She looks down at her feet and whispers, “I’m really sorry, Jack. It all just happened so fast. I was confused and scared.”
I take a step closer to her and lower my head until my lips brush against her ear. “I’m confused and scared too. I know it’s all happening too fast, but I can’t pretend anymore. All my life I’ve been pretending and I refuse to live a lie now that I’m finally free.”
“I don’t want you to pretend.” She looks up and our faces are so close that I can feel her warm breath on my chin.
“What do you want, River?” I close my eyes, hoping she says that she wants me.
I feel her lips brush softly against mine, and then she whispers, “I want you, but I want to take it slow. This is all very new to me.”
I open my eyes and smile at her. “Does that mean I can sleep with you again?”
She lets out a soft chuckle. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
River wants me! It hits me suddenly and I sweep her up in my arms and spin her around in the air. Laughter bubbles over my lips and soon she’s laughing with me. Her hands frame my face and then she places a kiss to my lips. I quickly put her down and let one hand go behind her head, so she won’t pull away again. I open my mouth against hers and let my tongue taste her. I’ve wanted to do that since I saw Christopher and Maddie do it.
River opens her mouth and I let my tongue slip in, tentatively tasting her and exploring her mouth. My stomach dips with pleasure and I feel my cock growing hard for her. I press closer to her, but she breaks the kiss.
For a moment I fear that she’ll walk away again, but instead she presses her forehead to mine. “Slowly, Jack. Let’s just get to know each other first. Let’s enjoy every moment.”
I nod, just happy she let me kiss her and that she’s still standing here.
She takes my hand and pulls me to the bonsai trees I have lined up against the wall. “Come … show me what you do.”
A smile almost splits my face in half. It’s a nice feeling that she wants to know about my bonsai. It’s a nice feeling knowing she wants to just be with me. She doesn’t want to use me like every other person in my life has done.
~*~
Chapter Sixteen
River~
We’ve had a busy week on the plantation. It’s as if all the fruit and vegetables got ripe at the same time. Miss Ella had to pickle a lot of the vegetables and fruits, and made quite a few apple pies.
I’ve been helping Miss Ella and Sophia in the kitchen. Jack says he’s been working on a surprise for me.
I saw Colby bring something down to the river for Jack, but I’ve promised not to peek until it’s ready.
I’ve just finished placing the last jar filled with pickled onions in the pantry, when the door slams open. A filthy Jack comes in, and his eyes sweep excitedly through the room. When he sees me he stalks over, grabs my hand and drags me out of the room.
“Jack, what’s going on?” I have to jog to keep up with his long legs.
“It’s ready,” is all he says.
I look at Miss Ella as we rush through the kitchen and see her smiling at us. She looks like a proud momma bear.
Halfway to the river, I pull at Jack’s hand. “Slow down, you’re going too fast for me!”
Jack stops dead in his tracks. One arm slips under my back and the other under my knees, and then I’m airborne. Jack starts to walk fast again and I throw my arms around his neck, laughing at how excited he is.
As we near the clearing where the chapel is, I get a glimpse of purple through the trees. Jack suddenly puts me down and then his hands go over my eyes. “Don’t peek. Just walk straight ahead.”
I hold onto his wrists and take careful steps. I don’t want to go falling.
“That’s perfect, stop right here,” he says, his voice hoarse with excitement.
His hands fall away from my eyes and my mouth drops open. Everywhere I look is flowers, all different shades of purple. It looks like a wonderland with the chapel standing to the side.
I slowly walk through the flowers, touching one here and there. There are Shooting Stars, some New York Asters, Mistflowers and Dwarf Crested Iris, and the most stunning of all are the roses.
“It’s all so beautiful, Jack,” I breathe. Standing in the middle of the clearing I turn in a slow circle, taking all the beauty in around me. “I can’t believe you did all of this in one week. I’m so proud of you!”
He comes closer, a soft look on his face. It’s the first time since he got here that he has this particular look.
He tilts his head and lets his eyes caress my face. “You’re proud of me?” his voice is hoarse with emotion and it makes me melt right there.
“So very proud,” I whisper. I walk to him, place my hands on his strong jaw, and standing on my toes, I kiss him.
The kiss grows more urgent, our tongues dancing and tasting. I lose myself in Jack’s embrace and for the first time he’s the one to break the kiss. He trails soft kisses over my jaw and then whispers, “Thank you, River.”
I pull back and smile up at him. “For what?”
Tears glisten in his eyes. “For saving me.”
“Oh, Jack.” I hug him tightly and it’s in this moment that I know I love this man with all my heart and I’ll kill for him.
~*~
“After the ‘R’ comes an ‘I’.” I’m teaching Jack how to write my name. His writing is getting much better by the day and I’m so proud of him.
Every day is a blessing with him. I love watching him grow and learn. He’s such an eager student.
He makes a neat ‘I’ and then smiles at me. “Now comes a ‘V’.”
When he’s done writing my name, he holds the paper up staring at it and then he says, “Teach me how to write ‘I love you’.”
I spell the letters out to him and he patiently writes each one down. When he’s done I watch as he writes his own name. A soft smile plays around his mouth as he holds the paper out to me. “My first letter to you.”
The smile falls from my face as I take the paper and realize what Jack just did. His first letter ever is to tell me that he loves me.
I press it to my heart and smile a tearful smile. “I’ll always cherish it, Jack. Thank you.”
Later that night as we’re lying in bed, Jack presses his face into my hair and whisper, “Do you think there’s something wrong with me?”
I pull back so I can look at him. “No, Jack! Not at all. Why do you ask?”
He turns his face half into the pillow and mutters, “It’s nothing.”
I take hold of his jaw and turn his face to mine. “It’s not nothing. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s just … I get hard around you and sometimes when I think of you, but I can’t make myself come.” He bites at his bottom lip and it must be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.
“Is it important to you to make yourself come?”
He presses his forehead to mine and whispers, “It is. It feels as if she took it from me.”
“Who, Jack?”
“Mistress Westbrook.” The name lets an overwhelming surge of anger flare up in me.
“She’s an old bitch. Don’t ever call her mistress again!” I pull back and make sure I have his attention. “Repeat after me; Westbrook is nothing but an old bitch.”
He clears his throat and then says, “Westbrook is nothing but an old bitch.”
I smile at him and relax again.
Minutes tick by where we just lie in silence, staring at each other. The longer I stare at him, the more I want him. I know it’s still too soon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take care of his hard-on.
~*~
Chapter Seventeen
Jack~
River inches closer to me and then she throws the covers off of us. She never touches me anywhere but on my face and my hands, so I’m surprised when her hand settles against my chest.
“Do you want me to help you come, Jack?”
Excitement e
xplodes in my chest. “Yes,” the word pops from me and it brings a smile to her face.
“Kiss me, Jack.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I press my mouth to hers and groan when our tongues meet. It’s become one of my favorite things to do. I love the way my stomach dips and the warmth that spreads through my body.
She lets me press her into the mattress with my body, and I feel her hand settle on my shoulder. Her fingers trail softly down my arm until she takes hold of my hand. She guides both our hands into my boxers and her hand covers mine, as I take hold of my cock.
Together, we slowly stroke my cock. I’ve never felt something like this before. It’s totally different from any touch I’ve ever felt.
She places pressure on my hand and I automatically squeeze my cock harder. A surge of pleasure streaks up my spine and I break the kiss, letting out a hiss of satisfaction.
She places kisses along my jaw, then my neck and then on my chest. I love feeling her mouth on me. I’ve never felt something like this. It’s always been a cold and harsh, an act of violence – not like this – an act of passion, lust and adoration.
Our hands keep moving together and I can feel the orgasm starting to build. Her other hand takes hold of my thigh and she lifts my leg until it’s pressing against her pussy. I can feel how wet she is through her shorts and it makes me even more turned on. Her hips start to move in sync with mine and as she rides my leg, our hands work together on my cock.
I like this so much. I’ve never felt this kind of pleasure before. Our breathing picks up and she buries her face in my chest, her hips moving faster.
I quickly let go off my cock and press her hand to me. She doesn’t hesitate and she wraps her fingers around me. A moan slips from me. It feels so good to feel her hand around me. She continues the fast pace, stoking me hard. I unbutton her shorts and push my hand in. When I slip my fingers between her folds, and then into her, she throws her head back moaning with pleasure.
“Jack.” She grinds herself against my palm and then her breathing hitches and she lets out a soft hiss as she comes. Her hand tightens around me, and the pressure is perfect, making me come.
My hips jerk against her and a long groan tears from my throat as pleasure sets my body alive. I arch into her and thrust a few more times, making the pleasure last as long as I can.
When the last bliss fades away River gets up and goes to the bathroom. I don’t think I can walk right now. I hear water running and then she comes out with a towel around her. She comes to me and that’s when I see the cloth in her hand. She pulls my boxers off and gently cleans me. When she moves to get up, I grab her hand and pull her back against me.
I take hold of the towel and pull it from her body. “I just want to feel you.”
I wrap my arms around her and press our naked bodies together. I bury my face in her hair and whisper, “When I’m with you, I find myself. Thank you for giving that piece of myself back to me.”
She presses a kiss to my neck. “I’ll do anything for you.”
I lie awake for long thinking of what we just shared. Now I understand what made the moments between Christopher and Maddie look so different, because I just felt it for myself and I want to feel it again.
~*~
Chapter Eighteen
River~
Adam and I decide to treat everyone to a barbeque. I’ve chased Miss Ella out of the kitchen and the last I saw of her was when she was walking down to the river with Jack.
Sophia is helping me fix some salads and butter the rolls. When we’re done with it all, we carry the bowls outside to a table Adam placed under a tree. We do a few trips up and down, bringing out sodas and everything else we might need.
“Thank you, Sophia.” The woman has become a younger version of Miss Ella. She’s a quick learner and loves spending time with Miss Ella when she’s not with Adam.
“It’s my pleasure,” she says, a bright smile lighting up her face.
I’m glad we’re all spending some time together today. Weeks can pass where we all just live right by each other. We try to get together at least once a month, but with Jack and Sophia joining us, time just slipped by.
I follow Sophia to where Adam and Tristan are grilling some steaks and burgers. Adam places his arm around Sophia and holds her close to his side while he’s flipping the burgers.
The meat smells delicious. “We’re ready. It went so quick with Sophia’s help. I’m going to go call everyone so long.”
“The meat should be ready soon,” Tristan says and then his eyes dart over my head. I glance over my shoulder to see what he’s looking at and then grin. Diane and Lizzie are walking towards us. Diane looks at Tristan and then she quickly looks back at Lizzie. There’s definitely something brewing between Tristan and Diane. The girl is so shy.
I glance up at Tristan and whisper, “Be careful with Diane, she’s fragile.”
He frowns at me and then huffs, “There’s nothing going on between us. Besides, she’s way too young for me.”
I chuckle under my breath. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.”
I quickly go back inside and find a small group of the girls in the living room, where they’re busy reading. “Y’all wanna join us outside? The food is almost ready.”
It takes me a good few minutes to find everyone in the huge house and then I walk towards the river to get Miss Ella and Jack.
I find them sitting on one of the benches, their heads huddled close.
“I’d like some lilies and lavender.” Miss Ella points to their right. “I’m sure you can fit them in there. They would go so nice with the others.”
Jack stares hard at the spot Miss Ella pointed out. “You really think so? I was thinking of putting in more roses.”
“You already have roses.” Miss Ella is so patient with him.
“I’d like to plant more,” Jack whispers, sounding a little sad.
“Why roses?” Nothing gets past Miss Ella, she heard the sadness too.
“Momma loved them. They remind me of her.”
My heart shrivels up. “What was she like?” Miss Ella asks.
“She had the prettiest smile it always made me feel safe.”
“You must’ve gotten your smile from her, because you light up a room with yours.”
“I do … you really think so?” I can hear the emotions flooding his voice. My sweet Jack. I want to hide him from this cruel world.
“I do, Jack.” Miss Ella cups his cheek and I can hear the emotion making her voice shaky. “Just because your momma has gone to a better place, it doesn’t mean she’s not with you.”
Jack leans his head on her shoulder and hugs her. He looks so innocent right now. I don’t know how this side of Jack managed to stay whole through all the hell he’s been through.
“Momma use to pat my head,” he whispers. “Actually, she played with my hair, until I would fall asleep.”
Miss Ella hugs Jack back. “I use to love it so much, but then Mistress Westbrook started to pat me on the head, as if I was a dog. She took something nice Momma used to do and she made it ugly.” I can hear the heartache and loss in his voice.
Miss Ella’s hand trembles as she caresses Jack’s hair. “Oh, my precious boy,” she sniffles and holds him tighter. “Miss Ella is here now. Don’t let them take your memories of your momma away from you. Bad things happen to all of us, but it’s what we do with them that make a real difference in our lives. Let your past make you stronger.”
I walk back to the barbeque, leaving Jack with Miss Ella. He needs her right now.
~*~
When I get back, it’s just in time as everyone is sitting down to eat. I grab two plates and load them with food for Jack and Miss Ella, and then I get some for myself.
I listen as everyone talks and laughs, and then I spot Christopher taking a plate of food to Maddie.
I walk over to them and make sure that I sit a safe distance from Maddie. Because of her past I let the men handle he
r. I don’t want to upset her. I just want to know if she’s okay.
“How are you, Maddie?”
Her eyes jump from me to Christopher, who’s taking a seat next to her. He smiles at her and it seems to give her courage. “I’m great.” She twirls her fork in her plate and then suddenly looks up. “Thank you for bringing me here. I know I don’t talk to you a lot and it might come across as being rude, but I want you to know how thankful I am to you and Adam for saving me.”
“Oh, Lovely, I’m so glad you’ve found your little space here and it’s only our pleasure.” I look from Christopher to Maddie and I can clearly see their love for each other. “So … it’s obvious that the two of you are serious. I noticed you moved out of the house, Maddie. I’m guessing that the two of you now live together?”
Christopher reaches over to Maddie and takes her hand. There’s a serious light in his eyes when he says, “We’d like to get married.” He looks nervous, as if he’s asking my permission.
“You’re both adults. If you’re both sure that’s what you want then I don’t see why you can’t. Are you planning on leaving or staying?” I need to know. Christopher is one of my best guards. I’d hate to lose him.
“We’re staying if that’s okay? Maddie is comfortable here and you know that I love working here.”
I smile reassuringly at them. “Then you stay. The choice is always yours.”
“Is it okay if we get married here? We saw how beautiful Jack made the chapel. We could have the wedding there,” Christopher asks with hope shining in his eyes.
“That would be a great idea. Just check with Adam if you need anything extra and let us know which date you decide on.”
Maddie’s face is shining with excitement but it’s Christopher who gets up and comes to hug me. “Thank you so much, River.”
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