thoughts. Why had she done that? he wondered.
She had to keep her secret. Sam's child was nestled there inside her, in her womb, safe and secure. But now was not the time to share her happy news with him. There would be time enough when Maynard Reeves was no longer a part of their lives.
She pushed the thoughts of their child deep into her heart, closing them off from her conscious thoughts. Threading her fingers through Sam's hair, she moaned as he delved his fingers deeply into her body.
She gripped his shoulders, urging him to stand. He kissed her intimately. She shuddered. Sam rose, lifted her off her feet and carried her into the rose arbor. A lush bed of grass and moss beckoned him. Placing her on the ground, he lay down beside her and pulled her on top of him. She stared down into searing blue-gray eyes and had no doubt what joy awaited the two of them. Holding her hips, petting her buttocks with his fingertips, Sam eased her down onto him, entering her with a forceful thrust.
Jeannie cried out with the pleasure of their joining, lowering her head to reach his lips. She plunged her tongue into his mouth; he reciprocated with equal fervor. They devoured each other as he stroked her back and buttocks. Placing her hands on either side of his head, she pushed herself upward until her breasts hung over his mouth, a luscious temptation.
She set the pace, moving with restless need, her own desire so strong she didn't know whether she could handle his, as well as hers. When he took her nipple into his mouth, sucking greedily, the first warning of release clenched her sex. While his mouth toyed with one breast, he lifted his hand to cup the other, then pinched the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Fulfillment claimed her, rocking her to the core. Sam caught her cries in his mouth as her release rippled through him.
He changed the pace of their lovemaking, increasing the tempo, deepening his thrusts. He was on the verge, and so was she. Together they splintered into shards of unequaled ecstasy, Jeannie sharing his pleasure as he shared hers. Panting heavily, their bodies dripping with perspiration, Sam rolled over onto his side, holding her in his arms, kissing her again and again.
'I love you, Sam. I love you with all my heart.'
'Ah, Jeannie … Jeannie … my sweet angel.'
« ^ »
Sam moaned with pleasure. Jeannie smiled at him as she slowly pulled the fork out of his mouth. He chewed the scrumptious bite of blueberry pancake dripping in syrup that she had fed him. They gazed into each other's eyes, silently conveying words of erotic intent as they remembered their night of passionate loving.
Looking at him sitting there in nothing but his slacks, his broad chest bare, Jeannie sighed as her body recalled Sam Dundee's savage possession.
He grinned, enjoying the sight of her, her flawless skin, soft peach lips and warm brown eyes. Tendrils of sun-streaked brown hair curled about her forehead and ears. His body hardened when he thought about her being naked beneath her robe.
Turning his fork sideways, Sam sliced off a piece of his pancake, speared it and lifted it toward Jeannie's mouth. With her gaze focused on Sam, she parted her lips. He slid the morsel into her mouth, watching while she chewed. Laying his fork on his plate, Sam reached across the table and, using the tip of his finger, wiped a trickle of syrup from the corner of Jeannie's mouth. Inclining her head, she captured Sam's finger between her lips and licked off the syrup.
Groaning deep in his throat, he jerked his finger out of her mouth. He knocked over his chair as he stood quickly, then rounded the table and lifted a laughing Jeannie out of her chair. Shoving her breakfast plate, cup and silverware across the table with the back of his hand, he set her on the edge of the table, opened her silk robe and parted her thighs. In one swift motion, he unzipped his slacks and discarded them.
She gripped his shoulders. He took her mouth at the exact same moment he lifted her hips and plunged into her. The joining was instant, jolting both of them with its power. As their bodies united, their hearts and minds entwined, each experiencing the pure ecstasy of their combined loving.
When they reached fever pitch, Sam groaned hot, shameless words to her, and she responded by abandoning herself to the sheer, pulse-pounding glory of their simultaneous twofold release.
She clung to him in the aftermath, kissing his shoulder as he lifted her and carried her to the bathroom. He drew her a bubble bath and slid her into the tub, then tossed her a washcloth.
'I'll clean up in the kitchen while you take your bath.' He kissed her on the tip of her nose.
The telephone rang. Jeannie tensed. Sam winked at her, the action meant to reassure her that all was well. He closed the door behind him, leaving her alone.
She eased back, resting her head against the tiled wall. They'd been back in Biloxi five days. Julian was definitely on the road to recovery and would probably be coming home in a couple of days. Despite the possibility of a storm brewing in the Atlantic, heading toward the Caribbean, she hadn't given up her hope that Sam and she could take Julian back to Le Bijou Bleu to fully recuperate.
But she couldn't hide away on the island forever, and Sam had a life in Atlanta. Sooner or later, he would have to leave.
Although no doctor had confirmed her pregnancy and she hadn't bothered with a home test kit, Jeannie knew she was carrying Sam's child. She had been able to link with the baby and experience the first stages of her daughter's existence. She was almost four weeks pregnant now, and she still hadn't told Sam. How could she add to his burden of worry? He would want this child, and he would be even more protective and possessive if he knew. Until the situation with Maynard Reeves was settled, she would wait, keeping her precious secret in the deepest, most private part of her heart.
Sam opened the door, walked in and handed her the portable phone. 'It's Marta. She sounds a little odd, but she says everything's all right. She needs to talk to you about one of the students.'
Jeannie took the phone in her hand, then waved goodbye to Sam as he went back into the bedroom. 'Hello, Marta.'
'Jeannie, please don't let Mr. Dundee know what I'm saying to you.'
'All right.' Jeannie sensed Marta's fear. 'Why don't you tell me what's wrong?'
'When Danette Suddath brought Missy to school this morning, two other women came with her.' Marta swallowed. 'We allowed her free access, just as you'd instructed.'
'Are you alone in your office?' Jeannie asked, realizing that something was terribly wrong.
'Yes. They've allowed me to come in here alone. But Jeannie… Oh, dear God, they have guns! They're holding the children hostage.'
Jeannie heard Marta sobbing. 'What do you mean, they're holding the children hostage?'
'During our before-school free time in the cafeteria, Danette Suddath and these two other women pulled their guns, each one gabbed a child, and they're holding the whole school hostage.'
'What do they want?' Jeannie asked, but she knew. She glanced at the partially open door, wondering if Sam had gone back into the kitchen.
'They want you, Jeannie,' Marta said. 'They're all members of the Righteous Light Church. Danette told me that—that they won't hurt any of the children, if you'll come down to the school.'
'Call the police, Marta. Tell them what's happened. Sam and I will be there as soon as possible.'
'No! I can't call the police, and Sam Dundee must not come here. They said if I called the police or if Mr. Dundee comes with you, they'll start sacrificing the children. That's the exact word Danette used.
'They want me to come alone?' Jeannie's mind splintered into a dozen different thoughts, the prime one being the question of how she would ever escape from Sam.
'I don't know what to do, Jeannie. If you come down here, they'll turn you over to Maynard Reeves.' Marta's voice quavered more with each word she spoke. 'I think they're expecting him to come here and get you.'
'I understand. I'll find a way to get there. Alone. We can't allow any harm to come to those precious children in our charge.'
'There must be some other way,' Marta said. 'If only—'
'Everything will be all right,' Jeannie said. 'I'll do what I have to do.'
