by Jolene Faye
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The soft glow of daylight filtered through the sheer lace window coverings fell on her face highlighting the true beauty of the woman. It had been a rough day. Leaving the place she'd called home for so many years left her exhausted. He couldn't help but smile as she lay in restful sleep and his eyes and mind took in memories of every crook and curve of her. She was so beautiful, even the dark jagged line of the fading scar couldn't diminish the truth of her beauty in his eyes. Glancing back through the large window, he watched the two little girls laughing and running as Dancing Moon called them to the wagon. He stared at Rose for long minutes watching the sunlight dance in the dark swirling curls of her hair and sighed. She'd be happy anywhere, he thought as his gaze turned back to Sybil. She'd loved the farm as much as Jed had, as much as he himself had before his mother's passing. Would she ever really be happy living in town? Lifting his fingers to his face, he rubbed his fingers over the hard curve of his chin. Would she ever really be happy living with him?
The soft lines tracing the corners of her eyes seemed to shimmer as the filtered sunlight danced over her face. The slow arch of a smile on her lips warmed his heart as he stood silently over her taking in her beauty. He had loved her from the moment he saw her, but so many times he'd made the wrong decisions. He'd always wanted her to belong to him, be his wife, have his children. Robert shifted slowly as he lowered himself to the bed. Leaving his clothing in a rumpled pile on the floor, he lifted the thin blankets and slid his body up against hers. The lightness of the soft cotton nightgown did nothing to keep the warm, delicious heat of her body from caressing his as he pressed against her and slowly untied the ribbon across the chest of the gown. He could remember the softness of her lips, the slow massage of her hands and the taste of her neck. So many times he'd kissed her, feeling the flutters of desire tremble over her body but now, she would be his. Pulling the last lacing of the small ribbon from the top of the gown, he gazed down at the soft swell of her breast. The thin cotton pursed over the dark pebbles as his fingers caressed softly between the valley and swell of her breasts. Supporting his weight on an elbow, Robert leaned over pressing his lips to hers. Soft sleepy mutters tickled the heat of his lips as her lips responded beyond the slow smile. Smoothing his hand along the silkiness of her skin, he palmed the full roundness of her bare breast and squeezed softly. The light murmurs of desire lifted again as the heat of his mouth fell to the slow curve of her neck. The slow movement of her body under the heated touch of his fingers and lips swept a burning heat of desire over him. "Sybil," he whispered between feathered kisses along her neck. Her hand raised slowly, her fingers combed into the thickness of his hair as he pressed his lips to hers once more. "Oh Cole," flittered the softness of her voice filled with the desire he'd always yearned to hear. The tightening in his chest set him up right along her side. Narrowing his eyes, he watched the gentle roll of her dreams play in her eyes behind her closed lids. Damn fool, he muttered as he raised his hand and slowly pushed the soft locks of hair over her forehead. Pressing his lips against the soft curve of her cheek, Robert exhaled loudly as he slid from under the blanket.
Anger swelled in his chest as he pulled his trousers on and shuffled across the room. She was meant to be his. The child growing inside of her was meant to be his! Robert's hands shook as he poured the thick dark liquid of the liquor in his glass and glanced back over his shoulder. As his thoughts swirled and the heat of the liquor burned the soft lining of his throat, the softness of her sleepy moan tightened the grip around his heart. How could she not have waited for him? How could she have given her body and heart to another man? Didn't she know he had always loved her? As the day's light grew dim making way for the darkness of night, Robert sat in the large stuffed chair staring out the window with his mind and memories twisting like the leaves in the wind. Pressing his face into the palm of his hands, the low mournful sigh enveloped him as his own voice wrapped around the entirety of their lives. He didn't deserve her love. He had toyed with her emotions for so long, always putting her to the side. Nevertheless, he had always loved her. His heart felt heavy in his chest over the memories of the sadness and longing that had always been present in the sparkling beauty of her deep brown eyes. Though it had lessened when Rose appeared in their lives, he couldn't remember it being completely gone until the last few months. In his dreams and plans, he alone had been the one to ease the hurt that dimmed the beauty in her eyes. Pressing the warm glass rim against his lips again, Robert sighed. The sadness and longing had disappeared when Cole showed up. Tightening his lips into a rough scowl at the thought of the other man, Robert lowered his head into the palm of his hands once more, remembering the haunting of sadness and longing in her eyes this morning.