Authors: Ribbon of Rain
“Thank you.” She brushed her hand down his face.
He smiled again, the tenderness in his eyes melting her heart.
For the first time she noticed the small cleft in the bottom of chin.
“You’re welcome.
You’re beautiful.”
Heat rose in her face.
Her fingers played with the hair on his flat stomach.
One quick look showed her how aroused he still was.
Sliding her body further down the bed, she nibbled on his stomach before she stuck her tongue in his belly button.
His body jerked, almost knocking her off the bed.
“Enough, Kat,” he gasped.
“Wait a minute.”
Kat watched while he stripped off the jeans he’d slept in.
He sat on the edge of the bed, fumbling through his wallet.
“What are you doing,” she asked, her finger tracing his spine from top to bottom.
“Finding protection,” he mumbled.
“Oh.”
Another wave of embarrassment swept over her.
Protection had never occurred to her.
How bad was that?
He slipped out of his jeans and into the condom, then reached for her.
“You’re driving me crazy.”
Those four words made her happy.
Never in her life had she felt so wanted, so special.
“Are we ready for the real thing?”
“The real thing?”
He laughed, pulling back to look into her eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, before—” she searched for the right words.
“What happened earlier isn’t the normal way.”
“I assume you’re referring to lovemaking and your climax?
There’s no right or wrong way to do ‘it’.
You’re sweet.”
“You surprise me, Callahan.”
Kat gave him a long, considering look.
“I never would have thought you’d be a mushy type of lover.”
“Never have been,” he answered.
“But I did a lot of thinking about what you said last night.
I’ve never been able to look at the affair from my mother’s point of view.
Now I have, and for that I thank you.”
His mouth lowered to hers.
“Enough talking.”
Kat’s toes curled at the now familiar taste of his mouth.
He pulled her over his body so that she straddled him without breaking their passionate kiss.
She sighed with pleasure as his hands gently fondled her breasts, paying special attention to her nipples.
His hands slid lower to her taut stomach, his thumb finding her clitoris.
Kat reared as if she’d stuck her finger in an electrical socket.
Jude moaned and cupped her bottom, lifting her onto his erection.
She tried to push herself down onto him, but he wouldn’t allow it.
He entered her a little at a time.
He kept this rhythm, inch by inch, until he was totally imbedded.
Kat nipped his shoulder, making small whimpering noises in her throat.
Jude grabbed her hips and moved her back and forth in synchronization with the rocking his own body.
Kat started the climb to the familiar peak.
He moved her hips faster and faster until she cried out her release.
This time he joined her.
They remained for a long while draped around one another, a tangle of arms and legs, their hearts pounding.
“I’ve got to get up.”
He kissed her forehead and headed towards the bathroom.
Basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking, Kat giggled when Jude uttered an expletive she had yet to hear him use.
The generator was off so the water was probably cold.
“I’ll go turn it on,” she called out.
Before she sat up, he strode back into the bedroom buck naked, a horrified look on his face.
“Where are you in your cycle?” he demanded.
What happened to her tender lover?
“What?”
“Your menstrual cycle.”
Oh yes, her lover was definitely agitated.
She didn’t care for the tone of his voice.
“None of your damn business.”
“Look Kat, this is serious.
It broke.”
At her blank look, he spoke slow, enunciating each word as if talking to someone who didn’t speak English.
“The condom ripped.”
“Oh.”
Kat’s fingers drew circles on the sheet while she mentally calculated her last period.
Her periods had never been regular.
“The week before I came home from
Jude rolled his eyes.
“Great.
Just freaking great.”
“Look here, Callahan.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she knelt on the bed.
“Don’t get all hot and bothered about it.
It’s not your problem.”
“What do you mean it’s not my problem?”
He reached over and cupped her chin.
“This was a joint venture if I remember correctly.”
She softened her voice.
“I’ve never been regular, so don’t panic because the timing seems bad.”
“God,” Jude turned away, running his hands through his hair.
“I knew this was a mistake.
It changes everything.”
“What do you mean?
How does it change anything?”
“Kat, there’s something between us.
We both know it.
Now we’ve made love, and there’s no turning back.
I’m not just looking for a roll in the hay with you.
I want to explore a future together.
A baby will complicate things.”
“Why you egotistical, bone-headed idiot.”
Kat came at him naked.
“What do you mean, we have enough problems?
We had sex, we didn’t get married, you know.”
Jude backed up, holding out his arms to ward her off.
“I didn’t mean to imply…”
“What are you doing then?”
Kat challenged.
“Because we made love, you think you have a responsibility to have a relationship with me?”
Tears threatened to fall, making her even madder.
How had something so beautiful turned so ugly?
“For God sakes, go put some clothes on.”
Kat turned away, searching for her own.
She bent over to pick up her cut-offs.
The air was knocked out of her when Jude picked her up and tossed her back on the bed, coming down on top of her.
“Oh no, you don’t, Jane.
You’re not shutting me out.”
Kat glared at him, ignoring the anger in his eyes.
“We’re beyond that point.
Look me straight in the eye and tell me that what happened between us meant nothing more to you than a simple romp in bed.”
Kat turned to mush.
Desire stirred between her legs.
“I’m not saying that, but…”
“But nothing,” he interrupted her.
“I’m not a ‘slam bam thank you ma’am’ type of guy.”
Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way,
Count off the cadence loud and strong:
For where’er we go, you will always know
that the Army goes rolling along.
They both stiffened at someone singing an old Army song from out on the lake.
Chapter 6
“What the —.?”
Jude swung his long legs off the bed and looked out the window.
“It’s Cody Starks.
I’d recognize his singing anywhere.”
Kat jumped out of bed and scrambled around the room, looking for her clothes.
Jude watched her mouth curve into a huge smile.
She pulled on cut-off jeans, not bothering with underwear.
“Who’s Cody Starks?”
He was irritated and didn’t know why.
Kat grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it over head.
“A friend of mine.
Army Special Ops.
We were in
Get dressed and come down and meet him.”
She ran over to him, stood on tiptoe and brushed his mouth with lips light as a feather.
He reached out to hug her, but she slipped away and hurried down the stairs.
Jude hunted for his clothes, finally finding them under the bed.
Jesus.
People coming, people going.
This place was getting worse than Grand Central Station.
In his haste, his fingers fumbled with the zipper of his jeans.
He yanked on a T-shirt and hurried back to the window, anxious to see this friend of Kat’s.
A green canoe glided through the calm water, coming to rest next to the dock.
His mouth dropped open.
Kat’s African-American friend was larger than a professional linebacker.
Despite his size, he handled a canoe as if he were born in it.
“Figures,” he muttered under his breath.
He hurried downstairs and stepped onto the porch in time to see Kat launch herself into the giant’s open arms.
An invisible fist punched him in the gut.
Jesus Christ.
He was jealous.
Could things get any more complicated?
Until now, he’d led a straightforward, simple life.
But since the moment he set foot on this damn lake, his life turned topsy-turvy.
“Hey, Half-Pint.”
“Cody!
What a great surprise.
Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
“Didn’t know myself till the last minute.”
Their voices carried to the porch.
Jude zeroed in on Cody’s hands holding Kat by her bottom while she wrapped her legs around his waist.
The hard knot in Jude’s stomach tightened.
Time for action.
He jumped off the porch and walked toward them.
“Hey, Kat!”
Cody’s head jerked toward him.
Despite the hostile look sent his way, Jude moved forward.
Kat loosened her legs, sliding down Cody’s body, until her feet touched the wharf.
Before Jude reached the couple, Cody bent his head.
Kat appeared to be whispering in his ear.
Now what was she was up to?
Jude kept walking, ignoring the downright scary look Cody shot his way.
He stopped at the end of the lawn and waited.
Cody shrugged and reached into his pocket, taking out his wallet.
Puzzled, Jude watched Cody remove something and hand it to Kat, giving him the evil eye.
What in blue blazes was going on?
The pain in Jude’s stomach intensified when he recognized the small square package Kat held in her hand.
Condoms.
Freaking condoms.
Holy shit.
This couldn’t be happening.
Was she crazy?
“Come meet Jude.”
Kat pulled Cody along by the arm, her smile of happiness firmly in place.
“Glad to meet you.” Jude held out a hand in greeting.
Cody ignored it.
The look in his dark eyes didn’t bode well for instant bonding.
“Kat, go in the lodge,” Cody’s voice was soft….too damn soft to Jude’s ears.
“Lover boy and I need to have a little chat.”
Kat pulled herself up to her full five feet, hands on her hips.
“I swear to God, Cody, I won’t tolerate any interference.
I’m well past the age of consent, and I don’t want any advice or lectures from you.
And neither does Jude.”
Jude covered his mouth and coughed, trying to hide his smile.
She looked quite ferocious, her small chin jutting out in defiance.
Kat turned on her heel and started toward the lodge, before looking back.
“When the two of you are through circling each other like a couple of pit bulls, come in for breakfast.”
Her smile never reached her eyes.
“Watch Red.
He’ll show you how it’s done.
The more trees you pee on, the bigger your territory.”
She slammed the door on her way into the lodge.
Jude and Cody eyeballed one another for a few seconds before Cody burst out laughing.
“She’s right, man,” Cody admitted.
“Guess I came across as territorial.”
He offered his hand.
Jude’s hand disappeared in Cody’s as they shook.
“I think the world of Kat,” Cody continued.
“She’s like a sister to me, and I won’t stand for anyone hurting her.
Do I make myself clear?”