But where was she?
He turned his head and smiled. There. Curled up asleep in a chair pulled close to the side of the bed. She looked like a child, her hair and clothes bedraggled, a small frown creasing the place between her brows. Her legs were tucked under her. Only one bare foot peeped out.
He reached out his good hand and ran a finger down the side of her foot. She jerked in reflex and her eyes flew open. He watched as disorientation turned to realization, pleased to see the frown instantly disappear.
“Jess,” she breathed.
“Come here, sweet lips.” He held out his arm in invitation.
Instantly she came to him, snuggling in as he pulled her close, her face pressed against his neck.
“How do you feel?” she whispered.
Her lips moved against his skin, her warm breath sending blood coursing to his groin.
“Like I could ravish you here and now.”
He felt her lips curve in a smile. “I’m sure it’s not allowed,” she said. “Not yet.”
He grunted and kissed her forehead, reveling in her familiar scent and taste. “Who says?”
“Your father’s medic.” She raised her head and looked at him. “Jess, when I thought you were dead, I…”
He put a finger over her lips. “That’s over, darlin’,” he said. “It’s just a cut. I’ll be fine.” It made him pleased to know she cared—was actually concerned about him. “It’s you I’m worried about,” he said. “That man…when I saw what he did to you.” Even now he felt his muscles contract in anger at the memory.
She snuggled back against him. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m okay. We’re alive. That’s all that matters.”
He kissed her ear, her cheek. She turned her face and his lips found hers. He groaned when she finally pulled away.
“You should sleep,” she said.
“No, I should throw you on your back and…”
This time she put her finger on his lips, her eyes dancing. “You shouldn’t move,” she said. “You’re injured.” But as she spoke, she casually slipped her clothing off, tossing each item to the floor.
With deliberation she pulled the blanket from his body, her eyes scanning him up and down, admiring him unashamedly. She smiled when she saw his shaft completely erect and ready, veins standing out dark blue against fiery red.
She moved over him, placing her hands on his chest, kissing his mouth, then his neck, then sliding her lips down his torso, kissing here, kissing there.
Jess groaned, caught in a world of sensation, closing his eyes in ecstasy as her mouth found his penis.
It was hot and steely hard. Catey took his shaft between her lips, letting her tongue tease the tip gently. She kissed it, down one side, up the next, feeling the throbbing pulse in the raised veins. Then she covered it again, taking it in deeper, sucking gently. She enjoyed hearing his moans, his fingers curling in her hair. She reveled in the power she had over him. She moved her mouth to his scrotum, kissing each ball, taking one into her mouth ever-so gently, then the other, then moving back to his pulsing shaft, teasing, flicking her tongue up and down its length.
When she could sense he could take no more, she raised her head and smiled sweetly at him.
“God, don’t stop!” he breathed.
“Never,” she said.
She knelt over him, positioning herself, then lowered herself onto him, feeling his hardness slip easily into her tight, wet opening. She closed her eyes and stayed very still, completely absorbed in the sensations. Then she began to move gently, in small circles, then up and down, dropping her head so her hair spilled onto his chest. She felt him wrap his fingers in the tendrils. She continued to move sensuously, his shaft deep inside. She rested her cheek against his chest, hearing his heart beat. His member tight inside her. Hot, deep. So hard.
Then his own hips began to rise and fall and she began to move again in rhythm. Gently at first. She could feel her groin tighten, feel something in her innermost core rising, like rain clouds piling higher, higher, filling, expanding.
No longer gentle, they thrust together hard. Catey gasped in abandon, her thighs slapping Jess’ with each lunge until the mounting clouds within them both came to complete saturation and burst, sending torrential floods of exquisite release. They both cried out, letting the heavens rain down sweet shudders of joy until they were empty and exhausted. Filled and empty.
She lay on top of him, his sweat mingling with her own. His fingers still tangled in her hair.
Moments later she rolled to one side and snuggled into his good arm. Smiling. No longer in doubt.
“Jess, I have to tell you…”
His hand stroked her arm gently, lazily. “No,” he said, “let me say it first, darlin’.”
He kissed her gently on the top of her head. “I love you, sweet lips. I think I did from the moment I saw you on the front veranda with your daddy’s musket. I love you—and I don’t ever want to be without you.”
She lifted her face and looked at him, her eyes searching his face, a profound joy filling her. “I love you too,” she whispered. “I don’t think I ever knew how much until I thought I’d lost you.”
He pulled her to him and kissed her, deeply, passionately. His kiss telling her she was his—forever. They were one.
Chapter Sixteen
Some two hours later, there was a knock at the door.
“Just a minute!” Catey sprang from the bed and grabbed her clothes, thrusting herself into them haphazardly. At the same time she tried to tame her unkempt hair, looking frantically for the rag she’d tied it back with, unable to find it anywhere.
Jess merely watched her, smiling. “Leave it be, darlin’. You look delicious.”
She threw him a sultry half frown, half smile, grabbing her mother’s brush to try to put her tresses right.
Jess casually pulled the blanket back over himself. “Come in,” he called.
The door opened and Colonel Granger strode in, followed by another man, obviously an army doctor, from the medical bag he carried.
Catey had curled herself once more into the chair next to the bed, trying unsuccessfully to disappear from the scene altogether.
“Ah, you’re awake,” Jess’ father said. “How’s the arm?”
“It’ll do,” Jess said noncommittally. Something was up. He could tell by the way his father’s eyes darted around the room, finding their way to Catey more often than usual.
Jess sat up, propping himself against the headboard. It was the first time he could ever recall seeing his father discomfited.
“Son, this is Lieutenant James Forbes. Dr. Forbes, actually.”
Jess nodded to the doctor. “Where’s your medic—Duncan? The arm’s not bad enough to call for a second opinion, though I appreciate the concern.” Jess was in such good spirits, it didn’t matter if his father missed the quip for what it was.
The colonel cocked an eyebrow and frowned. He hadn’t missed the jibe. “There’s been a change of plans. You’re not coming with me to Texas. James has just come from the field hospital I told you about, where John is being treated.”
Now it was Jess’ turn to cock an eyebrow. “Is John okay?”
“Yes, yes…the same.” Granger seemed almost flustered. “I’ve asked and been given permission to make this place a hospital.”
At that, Catey sat up straighter.
“We have too many wounded to treat. This place, Allendale, would give the patients shelter and plenty of room for staff and beds.”
Dr. Forbes cut in. “We only have tents and they’re not waterproof. Patients are dying left and right because we don’t have proper facilities. This place would provide an excellent site for treating the wounded. We’d transport everyone here, including your brother John.”
Jess could see the glitter of excitement in the man’s eyes, tired as they were from too many nights without sleep.
“John? I thought he couldn’t be moved.”
“It’s not far. H
e’s recovering nicely. There’d be no danger,” Forbes assured him.
Jess looked at his father. “So exactly what are you saying, Father?”
Colonel Granger took off his hat, ran a hand through his hair and sat down on the side of the bed, as though standing had somehow become too much for him.
Instead of answering, he looked at Catey, his eyes resigned, tired. “You saved my son’s life,” he said.
Catey, taken aback by being spoken to directly, shifted but met his gaze directly. “He saved mine, Sir. Many times. I’d do it again, happily.”
Granger nodded, glancing down at the hat in his hand, moving it slowly as though considering. “Do you love him?” he asked, without looking up.
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Yes, I do. With all my heart.”
The colonel looked at Jess, his eyes questioning.
“Yes, Sir,” Jess said without being asked, “most completely. I won’t leave her ever again. I want to make her my wife.” Jess looked at Catey. “That is, if she’ll have me.”
“Yes, Jess Granger,” she said and moved to kiss him gently, not caring who saw. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Granger nodded, satisfied and for the first time in many years, Jess saw him smile, albeit wryly. “You’re a lucky man, Jess. A very lucky man.” He stood up, collecting himself, remembering Forbes who waited with quiet aplomb and the trace of a blush on his rather gaunt cheeks.
“Good, then.” The colonel straightened his back and nodded, first to Catey, then to Jess. “I have a chaplain in my company who’ll be happy to perform the marriage ceremony. Jess, I’ll be leaving you here in charge. This place, Allendale, will be used as a hospital until this Godforsaken war is ended and probably longer.” He turned to Catey and bowed slightly. “That is, with your permission, ma’am?”
Catey could hardly believe her ears. Allendale would be saved. She’d be Mrs. Jess Granger. She and Jess could stay here together. Allendale would be perfect for a hospital. And she could learn—learn to help with the patients.
“Oh, Sir!” she was on her feet in an instant and threw her arms around the colonel’s neck without thinking.
Jess watched with stunned surprise, unsure if he was more shocked at the news, or at the fact his father had actually put his arms around Catey and hugged her back.
When they separated, Jess’ father cleared his throat and straightened his jacket. “Well, then, what about you, Son? Are you in agreement?”
“Most definitely.” Jess reached out a hand and grasped his father’s in a firm, warm shake. “I underestimated you, Father,” he said.
His father nodded, his eyes softening as he gazed at Jess. “I almost lost you yesterday, Son. It made me realize a great many things.” He paused, as though uncertain what to say next. Finally he smiled and gripped his son’s hand even harder. “I’m proud of you, Jess. I’ve always been proud. I… I just never quite knew how to say it.”
* * * * *
Jess and Catey stood on the wide steps, the pillars of Allendale’s front entrance rising in stately dignity behind them. Colonel Granger was mounted, his horse frisking slightly but firmly controlled.
“The injured are being transported as we speak,” the colonel said, “they should be here within a week, depending on the weather. Some of the medical staff will be arriving in two days to begin clearing and setting up stations. I’m leaving a handful of men under your charge in the meantime. Good luck, Son.”
Jess, his left arm still in a sling, his right firmly locked around his wife’s waist, looked up at his father and smiled. “Thank you, Dad. And good luck to you.”
“Be safe,” Catey said.
The colonel smiled his rather stiff smile. “Take care of him,” he said. “I expect to spend some time with you both when this war is over. And, Son,” he looked at Jess. “Be good to your brother. I know you haven’t seen eye to eye but he’s… Well, he has a lot to deal with right now.”
Jess nodded. “John will be in good hands, Sir. I give you my word.”
Granger seemed satisfied and without further ado, raised his gloved hand and moved out with his company of men following. Some mounted, some on foot.
Jess and Catey watched until they were out of sight. Then Jess turned to her and cupped her chin in his hand, raising her face to his.
“Have I told you I love you?” he asked.
“At least a hundred times,” she said. Then raised her lips to his.
But as they turned to walk into the house, a shadow suddenly loomed in Catey’s mind, bringing an overwhelming sense of dread. Where was her sister Sarah?
* * * * *
Madam LaCroix opened the door to Sarah’s room. “Bien! You are awake at last,” she said. “I’ll have Bridgette bring you soup. When you are strong enough, we shall put you to work.” She smiled, her heavily powdered face breaking into creases.
Sarah’s eyes grew wide and she pulled the satin sheets just a little higher under her chin.
About the Author
Ainsley was born and raised in Michigan. She majored in English at university, receiving a Bachelor’s in English with Creative Writing Emphasis. Her first publication was at the tender age of nine. She’s now published in other genres, and teaches creative writing to adults and children.
Ainsley’s love of travel brought her to Australia, where she met and married the man of her dreams. She now resides in Victoria on the southern coast with her true love, her son and daughter, and a medley of cats and dogs. Besides writing, she enjoys rainforests, the sound of the surf, rip-roaring thunderstorms, crackling fires and exotic locales.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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