Full Circle

by Mariella Starr

  "Oh, that," Georgina said dismissively. "That's old news."

  "I've been out of the loop lately, and you—you ratfink—haven't been keeping me up-to-date," Josie complained.

  "Are you taking the job of mayor?"

  "Tit for tat," Josie ordered. "Give!"

  Georgina grinned. "Well, we all know Aiden's done a piss-poor job of it for the last two years. You were running the sheriff's office and his for the last year. He wasn't making many decisions and the ones he did make weren't good. It was about a year ago when he started missing a lot of time and getting flaky about showing up for work. The man called in with the flu at least ten times in the last six months."

  "So what was it all about?" Josie demanded. "Is he sick? Oh God, he hasn't been diagnosed with MS, like his mother, has he?"

  Georgina shook her head. "Not that I know, although Aiden has a problem. He says he needs help in the form of a therapist. He's moving up to Wassa to spend some time with an uncle and get treatment. This information is supposed to be hush-hush, but most everybody has heard by now. He's claiming he has an addiction to women and sex."

  "Sex!" Josie's mouth flew open.

  "Apparently, that woman he was caught with up in Holbart was only one of many," Georgina said. "There are at least a dozen single women in town that have admitted to having an affair with him. Of course, a lot of women aren't coming forward to admit it, but the ladies are whispering."

  "Which is exactly what we're doing," Josie admitted. "We should be ashamed. We're representatives of the office."

  "I am, hon. You won't be as soon as Clay gets back and debriefs you." Georgina admitted, "I don't feel guilty at all. That hound dog has gone after every woman in this town, single or married, including us. I do hope he gets help and gets well up there in Wassa because if he comes back to town, there won't be a woman for a hundred miles that would touch him."

  Josie nodded. "What's going on with you and Clay? Any developments? You've been keeping yourself scarce."

  "I know, but that was Clay's idea. He said you needed some time to get used to being away from the office. Him and me? Well hon, we're doing fine—in the sack and out. He says he has to figure out how to re-assign me to your office, once you become the mayor. Clay says I shouldn't report to him if we're involved as a couple. We're moving a little slower than I'd like, but at least we're moving. Clay is a careful man, but he knows what he's doing. I don't think anyone has given us, as a couple, a second glance. All that worry was only in his head. Oh, my board is lighting up. I've got to go."

  "One more question, and I'll get out of your hair and wait for Clay," Josie said quickly. "How is Mary Anne? How's she dealing with all this? I feel so badly for her and those boys."

  Georgina stuck her head out the door. "Ray! Take that board for a minute!" She turned her attention back to her friend. "What happened is not your fault, Josie. You were the victim, and you can't blame yourself for what that bastard did or any of the fallout from his crimes."

  "I know that, but where did you learn it?" Josie asked.

  "That FBI man brought a woman in who gave the entire sheriff's department a class on victim advocacy," Georgina admitted.

  "I've been through several of those seminars," Josie admitted and gave her friend a hug. "I'm dealing with it. Now tell me about Mary Anne."

  Georgina sighed. "She's gone. She handed the house and business keys to that FBI man and told him to search as much as he wanted, because she was taking the boys and a few clothes. That was it. She gave them access to all the business files and everything else, along with a couple dozen depositions. Their house is already up for sale.

  "At first she was in total denial, but when all the facts added up, she had to accept that it was true. She didn't want to expose her kids to all that mess, and I don't blame her. The two oldest boys are old enough to hear things and to understand that their daddy was a monster. She might have to come back for the trial, although that would only be if the defense attorney wants her here.

  "She has a brother who lives way up in Alaska, and I mean way up in a little settlement you can only get to by plane. That's where they went. Mary Anne said she has to protect her kids, and I can't blame her. Riley setup some donation jars at the Tavern and all over town, and raised quite a bit of money to help her start over. Everyone felt bad for her, but she didn't want any pity. She's a strong lady."

  "She's going to need to be," Josie said.

  Josie let Georgina get back to her job. Clay debriefed her, and she handed over her badge for the last time. She spent the rest of her day with Mrs. Freeman at the town hall. She was not ready to give the woman a definite answer, but she was getting close to a decision.

  Jack picked her up at exactly four in the afternoon as promised, but instead of driving west, he turned south.

  "Where are we going?" Josie asked.

  "Special treat," Jack said with a grin. "Buck and Alex are out of our hair, so I'm taking advantage of it. I told Buck to keep Alex over at his place tonight."

  "That's not—"

  "I'm not telling, are you?" Jack interrupted.

  "Nope," Josie admitted.

  "Good!"

  Jack drove to the address he'd been given, left Josie in the vehicle, and knocked on the door where he was handed a large cooler and a small cooler.

  Josie knew where they were. Mrs. Sheppard had a small enterprising business cooking complete meals for people for their special occasions. She did not have a business license and did not advertise. Anyone with the authority to stop her looked the other way. Why kill a good thing by complicating it? You paid in cash and everyone using her services enjoyed her food and tipped her well.

  Jack drove home, led Josie upstairs, went around lighting small candles placed around the bedroom, and setup a small candlelit table for two. He went into the bathroom and turned on all the jets in that fabulous shower of hers.

  She watched as he set the scene for his seduction, and she let him take the lead. With nowhere to be and no one to interrupt, it would be a special evening. They'd made love since her abduction, but each time Jack had been gentle and treated her like she was fragile.

  Jack led Josie into the bathroom and undressed her, meticulously placing his hands and fingers lightly and sensuously on her skin as he dropped her clothing piece by piece to the floor. Josie shivered in anticipation, but he only smiled. He produced a box of plastic bags along with a roll of tape and with the finesse of a magician, wrapped her cast carefully. With a quick flip, his tee shirt was over his head. With a snap and zip, his jeans were on the floor. He stepped out of them commando style—his cock full, stiff, and ready.

  He pulled her into the shower, washed her hair, running his fingers down every inch of her skin, and followed up by kissing every inch of her body.

  Josie wanted more, but every time she leaned into him, tried to draw him in for close, intimate contact, he backed off with a slight shake of his head. This was his seduction. He would control the pace. When she was quivering, he lifted her in his arms, set her down in the bathroom, dried her hair and ran his fingers through it.

  He dried her body, removed the plastic bags and picked up a boutique bag she had not noticed. He pulled out a black lace bra that only covered the lower part of her breasts, a tiny pair of thong underwear followed. He pulled out a pair of black silk thigh-high stockings and slowly drew them up her legs. Josie was aroused, but this was Jack's fantasy, so she let him have his way. He pulled out a red ruffled garter belt with red and black garters, fitted it to her and clipped the garters to her silk stockings. He carried her to the bed, laid her down carefully, positioning her cast on a pillow. He lifted one of her legs over his shoulder and then the other, pushed aside the tiny strip of the thong, and dove in for his pleasure.

  My God, she was experiencing a woman's version of a wet dream, but it was her reality as Jack pleasured her, tortured her and made her come—over and over again. Orgasm after orgasm ripped through her until Josie was aching fr
om wanting him inside so much, but he did not seem interested in his release. His tongue was magic. When she was gasping from her last release, he eased upward and took her breasts. Josie had not known an orgasm was possible from stimulating her breasts, but it was. He took her to a realm of pleasure she had never experienced. Again and again—he returned to the paradise between her legs and made her come. When she thought she couldn't take anymore, Jack gently lifted her, piled the pillows up, turned her over and bent her over them.

  "What do you want, Josie?" Jack demanded.

  "You, now!" Josie gasped.

  "How?" he demanded.

  "Hard, Jack, take me hard," Josie breathed.

  In one long hard stroke he was inside her, and he took her hard—harder than she had ever experienced. She thought they had been there before simmered around the edges of being rough. Now he was rough, taking her, enjoying her, possessing her, and she loved every second of it as he took his pleasure. He took her up again to the edge of orgasm, but wouldn't let her go over that edge, backing off, letting her yearn for it more, and he took her up again, and again, until she was panting, begging. When he finally took her over the cliff, he spilled his own into her, releasing, pounding, and releasing again. When Jack lay gasping for breath on top of her, they were both wet from sweat and sex. He rolled off, circling his arm around her waist and bringing her over with him, placing her on top of him as he nestled his spent member between her legs.

  "I've died and gone to heaven," Jack said, closing his eyes.

  "Personally, I think the world fell off its axis," Josie agreed.

  An evening of sex, Josie mused, as Jack taped up her arm and they showered again. This time because it was late, and they were spent and exhausted. As she toweled herself off, Jack stripped the bed and put on clean sheets. He blew out some dangerously low candles and unpacked the cooler. The food was cold, but they didn't care. They ate, they kissed, they teased and they cuddled, as Jack fed her cold food, and she offered him barely chilled wine.

  When they went to bed again, they lay side-by-side and simply looked into each other's eyes.

  "Josie, I love you," Jack said and pulled a ring box seemingly out of thin air. He held it out to her, but pulled it back. "Do you love me, Josie? It won't work if it's only one-sided."

  "Jack, I think I've loved you since I was eight years old. It was a child's fascination, a teen crush, but now I love you with a woman's love."

  "Good," Jack said. "I know every woman is supposed to want a big diamond ring and if it's what you want, you'll get one. The sales clerk said every woman's dream was a pure white diamond, but to me it was like glass, the colors were only refracted light from other things. When I saw this one, I knew it was for you. It's like your eyes, stormy, beautiful, expressive and strong, and that doesn't come from the outside, it comes from the inside. That strength comes from the girl you were, and the woman I know now. You've completed a journey from a wild hellion to a hell of a woman. You've grown-up to be an amazing woman, compassionate, loving, but underneath a force of power to be reckoned with." He opened the box and revealed an incredible square-cut diamond solitaire that sparkled even in the dim light.

  "Wow," Josie exclaimed. "What do you call big, Jack? It's beautiful. I've never seen a diamond this color before."

  "The sales clerk said it was smoky gray with a hint of lavenders and blues. She said it was four-and-half carats, but I didn't care about that stuff. I wanted it because it reminded me of your eyes. Are you going to say yes, Josie?"

  "Yes, to what?" she demanded, wanting to hear the words.

  Jack grimaced. "I knew you weren't going to let me off that easy. Will you, Josie Raintree, hellion, brat, and sometimes bane of my existence, but also the love of my life—will you marry me?"

  "What happens if I say no?" she whispered.

  Jack rolled over on top of her. "I'll hold you here, make love to you until you're too weak and too love-struck to say no, and I'll have the pleasure of spanking your butt for torturing me."

  Josie laughed. "You already did that and I'm holding you to the promise of doing it again except for the spanking part. I say yes. Yes, I'll marry you. I love you, Jack, and you only beat me by a couple of days because I was planning on seducing you and asking you to marry me this weekend."

  Jack rolled again, so they were side by side, took the ring out of the box and gently placed it on her finger. "Intentions don't count. I got here first, and I get bragging rights. I want to get married soon, Josie. I don't want any nonsense of a long engagement or a long, planned wedding. I don't care how you want to do it as long as we do it and soon. You're mine, and I want the world to know it."

  She stroked his cheek, and her lower lip quivered. "I don't care if anyone knows. All I care is that you know. I love you. I've never said that to a man before, ever. When I was in that place—"

  "Don't go there, sweetheart," Jack soothed.

  "I need to," Josie whispered. "When I was there, I couldn't give up because I knew you wouldn't. I fought back because I needed to get back to you. You're part of me now. I know you're possessive, but you need to realize that I am too. I'll never let you go."

  Jack kissed her. "You won't ever have to, because I love you with the same kind of intensity, and I've never said that to a woman either."

  "Ms. Raintree, I understand," Mrs. Tarry, Supervisor for Child Protective Services said kindly. "You've been through a horrible trauma, but I simply cannot allow Alex Carter to remain in your home if you are cohabitating with a man with whom you are not married."

  "Mrs. Tarry, Social Services allowed Alex to remain with his mother for years while she was entertaining Johns in her home, and abusing alcohol, drugs, and her son. Social Services removed Alex from her home and placed him back with her four times. You did this knowing she has a history of alcoholism, a drug addiction and has a history of prostitution," Josie retorted. "Are you implying that my home environment is worse than the environment your agencies chose to place Alex when you forced him to return to his mother?"

  Mrs. Tarry shook her head. "Each time Alex was returned to his mother, we were under the impression that she was rehabilitated. I'm not claiming that everything our department tries, works. But we do try our best for all parties involved. Sadly, in Alex's case, things didn't work as well as we wished."

  "Who paid the price for those mistakes?" Josie demanded.

  "I understand what you're saying, Ms. Raintree, but I have to follow the rules and guidelines set down by the state supervisors. Alex will not be placed back with his mother, but there are other homes where he could be placed."

  "There are exceptions that can be made to rules," Jack interceded.

  "Mr. Rawlings, I can't make that exception," Mrs. Tarry repeated.

  "Can't you see the hypocrisy in that statement?" Josie demanded. "Jack is a responsible person who has more than complied with every requirement necessary to become a foster parent. It's your agency holding up his credentials. To take Alex, whom you know is suing his mother for termination of parental rights, away from a good, stable home and put him in an overcrowded half-way house or another foster home—it is ridiculous."

  "Maybe we can come up with a compromise," Jack suggested. "Mrs. Tarry, would you have any objections if a woman stayed the night in the house with Josie. She still needs assistance on certain things. I could do the day shift, and someone could be here with her at night. She has a number of female friends that would agree to help her."

  "That might be an acceptable solution…" Mrs. Tarry began.

  The doorbell rang, and Alex raced down the stairs to open it.

  Jack got to his feet. "I'll get rid of whoever is visiting, and get Alex back upstairs in his room. He doesn't need to hear this."

  He turned around as Alex came back into the room leading a woman. Buck was following behind her. Josie jumped to her feet. "Mrs. Foster!"

  "Good afternoon," Mrs. Eileen Foster said, crossing the room and holding out her hand. "You must be J
ack Rawlings and you must be Mrs. Tarry of Social Services. I made good time. Mrs. Tarry, I am Eileen Foster, a child advocate attorney, and Alex is my client. He asked me to attend this meeting. In fact, Alex has been very proactive in the resolution of his case this week."

  Josie swung around to the boy, and he smiled at her, swallowed and looked nervous. "I went to McLoud to see Marcy Carter."

  "What?" Josie exclaimed.

  "I think we should all have a seat," Mrs. Foster said. "Alex will explain."

  Jack took Josie's hand, and they returned to the couch. Mrs. Foster took a chair, and Alex faced them. He looked scared but determined.

  "I knew they would try to take me away," Alex said, pointing at Mrs. Tarry. "That's what they do when kids get settled or are happy. That's why Josie and I contacted Mrs. Foster, and got her to be my lawyer. You say Marcy Carter is my mother, but she's not. I never had a mother until I found Josie. I only had someone who beat on me and mostly forgot I was around until it was time for the welfare money to come in each month. Mrs. Foster was supposed to get me away from her, and it was working because Marcy had agreed to sign off on her parental rights.

  "Then you people stuck your noses in again and decided you could rehabilitate Marcy to be a better mother. She can't because it's too late. She never gave a care about me, and I'm not going back to her. I asked Buck to take me to the women's prison in McLoud.

  "Don't get mad at him, Josie, because he was helping me. You told me to call Mrs. Foster anytime I had a question, so I called her. She agreed to meet us up there while I talked to Marcy, and she set up the meetings. I told Marcy to do whatever she wanted with her life, but to leave me out of it. I am not her son because she's never been a mother to me. I told her to sign the papers to terminate her rights over me, and get it over because I was sick of her messing around with my life. I told her if she didn't, I was going to hate her guts until the day she died. She signed the papers, and Mrs. Foster and that man she brought with her signed them, and one of the assistant wardens signed them, so it's all legal. I signed a consent for adoption, so now I can be adopted."