Page 67 of Soaring Sweethearts

“Don’t be sorry. That felt amazing. But you don’t have to do this. It’s your first time, and I don’t want to⁠—”

She sucked him into her mouth and licked him like a lollipop, and every muscle in his body tensed.

“Holy hell!” His fingers tangled in her hair as she continued to lick and suck, and he began to thrust into her mouth. “I can’t believe you’re… This is too much. It’s… Oh, Christ. I’m going to come.”

He let go of her hair and backed away so fast that she nearly toppled over. He let out a roar as he grasped his cock and pearly liquid spurted up, covering his chest.

She’d done that. She’d made him lose control. Deep satisfaction rippled through her as his chest heaved and his eyes squeezed shut.

Opening his eyes slowly as the last spasms receded, he let out a long, shuddering breath. “Are you sure we can’t get married tomorrow?”

She laughed. Lord, she loved this man. “Three months. But if the wait becomes unbearable, I can always sneak over again. Because I don’t think I can wait that long either, especially now that I know what I’ve been missing.”

With a wink, she turned and headed for the bedroom where she pulled on her rumpled nightgown. If she didn’t get home soon, she wouldn’t get any sleep at all, and everyone would wonder why she was so tired in the morning.

As soon as she was dressed, Jack emerged from the bathroom patting himself dry with the towel. He pulled a clean union suit from a dresser drawer and buttoned himself up before pulling on his pants. “Let me walk you back to the treehouse, Mrs. Thompson.”

Always so chivalrous! “I would like that very much, Mr. Thompson.”

He kissed her, and his breath tasted minty. He must have brushed his teeth while he was in the bathroom.

Taking her hand, he led her back down the stairs to the kitchen, where her robe lay in a pile on the floor. He picked it up and held it out for her to put her arms through and then pulled her close to tie the sash with a bow around her waist. “There. You look fresh as a daisy.”

“Ha!” She was anything but that, even after a bath.

“Hey.” He stepped back and held her shoulders, looking her up and down. “All kidding aside, are you sure you’re all right? Just say the word, and I’ll go home with you and talk to your pop tonight. He’d marry us before sunrise. And sure, people might talk, but I don’t care.”

No. He might have been willing to ignore propriety, but she couldn’t face disappointing her family like that. “That’s very sweet of you, but I’d like to wait. And don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m floating on a cloud.”

“Good.” He pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Just don’t forget I’m here for you any time you need me. Say the word, and I’ll come running. I’m all yours for the rest of my life.”

“I know. I feel the same. But I should get home.” She kissed him lightly and took his arm.

Slowly and solemnly, he led her through the yard to the foot of the rope ladder. Fortunately, the rain had stopped. She kissed him long and deep before turning to climb the damp ladder. “Goodnight, Mr. Thompson,” she said over her shoulder.

“Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well and dream of me.” He watched her as she climbed up and over, but she lost sight of him as she descended to her own yard.

Fortunately, the house looked as dark and peaceful as when she left. She tiptoed across the grass and let herself into the kitchen. It was dark and silent as she crept to the stairs. Just as she started to climb, a door scraped open, making her heart pound.

Her mother trudged down the stairs, eyes half closed, but they opened a bit when she spotted Constance. “What are you doing up?”

Hoping her voice wouldn’t shake, she answered, “I just needed a glass of water. What about you?”

“Same.” Her mother yawned. “Hot flash. Couldn’t sleep.”

Constance’s shoulders relaxed. Mom didn’t suspect, it seemed. “Well, goodnight.”

“G’night, sweetie.”

Her mother passed her and shuffled to the kitchen. Forcing herself to go slowly, Constance climbed the rest of the stairs and slipped into her room, collapsing on her bed as soon as she closed the door. That was a close call. If she was going to make a regular habit of sneaking out, she had to be more careful.

Three more months. Somehow, she could survive that long. Her heart would be in her throat every time he took off to fly the mail, but she would survive it. Somehow. Because for better or worse, she was marrying a pilot. After all they had done tonight, there was no going back.

26

Jack dressed in his best light gray summer suit for the ice cream social. It hadn’t been easy waiting until Sunday to see Constance again. He’d had to content himself with sending her flowers or cookies every day.

Every time he rang the doorbell, her father answered, eyes narrowed and arms crossed. It was like he knew exactly what the two of them had been up to on Thursday night, even though Jack was certain that if he actually found out, he would have performed a ceremony within the hour.