Tomahawk'd Part 19

Jackson smiled. "Your vocabulary seems to be stunted when you're kissed properly. I'll take that as a compliment." Erin lightly slapped her arm and Jackson added, "Oh, hurt me, baby."

Erin's face couldn't have been any redder, but she couldn't stop laughing. "Jack, stop!"

Jackson loved to tease Erin and now she had a whole other a.r.s.enal to bring into play-s.e.xual discovery.

Erin moved away from Jackson's grasp to sit on the blanket. Jackson plopped down across from her, lying on her side with her hand supporting her head. As Erin looked at her, her mind began to paint. Jackson had been the subject of many pictures, but this one could be her most favorite.

"Jack, will you let me draw you like that?"

Jackson's eyebrow rose. "You want to draw me like this." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, with the light coming in through the window and the lighted candles, you look...simply beautiful."

Jackson blushed red-hot at the compliment. "What do you need me to do?" she whispered, heaviness in her voice.

"Just stay put as long as you can and I'll tell you what happened this morning with my mother."

Jackson took a deep breath. "All right, Pica.s.so, let's get this show on the road before my hand falls asleep. I might need it to knock your mother's block off."

"Ha, ha." Erin's look went from playful to serious. "You won't like what she did, though."

"I'm listening."

Erin's fingers flew across the page with grace and pa.s.sion. As she sketched, she told Jackson about the incident in the shower and had to verbally restrain her from going after her mother.

"Jack, it's okay, I'm fine. Lay down, so I can finish."

Jackson's anger made her cheeks flush brightly. Erin didn't comment, but it did add nice color to her picture.

"Hawk, if she ever lays a hand on you, I...I just won't be responsible for my actions. How's that?"

"Thank you for coming to my defense; it means everything to me." She shook her head. "She's really over the edge these days. I have no idea what pushed her over, but she's just...gone."

"Maybe she needs to see someone and, I dunno, get on some medication-an antipsychotic or something."

"Maybe?"

"Okay, she does." They shared a laugh.

When Erin was finished, she turned her sketchbook around so Jackson could see the finished work. What she saw made her eyes well up with tears. Erin obviously saw her in a way she'd never seen herself.

"Wow, Hawk, this is just...breathtaking. And the picture is nice too," she joked, trying to clear the tears from her eyes.

Erin had already seen her reaction and was extremely pleased. "This is how I see you, Jack. You are breathtaking to me. Sometimes when I look at you, my heart just...hurts."

Jackson looked deeply into her eyes. "I know that feeling all too well."

Erin pulled out the drawing and gave it to Jackson. "Thank you. Now I can say I knew you when," Jackson teased.

Erin smiled, put her sketchbook away, and looked at her watch. It was after ten o'clock. Her heart sank at the knowledge this was their last night together. She pulled some Wet Naps from her bag and wiped the ink from her fingers.

Jackson watched in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Such a tidy young woman you are."

After a couple of heartbeats, Erin looked squarely into Jackson's eyes. It was unnerving for the women at first, but they soon lost their shyness at the emotions they felt radiating from each another.

"Jack...I have something else I want to give you." Erin swallowed nervously.

"Oh, yay, I love presents." Jackson sat straight up. "Gimme."

"It's right here," Erin said softly.

Jackson's heart began to beat wildly. Did she just say what I think she said? She swallowed hard, took a tight rein on her libido, and sought crystal clarity. "Where is it?"

Erin pushed the tiny s.h.i.+rt strap off her left shoulder then repeated the motion on her right. Jackson moved closer and cupped Erin's face. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Erin leaned forward and captured Jackson's lips in a tender kiss. "Very sure."

Jackson returned the kiss, the gentleness of her lips causing Erin to sigh. They both leaned forward in their seated positions, then Jackson slowly rose to her knees with Erin following suit. Jackson cupped Erin's face gently, kissing her with incredible tenderness. She reverently placed kisses on her lips, cheeks, and eyelids then moved back to her mouth.

Erin felt like she was being wors.h.i.+pped and her body was responding in a way that was totally unfamiliar to her. She could feel the arousal building between her legs and she was only kissing Jackson. She wasn't sure if she could handle much more.

Jackson used her weight to pull Erin toward her. "Come here. Let's lie down."

Jackson's hands were shaking, Erin noticed, and she looked into Jackson's eyes. "I'm so glad you're nervous too."

"I am. I'm still waiting to wake up."

Erin kissed her gently then lay down and looked up at Jackson's smoldering eyes. "I promise I'm not a dream."

"You are to me." Jackson moved to lie on top of Erin. Erin's hands found their way into Jackson's hair and grasped it gently. Jackson leaned up and stared down into her blue eyes. "I love you, Hawk...more than I can ever say."

"Then show me," Erin whispered, and Jackson soon possessed her mouth with her lips and tongue.

Their bodies were on fire. Jackson's hands were everywhere at once, and Erin was whimpering with desire. Jack raised Erin's s.h.i.+rt and gently traced lines on her stomach with her fingertips. Erin's stomach shook with fevered tremors. When she felt the first tentative touch on her breast, Erin grasped Jackson tightly. Both women sighed.

Jackson lifted Erin's s.h.i.+rt as high as she could, until Erin offered to remove it all together. While Erin took off her watch, s.h.i.+rt, and bra, Jackson did the same then pressed their bodies together. The intimate contact made them both exhale sharply and press more tightly together. Jackson opened her eyes to see Erin's closed in rapture. It was a beautiful sight. Looking down, she saw that their tattoos were touching.

"Look, they touch when our bodies are together. This bonds us completely, Hawk."

Erin smiled at the sentiment and reached up to caress Jackson's soft cheek. "I love you, Jack." Putting her hand behind Jackson's neck, she pulled her down to kiss her with all the love in her heart.

The pa.s.sion took Jackson by surprise and she moaned into Erin's mouth. Jackson's kisses moved down her jawline to Erin's throat. She blazed a trail of hot kisses down her throat to the swell of her left breast. She reverently kissed the tinted skin, then moved lower to pull Erin's nipple into her mouth. She moaned at the texture of the pebbled flesh against her tongue. Erin's body began to move against Jackson's, her center wet with desire.

Jackson moved her hand down to Erin's shorts then further to her thigh and back up. She left her hand at the apex of Erin's legs and added a little pressure with the heel of her palm. Erin moved against the hand, throaty moans escaping her mouth. Erin grasped Jackson's upper back and tugged her tighter against her body. Jackson ground her hips onto Erin's thigh, causing her own moan to slip from her lips.

With a flick of her hand, Jackson opened the b.u.t.ton on Erin's shorts and deftly slid her hand inside. Her caress touched dampness, and she smiled at Erin's arousal. Reaching beneath the undergarment, she found the flesh she'd been craving for so many years, wet and waiting for her. For me. Jackson stroked the engorged flesh, lightly touching the area around Erin's entrance. Erin's body jerked up, encouraging the exploring fingers.

Her fingers were relentless with their teasing and Erin soon found herself begging Jackson to make contact. "Please, Jack, please...touch me."

Without pause, Jackson moved her fingers to Erin's enlarged c.l.i.toris and began to lightly stroke all around it. Jackson's eyes closed at the intense feelings. Never in her life had she imagined she'd ever make love to Erin, despite how desperately she wanted it to happen. Erin's pa.s.sionate moans made her aware of just how real this was. Jackson's fingers concentrated on the inflamed flesh and soon felt the tremblings of Erin's impending o.r.g.a.s.m. Erin's body began to writhe uncontrollably and her panting became louder. As her pa.s.sion hit its zenith, Erin's body shook against Jackson and grasped her arm as it continued to dictate her every move.

Jackson moved up to kiss Erin and smooth the damp hair from her face. The touch against Erin's skin became feather-light and soon she simply palmed her hand against the wet flesh.

Jackson and Erin were so engrossed in their lovemaking that neither heard the footsteps climbing the ladder, the sharp intake of breath, and the feet of the intruder beating a quick retreat. They continued to kiss as they reveled in the aftermath of one of the most beautiful experiences of their young lives. Erin kissed Jackson pa.s.sionately, but soon couldn't catch her breath.

"Wow," she breathed at a twinkle-eyed Jackson. "That was wonderful, Jack. I always knew you'd be a pa.s.sionate lover to whomever was lucky enough to love you."

Jackson tried her best Dirty Harry impersonation. "Are you feeling lucky, punk?"

"I am your lucky punk." She wiped Jackson's sweaty brow.

"Yes, you are." Jackson traced Erin's eyebrows, cheekbones, anything she could get her hands on.

"I'm really sorry to do this, but what time is it?"

Jackson reached over and grabbed Erin's watch and instantly grimaced. "Oh, s.h.i.+t."

Erin sat up abruptly. Jackson handed her the watch that showed fifteen minutes past midnight. "s.h.i.+t, Jack, I gotta get back before my mother comes looking for me. I know she will."

"Okay, okay. Let's get dressed and I'll take you back."

"No, I gotta run." Erin looked at her harried expression and she kissed her to soften the abrupt exit. "I'm so sorry for leaving without um...you know." She blushed and looked down.

"Don't worry about me. I think I did already anyway." It was her turn to blush.

"Without me actually..." She gestured toward Jackson's body. "Wow."

"I love that you are so tongue-tied, Hawk. Come on, you gotta get out of here."

Erin dressed quickly and put her watch on, then gathered her sack and kissed Jackson goodbye. She flew down the ladder and ran out of the boathouse, Jackson close behind her. After a quick wave to Erin, she hightailed it home.

Erin ran past the pier, coming to a sudden stop when she heard, "Hey, Peanut," from the dock chairs. She looked around quickly, a flash of panic racing through her. Once she realized where the voice had come from, she breathed a sigh of semi-relief.

"Dad? What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you. Come here for a minute."

His voice held a tone she wasn't familiar with and it worried her. She walked out on the pier and sat in the chair next to her father. He was silent for a few minutes.

"Your mother was ready to come out searching for you. She was pretty angry you'd stayed out later than you promised." He turned to face her. "I'm so glad it was me instead of her that saw you with Jackson in the loft."

Erin's cheeks flared red and her heart skipped a beat. "When were you in the loft?" Erin hoped against all hope it wasn't when she thought it was.

"At the worst time a father could ever walk in on his daughter."

Erin's eyes welled with tears. "Oh, Dad..." She buried her face in her hands and cried. "I'm so sorry," she choked out. "Does Mom know?" she said after a few moments. "Did you tell her you saw us?"

"Some people might think I seem a little odd, but I am not suicidal. I wouldn't put it past your mother to kill the messenger."

Erin sighed in relief. "She's really going to go through the roof about Jackson after this."

"You can't tell your mother about this, Erin. As much as I like Jack, and you know I do, this would throw her over the edge and I'm not sure even I could handle her."

Erin's tears were flowing hard. "But, Daddy, I love Jack."

He wrapped his arms around his daughter in deep sympathy. "I know, honey, I know. I'm just afraid for you, Peanut, I really am. Your mother isn't balanced and I don't know what she'd do if she found out about this."

Erin squeezed her father tighter. "What do I do, Dad?" She was almost hysterical. "I can't imagine my life without her. G.o.d, she means everything to me."

Joe pulled back and cupped his daughter's face. "Sweetheart, I can't make this decision for you. I know this is huge, but so is the situation. Just think about it with all of your heart and you'll make the right decision for you and everyone around you."

He kissed the top of her head. The action, so reminiscent of Jackson, made her cry even harder. "I never meant for you to see me like that. I'm so sorry, Dad." Fresh tears ran down her face. They were wiped away by warm, callused thumbs.

"Peanut, a father never wants to see his daughter in any intimate situation, and really doesn't expect to see her with another woman, but I know you're sorry. I know this embarra.s.sment will be tricky for both of us to get past. We will get past it, though, I promise you," he said rea.s.suringly. "I've thought for a while that there might be something between you two, and after today in the boat, I was pretty sure I was right. That's not to say I'm used to the idea or happy with what has transpired, but it's just not surprising to me. We'll get through it," he looked into her eyes, "no matter what you decide, okay?"

"I'm sorry I disappointed you. Your opinion means so much to me. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you and Mom about my tattoo. It just came to me last night when I was looking out over the water, then I just did it."

"Sometimes impulsive decisions can be very disruptive, though. Just make sure you think things through before you act on them, okay?" He kissed the side of her face.

"Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much." She hugged him again.

"I love you, too, Peanut. Let's go in before your mother calls the forest ranger or nine-one-one."

Erin held her father's hand, grateful for his calm. He thought communication was the key to any situation. She knew he was angry, but he had a way of expressing it that made her think about things. It was a wonderful trait that had skipped her mother completely.

Father and daughter walked into the cottage together. Katie was on the couch waiting for them. "You're lucky I didn't call the authorities to come look for you, young lady. Where were you? Oh, wait." She stopped Erin before she could answer. "Don't tell me. You were with Jackson," she said snidely.

"Katie, don't start. I found Erin and Jack on the pier saying goodbye to the lake," he lied. "She was almost on her way in."

Katie looked from her husband to her daughter. "I don't know which one of you is worse."

"Mother, we're leaving tomorrow. Is it really such a big deal?"

"Yes! You said you'd be here and you weren't. That sounds like deceit to me. You've gotten really good at that. I'm sure it's just another lovely attribute you picked up from dear old Jack."

"Katie, we're done with this. I want a peaceful night's sleep before I have to drive six hours," he directed sternly. "I don't want to hear about this c.r.a.p in the car, either. We are leaving tomorrow. Let it go."

Katie shook her head and stormed off to bed without a goodnight to either of them.

"Thank you, Dad," Erin whispered.

"In all my years of marriage, I have never lied to my wife before tonight."

That statement hit Erin hard.

"I don't really want to do it again."

"Dad..."