Love Rules (7 page)

he murmured as he continued to massage her. As she lifted her hips, he was able to run his other hand around her and enter her from both directions.

He gasped. “I’ve never known a woman like you before. So trusting, so able to love a man. But you have a beautiful set of hips, so round and full. I want to be as close to you as I can in every way,” he said, pulling her buttocks apart so he could watch his finger going slowly inside her. He added another, stretching her entrance a bit more.

She moved as though a fever had taken hold of her. “I can’t help the way I react to you. I can’t help wanting you as many ways as there is to want a man. My body feels as though it’s just opening up to you of its own accord. I so want your love inside of me.”

He kissed her entrance, wetting her further, holding her hips higher so his tongue could lick. After long moments of stretching, he removed his fingers and slid his manhood inside very slowly, inching his way until her buttocks were flush against him, his rod, full and hard. He pulled her against him as she began to move back and forth like a dancer, all the while accepting him deeper as she relaxed and let him take her. Her words had inflamed him. Never had any woman allowed him such freedom. Her very surrender drove him into wild abandon. She was too tight, felt too good, and he could not hold out. Spilling himself, he rubbed fingers abrasively against her nub until she too was spent.

The bed was damp from their sweat. Her hair lay in ringlets, their bodies trying to cool from climaxing. The air was filled with the scent of their love.

Coming off the mountain, she lay in his arms, content, kissing him tenderly.

She seemed speechless for a long while, basking in his touches, his kisses.

Holding on to him tightly as though he might go away.

“You are some kind of woman, Maggie.” His lips touched her cheek. The word love was on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated to use it. What other emotion could possibly be this strong? A few times with Maggie would never be enough.

He wanted a lifetime of her.

“I can’t believe it. I just met you. How can this be? How can it be so powerful, so perfect?” she questioned, her lips forming a satisfied smile.

“Sometimes, time doesn’t matter.”

“It seems so sinful to want a man so quickly, and I’ve never even had a man before you. Is making love always this good?” Her fingers gently slid over him.

“No, not unless you’ve got the right person. I’ve never enjoyed a woman’s body so much. You allow so much pleasure between us. You’re so open, so honest, and so adorably sweet.”

She cuddled against him. His manhood was not asleep.

He pulled her up and held her by her hips, his hands massaging her. The smoothness of her skin encouraged him to explore, his fingers occasionally dipping inside her as she squeezed him again. She squirmed with open delight.

“Oh Jesse, honey, yes…” she cried out loud.

Jesse had never had a woman like Maggie, one who was on fire for his touch, so eager, so honest with what she wanted. No games or flirting. There was nothing prim and proper about her, but she had been a virgin and that stunned him.

He couldn’t think when she was in his arms. He only felt. She was wet and hot and ready for him every time. The room steamed as they continued pleasuring each other. His hands were never still, and hers began to explore, too. No woman had ever let him touch and kiss every part of her before. He couldn’t get enough of her breasts, so full and luscious as his hands sought her. His lips caressed her cheek, and on to her luscious lips, his tongue lapping. He kneaded the round mounds of her hips with his hands, caressing her there. Her skin was like a pure silk, so smooth.

“I want inside you again,” he whispered.

“Yes, baby, yes. I’m tingling to my toes. I can’t believe you touched me there, and that it feels so good to me. You know what that does to me, don’t you?”

“I hope the same thing it does to me.” He smiled as he glanced up at her. “I can’t keep my hands off you. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life, the way you move, the way you open to me.”

Jesse explored the inside of one ear with the tip of his tongue, then he blew, and goose pimples rose on her skin. Dipping his head once more, he circled her folds. She dropped her legs way open to allow him to look at her. His eyes took her in, as she spread her womanhood. His tongue darted out to lick, and she jolted. Instinctively, he knew she was still sensitive from the last love making, so he took his time laving her. She didn’t seem to mind. Amazed at her beauty, he parted her soft folds once more and saw the blush of her, his tongue working as she moved sinuously against him in a provocative dance. His tongue darted out to tease, and she quivered with each lick. She wound her legs around his head and pulled him down so he could feel and taste every sensitive curve of her womanhood. She moaned raggedly when he licked, first slowly, then faster against her hard nub. He sucked it into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it until she writhed with passion.

When her gentle sighs became louder, proclaiming her readiness, he eased his way inside her warmth. She responded with an erotic dance like he’d never seen.

Her body moved with a physical kind of music, drawing him closer, deeper, and faster.

She wound her legs around his backside, drawing him inside. Her muscles worked him, inviting him in. He rolled her over and, swinging his feet to the floor, he stood and carried her around the room, glorying in their union, as he thrust inside her repeatedly until she was sighing aloud and panting. Pleasure outweighed the pain in his shoulder. She was light as a feather as she held herself tight against him. Her breasts prodded him. Nothing mattered but having her as close as he could. Tugging her toward him, sliding deeper, and reveling in her excitement.

“Take me, baby, all the way,” she whispered. “I can’t get enough of you. I’ll never get enough of
you.”

He pressed her to the wall and held her there, rocking his hips in a circular motion as she melted against him. Her hands cupped his butt cheeks, exciting him even further as she ran her fingers across him. Once more they reached the top, ecstasy making them moan and groan for more. She slid down, and he picked her up and carried her to the bed. They snuggled together for a long while, touching each other for pleasure, enjoying the hot desire they both felt. The freedom to love unashamed, unabashed, trusting each other in their needs and wants.

When they fell asleep, he cradled her against him, his hands splaying over her breasts protectively.

***

The next day Jesse was in considerable pain but the wound looked cleaner. He rested most of the day. Maggie fed him, kissed him, and teased him.

Thoughts of taking her in vanished. She was his, he wanted her, and that was all that was important. Dreams of nights spent loving her danced in his head as her kisses tempted his senses.

She even disrobed and walked about naked for him. The pleasure she gave was immeasurable. He smiled and reached for her, but she shook her finger.

“No. You’ve got to rest.”

It was all like a dream. And he prayed he wouldn’t wake up. Nevertheless, the following morning he woke and she was gone. Reality quickly settled over him.

He felt the draft of her leaving him. His head hung.
How could life be so unfair?

If she really was the Black Widow, it was his duty to bring her in. He had to face it. He’d made love to the woman, and it wasn’t without feeling. But he had orders, too, and he couldn’t forget them. She had quickly forgotten their paradise.

He wanted to believe she'd just stepped outside for some air, but his mind raced with the knowledge that she was still a spy. Warning the Federals took priority.

She had her duty, and he had his. Jesse slammed a fist on the table. How could she betray him? He knew she had gone to make a report.

He rummaged through the cabin for her gun and found it.

When she opened the door an hour later, she stood poised at the door, her dress see-through from the sunlight, silhouetting what he wanted most, her.

Too late for that. He had the gun aimed at her. Desire fled from her face, replaced by fear of the unknown.

“W-what are you doing?” Her eyes went from the gun to him.

Disbelief lingered between them.

For a moment he started to put the pistol down and pull her into his arms, but duty kept the gun in front of her. His heart clouded with a sadness he couldn’t express. “Where you been, Maggie?” His voice sounded raspy, even to him.

Knowing where she’d been, he had to tear his gaze from her. He wanted her so badly.

“I had work to do.”

“I gotta take you in. I know who you are.”

“Take me in?” She frowned at him, a slight tremble to her limbs.

“That’s right. I know who you are, and I must take you in. I don’t want to. Lord knows, but it’s my duty. Do you understand?”

She nodded slowly. “Who told you who I was?”

“I knew all along,” he said sadly.

“And I trusted you, the first rebel I ever trusted.” Her brow rose arrogantly.

“And you knew this was coming all along.”

“No, I considered letting you go. I seriously contemplated disobeying orders.

That’s how much you tempt a man. Until you left. Then I knew I would have to. I didn’t say I liked the idea, or enjoyed doing this. In fact, I hate it. But, Maggie, we’ve lost a lot of men because of you. A lot of lives, do you understand that? I thought maybe I could change things, but that was wishful thinking. Honestly.

After what we shared, I wanted to. But I have a duty, too.”

She hung her head. “Yes, I guess you have, and I’m sorry for that. Sorry, I was a part of the misery. I understand. I’ve prayed for forgiveness. God does forgive.”

He didn’t say anything. His eyes devoured her, but his duty rang in his head like a gong. He couldn’t afford her tipping the Federals off again. She had caused too many of the deaths in the region. He had to remember that.

“Where you taking me?” The sadness within her seemed to swell.

“To my commanding officer.” His grip on the gun shook.

“I see.”

“What could you have possibly told them this morning? You’ve been with me for days now.”

“I just have to report in, whether I have information or not. If I don’t, they’ll come looking.” Her eyes were wild, with fear or with pain, he didn’t know. “It’s my duty. They let me stay here in this shack if I report to them every few days. It’s the only way I can survive. It’s how I’ve survived so long. Don’t you see? How did you think I stayed here?”

“I-I….”

“You thought I gained the information by seducing soldiers?” Maggie gasped in surprise and white-hot anger.

“Only when I first met you.” Jesse shook his head. “But I wish to God you hadn’t said that.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re nothing to each other. So…what will they do with me?”

“Put you in custody, I guess. But don’t ever say we’re nothing to each other, Maggie. We made love.” He frowned as he looked at her, thinking about what the Confederate government might do to a traitor, female or not.

“Then let’s get on with it.”

Jesse reached to caress her cheek, but she turned away from him. “It shouldn’t have happened. I didn’t know you were a virgin…but I won’t lie to you, Maggie. I wanted you for sure and certain. I still do.”

“I guess you thought…you thought I sold my body to the soldiers to get information. But I didn’t have to.”

“I guess I did at first. Maggie…what else could a man think? You were spying for the North. I thought you were experienced. I thought you did this all the time.

Forgive me that. When I realized, I was so happy you weren’t that way, and if you hadn’t left this morning, this probably wouldn’t be happening. Dammit, I care about you. Sometimes a man has no choice.”

She frowned this time and it stayed in place. “A man has a right to chose, and you did! You used me, and maybe I deserved it, but I’ll never be that foolish again.”

“Maggie, what happened wasn’t part of the bargain.”

“Let’s get this over and done with. I don’t want to ever see you again.”

“God, Maggie, forgive me. I think, I fell—”

“Don’t—don’t say it. Just take me in and leave it be.”

He nodded. Then he did the hardest thing in his life. He took Maggie to his commanding officer. Just before they reached the camp, he stopped and held her at arms’ length. “I want you to know something. I never made love like that to any woman. What we shared was so special Maggie, so very special. I know you felt it, too. I didn’t plan to seduce you, just take you in, but a fire within me lit the minute I saw you. I couldn’t control it. I think you felt the same way. Maybe we went a little crazy, but it was nothing short of heaven. Remember it was special. If you don’t remember anything else, remember it was special.”

“Was it?” Her glance cut him to the core.

“Yes, it was. And before you go, I want you to remember I got a place in Texas you can go to. You don’t have to do a thing. You can live there. If I get out of this war alive, I’ll be back for you.”

“And what then? Will you marry me, or will you expect me to live with you in sin for the rest of my life?”

“It’s not like that, and you know it.”

“I know nothing of the kind. I’m a black woman, the Black Widow. You’d never marry me or fall in love with me. You’ll never see me with anything but lust.”

He had taken the most sacred things he could take from Maggie: first her trust, and then her innocence. He couldn’t give them back. He couldn’t change their course. He had betrayed her. His love.

She looked at him one more time, their eyes meeting, sadness bigger than both of them stood between them.

Jesse couldn’t believe he had done it. Even when everyone in camp was slapping his back and telling him what a good job he had done, in his heart he had committed murder. He’d marred what they shared. He’d done it. Moreover, for the rest of his life, he would never forget Maggie nor forgive himself.