Do Not Forsake Me(153)

As always, he commanded her every response, making the oh-so-familiar act seem like the first time, as only Jake Harkner could do. And after so long without this, it did almost feel like the first time…like that wild night of lovemaking when he really did do this to her in the back of a wagon…somewhere. They moved in perfect rhythm as he filled her over and over again with all that was Jake, until she felt his pulsating release. Saying nothing, he nuzzled her neck and leaned down then to taste each breast yet again with relish, and she knew he wanted to do it all over again. And she wanted him to take her again. She felt his swelling desire for her, and again he moved inside her, hard and deep, as though he couldn’t get enough of her…and she wanted as much of him as she could get. He deliberately moved in all the right ways, rubbing against that special spot with such expertise that she found herself gasping with a second climax. It felt so good to be physically able to make love again in all the best ways.

“Jake—”

“You okay?”

“It feels wonderful.”

He smiled as he spoke between kisses. “Then enjoy it,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re well now, mi amor. I feel you pulling me into you.”

He kept burying himself deep to fulfill the need she had, and to satisfy his own need to claim his woman again, to prove to himself she was still his and only his.

“Who do you belong to?”

“Jake Harkner.”

“You bet your ass. I own every beautiful inch of you.”

“And I own you, Jake Harkner. You remember that when other women tempt you.”

He kissed her harder, pushed himself harder. “You’re the only woman I can’t resist.”

“It’s the same for me.”

The words were spoken amid hungry kisses and sweet, rhythmic thrusts that made Randy wonder if it was even possible for him to go any deeper. When Jake Harkner claimed her, she was branded for life. And she didn’t mind at all.

His life spilled into her then, and finally he relaxed, lying there on top of her for a while, both of them listening to birds outside the window. He kissed her again, more kisses, over and over. He raised to his knees then, running his hands over her breasts, her belly, her private places. With a mischievous glint in his eyes and a teasing grin he took a deep sigh of satisfaction and said the words that made her burst into laughter.

“Now we can go to church,” he told her.





Thirty-nine


Jeff watched the procession, much like the one he’d watched that first Sunday when he’d sat on the church steps with a Jake Harkner who’d refused to go inside. He’d left the whole family alone this last month, knowing they all needed some healing time—time he’d used to work on all his notes and get them in order for the book about Jake Harkner. It wouldn’t be easy. Jake was the most complicated man he’d ever met. How did one describe a man who could be so incredibly ruthless and seemingly unfeeling, yet such a loving family man? The one walking toward the church now couldn’t possibly be the same man who’d blown another man’s guts out from under a card table.

He watched Evie walking with Brian’s arm around her and Little Jake holding her hand, and he felt like crying at how lovely she looked. Lloyd and Katie walked with them, arm in arm, Stephen holding his father’s other hand. They all greeted Jeff warmly.

“Are you coming to Mother’s for dinner after church?” Evie asked Jeff. “I made peach pie. It’s Daddy’s favorite.”

“Oh, I’ll be there, all right,” Jeff answered. “Jake and I have a lot to talk about. And thank you for the invite.” He studied her with deep admiration. “You look really beautiful today, Evie.”

Brian pulled her closer. “A woman who is expecting always looks extra beautiful,” he told Jeff.

Evie smiled, moving her arms around Brian. “This man is spoiling me something awful,” she told Jeff.

Little Jake ran off then, right toward Jake and Randy, who approached them with young Ben in tow. Jeff curiously studied the guns Jake wore, visible under a black suit coat. He wore a white shirt and a string tie and black cotton pants. It was the first time Jeff had seen him wearing a suit, and he looked strikingly handsome. Still, he wore those guns. Jeff knew Randy would never allow him to wear them into church. Had he changed his mind?

Evie leaned up and kissed Brian’s cheek, then left him to greet her father, who wrapped her into his arms and kissed her hair. “Daddy, you look wonderful!”

Jake looked her over. “So do you, baby girl. You getting along all right with that worthless husband of yours?”