Suspicions of the Heart (26 page)

Candy wanted more out of life. She
didn't want to live alone. And she very much did want to be with
Joe. If she froze up, then she'd know Fargate and her father had
been right, but she wanted to know for certain. And she wanted to
stop wanting Joe Munroe and take what he had offered her all
along--his trust.

It hurt to think she had so misjudged
him.

"Stop it," she admonished herself. "I
just need a good warm glass of milk." She stuffed her pillow into
the corner of her bed, got up, put her slippers on and opened her
door.

It was very quiet and dark now. There
was no sign of anyone about. She tiptoed down the hall, but was
startled when she heard a noise behind her.

It was Joe. Standing there,
bare-chested, staring after her.

"Need something?" he asked. His hair
looked a tad mussed, his feet were bare, and he looked as though he
might have been tossing in his bed, too. He never looked better to
her.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Yeah, neither could I. Been a long
day."

"Yeah," she sighed and tried to smile.
"Where's Roscoe and Aggie?"

"In bed, I imagine."

"Oh." Her voice became low and
whispered. She stared at him, and when he didn't say anything she
started to turn and go to the kitchen, but he called her name. She
half turned to look at him again, and he had his arms out for her.
She didn't know how it happened, but suddenly she flew into his
arms, and was instantly rewarded with several warm welcoming
kisses.

"I want you, sweetheart."

"I know. I want you, too," she
whispered as he smothered her with more kisses.

His kisses went all over her face, as
he buried himself against her.

"I…I trust you now, Joe," she murmured
as one of her legs curled around his and she melted against him.
"Is it too late..."

"Never," His answer reassured her
quickly.

Without warning he gathered her up and
took her into his room, shutting the door without a sound. His lips
took hers in the most possessive way. He curled his tongue around
hers, and slowly lowered her on his bed.

She looked up at him, admiring the way
the moonlight streamed on his chest. She sighed, totally unafraid
of the circumstances. He wasn't a predator, like Charles had been.
He was a lover, and she recognized the difference immediately as he
lowered himself beside her and began unbuttoning her
nightshirt.

With each button, his lips stole the
soft, dewy skin he exposed. She sighed and smiled up into his face,
her hands floating through his hair. Such soft, crushable
hair.

As the third button came loose, he
gently opened her shirt and gazed down upon her. He turned his
small lamp on so he could really see her.

"You're beautiful. And I promise I
won't do any more than you let me. But I want to make love with
you, sweetheart. It might not be the right time…but" he whispered
as his lips sought the soft pebble nub of her breast.

"It is..." she paused to take his lips
to hers, "I need you." She swooned, her head spun, and thousands of
sensations hit her at once. She pushed his head closer, as his
tongue shot out to gently taste her.

She bucked from his touch, and he
smiled. "Easy sweetheart, we've got all night."

She smiled. "I've…I've never wanted a
man before. Not like this. Not like I might die if I didn't have
you."

He chuckled softly against the pillow
of her breast. "That's what men are supposed to say."

"I'm sorry." She almost
stiffened.

"Well don't be, Dumplin'. You just took
the words out of my mouth."

"I want to take more out of your
mouth," she whispered as their kisses heated.

The vibration of his breath sent a
thrilling chill through her. The need to know more bore down on
her. Her own insatiable hunger drove her to seek him out. First his
bottom lip, which she took between her teeth. Then her tongue
danced with his. But she lost him again when he returned his
attention to her full puckering breast.

Something deep within her went soft and
wet and wanton of his attention. She looked at him and watched in
fascination as he peeled the clothes from her body, and then did
the same with his own. She saw him standing before her without a
stitch of clothes and gasped at how beautiful the male body was.
She reached for him to join her.

Slowly he lowered himself against her,
their lips joining in mutual satisfaction.

He had been her knight in shining
armor. He had rescued her, and now he would conquer her. She wasn't
afraid. Fear played no part in their lovemaking because Joe was
gentler than she could imagine. He took his time, teaching her,
showing her the delights of making love. He seemed to watch her
every reaction and smile.

But so suddenly she was on fire for
him, and she didn't know exactly how aggressive she should be. With
bold, and blind, trust she took her hands and guided him inside
her. The union was slow, breathtaking, and glorious. She wanted to
shout her love for him, but he pleasured her until she couldn't
speak. She followed his lead, giving as much as taking.

No matter the outcome, she would never
regret this union. Because, before God, she swore her love for this
man, and gave him her all.

He sank deeper and deeper and each
thrust caused her to nearly peak. She moved beneath him, wanting to
please him, wanting to love him and wanting to tell him just
exactly how much she loved him. But just as she would have said the
words, he brought her to the brink of ecstasy. She moaned aloud,
and sighed against him in a heavy sweat.

His lips touched hers as he whispered
sweet things into her ear. His hard callused hands touched,
delighted, and assuaged the ache inside her.

When he would have moved off her, she
urged him not to. She wanted him there. He smiled down into her
eyes. "Dumplin', I think you might kill me before the night is
over."

He cuddled her into the crook of his
arms, holding her tight, and his hand cupping one full breast. She
sighed and slept so peacefully.

When she awoke, it was still dark. He
was asleep, she thought, and she rolled over to look at him. Never
had she allowed herself this pleasure and she drank him in with
loving eyes. Her hand crept out to touch him, and he jolted awake.
He pulled her back into the crook of his arms. She thought he would
go back to sleep, but he didn't. Instead, his mouth caressed her
nape, sending wild chills along her spine. Her breasts puckered as
his hands reached to cup them.

One hand reached about to touch her
most delicate part and she squirmed against him, snuggling closer
until they were working up a light sweat to get inside each other.
They were breathless with needing and wanting each other again. She
curled her leg around his hip, and brought him closer.

This time he rolled her over on top.
His eyes watched her full breasts dangle, and he swept them up into
his mouth, laving them with warm kisses and tongue touches. Without
delay, she found him and guided him inside her, and began the
rhythm of life. She threw back her head as he moved sinuously
beneath her. She wanted all of this man. She was totally
uninhibited by her own needs. He buried his head against her
breasts, and once again led her to the heights of love. She
collapsed against him, her mouth barely grazing his
nipple.

Later as they curled into each other,
they whispered sweet words to each other. Then, finally, they
talked about the day.

"I was so worried today. When the
Sheriff came out and told me Fargate was behind all this I couldn't
believe it.."

"It's a little unbelievable what has
happened. He told me he had gambling debts, and he needed the money
to pay them. He also supported his secretary who is a drug addict.
I feel so sad that he..." she choked up and clung to
Joe.

"I know..."

"We all get off-track sometimes. Look
how far off I was. Blaming you for everything."

Joe kissed her nose. "I could see where
it might look like I was involved. Especially since I was around
every time. But I had to be around Candy, I wanted to protect
you."

"I always wanted to believe you, deep
down. I was a little afraid of you."

"Afraid? Why?" He pulled her up so he
could see into her face.

"Because of this?" she whispered,
kissing him on the lips.

"I don't understand," he
smiled.

"The truth is, I think I wanted you
from the very beginning. And that scared me."

"You'd have been in my bed a long time
before this, if I'd known that." He kissed her hard and sure
again.

Something about his kisses melted her
heart over and over again. She couldn't get enough of them. The
next morning, they were snuggling together when a knock came at the
door.

"Joe, have you seen Candy?" Aggie's
voice sounded concerned.

Joe glanced at Candy and pulled her
toward the bathroom. "I think she's in the bathroom."

"Oh, good, I just hadn't seen her and
was worried." Aggie sighed and started to walk away.

Just as Candy would have closed the
door, Joe joined her and walked her straight to the tub. He turned
the water on and they stepped inside.

He seemed to take great pleasure in
lathering her all over, especially the deep and dark parts. She
giggled softly, and gasped as he entered her, holding her against
the wall. She curled her leg around his hip and kept him close.
When their lovemaking peaked she slumped against the wall. He
kissed her and smiled.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he
whispered.

"Good morning." Her love-drugged eyes
caressed him.

He kissed her several long times then
slowly moved to get out. She watched him with utter fascination.
She couldn't move yet, still savoring every touch, every love nip.
Finally when he left, she got out, dressed and went into her room.
Nothing would ever be the same again, she quickly decided. She
silently chastised herself for ever doubting him. She hummed as she
dressed.

She and Joe had made no declarations,
but Candy felt in her heart there was no need. No one could share
that much love without feeling something. Joe would tell her he
loved her in time. She just knew it.

Chapter
Sixteen

A restlessness settled over Candy once
she was home. After making love with Joe, she suddenly felt lost
without him, as though part of her were still back at the ranch.
She didn't understand it.

But a lot of her misery was lost when
Roscoe announced that he and Aggie were getting married at the
ranch on Sunday. They wanted a small impromptu wedding with family
and ranch hands invited. Preparations weren't going to be
elaborate, but there was much planning to do anyway. Candy happily
busied herself with baking, and helping Aggie find just the right
dress.

They found a lovely blue dress that
looked just made for the occasion in a little dress shop in
Channing. Aggie looked ten years younger; Candy noticed when she
tried the dress on. Of course Aggie seldom wore dresses. Candy took
her to have her hair cut and styled. Aggie told her she felt
pampered.

"I never thought I'd be going through
something like this again." Aggie's eyes sparkled.

Candy smiled reflectively. "You deserve
each other, Aggie. I'm so happy for you. Just don't forget to come
visit me. It's going to get mighty lonesome in that trailer
now."

"Lonesome, nonsense. Me and Roscoe will
be over all the time, you'll see," Aggie assured her. "You'll be
wanting to run us off. We're still going to build that adobe house,
you wait and see."

"I haven't seen my uncle this happy
since I don't know when," Candy said with a chuckle and made Aggie
turn around so she could see the dress from all angles. "Oh, Aggie,
it is perfect. You've got to get it."

"It's a little steep, but this is a
once in a lifetime occasion, isn't it?"

"Absolutely."

"I'm so happy you are with me, Candy. I
never had children of my own, but I'm getting so close to you. I
hope you don't mind helping an old woman like me."

"Mind? I'd be insulted if you wouldn't
let me help you, Aggie."

Aggie glanced at her with a radiant
smile. "Won't be long and we'll be picking out something for
you."

Confusion tumbled her thoughts. "I'm
not so sure about that."

"I know you and Joe are sweet on one
another. Anyone with eyes can see that."

Candy became silent. She couldn't talk
about that right now. She just couldn't. She'd barely seen Joe
since he took her to bed and she wasn't at all sure why. She knew
he had new stock coming in and that he was busy. But she thought
he'd at least stop over and see her every now and then. There were
the nights. What happened to him then?

She'd heard all sorts of stories about
girls who were too loose and what men thought of them. Had she
given herself too soon to him? Had she made a mistake? Everything
she felt was the same. She loved him, missed him, but couldn't
understand why he kept away from her.