River's Redemption: Blackwater, Book 5 (7 page)

Just as Jeanette polished off a bologna-and-cheese sandwich and some chips and washed it down with her meds, the doorbell rang. It sounded again before she could reach it and pull the door wide. An older, short, gray-haired woman with a floral print blouse and navy slacks stood on the other side. Jeanette smiled.

“Wanda, hi.” She stepped out of the way to let River’s mom enter. “Come on in.”

“I’m sorry to barge in, but I baked a fresh batch of those chocolate cookies with the marshmallow on top—the ones River is so fond of—and I wanted to bring them over before I forget. My mind isn’t what it used to be.”

Jeanette smiled. “You’re as sharp as ever, and you know it.” She led her to the kitchen. “Want a glass of tea?”

“Oh, that sounds lovely, dear. Thank you.”

She poured a glass of iced tea for each of them, then motioned to the table. “River had to go to the restaurant, but he’ll be back soon, I’m sure.”

“I know, Sammy told me. The freezer quit, and we lost a bunch of meat.” She opened up the plastic container and handed her a cookie.

Never one to turn down Wanda’s cooking, Jeanette took it and bit into it. “I’m sorry about the meat.” She waved the treat in the air. “This is delicious, as always.”

Wanda shrugged. “It’ll be fine. That’s not really what I wanted to talk to you about anyway.”

“Oh?”

“River told me about the mugging. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, really. Just a bit of a headache from landing on the pavement. Not my finest moment.”

“I hope they catch the guy. I also heard about the phone call you got earlier.”

Jeanette laughed. “The grapevine is in full swing, I see.”

She winked. “I do have ways of getting information.”

Jeanette felt like Wanda was holding something back, but she couldn’t guess what. “Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

“Well, yes.”

“You know you can ask me anything in the world.” Jeanette reached out and covered Wanda’s hand with her own. “I hope you don’t mind, but I consider you a second mom.”

Wanda beamed. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. I’ve always thought of you as more of a daughter too. Which is why I wanted to know what you plan to do with that bullheaded son of mine.”

Had Jeanette heard her right? “Pardon?”

She tsked. “He’s dragging his feet where you’re concerned.”

“You mean…you know how I feel about him?”

“Yes, I’ve known for a long time.” Her gaze softened. “And I couldn’t have chosen a better match for him than you.”

“Uh, Wanda, we’re just friends,” she warned.

She cocked her head to the side. “Are you so sure?”

Jeanette ran a hand through her hair, unsure what to say. Heck, she wasn’t sure what was going on herself, so how was she supposed to tell Wanda? “I mean, there have been some sparks flying back and forth lately, but that’s all. Nothing’s happened between us.”

Wanda smiled at Jeanette and patted her hand. “I was young once too, dear. I know what it’s like to want to be with the one you care about twenty-four hours a day. And when he seems so determined to keep you at arm’s length, it gets truly exasperating.”

“Truly,” Jeanette grumbled. “I don’t know why I haven’t given up already. I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess.”

Wanda sat up a little straighter. “No, he cares about you, as more than a friend. I think he’s just trying to protect you.”

She threw her hands in the air, allowing her irritation free rein. “From what? I’m not some virginal princess here. I don’t need protecting.”

“From himself, I’m afraid. But you’ll get him past that. I know it.” She nodded. “You’re good for him. Always have been.”

Jeanette sighed. “You have a lot of faith in me. I just hope I don’t let you down.”

“Nonsense.” Wanda took a long drink of her tea, then said, “Now then, if there’s anything you need from me, just holler.”

“Thank you,” Jeanette said, her chest filling with emotion. Wanda Jennings was a true gem, and Jeanette was lucky to have the older woman in her corner.

For the past twenty minutes, River had been watching Jeanette sleep. She was all curled up into a ball on the couch and snoring like a freight train, her hair tangled around her shoulders. She always made a lot of noise when she was in a deep sleep—just one more adorable thing about her.

After they’d called the repairman and fixed the walk-in freezer, he and Reilly had taken an inventory of all the food that had been lost. It’d taken longer than he’d wanted it to. The entire time, he’d had thoughts of Jeanette in his home. He was pretty sure he’d broken more than a few speeding laws getting back to his apartment.

River went to the couch and sat next to her. He ached to kiss her. Staring at her resting so beautifully, River hated to wake her, but there were unresolved issues between them. He brushed her cheek with his lips before moving his hand through the heavy fall of her hair. He loved that she wore it down these days. For so long she’d worn it in a ponytail, and he’d often wondered what it looked like all brushed out. Right now it practically begged for his fingers to delve in and play.

First things first. “Wake up, little sunshine. We have things to talk about.”

Jeanette blinked sleepily awake. When she saw him, her face lit with a tempting smile. She stretched her arms above her head and mumubled, “When did you get back?”

“A few minutes ago.”

She covered a yawn. “You should’ve woken me.”

“I just did.” This time when River leaned down, he kissed her lips. He couldn’t help himself. Ever since he’d had a taste of her, she’d become irristible to him. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

Jeanette gave an exagerated sigh. “Fine, if I must.”

“You know, Mike interrupted something the other day that I never did get to finish.”

She froze. “H-he did?”

When she moved to sit up, River stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “Yep.”

“What?”

“This…”

In a heartbeat, River was there, drinking in her surrender with a kiss. His tongue dipped into her mouth in a gentle demand. When had he become so helpless to her? So in need of her? His tongue played tag with hers as her soft lips parted on a sigh. She drove him into high gear with each whimper. He flattened his hand beside her head on the couch, holding her captive for his invasion. Allowing no escape.

Jeanette wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a much deeper taste. He groaned his approval and sucked at her tongue, eager to gobble her up. Her legs opened, and River moved his body on top of hers, settling himself into the cradle of his thighs.

He pulled back an inch, both of them gasping. He took hold of one of her hands and rubbed it over the fly of his jeans, showing her how much she affected him. “Do you feel that?”

“Yes,” she breathed out as she cupped him in one small fist.

“You want it?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal. “You want me?”

“So much it hurts,” she answered. She sat up and brought him up against her body, rubbing her breasts against his chest. River had to bite back a groan. “But I’d like to take it slow. Explore a little.”

“Explore?” River’s throat was as dry as the Sahara. She was as needy as he was, and he loved the hell out of it. Never had he thought anything could be so damn hot as Jeanette needy and anxious for him to love her. If only he could give in to his body’s demands and pull her into his arms, then carry her off to his bed. He wouldn’t bother with niceties. He’d damn well tear her clothes off and have his wicked way with her.

“Would you let me…play, River?”

Ah, hell.
He was pretty sure he knew what she meant by that, but he needed to be 100 percent sure they were both on the same page.

“Play?” he asked as he cupped her waist and anchored her against him.

Her cheeks turned pink, and River nearly exploded out of his jeans at the pretty sight. “Yes,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’d like to take a little time getting to know your body. If that’s okay with you.”

Damn, but he liked that idea. A hell of a lot. His throat closed up, forcing him to nod his agreement.

A slow, sexy smile spread across her face. “I’m really curious what you look like naked. What you’d feel like under my fingertips. Wondering about that keeps me up at night. Did you know that?”

River grabbed her shoulders and maneuvered their bodies so that he was lying on the couch and she sat astride him. He moved his hands away and pressed his hard cock into the softness just below her navel. Jeanette moaned, or it might have been him. Hell, he wasn’t really sure.

“What do you do when you think of me, sunshine?”

Jeanette loved the endearment. Sunshine. She’d noticed over the years that he only called her that, no other woman. It made her feel special. But her shyness reared its ugly head as she thought of his intimate question. What did she do when she thought of him? No way could she answer that. Way too X-rated. She couldn’t tell him something so personal.

“Come on, tell me what you do,” River cajoled, as if unwilling to let her retreat into her shell. He moved his hips lower so that he pushed and stroked the juncture between her legs. A cry of need escaped her. River gave her little butterfly kisses along her lips and cheeks, until finally he was barely touching her ear. “Do you touch yourself when you think of me? Do your hands caress and your fingers stroke? Tell me, sunshine.”

River’s softly whispered questions were her undoing. “Sometimes.”

“Such a simple answer,” he mused. “I’m nearly insane with need here, and that one-word answer brings the most erotic picture to my head. You have no idea the dangerous effect you have on me.”

“But you’ve never once acted the least bit interested.” She pouted. “Until now. Why?”

His hands coasted upward until they cupped each of her breasts through her shirt and bra. He squeezed, and Jeanette’s concentration scattered. “I’ve been plenty interested. You have no idea how many times I thought of you like this.”

“Why hold back, then? You knew I was willing. It makes no sense for both of us to suffer.”

“Because you can do better,” he growled. “So much better.”

“But I don’t want anyone else. Only you.”

“I know.” He flicked her nipples. “Now, tell me what you do when you think of me, sunshine.”

She shook her head. No way could she explain without dying of embarrassment.

But River was relentless. He moved his hands and took hold of the hem of her shirt. An inch at a time, he lifted the material, first exposing her belly, then her bra. After he tossed her shirt to the floor, he made quick work of her bra. Once he had her breasts resting in his warm palms, plying her nipples into tight peaks, Jeanette knew it was too much. So many new sensations. No one had ever touched her like this, made her feel like this. This was River, the man she’d given her heart to years ago.

His hands kneaded and pulled. “Do you squeeze these pretty nipples? I bet you they’re sensitive as hell, huh?”

She nodded. “Yes, but it never felt like this. Never.”

“Do you like the way my hands feel on you?”

She arched into him, unable to stay still with him teasing her into a frenzy. “Oh God, yes, River.”

“Mm, I like the way you feel. You have beautiful tits. Round and soft with small pink nipples that I could feast on. You fill my hands as if you were made for me alone.” River continued his pleasurable torture for another minute; then he slid his hands down her sides.

“River,” she pleaded.

“Shh. You liked that, didn’t you?” She bobbed her head, incapable of speech. “Then I promise you’ll love this too.”

River moved his hands lower until he cupped her ass in one hand and her mound in the other. He held her like that, and even through the cotton of her jeans and the silk of her panties, she could feel the warmth of him. Her pussy grew damp with desire.

“Jesus,” he growled. “I feel like I’ve waited for this moment for an eternity.”

“Me too,” she said as she flatted her palms on his chest, loving the feel of his muscular pecs beneath her fingers. She’d seen him shirtless, and he was totally drool worthy. This time she’d get to touch, not just look.

“Do you tickle your clit too? Do you pinch and flick it?” River asked. His nostrils flared as he stared at her neck so exposed to him. He lifted up and laved her ivory skin with his tongue. “God, I love how you taste. Like sweet cream.”

“Yes, I use one finger to…to touch my clit before I slide another inside a little ways.”

Oh Jesus, the picture of her doing that to herself sprang to River’s mind, and he lost it. He wanted some of that—her juice on his tongue, his dick snug and so damn deep in her pussy that he couldn’t see straight for the pleasure of it. It’d be pure heaven.

“Take these off,” he murmured. River patted the front of her jeans. “I need to touch you.”

Jeanette nodded and stood up. He watched as she stripped out of her jeans, and he got his first glimpse of her panties. A soft shade of pink satin. He leaned up and kissed her pussy right through the material. “That’s fucking sexy as hell,” he said, enjoying the look of her. When she shimmied out of her panties and he got the full view, he could barely breathe. “At last, I have my answer to at least one of my burning questions.”