Chapter 4
Three weeks had passed, or so Jonathan had been told.
Lying in bed, he had never felt so helpless in all his life. He was used to being independent, doing as he pleased, and now he needed help to do such a simple task as stepping into his breeches. He didn’t like it one bit. With each day of his slow recovery, his mood darkened.
He paced sluggishly about the room like a lame tiger trying to build his strength, trying to find the man he once was. He’d spent the last three days doing the same thing over and over again, refusing to see anyone until he felt stronger. No one could see him like this. Not even Elizabeth.
He chuckled, remembering how Annie had told him Elizabeth was none too happy about his refusal to see her.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
He ignored it.
The next time, the knock was a little louder. Again he ignored it. He stopped his pacing and stood in a dark corner where he could lean against the wall, look out the window, and not be seen. Whoever it was would soon give up and leave him alone. If it had been Annie she’d have already barged in.
Suddenly, the door flew open and Elizabeth swept into the darkened room, her green taffeta skirts rustling as she rushed over to the bed. She stepped back when she found the bed empty. She looked around the room. When she spotted him, her eyes narrowed. “You’re up,” she said.
“You could say that.”
“Jonathan Hird!” She took a deep breath before continuing. “How could you refuse to see me?”
He moved away from the wall as she marched toward him. She hadn’t changed a bit. She was still headstrong, determined, and beautiful. Her black hair hung loosely around her face and the vivid green of her gown made her face a warm, inviting color.
Before he could stop her, she threw her arms around him. He stumbled, but kept his balance as his good arm came around her.
“If you were any more enthusiastic,” Jonathan chuckled, “we would both be on the floor.”
“I’m sorry, darling,” she said as she looked up at him with loving eyes. “But it’s been so long. Haven’t you missed me?” She cocked her head to the side and said with a sly grin, “Just a little?”
“Miss you?” Jonathan almost choked on the words.
Did she have any idea just how much he’d missed her?
He tried to resist the desire that ran through his battered body, but it wasn’t working.
Hot lava poured through him at her mere touch.
She pushed him to do things he hadn’t intended to do or wasn’t sure he had the strength for.
His hand inched up Elizabeth’s back until it cupped the back of her head.
She tensed beneath his fingertips. Lowering his face, he placed featherlike kisses down the side of her cheek.
Miss her? Hell, yes, he’d missed her. It had been so long since he’d held her.
It had been much too long since he’d tasted her sweetness.
Elizabeth felt his warm breath as it mingled with hers. She willed herself to relax. This wasn’t Captain Lee, but Jonathan.
Jonathan stared at her, capturing her with his eyes.
A liquid warmth crept up her arms, and her heart raced as she waited for him to kiss her .
.. to really kiss her as he’d done so many times before.
He was the only one who could shut out the rest of the world .
.. make her forget the hurt. He was the one who could make her yearn for something more.
He brought his lips down on hers, sending a jolt slamming through her. She froze. Panic seized her. She would have cried out if his lips hadn’t smothered the sound. Determined to put the past behind her, she finally relaxed and let the pleasure flood over her.
His mouth moved on hers, possessively exploring each part of her mouth. Her arms slid up and around his neck. She wondered if he could feel the wild pounding of her heart.
When she pressed her body into his, Jonathan’s mouth became more demanding, his tongue sliding into her mouth to seek all her sweetness. She trembled as she clung to him. This time from desire.
He needed her closer, Jonathan thought wildly. Her sweetness tormented him and reminded him of another time, a sweeter time, when they had made love. It was the only time they had both lost control, and Jonathan had eagerly made Elizabeth his.
And for a brief moment he was back in that bed....
“Jonathan,” Elizabeth had whispered.
He had to have her. He had to make her his.
Rolling Elizabeth onto her back, he’d deepened his kisses as his hands roamed over her body.
He told himself to stop. He knew better, but this time he hadn’t listened and couldn’t stop.
All he knew was that the woman he loved had moaned his name in a feather-like whisper.
And his body had hardened quicker than it ever had before.
His kisses grew more demanding; his tongue stroked her tongue sensually as his agile fingers began to unfasten her gown. He needed to feel her bare skin next to his. One by one the buttons were undone, and he shoved her chemise aside and began to fondle her breasts.
“Perfection,” he’d breathed.
Her breasts were full and firm and felt wonderful beneath his strong fingers.
Teasing one nipple between his fingertips, he felt her squirm beneath him, at first trying to get away and then giving in to the pleasure.
She deepened the kiss, taking his tongue into her mouth as her hands explored his back, pulling him closer.
Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? The more she responded, the hotter his need grew, and the thin thread that had been holding him together began to grow brittle until finally it broke.
“I want you, Elizabeth.”
She moved back and looked at him from under sooty black lashes, then she gave him that famous wicked smile. “What are you waiting for?”
Jonathan moaned and looked to heaven for strength, but it didn’t come. He crushed her to him, kissing her over and over again. He took all that she offered until his searing passion engulfed him. He wanted more, needed more. Sensual chills ran up his spine.
He drew his mouth from hers and kissed a trail to her breasts. His tongue circled her taut nipple, then his lips closed, and he began to suck, tasting the small bud until it tightened and she began to gasp and arch her back.
Her needy moans intensified his pleasure. With his free hand, he forged a path down her smooth skin and over her stomach until he found the soft nest of curls between her legs. He slid his fingers into her warmth.
At first she was startled and tried to push him away, but soon she begged him not to stop.
“Jonathan, please.”
And then Jonathan found heaven as they made love over and over again. Each time it was better than before.
He’d truly found paradise.
Jonathan took a deep breath, bringing him back to the woman in his arms, the woman who heated his blood now as she had then.
But, that had been before.
He realized he wanted her just as much as he had that night. He tried to raise his left hand to bring her closer, forgetting for a moment that he couldn’t. The pain shot through his arm, reminding him he wasn’t the man he used to be. He jerked away, and turned his back.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked, placing her hand on his arm.
He shrugged away. “For a moment, I forgot.”
“Turn around and face me!” She waited until he’d done so. “Forgot what?”
“That I’m only half a man. You deserve better, Elizabeth.” Jonathan ran his right hand through his hair, hating how he felt.
She grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face her. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “You’re every bit the man you once were!”
Anger burned in his eyes as he grasped her arm with one hand. “Look at me, Elizabeth! I’m useless.” He gave her a slight shake. “Take a good, hard look. Don’t you see how my left arm hangs? It’s no use for anything,” he muttered. His expression grew hard and resentful.
“You haven’t given it time!” Elizabeth insisted. “Your arm will heal.”
“Didn’t you hear the doctor, Elizabeth? My arm is useless.
You need a whole man, not half. You should have a man who can hold you with both arms.” He’d felt her tense when he’d first put his arm around her.
He expelled a frustrated breath, weary of the argument, then shoved her away from him.
“Walk away, Elizabeth. Find what you need.”
Enraged, she drew back her hand and slapped him hard across the face. As the sound echoed around the room, Jonathan merely glared back at her. The red hand print was vivid on his cheek, but that didn’t stop her or make her feel guilty... not one bit.
“I’ll not have you speak to me that way again. You are saying that if you’re not perfect, I can’t love you. It doesn’t work like that, Jonathan.” Elizabeth clenched her trembling hands so she wouldn’t hit him again.
“As far as I’m concerned, you can sit in this house and rot, or you can come out of this room and join the living,” Elizabeth challenged him in a frosty tone.
She stormed toward the door, but swung around when she reached it. She lifted her chin and gave him an icy stare. “There is a party tomorrow in honor of General Jackson. I expect you to escort me. If you won’t, I’ll get someone else! The choice is yours.”
She slammed the door and ran to her room where she could cry in peace. She wanted her old Jonathan back, not the cold stranger she’d just been with.
However, she had meant every word she’d just said. If Jonathan wasn’t dressed and ready tomorrow night, she would leave him.
It had been a long time since she or Jonathan had laughed and had fun. But tomorrow she intended to do just that...
Even if it killed her.