Page 123 of Frankly, My Dear

Tears of happiness streamed down her face as she arched her back and climbed a crescendo of ever-increasing waves, then crashed, splintering into a whirlpool of the most intense, shattering pleasure she had ever experienced in her life. Followed by an immense sense of completeness.

James’s strangled cry of satisfaction echoed after hers. She looked up to see his eyes filled with tears, as well. And her heart welled almost to overflowing.

In that one split second in the spectrum of eternity…that frozen limbo of the gods…time stood still. And they knew they were blessed.

Chapter Twenty

It was seven o’clock before Selene and James got back to the house. They’d returned the back way, circumventing the sugar fields to avoid any embarrassing questions from Fergus or the workers who were already hard at work.

Sitting astride the horse in front of James, Selene yawned and arched her back against his hard chest in a sensuous stretch. Her body felt bruised and sore and abraded. And absolutely wonderful.

James dismounted in one lithe movement, tying his horse to the back rail. Then he placed his hands on Selene’s waist, lifting her to the ground. He did not immediately release her, however. Leaning down, he kissed her lightly on the lips.

“I love you, Selene,” he said solemnly.

“I love you, too, James.” Overwhelmed with emotion, she had difficulty speaking. “I’ve never been happier in my life.”

“We have much to talk about later today, chérie. Our future.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Perhaps I’ll disclose some more of my fantasies to you then,” he added, jiggling his eyebrows with mock lasciviousness.

“Be still, my heart,” she replied, laughing, as she basked in the glow of this wonderful, frivolous bantering. Then she wagged a finger at him. “But don’t be too sure that I don’t have a few more of my own fantasies tucked up my sleeve.”

“I’m counting on it, chérie.”

Smiling, they walked into the kitchen with arms looped around each other’s waists.

“Lordy, Lordy, where you two been? We been lookin’ for you everywhere,” Blossom said anxiously. She stood over the potager, turning strips of bacon.

Iris’s wide eyes swept over their crumpled attire, and her mouth dropped practically to the tray she was preparing for Mrs. Baptiste.

Etienne’s hand, holding a slice of buttered bread and jam, stopped midway to his mouth. The scamp also had a cup of coffee in front of him. As if the outrageous kid needed more energy! Next he’d be having a shot of bourbon and a cigar after dinner.

Grinning, Etienne remarked, “I know what you been doin’.” Then he resumed eating, the subject apparently not of that much importance to him. Dreadful lolled, open-mouthed, under the table, catching the many crumbs the boy dropped.

“Etienne!” James warned.

Selene pulled away from James. With chin averted to hide her red face, she announced, “I’m going to go take a bath.”

Selene was about to escape the room when she heard Blossom exclaim, “Will everyone just shut up!”

Stunned, they all turned to look at the cook. Blossom pointed her ladle at James. “If you would stop babblin’ long enough, I would tell you why everyone’s been lookin’ for you, you fool.”

“Why?” James asked, suddenly alert to the concern in Blossom’s voice.

“’Cause Victor and the po-lice are here. I put ’em on the front gallery with some breakfast to hold ’em off. But they wants to begin a search for that Fleur girl, startin’ inside the house. And they gots legal papers.”

Selene exchanged an apprehensive glance with James. He’d refused the past few days to tell her where Fleur was hidden, only assuring her that Victor’s quadroon mistress was safe. Now he didn’t look so sure.

Selene started to come back, intending to go with James to confront Victor.

“No!” James put up a halting hand.

“No?”

“Change your clothes and go to my mother. Take Etienne with you. I’ll handle this. I mean it, Selene. No interference.” Then he told Iris, “Send for Fergus, and tell him to bring men with him. Armed men.”