Summer Solace (21 page)

“Though I definitely want to know what I missed about pink bottoms, right now someone feed me!” 

Gabe jumped up to see Jake had returned and hurried to fix him a plate.

Jake sank down onto a chair and acted as if he was totally exhausted. “Don’t think serving me one meal is going to be all you owe me, Gabriel Jamison,” Jake warmed. “Driving with that woman and listening to her cry and moan about not being good enough for you almost drove me off a cliff.” 

Joanna flushed and felt a moment’s worth of insecurity. She needn’t have. Jake sat up and reached across to place his hand on her knee.

Jake smiled as he said, “Thank God almighty that you and Gabe got back together. He has not been himself for years, but man, seeing him stop Tanya in her tracks simply to get to you, well, Joanna, that tells me our older brother is a goner.” 

Gabe handed him his plate and slapped him on the back. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll make it up to you,” he promised, meaning every word.

Jake grinned and accepted a cold soda from Karen. He listened as she explained the new flag system. As he ate, he nodded and said, “Good, we’ll take the blue one.” 

Karen smiled as she looked at him. He ruffled her hair. “I do believe a moonlight swim will refresh me from that long drive, don’t you, my love?  You can tell me what Joanna meant by a pink bottom even as I watch you turn blue.” 

Karen shook her head in exasperation. She smiled and nodded knowing she could always count on a Jamison man never to let things become routine.

“I’d love to swim with you, sweetheart. We’ll see who turns the bluest,” Karen said. “I’ll be ready when you are.” 

Jake relaxed into his chair. He knew a few moments spent eating and recovering from the long round–trip drive would allow him to better attend to his wife that evening. He was intrigued by the arrangements made for the adults of the group. His family seemed capable of making any surrounding seem like home.

Dana and Scott retired early and then Jake and Karen left the group to take care of business. Jake waved the flag above his head and laughed when his wife swatted his butt. Shelley and Eric left to check on all the children and Amber came to sit by Joanna and Gabe. She seemed a bit uneasy but then surprised them both.

“I want to discuss something with you and ask you both just to wait and let me finish before saying no.” 

Gabe nodded as did Joanna. Amber smiled.

“Okay, I know you had a guy that quit. I want to take his place.” 

Gabe’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Joanna sat forward in her chair. Amber spoke faster, “Gabe, it would only be for the summer and I talked to Kim and she said that Steven was only a summer hire as well. I’ll still get to school on time, but Gabe, this would be so much better than having to wait tables. Please, if Joanna says it’s okay, please let me do this.” 

Gabe saw that she was sincere. Amber had always loved being outside and he knew she would do the very best job she could. He also knew she expected him to immediately nix her idea. It was his turn to surprise her.

“That’s not a bad idea,” he conceded. He saw the light shining in his sister’s eyes and held out his hand. “Hold up, Amber. It will be up to Joanna. If she says yes, then there are other things to work out.” 

Amber turned immediately to Joanna, who smiled.

“I think it is a great idea, Amber,” Joanna said. “I’ve seen you camp and out on the river. You’d have to take a few training courses but between Kim, Dan and me, we could work that out. I’d need you to stay until Labor Day, as that is the last big holiday of the summer. Would that interfere with your classes?” 

Amber shook her head eagerly before answering, “No, college starts the week after. God, this is fantastic!  I’ll be a great employee, Joanna. I promise you won’t be sorry.” 

Joanna laughed when the girl threw her arms around her in a huge hug. She jumped up and hugged her brother next. Gabe returned the hug.

“You will need to go home and pack your clothes and the books you are to study before the semester starts,” he reminded her. Amber nodded as if she had expected that. He smiled and continued, “Honey, you are going to need a place to stay as well.”  Her face fell for the first time and then she grinned.

“Hey, I can just camp all summer,” she suggested. “I probably would move down the mountain a bit so I’d be closer to work, but I know I could do it. How about that?”  

Joanna appreciated her enthusiasm but knew the reality of camping for months rather than a few days would take most of the glamour out of the outdoors.

“That’s not necessary, Amber,” Joanna said. “I’ve got an extra room and you can bunk with me.” 

Amber squealed and then almost knocked her new boss over when giving her another hug. “Thank you, Joanna,” she said. “I’m going to go tell Shelley!” 

Gabe was shaking his head when Joanna turned to look at him.

“What’s wrong?  Didn’t you want her to get a job?” Joanna asked.

He smiled and reached over and pulled her out of her chair before pulling her down onto his lap. “I think it’s great she has a job and I do think she’ll be a great employee for you,” Gabe answered knowing it was a true statement. “But, geez, roomies?  What about me?” 

He looked so sad that Joanna giggled and cupped his face in her hands.

“Poor baby! Everything will be fine,” she promised.

His eyes said he didn’t believe her. She gave him a kiss before saying, “Gabriel, Amber is not a child. She is an adult and has grown up in your family surrounded by men who have way too much testosterone and women who love that fact. If she is old enough to get paddled and not make a huge deal about it, she is old enough to understand how the people she loves find solace with each other. She’ll give us plenty of room. She’s a great young woman. Trust her, Gabe, I don’t think she’ll disappoint you.” 

Gabe nodded and then held her close.

“You are a very kind and very smart woman, Ranger Calloway and I love you,” he said softly. She felt her heart swell and snuggled into him. She gave a short squeal when he stood up, holding her in his arms. He bent his head down and whispered in her ear, “If my little sister is going to be moving into the room next to yours, I’m going to take every private moment until then. Clear?” 

Joanna laughed and the sound was delightful as it rang through the camp. “Crystal, Sir,” she answered with a smile.

They informed the others that they were going to Joanna’s. Gabe told Amber that he would take her home the next day to get the necessary papers that Joanna would need to formally hire her as well as her other things. She promised to be ready whenever he was. Gabe told Eric that if he and the others agreed, they could move most of the children into his now empty tent. Eric nodded and Shelley smiled. It would be great having a bit more tent space for themselves. Amber offered her tent as well, but the offer was immediately rescinded by her brother.

“Hey, Squirt. You might start work soon, but, honey, believe me, no one is moving in with Joanna until this reunion is over,” Gabe said. “Everyone came to spend time with you, remember.” 

Amber chanced rolling her eyes. “Wow, the stories men can come up with, especially when it is now obvious to everyone that you are going to be spending your nights with Joanna. Talk about double standards.” 

Joanna had to laugh. Amber was only speaking the truth. Gabe looked momentarily contrite and then grinned. He countered, “Nope, Jo is family so we are just having our private reunion as well as our family one. See you in the morning, Brat. You’d better get some sleep now as it will be early.” 

Amber nodded and gave Gabe and Joanna another hug.

Shelley watched, thrilled that everything was working out, but more importantly, she couldn’t wait to tell Dana and Karen that Joanna had definitely come home.

Chapter 15

The drive to Joanna’s was quiet as both thought of all that had happened in the short time they’d been reunited. By the time they unlocked the door and stepped inside, both wanted nothing more than to claim each other again. Gabe made sure everything was locked up before joining Joanna in her bedroom. She was standing by the side of the bed, waiting for him and surprised to find she felt a bit nervous. Gabe walked to her and drew her into his arms, his chin resting on top of her head.

“I love you, Jo,” he said and felt her relax against him. He lifted her face with his finger and bent to kiss her softly. She felt her entire body begin to warm, her stomach fluttering as her desire for this man flamed. He set her a bit away from him. “Lift up your arms,” he whispered.

Joanna closed her eyes briefly as her stomach fluttered and she obeyed. He lifted her dress off and over her head. She stood still as he quietly admired her. Her lingerie was black, the strapless bra barely concealing the fullness of her breasts. He smiled and turned her around to admire her backside. Joanna blushed knowing he was looking at her bottom. She heard him chuckle and she had to giggle as well.

“Well, that certainly keeps fabric off a spanked bottom, doesn’t it?” he said.

She nodded, having changed into the thong after her paddling. It was only another moment before he turned her back to face him. She watched as he dropped to his knees before her. He removed her shoes and then slowly dragged the skimpy thong down her long legs and instructed her to step out of it. Joanna had her hands on his shoulders, her head thrown back as he kissed his way up her legs. When he reached her knees, he ordered, “Open your legs for me, Jo.”

She shuddered but instantly obeyed.

Gabe smiled at her obedience and rewarded her by continuing his path up her body. She began to tremble, her desire spiraling as his lips caressed her inner thighs.

“Gabe,” she moaned as she attempted to pull him up from the floor. He briefly looked up and grinned.

“Don’t be naughty. Put your hands behind your back and keep them there. I want to love you, not spank you,” he said, his voice husky.

She shuddered but nodded.

He continued to kiss and then lick her until his mouth found its ultimate goal. Joanna gasped as his tongue flicked over her. Her heart threatened to stop with the intense pleasure he was giving her. She tried to stay still but was soon squirming, as his tongue possessed her. Gabe spread her thighs further apart and held them there with his hands. He felt her nails dig into his shoulders and grinned.

“Naughty girl, hands down,” he said.

She moaned as he removed his hands from her thighs and pulled hers back behind her. He stood for a moment and walked to her dresser. Joanna stood trembling, her heart pounding as she watched him rummage through her drawer. He held up a pair of apple red panties and smiled. “God, I love your taste in underwear.” 

She giggled and then stopped abruptly when she saw him return holding a silk stocking. Gabe walked back to her, once again turning her so that her back was to him. She felt one hand trailing over her naked bottom the other running up her spine. Joanna thought she would collapse at any moment. She felt him tie the stocking around her hands and instantly felt secure in his dominance. He was in control. She was his to do with as he pleased and he pleased to pleasure her.

“Bend forward,” he said, his tone low and demanding. She bent at the waist, her stance allowing her to keep her balance even with her hands bound behind her. “Naughty girls who don’t keep their hands where they’ve been told need a reminder, don’t they, Joanna?” 

She shuddered and moaned. “Yes, Sir,” she managed to whisper.

Gabe ran the flat of his hand over her bottom. She was panting when she felt his hand move to slide between her parted thighs. Her groan of need almost undid his concentration. She was soaking wet, her arousal absolutely complete. He grinned and allowed his finger to barely flick against her straining clit.

“Gabe! Oh, Gabriel,” she groaned and attempted to press down against his finger. Gabe chuckled and removed his hand. She squealed as he gave her a swift, hard swat against her bottom cheek.

“Where will your hands be, Joanna?” he asked as he swatted her other cheek.

She jerked and moaned, the heat caused by his hand going straight to her sex. “Where - wherever you order, Sir. Please, oh Gabriel!” she begged, her body on fire.

He gave each cheek another swat before dropping to his knees again.

Joanna didn’t know if she would last any longer. He was no longer in front of her, he was kneeling behind her, his hands on her spanked bottom, rubbing it in circles.

“Spread wider and bend forward more. Put your head and shoulders down on the bed,” he ordered and watched as she obeyed. He could feel her trembling as he used his hands to spread her legs even further apart. His tongue snaked between her lips and delved inside. He could feel her clench and hear her moan. He tasted her again and again before allowing the tip of his tongue to scrape over her swollen clit.

“Oh, God,” she moaned and almost collapsed.

Gabe held her steady as he circled that tiny nub with his tongue again and again. When he felt her tense, he knew she was incredibly close. He moved to swipe his tongue against the lips of her pussy and then ran it up through her curls.

“Please? Oh, please, Sir!”

He adored her moans and pleas and looked up to see her hands clenching and unclenching in her binding.

“Sh, settle, sweetheart. The fun is in the journey,” he promised.

Joanna wanted to smack him. She wanted to race to the final destination, not bothering to look at the scenery along the way.

Gabe chuckled again and began to kiss and lick all over the surface of her bottom. When his hands gently pulled the globes of her bottom apart and his tongue began to slide up and down the sensitive skin of her inner cheeks, Joanna shuddered violently. She moaned deeply when his tongue barely touched the opening of her bottom. When it broadened and swept across the puckered opening several times, Joanna almost exploded.

“Gabe - oh, Gabriel,” she moaned, her legs shaking, her breath coming in desperate pants as if the room did not contain enough oxygen to sustain life.

Gabe continued to kiss and play before finally returning his mouth to where she craved it. She choked and screamed as he sucked the entirety of her clit into his mouth and pressed it up against the roof of his mouth. He was aware of her keening but concentrated on bringing her to completion. He released her clit only to take it between his teeth. Joanna felt herself spiraling up, her entire body preparing to explode. When he closed his teeth and ground her clit lightly, she screamed and fell over the edge. Gabe held her in his hands, her body convulsing again and again on his tongue. Her hands were pulling against their binding in her passion. Gabe continued to lick and suckle her lightly until she stopped convulsing. He stood and released her hands before pulling her upright and scooping her into his arms. She laid her head on his neck, her breath coming in short pants.