Promising Hearts by Radclyffe

Author:Radclyffe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ! Yes
ISBN: 9781933110448
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Inc
Published: 2006-06-30T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jessie paced to the window and flicked the curtain aside, even though there was nothing to see outside in the dark. From the sounds of men shouting in the street below, she wasn’t the only one wide awake. “Lord, Kate, I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight.

It would’ve been better if you’d stayed with your parents.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Kate said calmly as she leaned over and turned down the oil lamp before unbuttoning her dress and slipping it off over her head, leaving only her chemise and stockings. She sat on the edge of the bed to remove her undergarments. “I would lie awake worrying about you, and you would undoubtedly stay awake doing just what you’re doing now, and neither one of us would have changed what’s going to happen.”

“Kate, I—” The protest died on Jessie’s lips when she caught a glimpse of Kate slipping naked beneath the rough cotton sheets. Unsettled in an entirely new way than just seconds before, she leaned against the window casing, her arms crossed. “You could be safely tucked away at home right now instead of climbing into an uncomfortable bed in a noisy hotel.”

“Jessie,” Kate said quietly. “It’s somewhere in the middle of the night. It’s been a hard, frightening few days for you and I’ve missed you terribly. How you could think that I would let you sleep alone now escapes reason.” She patted the bed beside her. “I know it’s because you’re worn out and scared for Jed that you could even question why I’m here. For now, just accept that I need you.”

“You need me.” Jessie said the words as if they had been spoken in a strange language. “Sometimes it scares me how much I need you.” As she had the first afternoon that Kate had spent with her, Jessie crossed to the bed, unbuttoning her shirt as she walked. As she had that day as well, she unbuckled her gun belt and hung it on the bedpost.

“I love you,” Kate said, watching Jessie unbutton her pants and step free, marveling just as she had a little over a year before at how beautiful and strong she appeared. She moved over to make room as Jessie removed her long johns and settled beside her. “And I need you terribly. It’s all rolled up in what we share.”

Jessie gathered Kate into her arms and buried her face in Kate’s hair. She lay silently for several minutes as Kate stroked her back and her shoulders and her chest. She breathed in Kate’s scent, listened to her heartbeat, concentrated on each small point where their bodies touched.

As the essence of Kate filled her up inside, she sensed the bruised and bleeding places starting to heal. She wasn’t aware of her tears until Kate’s fingers brushed over her cheek.

“Tell me,” Kate whispered.

“When they started shooting I couldn’t really believe it. I knew what was happening, but I couldn’t take it in. They were trying to kill me, on my own land.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.