Jackson’s Jewel

Chapter Twenty-One

Jackson was afraid to blink, almost afraid to breathe. It seemed too much of a miracle that Emerald was once again in his arms where she belonged. Carrying her into his bedroom, he reluctantly let go of her legs, letting her feet fall to the ground. He stroked his hands over her hair, loving the way it curled wildly around her face. He didn’t say anything, almost too overwhelmed to speak.

She’d come back to him.

For the first time in his life, someone he loved had come back to him. He realized his hands were shaking when he reached for the buttons on her blouse. One at a time, he slipped them from their holes, unwrapping her like a present. He wasn’t in a hurry. Instead, he wanted to savor every inch of skin he exposed.

Peeling back the fabric, he slid it down her arms and dropped it. She was wearing a bra that was the color of ripe peaches. Bending down, he nuzzled her neck. She smelled like summer—warm and lush, with a hint of something floral. He’d missed her scent and had only changed the covering of his pillows when it had finally faded.

He ran his finger along the lace that edged her bra. It looked incredible against her lightly tanned skin. She sucked in a breath when he stroked his thumb over her nipple. It was already puckered tight, pressing against the thin fabric. A low rumble started in his chest as he went down on one knee in front of her.

“Jackson?” She steadied herself, clutching at his shoulders.

“Let me,” he murmured as he pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses on her tummy. “Let me undress you. Let me have you.”

“Yes,” she sighed as his hands slipped around her sides to her back. His fingers made quick work of the closure on her bra and he slid the straps over her arms. She released her grip on him long enough to let the garment fall to the floor.

Clad only in faded blue jeans and sneakers, she was a sight to behold. Her full breasts rose and fell with every deep breath she took. Her rosy nipples were tight, begging to be touched and tasted.

“God, you’re beautiful.” He breathed in her scent as he buried his face between her breasts. His hands molded to her ass, squeezing and caressing.

Emerald tugged at his T-shirt, pulling it over his head so that he had no choice but to release her long enough for her to drag it off. Her eyes were dark pools of chocolate brown, her lips wet and pink. He wanted to devour her, to eat her up from head to toe.

He needed her naked. Now. It only took him a second to undo her jeans and push them over her hips and thighs. When they bunched at her calves, he had her lift one foot at a time as he yanked off her socks and shoes before pulling off her jeans.

She was wearing a skimpy pair of panties that matched her bra. The thin scrap of fabric barely covered her mound. He knew a lot of women shaved themselves these days, but he liked the fact that she didn’t. He skimmed his fingers up the inside of her thighs, tracing the crease at the top. Emerald sucked in her breath and widened her stance. Her fingers tangled in his hair, drawing him closer.

His cock was so hard that it was almost painful as it pressed against the zipper of his jeans. His body was screaming at him to fuck her, but his mind wanted him to go slow, to arouse her to such a fevered pitch that she’d beg him to take her.

Growling as he tried to balance both sides of himself, he hooked his fingers in the edges of her panties and gave them a tug. They slid downward, exposing her pubic hair.

Jackson slid his arms around her waist as he kissed her stomach. He couldn’t get enough of touching her, needing to reassure himself that she was indeed real and not some figment of his overworked imagination.

Sitting back on his heels, he parted her sex with his thumbs, exposing the damp, pink flesh. Leaning forward, he licked up one side and down the other. Emerald gasped and then groaned, pushing her hips forward.

“You like that, do you?” He traced the slick folds with his fingers before licking them again.

“Yes,” she cried as her hips jerked.

Jackson pressed one finger inside her core. She was hot and wet and it was all for him. He thought he might come on the spot. His balls were heavy and tight, his shaft pulsing with hunger. He withdrew his finger, ignoring her cries of dismay and pushed two fingers past her tight opening.

She moaned, her nails digging into his scalp. “I need you. Jackson!”

Surging to his feet, he tumbled her back onto the bed. As she lay there wide-eyed and panting, he unlaced his boots and yanked them off. Quickly, he divested himself of his socks, jeans and underwear.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He’d spent too many long nights dreaming and fantasizing about her being here. “Spread your legs.” Kneeling up on the mattress, he watched her, unable to take his eyes from her.

Her legs parted, welcoming him. She held her arms out to him and he crawled forward, covering her with his body. He gripped his cock in his hand, guiding it to her opening. As he squeezed the bulbous head of his cock, he closed his eyes and groaned. If he weren’t careful, he’d come before he had a chance to get all the way inside her.

Emerald’s hair was spread across his pillows. Her mouth was open on a cry of need, her eyes wide and wild with desire. He took a deep breath and pushed a little further. Her hands fisted in his sheets as her legs came up to wrap around his waist, dragging him closer.

Planting his hands flat on the mattress by her head, he flexed his hips, thrusting forward until he was buried to the hilt. They were both gasping for breath now. Their lungs pumping in and out.

“I can’t last long,” he gritted out.

“Neither can I,” she panted as she tilted her hips upward.

Jackson pulled his hips back and slammed them forward. The headboard hit the wall with each thrust, the springs on the bed squealing in protest. They were both slick with sweat and their wet skin made a slapping sound as they came together. Emerald’s pussy sucked his cock deep with every thrust.

It wasn’t enough. He needed to touch her so deep that they were melded together as one. Sitting back, he lifted her legs over his shoulders. As he drove forward, her inner muscles clenched hard around his shaft, milking it, massaging it.

The vein in his temple was pounding, matching the throbbing in his cock. His balls were drawn tight. As he thrust into Emerald’s welcoming flesh, he watched her face. Her lips parted on a groan. She writhed on the bed beneath him, unable to control the depth or timing of his thrusts. Her breasts swayed with his movements in an erotic dance, her nipples hard nubs that he longed to taste.

“Jackson!” she screamed his name as her hips thrust upward. He felt her heels digging into his shoulders with surprising force.

He slammed his hips forward. “Come for me.” Pulling back, he thrust again and again. Harder and faster. His skin felt as if it were stretched too tight over his frame. Every cell in his body was crying out for release. He could feel it building. His balls clenched and he felt the surge through his cock.

Her pussy spasmed around his shaft. Her sweet cries of release filled his ears. He roared her name as he came, hot cum flooding her. His head was spinning, but he kept pumping his hips, drawing out both of their releases until they were both spent.

Reaching up, he carefully lowered her legs back to the bed and withdrew his semi-erect cock. Emerald whimpered, her limbs sprawled on the bed, her eyes shut tight. He collapsed facedown on the bed next to her, reaching out one arm to drag her close.

Jackson could hear the sounds of the day seeping into the bedroom now that the passionate explosion had passed. The wind floated into the room, bringing its cool breeze to help ease their heated flesh. The drapes swished against the glass. The wind-up clock ticked on the bedside table. Satisfaction deeper than anything he’d ever imagined filled him.

He rolled onto his back and dragged Emerald on top of him. She muttered as she rooted around to get comfortable. Finally she sighed and relaxed, her head tucked beneath his chin, her legs sprawled on either side of his.

He yanked a corner of the comforter over her and kissed the top of her head. “I love you,” he whispered as he kissed her again.

He wasn’t even sure that she’d heard him until she muttered, “Love you too.”

Closing his eyes, he relaxed for the first time in weeks.

Emerald felt something tickling her nose and sniffed, batting at it with her hands. She hit hard, male flesh and froze. It all came flooding back to her—the passionate lovemaking between the two of them.

Had he told her he loved her?

A heavy hand stroked over her bottom and she arched into it. A male chuckle followed. Slowly, she raised her head to look at him. A lock of hair was plastered to his forehead, his jaw was covered with dark stubble and there was a gleam in his blue eyes. This was her Jackson, the man she loved. She’d missed him so much the past few weeks.

Her nipples brushed against the hard planes of his chest, making them tingle. She felt the hardness of his cock growing and pressing against her softer belly. Jackson stroked his fingers down the cleft of her ass, rimming the tight opening with one finger before reaching lower to stroke her pussy.

She was sweaty, sticky and tired, but she felt…she wasn’t quite sure how to put it. Complete. Satisfied. As if she’d finally come home.

Jackson surprised her by lifting her off him and then sitting up in bed. Grabbing the pillows, he propped himself up. “We need to talk.”

She started to reach for the sheet, but then stopped. It wasn’t as if there were any secrets left between the two of them, at least not in the physical part of their relationship.

Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around her legs and waited.

“What happened with Derek?” That wasn’t exactly what she’d expected him to say, but she supposed they needed to settle what had happened.

“He hired some sixteen-year-old kid to hack into my e-mail account, credit card account and eventually into my sister’s phone records.” That was how he’d eventually found her. “He promised the kid that he’d help him get a recording contract. Derek knows all kinds of people in the music business and introduced the kid to some of them. He spun some story about trying to find his girlfriend because they had a fight and the boy bought it.

“Right now, Derek’s in a psychiatric hospital being assessed. If he’s deemed competent enough to stand trial, it will happen somewhere down the road.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about Derek. He’d tried to kill her and Jackson, but she remembered him as a young boy as well, laughing and playing with her and her sisters.

“How do you feel about that?” Jackson was watching her, his blue eyes hooded.

“I’m not sure,” she replied honestly. “Part of me wants him put away for good so that he can’t cause any more harm, but the other part of me remembers that he was a good friend for years.”

“That’s understandable.” His voice was gentle and she wanted to be in his arms. These past weeks had been unbearably hard. Her life as she’d known it had been ripped apart, and it wasn’t just her own life that had changed.

Her entire family had been rocked by this. Derek had been like a part of the family and the betrayal went deep. And all because he’d believed that if Emerald and her sisters cut a record and it was successful, his father would finally respect him. With her at his side, he’d finally have the kind of success he always felt he deserved. It was all so sad.

Derek’s father had cut all ties with the family, which hurt her parents as well. They were torn between wanting to help their longtime manager and friend and supporting their daughter if the matter came to trial. Not that there was any doubt. There wasn’t even a choice, but that didn’t mean it was easy for any of them. In fact, it was a mess for everyone.

She stared down at Jackson’s chest and let it all pour out, telling him everything that had transpired in the weeks that she’d been away. In return, he told her about his visits from the police and about the harvest.

Emerald had no idea how long they talked, but finally there seemed to be nothing left to say. She still hadn’t looked at Jackson. Nothing had been settled between them. She’d told him that she loved him and they’d had wild, passionate sex. While it felt wonderful, it didn’t give her any indication as to where they went from here.

She opened her mouth to ask, but closed it as he began to speak. “I was coming to New York.” Her head snapped up and she stared at him in disbelief. He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “Hard to believe after I practically kicked you off the farm, isn’t it?” He sighed and scrubbed one hand over his face before continuing. “Thing is, I wanted you to stay from the beginning, but I needed to be sure. Needed you to be sure that this wasn’t an aberration brought on by the situation you were in.”

“I understand.” And truly, she did. Didn’t mean she liked it though. Narrowing her eyes at him, she continued. “But if you ever try to do anything like that again, I won’t be responsible for what I do.”

A slow grin split his face. “Fair enough.” He reached for her then and she all but threw herself into his arms. Cupping her face in his large hands, he leaned so close that their noses were touching. “I love you, more than you can even begin to imagine. The light was gone from my life when you left. I want you to stay here with me forever.”

Emerald held her breath. Was he asking what she thought he was asking?

“Marry me.” He kissed her lips softly, gently. “Marry me and share my life. If you want to live in New York, I can sell the farm.”

Shock vibrated through her. That he’d even offer to do such a thing meant everything to her. “You’d do that for me?”

“Whatever it takes.” There was no doubting the sincerity and determination in his eyes.

“Yes.” All the weight that she’d been carrying the past few months slid away. “But I want to live here.” This felt right. There would be challenges as they melded their lives together, but they would face them together.

“You won’t be sorry.” He peppered her face with kisses.

“I know.” She reached for his lips, the passion that always seemed to be simmering between them rising again.

The rumble of a large truck drifted in through the window. “Ignore that. Whoever it is, they’ll go away,” Jackson murmured as he nibbled on her earlobe.

She groaned, wanting to sink against him. “No, they won’t.” As if to prove her point, a loud horn blew.

Jackson dropped his head back to the pillow and sighed as she scrambled off the bed and grabbed her jeans. She didn’t bother with underwear as she shimmied into her pants. “Come on.”

He rolled off the bed, yanked on his jeans and shirt and grabbed his boots as he followed her down the stairs. She finished buttoning her blouse as they walked through the kitchen.

Two burly men were waiting outside when they stepped out onto the porch. “Can I help you?” Jackson asked.

One of the men strode over. “Where do you want the stuff put?”

“What stuff?”

“Jackson.” She tugged on his arm until he faced her. “That’s my furniture. I’m moving in.”

His face went blank and she began to get worried. Then he threw back his head and roared with laughter. Snatching her into his arms, he twirled her around until she got dizzy. He finally stopped and let her feet touch the ground again, but he didn’t let her go.

“Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?” The creases at the corners of his eyes deepened as he smiled.

“Not sure, no. But I had lots of hope.”

He kissed her then. A short, hard kiss filled with promise.

“Don’t mean to interrupt.” She could see the laughter in the man’s face as he rubbed his jaw in an attempt to hide his smile. “But we got a schedule to keep.”

Jackson slung his arm around her shoulders and they walked to the back of the truck. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

It didn’t take them long to get it all sorted out. She didn’t have too much stuff, but enough. Most of it was put in her old room off the kitchen until they could figure out what to do with it. Within an hour, the boxes and furniture had been stored and the men had been given a cool drink and were on their way.

Jackson stared at the mound of belongings stuffed into the room and grinned. “That saves us the trouble of having to go to New York to get your things.”

She smacked him on the arm, but he only laughed. She’d never seen him this happy before and it made her heart sing.

“Are you sure about this?” All humor was gone and he was his serious self again. “You’re the one leaving your home.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“What about your career?” He tucked a lock of her hair over her ear and then dropped his hand by his side.

“I can work from here. In fact, this room would make a great office for me. That is, once I get all the other stuff out of it.”

“Whatever you want to do or change is fine with me. This is your home now. We can get rid of any furniture we don’t need any longer. If Erin or Nathan don’t want it, we can donate it to the church for their yearly fundraising sale.”

“We’ll work it all out,” she assured him.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her close. “I know we will.” Bending down, he kissed her neck as his hands roamed over her ass. “Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?”

Emerald laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not sure. Maybe you could remind me.”

She was scooped off her feet and Jackson was charging back up the stairs before she had a chance to blink. “I plan to remind you again and again and again.” His voice was rough with desire as he captured her lips with his.

It was a good plan. A stupendous plan, she thought as he laid her on the bed and reached for the opening of her blouse.