perfectly.” He was huge and deep inside her. “Oh, Annielove . . . I was walking and thinking . . . I was so scared! What if I failed to find you? What would I do if they had already—Oh, my sweet love, I would have died if that had happened.”

“I’m sorry, darling. Please forgive me.” She locked her arms about him and pressed her lips to his mouth.

A heavenly feeling began to build as Jeff’s motions grew more and more frantic.

“Forgive
me,
” he whispered, and with a long breath he thrust at her full force. Her body responded to him, and as they emerged from a long, long, unbelievable release, she felt the tremors rippling through his body and heard him whisper reverently, “Oh, God, I love this woman . . .”