“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.
Chapter 5
Elizabeth sat on the velvet stool in front of her dressing table, browsing in her jewelry box while Sally brushed her hair.
