And then his mouth starts to move lower, down my neck and to the curve of my breast. He quickly gets rid of the bra, takes one of my nipples between his lips, and sucks.

It feels so good that I arch into him, wanting him to do more to me than just kiss.

He must sense my need because he starts to move down again, his mouth placing soft kisses over my belly, and then his hands are on the button of my shorts.

He pushes up to his knees and I watch as he pulls the shorts down my legs. Once he’s rid of the shorts he leans over me.

I look up at him and I see the most beautiful man. His face looks rugged and handsome. His eyes are twin pools of heat and want. He placed a hand on either side of my head, keeping his upper body up. Of course I stare! Even all the scars can’t rob him of his beauty, and only lend to his manliness.

One hand slides into my undies and he pushes a finger deep inside of me, his palm pressing against my clit, just like he did when he made me come the other night.

My hands find his shoulders and I hold on for dear life as he pulls his finger out and then thrusts it back in. My hips start to move along with his hand, riding out the pleasure he’s creating.

When I can’t stand much more, I throw an arm to the side and yank the drawer open. I grab the condom I stole from Adam’s room when Jack and I started fooling around. Rather be prepared than left out in the cold when you need a condom most. I tear the foil packet open and taking his cock in my hands, I roll the condom over his hard length.

I fall back on the bed. Jack takes hold of my knees and opens my legs wide, to accommodate his body.

He presses his body down on mine and then our eyes meet. I feel his cock press against my opening and then he slowly slides into me. He closes his eyes and drops his head to my shoulder as a low moan drifts over his parted lips. “River,” he breathes my name, making it sound like a prayer.

His cock fills me, stretching me impossibly. At first it hurts a little because it’s been so long for me. He pulls out and then even slower than the first time, he enters me again.

I see the total bliss on his face. He keeps a torturous slow pace and it’s starting to drive me wild. My nails dig into his ass and I try to urge him on by lifting my hips to meet his.

Luckily for me it works, because he starts to move faster. “Harder,” the word slips through between gasps for air.

His hands move behind my shoulders and he lowers his body flat against mine. His fingers dig into my skin. His one leg moves in under my thigh, opening me up even more, and then he goes back to slowly fucking me, but this time it’s so deep with the way he’s positioned our legs.

He lifts the right side of his body and looks down between us. My eyes drift down and together we watch as he pulls out and then pushes back into me. It’s a huge turn-on, watching his cock thrust into me.

He’s pinning my body down so I can’t meet his thrusts. He’s in total control and I realize that’s what he needs. He needs to be the one fucking me. All I can do is let one hand find its way into his hair, while the other hand grabs hold of his arm resting next to me.

With each deep thrust my body starts to wind tighter and tighter.

Jack lifts his head and his eyes focus intensely on mine. They start to shine with unshed tears and it makes my heart melt. “I love you, Jack,” I whisper.

He presses his forehead to mine. I feel his hard body sliding against mine. I feel his cock filling me. I feel his breath on my lips and it all works together, taking me to the peak of ecstasy.

My body arches against Jack’s and then his body tenses over mine, and we come together, our bodies greedily riding out the pleasure we’ve created.

He doesn’t pull out immediately, but instead holds me. We keep breathing each other for a long while.

~*~

Jack is different … in a good way. He still asks questions. He still spends his days outside. We’ve resumed his writing and reading lessons, and we’re eating and sleeping together again.

But he’s different. He’s not as childlike as I remember. Yes, the sex might have something to do with it, but I think it’s more. It’s as if he’s at peace with himself. He doesn’t stumble over his feet to do what’s asked of him. He doesn’t leave the room when someone else comes in.

He looks comfortable in his skin.

I keep looking for any cracks, or signs that he might be putting up a front, but I can’t find any.

I’m busy with the books when Adam knocks on the door.

“Hey stranger,” I greet with a smile. I haven’t seen much of Adam since he’s been back.

He takes a seat in the chair across from mine. “Are you finally going to tell me what happened?” I ask. I haven’t been able to get anything from Jack, so I’m hoping Adam will tell me.

“No,” he says, without any hesitation. He pushes a hand through his hair and says, “Think of it as a boys night out.”

“It was hardly a boys night out, Adam!”

“To us it was. We had a road trip, a huge bonfire, got some beers on the way back.” He smiles as if that’s all it was.

“A huge bonfire? Really?”

“River, you know what Jack and Sophia’s been through. You’ve seen first-hand how a slave is trained. Jack deserved his revenge.”

“I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it!” I snap. I get up and stalk around the desk. “I just want to know what happened. Will something come back to bite us in the ass when we least expect it?”

“No. No one left the property alive.” Adam gets up and places his hands on my shoulders. “We’re safe and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“That we’re safe?” I ask.

“I think it’s time we retire. We’ve been saving slaves for years. I have Sophia now. You have Jack. We have all the others and we’ll be risking all of their lives if we bring someone new here.”

“So you want to stop?” I pinch the bridge of my nose, not sure how I feel about stopping.

“Yes.” Adam pulls me into a hug and then whispers, “I think you’ve paid enough for your father’s sins. It’s time you live your own life now.”

He pulls back and then smiles a huge smile at me. “So … I was thinking it’s time we put all the crap behind us and focus on the good and what better way than to celebrate with a wedding.”

My mouth drops open. “You’re getting married?”

Adam starts to laugh as if it’s a huge joke. “Not me. I’m thinking that maybe we can organize a surprise wedding for Christopher and Maddie?”

A huge grin spreads over my face. “That’s the best idea ever. There’s nothing like a celebration to bring everyone together again.”

Adam throws his arm around my shoulders and says, “I was also thinking of asking Jack to help my build another guesthouse, one Christopher and Maddie can move into.”

I throw my arms around Adam’s neck from excitement. “Yes! Of course. That’s a great idea!”

~*~

Seeing as Christopher and Maddie like to sneak off for their private moments, it’s easy to get everyone together without them knowing about it.

As soon as everyone is squashed into the living room, Adam says, “We have to make this quick. We’re going to organize a secret wedding for our lovebirds.” A collective ‘aww’ sounds up from the girls.

Jack comes sauntering in with a bowl of cereal. He really loves the stuff. He’s been eating a lot more since his ‘road trip’ with Adam. He’s also been making his own choices. It’s as if he finally realized he’s a free man.

He walks over to where I’m sitting and sits on the arm of the couch.

“We’ll prepare everything down by the chapel. Jack will help with things there. We’re having it a week from now, so that makes it next Sunday at two in the afternoon.”

“Is there anything we can help with?” Diane asks. I’m surprised that she’s so excited.

“You can all take turns helping us prepare the food?” I say, not wanting to leave them out of the preparations.