Luke
manages to say all the wrong things to Dollie, making her cry.
Luckily, when he hugs her, she calms down and lets him
Still
sniffling, she raised her chin, parting her lips. Taking his face in
her hands, Dollie kissed him. At first, he was too stunned to
respond, so she doubled her efforts. Allowing her to have her way
suited Lucius fine. He relaxed, closing his eyes as she kissed him.
She might not have a lot of experience, but she'd picked up on
kissing pretty well. She grew bolder, more adventurous, experimenting
some as they kissed. Lucius loved every minute of it, letting her do
whatever she wanted. Unfortunately, he couldn't control his hands.
When he got too fresh, Dollie jerked away, hand raised to slap him.
"Mr.
Henry, I'll thank you to behave."
Lucius
hung his head. "Dollie, hasn't anything I've said tonight got
through? I love you. I want you to be my wife. That don't mean I'm
gonna be all over you, but, dammit, a man can't help touching! It
don't mean I disrespect you, it means—I want you."
His
voice dropped into a deep, husky tone that made Dollie shiver. The
light of the full moon filled the inside of the truck with brilliant
silver light.
"When
I touched you, how did it make you feel? Did a fire leap in your
belly? Did sparks skitter up and down your spine?" He nuzzled
her neck and nibbled on her earlobe.
Dollie
sighed, relaxing against him. His hand drifted to her breast once
more, of its own accord.
"Does
it make you melt inside? Does it make you hot?"
She
never would admit it aloud, but Dollie was hot and it did feel as if
a fire had ignited inside her. Her panties were damp in a most
embarrassing fashion and she wanted more—though she didn't quite
know what more was.
"When
you're ready, I'll be here. I love you, Dollie. I want to make you
mine." His kiss was fierce, primal, breathtaking.
Speechless
with desire, Dollie gave herself over to the passion inside her. She
kissed him, telling him with her actions how much she loved him.
Lucius
found his self-control foundering. He knew if something didn't happen
to stop him, he'd do something awful and alienate Dollie forever. But
God help him, he'd waited for this moment a long time and he wanted
her more than he could possibly admit. He prayed for a shooting star,
a brush fire, anything to break the thrall because he was truly under
a spell.
The
bell at the dining hall clanged and clattered urgently. It took a few
moments to work into Lucius' befuddled brain that his prayer had been
answered. Lights blazed on all over the darkened campus as its
residents and staff woke up. Voices raised with worry and curiosity
joined the crashing of the bell clapper.
Patty
burst from the apartment half dressed. The girls poured forth from
their rooms, gazing down the hill and across the way to see what the
commotion was. Since they were in their night gowns, Dollie and Patty
made them stay. Patty rounded them up while Dollie and Lucius went
down to find out what was wrong.
Mr.
Bertram stood on the broad wooden porch, quieting the bell with his
hand. His hat was askew, his shirt buttoned wrong, suspenders half
off. When he saw Lucius, he beckoned him forward.
"I
hoped you'd be here. I apologize for waking you all. I need the
ladies to take the children inside and the men to join me. Lucius,
you especially. Dollie, you stay here," he cautioned when she
made to follow her boyfriend.
"I'm
going with Lucius." She knew instinctively that he would need
her.
Mr.
Bertram didn't give permission, but he didn't argue either. Grasping
Lucius' hand tightly, Dollie followed down to the banks of the creek.
Mr. Bertram's truck was there, headlights blazing. The men followed
him with torches, flashlights and lanterns.
It
wasn't until they got right up to the creek bank that Dollie saw what
all the fuss was about. The body of a man floated gently, half in the
creek. His arms and hair drifted upon the chilly water. The lower
half of him was snagged on a partly submerged log.
Mr.
Bertram held up his hands to keep them well back. "Don't need
all y'all tramping around down here 'fore the sheriff comes. Lucius,
I need you on down here. I'm sorry, son."
Dollie
squeezed Lucius' fingers. She knew who it was before he even went
down the bank. The massive shoulders and the lovingly mended blue
cambric shirt were distinctive.
"Vance,
if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not. I know my daddy, even
from up here. Y'all know it's him too—otherwise I'd not be here."
"We
had to have identification," Mr. Bertram said quietly. "I'm
real sorry, Lucius."
The
younger man nodded, shrugging. "Is it okay if I go up and tell
Mama? Reckon she'll wanna know he's been found."
Mr.
Bertram nodded. "I'm real sorry, son."
"Yes,
sir. I 'spect you are. I 'spect my mama's gonna be more so."
"I'll
go with you," Dollie said quietly, taking his hand in both hers.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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