Chapter 23
Jack
I’ve been keeping so busy that there are times my mind is actually at peace.
I’ve found something I’m good at. I really enjoy working with my hands, creating something where there once was nothing. It brings a calmness to my soul that I’ve never felt before.
I love it here on the plantation. It’s really become home to me. Adam and I have become friends. He’s someone I can trust, and that’s saying a lot.
Things between River and me are progressing slowly. The sex is fucking great, but it’s her heart I want, and she’s holding onto it with a death grip.
Miss Ella has become like a mother to me. She tries to give advice where she can, and she’s an amazing listener. The other day I tore a hole in my shirt while working on the new house. Miss Ella fixed it. I didn’t have to ask, she just did it. It’s going to take some getting used to, having people do things for me because they actually care.
I try to make a point of at least greeting the other people who lives here. I know I can’t ignore them forever. I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable around them. You won’t catch me alone in a room with one of them.
For the longest time I didn’t matter, but now I do matter, to myself and to River.
The guest house is only halfway built by the time the wedding comes. It’s going to take a while before I finish it. Then there’s also the inside to complete. I’m happy knowing there’s still a lot of work waiting for me.
The morning of the wedding, I wake up to an empty bed. I quickly shower and get dressed. On my way out the door, I grab a fresh muffin. Sophia’s been learning how to bake. Her first few batches almost poisoned me, but she’s finally getting the hang of it.
I sink my teeth into the muffin, just as Sophia walks into the kitchen.
I’ve avoided being alone with her. I don’t talk about her or to her. She’s a part of the past I’m trying to forget.
She tentatively smiles, when she sees that I’m eating one of her muffins. She waits for me to swallow the bite I just took, and then whispers, “Do you like them?”
I can feel how tense she is. She’s just as uncomfortable being around me, as I feel being around her.
“I do.”
She nods at my compliment.
“That first week we got here, you said we’d be happy here. Do you remember that?” I don’t know why I’m asking her.
“Yes,” she says, keeping her eyes on the table next to me.
“Did you find the happiness you were talking about?”
Suddenly, her face crumbles and I watch as a tear rolls over her cheek.
“I found more than just happiness,” she says hoarsely.
I know what she means. We both found ourselves here.
I start to walk by her, when she turns to me. “Jack, wait.”
I clench my teeth, not wanting to hear what she has to say.
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice is thick and it really sounds like she means it. “I know if you had your way, I would be dead with the others right now. I know you hate me and I understand why.”
I close my eyes as I try to remain calm.
“I can only say that I’m sorry for the times-” her voice disappears. I shake my head as she whispers, “I loathe myself for the times I raped you. I don’t want your forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. I just want you to know that I understand how wrong it was of me.”
I can’t look at her. I can’t acknowledge her words. It’s all still too raw. Even though she was a slave herself, and forced to rape me, I can’t forgive her.
I walk away, not giving her the peace of mind she’s searching for.
I’ll never forget, and she’ll always be haunted by her guilt, having to face what she did every time she looks at me.
When everything is ready by the chapel, I look over the area one last time. I’ve scattered roses, making a trail for Christopher and Maddie to walk down.
Adam will be officiating over the marriage. He got a license off the internet.
Everyone starts to arrive, even Doc is here. Miss Ella keeps saying she didn’t invite him and that he should leave.
I stand to the side, not too close to the others.
Suddenly, River comes running into the clearing. My senses go on high alert when I see how upset she is. After this morning with Sophia, I’ll kill the fucker who tries to hurt River.
“They’re fighting,” she hisses.
“Christopher and Maddie?” Adam asks.
“Yes! I told them to come down to the chapel, that we were all going to have lunch here. The one second they were smiling and the next Maddie starts to yell at Christopher. I’m not even sure what they’re fighting about.”
River pinches the bridge of her nose, a clear sign that she’s frustrated.
“I don’t know what to do. It’s ruined.”
I walk over to her and taking hold of her arm, I pull her to my chest. I have an overwhelming need to comfort her. I hate seeing her upset.
Suddenly we hear yelling, as Maddie and Christopher walk into the clearing.
Taking River’s hand, I pull her to the side and out of the line of fire.
“You looked at her!” Maddie yells angrily.
I have to swallow the smile back, when Christopher shakes his head, clearly at a loss. I pity the man.
“You’re not my wife, Woman! Ever heard of looking at the menu as long as you eat at home?”
Suddenly, Maddie and Christopher shouts together, “Gotcha!”
They start to laugh until they’re leaning on each other to stay on their feet.
“Fuckers,” Adam snaps.
Laughter rumbles up my chest and then it explodes from me. I have to hold my stomach from all the laugher. When I finally gain control over it, I have to wipe a tear from the corner of my eye.
I glance at River and my eyes freeze on her. She looks stunned as she stares at me with tears in her eyes. She reaches up to my face and traces my lips with a single finger.
“That was the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen,” she whispers. “You’re breathtaking when you laugh.”
Christopher and Maddie come to stand by the group, and I’m surprised when Maddie says, “We couldn’t resist catchin’ y’all.”
She hardly ever talks, especially if the other women are around.
“Humpf!” Miss Ella snorts. “Playing games when you should be getting married. The food is going to spoil. Get on with it so we can eat.”
“You can feed me any day,” Doc says playfully.
“You’re fat enough,” she snaps at him, looking insulted that he’d even think of such a thing.
We all start to laugh until Adam raises a hand. “Let’s do this people.”
We all gather around, while Christopher and Maddie go to stand in front of Adam.
With a serious face, Adam says, “I expect you to call me pastor while I’m marrying you.”
Christopher laughs, “We’re all going to hell.”
Miss Ella gasps as she feigns shock. “Are you going to kiss your wife with that mouth?”
He wags his eyebrows at Miss Ella but before he can say something, she glares at him. “Son, I’ll take you over my knee.”
Adam laughs and shakes his head lightly.
“Maddie,” she smiles widely, and I watch as Christopher takes her hand. “Do you really want this fucker as your husband? I mean, this shits for life. I’ll hold him back while you make a run for it.”
Everyone starts to laugh again as Christopher playfully punches Adam.
Through tears of laughter, Maddie says, “I’ll take him any way I can have him.”
Adam looks at Christopher and he asks, “Will you take care of her, and always keep her safe? Cause I will beat your ass if you hurt her,” Adam says, and this time he’s serious.
“I will.” Christopher looks to Maddie, and says, “I defend you with my dying breath.”
“Kiss the poor man,” Doc calls out.
She stands on her toes and kisses Christopher hard. Everyone starts to cheer as he swoops her up in his arms.
The celebration carries on till late. This time there’s no fire to ruin anything. We all eat until we’re stuffed, and then we dance until the early hours of the morning.
Even Miss Ella and Doc made peace for a short while, long enough to dance a few times.
As soon as song would finish, Miss Ella would pick up right where she left off, fighting with Doc.
I wake up to River’s hand slipping into my pants. She wraps her fingers tightly around my cock, and starts to stroke me.
“Fuck, that’s good,” I growl as I roll onto her. She’s learned to come to bed naked. It saves me from having to rip the clothes from her body.
I push myself up and then kiss my way down her body.
When I reach her pussy, she grabs for my hair.
I don’t stop, and separate her folds. I lick her in one long stroke. She grabs at me with both her hands, and when I push my tongue into her, she gives up trying to stop me.
I glance up at her and watch as she grabs at the covers, instead, while throwing her head back.
I suck at her clit and then scrape my teeth over her. It draws a cry from her as she arches her back off the bed.
I keep thrusting my tongue inside of her until her hips start to jerk, and her pussy rides my face.
I’m not done with her, and I crawl up her trembling body. I press my mouth to hers and slip my tongue into her mouth.
Her breath rushes into me, and I greedily take them. She’s become the air I breathe. My hunger for this woman is insatiable.
I bring my hands to her breasts, reveling in the softness of her flesh in my hands. I love how she trembles under my touch.
Lacing my fingers with hers, I pin her hands above her head. Her eyes flare with excitement because she knows I’m about to fuck her hard.
“Lace your fingers,” I growl.
She does as I command, knowing I’ll reward her well.
My eyes devour her as she’s stretched out beneath me, naked and utterly fuckable.
“Perfect,” I breathe.
I position my cock at her swollen entrance, and I plunge inside of her, wanting to be buried balls deep.
I take what I want with every hard thrust.
She turns her face into my shoulder. My hand slides into her hair, and I pull her face away from my arm. I press my mouth hard against hers, kissing her with all the greedy need I feel surging through my body.
“Feel how fucking hard I am for you?” I growl against her mouth.
She whimpers as I start to fuck her. I don’t stop until she’s crying out and her pussy is milking my cock.
“Only you can make me hard.” My words make her shudder beneath me. I press a hard kiss to her mouth. “Only you can make me come.”
She grabs hold of my shoulders, digging her nails into my skin. Her legs fall to the sides, opening as wide as she can for me.
I keep the punishing pace until she screams my name.
“Jack! Fuck. Please.” I love hearing her beg.
I growl and the little self-control I had, shatters. I slam into her, making her body move with each powerful thrust.
Warmth fills every part of my body, flooding all the dark corners … until there’s only her.
Our bodies start to move in perfect sync, and then we become one as we find our release. I spill my seed inside of her, her body trembling beneath mine.
“I love fucking you,” I say breathlessly. “I love feeling you tremble. I love coming for you.”
“I love being fucked by you.” She reaches up and presses a kiss to my jaw. “I love you,” she whispers.
I start to move slowly in and out of her, just relishing in the feel of our bodies being joined together. I press my mouth to hers.
“This is the part I love most,” I admit. “You never make me feel like I’m just a fuck.” I pull away and look into her eyes. “You make me whole.”
She wraps her arms around me, and starts to caress my back.
“Remind me later to tell you how much I love you.”
She smiles through her tears, and it’s a fucking beautiful sight.