I Swear Read online

  “I can understand that, I’m one of those people. Louisiana is supposed to be famous for gumbo and jambalaya – not tamales and empanadas.”

  She laughed. “Exactly, those Nactitoches meat pies your dad was asking for are actually a version of a Spanish empanada.” She let out a long sigh. “Wow, I really got off on a rant, didn’t I?”

  “That’s okay, I want to know you.” He chuckled. “I want to ravish you too – but I’m as hungry to know you as I am to kiss you.”

  “Good to know. Let me try to tie all of this together for you.” She touched her cheek to his. “I didn’t always understand this myself. I didn’t know who I was.” Delaney looked down at their clasped hands. “You can see our skin is shaded differently.”

  “You have beautiful skin.”

  “Thank you. Growing up, someone was always pointing it out. My differences. I didn’t look like the rest of my family. I didn’t know my father, so I didn’t have him as a reference. Of course, there were others like me nearby. I heard them talk, I became familiar with what people thought. I just didn’t know how it applied to me. Finally after an incident at school, my grandfather set me down and explained all of this. Ingrained opinions. Generations of prejudice. The tendency for people who are searching for their own place in society to seek someone to look up to and someone to look down upon. I learned my background and its beginnings.” She gave him a slight smile. “I’m not ashamed of who I am.”

  “Of course not, anyone who understood the history of the region would understand. You’re descended from a proud race of people.”

  “Proud races,” she emphasized the plural. “I’ve been tempted to take one of those DNA Ancestry tests just to identify who I am.”

  “I like who you are. I don’t need to know more.”

  His affirmation warmed her heart. “Thank you”

  “I’m just glad I found you, Delaney. Even though you’re right back where you started from.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A caretaker. You thought that phase of your life was over, you wanted to do something else.”

  “I did,” she acknowledged with a whisper. “But…this feels different. I guess because I’m here with you.”

  He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’m glad you’re with me. So glad.” At long last, he captured her mouth and kissed her the way he’d been dreaming of doing. Deeply. Passionately. Thoroughly. He drank of her sweetness, rubbing his tongue against her. Pulling her against him, Jonah reveled in the feel of her breasts pressing to his chest. His hands roved over her back, down her side, skating up her leg from hip to thigh. Touching her was imperative.

  Delaney wrapped her arms around his neck, seeking to be as close to him as possible. When he eased her to lie on the couch, she welcomed him on top of her. “Oh, I love this,” she gasped when they paused for air. “I love how you feel on top of me.”

  Jonah remembered what she’d written and he allowed his weight to rest more fully, careful not to crush her. “You’re incredible, Delaney. So sweet. So responsive.” He returned to her lips, feasting on her mouth. He loved how her hands held him close, her fingers kneading the muscles of his back. Of their own volition, his hips began to move in the age-old dance of passion. He couldn’t help but groan when he felt her thighs part, her legs coming up to rest over his, making a cradle for his manhood.

  Delaney couldn’t believe what she was feeling. She’d never known such hunger. Deep inside there was a growing ache, an emptiness begging to be filled. Everytime his hips thrust down, hers rose to meet him. Her entire being throbbed with need. “Touch me, Jonah. Please.”

  Her sweet request enflamed him. “Oh, hell yeah.” Easing to one side, he brought them face to face. “I want to. Anywhere you’ll let me.” He cupped his hand to her neck and kissed her again, nipping her full bottom lip. “The things I want to do to you. Just give me a chance.”

  Holding his gaze, she began to unbutton her dress. “As I told you earlier, this is new to me. I don’t know how to ask for what I want.”

  “I’d love it if you could ask.” He helped her with a couple of the buttons. “If not, I’m pretty good at body language.”

  She took his hand and placed it over her breast. “This is what I want.”

  “God, yes.” He moved just enough that he could scatter kisses over her throat and the upper swells of her breast. “I’ve waited for this. Dreamed of this.”

  “Me too.” With trembling fingers, she unfastened the front closure of her bra. “My skin is on fire. Please…”

  “Oh, baby.” He pulled the two sides of her dress open wide. The only light in the room was a lamp on the side table. Jonah wished he could see more clearly. No matter, he’d learn her by touch. “Delaney, my Delaney,” he whispered as he cupped her breasts, pushing them together, kneading the soft flesh. “You’re exquisite. So soft.” Filling his palms with the full, firm globes, he molded them, his thumbs rubbing her nipples.

  Delaney writhed in his arms. The sensation of his hands on her body felt wonderful. She could feel her nipples grow hard with excitement. Arching her back, she thrust her breasts toward his face.

  “You want more?” he asked, his voice hoarse with need. “You want my mouth on them?”

  “Oh, yes. Please.” As he bent his head, she held him close, running her fingers through his sexy hair. “Kiss me, Jonah.”

  Kiss her he did – her lips, her neck, her collarbone. The nearer he came to her breasts, the faster she began to breathe. Inhaling her sweet scent, he nuzzled her creamy flesh, anticipation rushing through his body like fire.

  Delaney held her breath as he spread a trail of firey kisses down her chest. She’d dreamed of such a moment, but the reality of it far surpassed her fantasy. When his lips finally closed over her nipple, a moan escaped her lips. Her whole world collapsed into the tender tip of her breast as he suckled it deep, his tongue licking the sensitive nub – tugging, laving, turning her inside out with pleasure. “Oh, God, yes!”

  Hearing her response and feeling her body tremble in his arms, Jonah set out to bring Delaney more pleasure than she ever thought possible. Cupping her breast, he worshiped her – kissing, nipping, sucking. He nourished himself on her perfection, moving from one breast to the other, taking the succulent nipples as deep into his mouth as he could. Damn, he loved this. He was so turned on he didn’t know what to do. How in the name of goodness had he lived without this? What a waste of his days – just existing instead of truly living. As she clutched him to her, he could feel her nails rake his back and the knowledge of her passion fueled his even more.

  As he kissed her breasts, Delaney thought she might die from sheer joy. The few fumbling encounters she’d experienced in the past were not in the same universe as this. Jonah was a man not a boy. He knew how to give pleasure and she’d give everything she owned for the opportunity to return the favor.

  With her hands tangled in his hair, she urged him to continue. His hunger for her seemed absolute. Yet the more he took, the more he seemed to crave. This revelation pleased her no end. She didn’t think she could bear for him to stop. Not yet – for something was building. A euphoric pressure was mounting deep within. The ecstasy she received from his magical mouth as he pleasured her breasts overwhelmed her. She couldn’t be still. Her hips were moving, rising, her inner muscles were clenching, begging for something only he could give. Delaney didn’t know how much more she could take. Yet, she couldn’t dream of him stopping. She needed him and what he could give her more than she needed air to breathe.

  To Jonah’s amazement, he could tell Delaney was close. Inspired, he sought to take her over the edge. With no more than his hands and mouth above her waist, he took what he craved and gave her what she needed. When she began to shake and whimper, he tugged on one nipple while suckling hard on the other. Giving the sweet nub one gentle nip, he smiled as Delaney flew apart. Loving how she soared, he pushed her breasts together and tongued both n
ipples as she moved restlessly beneath him. As she came down from her high, he was on fire, a man burning with a need too great to ignore. Hard and hurting, Jonah thought he might die if he didn’t come. Knowing she wasn’t ready, he rolled off the couch to his knees.

  Delirious with pleasure, it took a second for Delaney to realize what was happening. When she did, she held out her hand. “Come here.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jonah was almost beyond a whisper.

  “Come to me.”

  She held out her arms and he couldn’t resist. “Now, you’re just torturing me.”

  “I don’t mean to and I don’t know…so many things. Please do what you were doing that first night – through our clothes. Just this time, don’t stop.”

  It took a moment for him to comprehend what she was asking, but when he did – he sank on top of her gratefully. “I feel like some randy teenager with no control.”

  “Don’t. I love that I can make you like this,” she whispered.

  “You drive me crazy, that’s what you do.” He began to ease his body up and down, seeking relief. “I’m thirty-two years old and I’m humping my girlfriend.”

  Delaney blushed. “I’m sorry. I just…”

  “Hush.” He kissed her soundly as he pressed himself against her. “Don’t be sorry. Doing this with you is amazing. I’ve been in a drought for so long, I almost didn’t remember what this damn hard thing is for.”

  “Raise up just a tad.”

  Jonah groaned. “But I want…”

  “Do it,” she teasingly demanded.

  When he did, Delaney put her hand between them, palm up to cup his erection.

  “Oh, mercy,” he moaned at the contact.

  “Now, move.”

  With fire in his eyes, Jonah did as she asked. Holding himself up he thrust his hips, reveling in the feel of her hand caressing him through his jeans. “Feels so good,” he proclaimed in a gutteral growl.

  Delaney was not unaffected. Squeezing him gently, she did what she thought might feel good. She loved to hold him like this. If she were brave enough, she’d undo his zipper – but one thing would lead to another and Delaney didn’t know if she was ready.

  As for Jonah – he was in heaven. This beautiful womaon laid his soul bare. She was touching him, allowing him the sweetest of liberties. Glancing down, he could see her breasts jiggling with his every thrust. “I loved kissing your breasts and making you come. I’ve never done that before.” Every other word was punctuated by a deep grunt.

  “I haven’t either, but I want to do it again.”

  “Do you…know how rare that was?”

  “For me to come?”

  “Yea. That just doesn’t happen for most women.”

  “Lucky me.”

  “No. Lucky me.” He lowered himself to rest atop her again as he crashed his mouth to hers. When she wrapped her legs around his hips to buck against him, Jonah almost lost his mind. From that point on, he moved mindlessly – desperately hunting blessed release.

  Delaney held him close in wonder. With every movement of his body, her own hunger grew. She felt a repeat of the miracle she’d enjoyed only minutes before. Burying her face in his neck, she allowed her cries to mix with his. “Oh, Jonah,” she whispered as she tried to catch her breath.

  “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” Still panting, he pressed against the back of the couch to take his weight off her. Drawing her to her side to face him, he planted reverent kisses over her face and chest. “That was incredible. You’re incredible.”

  Delaney rubbed her face against his chest. “I wish you’d taken off your shirt. I’d love to kiss your bare skin.

  “Say no more.” With a few moves, Jonah divested himself of the garment, then closed his eyes in ecstasy as she began to kiss and caress his chest. He’d no idea a woman would want to do such a thing. Cradling her close, he marveled at how she made him feel. “Go to bed with me,” he muttered softly. To his dismay, she stopped what she was doing and pulled away a couple of inches.

  “Not yet.”

  He wanted to ask what they were waiting for – but he immediately realized what a bad idea that would be. She’d given him an amazing gift tonight and asking for more would be selfish. “I understand, but I can’t help but want you.”

  “I want you too.” When she saw him close his eyes, she kissed him on the lips. “I do. I feel so close to you now. We’ve shared so many things in the last twenty-four hours, don’t be impatient with me. I just want to take it one day at a time.”

  His heart melted at her sweet entreaty. “Oh, baby. Yes.” Jonah cradled her close. “This has been a wonderful day and I look forward to tomorrow more than you’ll ever know.”

  He held her for a few moments longer until she decided they needed to sleep. “You’ve got to work tomorrow.”

  “You do too.” He rose and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. Let me walk you home.”

  She liked what he said. “At least we don’t have far to go.”

  As they walked, she arranged her clothing to some semblance of order. “Tomorrow’s Friday and you have the power lifting thing Saturday night, right?”

  “Yea, I don’t think I can get out of it now.”

  “You don’t need to. Go. Your Dad and I’ll be fine.”

  “I know.” He placed a protective hand on her lower back as they ascended the stairs. “I just would rather be here. With you.”

  “There’ll be other days.”

  “Yes, there will. Maybe we can make some kind of arrangements so I can take you out soon.”

  An idea came to Delaney. “Cletus offered to sit with John at some point.”

  “Good idea.” He held out his hand as they mounted the last step. “I’ll give him a call.”

  The few steps to her door passed all to quickly. “Well, here we are.”

  Jonah took both her hands. “May I have a good night kiss?”

  “Haven’t you had enough?” she asked playfully, holding her head up to offer her lips.

  “Nope. Impossible.” He kissed her long and hard. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.”

  Chapter Ten

  Delaney thought she’d have a hard time going to sleep. She didn’t. Her body was happy. She felt at peace. Once she closed her eyes, she knew no more.

  Until…someone began shaking her shoulder.

  “Hey, get up, lazybones.”

  Opening one eye, Delaney saw John standing over her. “What time is it?”

  “Time to get up. I’m hungry.”

  “Oh, all right. Let’s get you…” She noticed he was already dressed. “Hey, you’re all ready for the day.”

  “I am. I went to bed early, got my nap out.”

  She yawned. “Yes, you did.” Shooing him away, she threw back the covers. “Go to your room and watch television. I’ll be quick.”

  “I want French toast this morning.”

  “Slave driver.”

  As she showered and changed, Delaney relived the happenings of last evening. Her body’s response to the memories made her skin flush pink. Placing her palms over her cheeks, she thought about seeing Jonah again. How would he act? Would he pretend nothing happened?

  Somehow, she couldn’t see that happening.

  When she finished, she went to find John. When she dicovered his room was empty, Delaney panicked. In a rush, she hurried down the stairs. “John! John! Where are you?”

  “He’s in here with me.”

  Once more, she found Jonah had beat her downstairs. “What’s going on?”

  He gave her a teasing glance and a warm smile. “Nothing. I just woke up a few minutes early. I’m in a good mood and anxious to start my day.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She held his gaze a moment, knowing they were thinking about the same thing. When she felt her cheeks grow warm again, she turned to his father. “Hey, you went off and left me.”

  “I was in a hurry. I have a big day to
day. They’re giving me a star in front of that Chinese theater.”

  Delaney felt a wave of disappointment crash over her. At times he seemed fine, then he’d say something like this. “Well, we can’t let you be late for such an auspicious occasion.”

  “No, siree.” Jonah placed three plates on the table. “No fancy fare today. How does bacon, eggs, and toast sound to you two?”

  “Perfect.” Delaney took her seat next to John. “Anything special we need to do today?”

  “Nope. Just take it easy. You had a late night last night.” Jonah gave her a meaningful glance as he placed a platter of scrambled eggs and bacon between them. “Who knows? You might have another midnight session this evening.”

  “I wouldn’t mind.”

  His wink let her know he felt the same way. “Hey, I saw some marigolds on the porch.”

  “Yea, I thought I might plant those today. Do you mind?”

  “No. If you want to plant a flower garden, we have the room. I like marigolds.”

  “I do too.” She wondered if she should tell him where they came from. This decision was taken out of her hands when John proceeded to do so.

  “Two men gave Delaney those posies.”

  “Oh, really?” Jonah handed out pieces of toast as he took his place at the table. “Two admirers?” He didn’t doubt she had them. Other men weren’t blind.

  “Not hardly,” Delaney murmured. “I don’t know who they were, I didn’t see them. I think it was a mistake.”

  “Huh.” He stared at her, trying to read between the lines. “Is something wrong?”

  “No. No,” she assured him. “After what happened on the road the day we met, I’m just a bit paranoid. I’m sure this was nothing but a weird coincidence.”

  Jonah didn’t like it. He had an uneasy feeling. “Well, just be careful. Stick close to home. If you need to go somewhere, I’ll go with you.”