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 explodes 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.