Alliances

Part 7

Sue Ellen and J.R. held hands, as they walked through the foyer, just as the phone started to ring. Teresa answered the telephone, and informed Sue Ellen that the call was for her. Sue Ellen thanked Teresa, and removed her earring before holding the phone to her ear.

Sue Ellen said, "Hello? Yes, I was married to Donald Jennings Lockwood. He has since passed away. What is this call about?"

J.R. looked at Sue Ellen, hoping for information regarding the phone call. Sue Ellen held her index finger in the air, telling J.R. that she would explain the call to him, momentarily.

Sue Ellen continued talking, "No, I don't know anything about his will. I wanted nothing more to do with him after our divorce."

J.R. stood next to Sue Ellen with his arms folded across his chest. He was becoming curious, and irritated as he listened to Sue Ellen's conversation. Don Lockwood was dead, and ancient history to both of them. What could this caller possibly have to say to Sue Ellen regarding Don that would be of any particular interest to her?

Sue Ellen said, 'Yes, I am fully aware of the circumstances involving Don's sister, Miranda Barrington."

J.R. rolled his eyes. Miranda Barrington was a world-class lunatic. His curiosity was getting the better of him. He strained his ear to see if he could hear snippets of the conversation.

Sue Ellen said, "That's impossible. I can't believe it. Yes, I do have a lawyer. His name is Harv Smithfield. He can be reached at the law firm of Smithfield & Bennett. Their telephone number is 219–555-3214. Thank you for calling."

Sue Ellen placed the telephone on the base, and turned to look at J.R.

J.R. asked, "What the hell did someone want with you regarding Don Lockwood?"

Sue Ellen put her earring back on her earlobe, and cleared her throat.

She said, "That was a lawyer representing Don's estate. Evidently, Miranda was named sole beneficiary, but in her current mental state, British law makes provisions for her care and welfare, but the estate will go into probate."

J.R.'s eyes lit up, Sue Ellen could stand to inherit a sizeable sum of money from Don's estate.

Sue Ellen continued, "The estate lawyer is going to contact Harv Smithfield and explain all of the details to him."

J.R. asked, "Does this mean you'll have to go back to London?"

Sue Ellen said, "God, I hope not. I don't ever want to go back there, unless I could convince you to go with me?"

J.R. smiled at her. He would follow her to the ends of the earth, if she asked him to.

He said, "I'll go anywhere you'd like, Sugar. Hopefully, Harv will be able to handle things from this end."

Sue Ellen exhaled, and said, "I hope you're right, J.R."

Sue Ellen walked upstairs, followed closely by J.R. J.R. held his arm around Sue Ellen's waist, while he opened their bedroom door for her. Sue Ellen walked inside the bedroom, while J.R. closed the door. Sue Ellen walked past the bed and stood in front of the window.

Damn, J.R. cursed under his breath. Why did Don's lawyer have to call and deflect Sue Ellen's mood from one of passion, to one of speculation? J.R. would just have to try to redirect her thoughts. He walked over to her, and placed his hands on her bare shoulders.

Sue Ellen leaned back against J.R., and asked, "Will I ever be free from that man?"

J.R. tried to lighten her mood, and said, "Of course you will, Sugar. I could help ease your mind, if you'd tell me more about that phone call. I'm in the dark about the details."

Sue Ellen laughed, and said, "I'm sorry, Darlin'. Evidently, Don named Miranda his sole beneficiary in his will. I didn't even know that he had a will. He never discussed things like that with me. Anyway, with Miranda living in a mental hospital, she'll have provisionary care, and all of the things she'll need while she's there, but Don's estate will go into probate. So, it seems that I am now entitled to the remainder of Don's estate."

J.R. raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Exactly what are we talkin' about here, Sue Ellen? Property, assets, what?"

Sue Ellen said, "I have no idea, J.R. This was the first time I'd heard about Don's will. I wish I'd never met that man, who knows what he's gotten me into, now."

J.R. put his arm around Sue Ellen, and said, "Let's go sit down, and we can talk about this, if you'd like?"

Sue Ellen nodded her head in agreement. J.R. walked her over to the end of the bed, and sat her down.

He sat next to her, and said, "I know that you've been through a lot since your divorce from Don, Sue Ellen. I can't tell you that I know what you're goin' through. I do know how painful divorce can be…"

Sue Ellen flashed him a hurtful glare, then backed down. J.R. had also been divorced before, three times, to be exact. He knew exactly what he was talking about.

Sue Ellen smiled at J.R. and said, "I'm sorry, J.R. Go on, please?"

J.R. held her hands in his, and said, "I can't compare how you must feel right now to how I felt when I found out that Daddy had died in Panama. The circumstances are as different as night and day. I can tell you this much, you've already been through the worst. I'm here for you, even if it's just to hold your hand, or if you need a shoulder to cry on, Sugar. I'm here for you. I love you, and I'll support you every step of the way."

Sue Ellen's eyes filled with tears. The man holding her hands was the same sturdy, and gentle man she had met and fell in love with so many years ago. He loved her now, as he did then, and his words were perfect. He told her all of the things that she needed to hear.

Sue Ellen wiped at her eyes, and said, "Thank you, J.R. What would I have ever done without your love and support through all of this?"

Sue Ellen leaned into J.R. and cupped his chin in her hand. J.R. kissed her palm, and held her wrist, as he moved in closer to her for a kiss. His lips felt warm against her mouth. The touch of his hands on her upper arms was strong, as he quickly pulled her to him.

J.R. fought his urge to remove her bathing suit. He wanted her, desperately, but he questioned if the timing was right. Sue Ellen allayed his doubts, as she lowered the straps of her bathing suit. The molded cups of the bathing suit clung to her firm breasts.

J.R. watched as the straps slid down her arms. Sue Ellen lowered her eyes to his lap, and leered at him, as she became aware of his aroused state. She moved her hand to the elastic waistband of his black swim trunks. J.R. inhaled deeply, as she slipped a long, manicured finger underneath the waistband. J.R. lowered Sue Ellen on top of the mattress.

He softly spoke, "Are you sure this is what you want, Honey?"

Sue Ellen said, "I've never been more sure, J.R. I want you, and I need you, and I love you more than I can say."

J.R. kissed Sue Ellen as he lay on top of her. His hand fell to her waist, as she reached her hand up to the side of his head. She ran her fingers through his silver and grey hair, as he deepened his kiss. She arched her back to allow for him to remove her bathing suit. He moved stretchy fabric slid over her hips, and pulled it over her legs, dropping it onto the floor. J.R. eyes scanned her entire body, as his eyes turned an intensely dark shade of blue. Sue Ellen pulled J.R.'s head down to hers. She opened her mouth and kissed him. J.R. returned her kiss, measure for measure. His hand moved from her waist to her ribs, he felt her soft skin, cool to his touch, but burning with smoldering desire.

God, Sue Ellen was beautiful, J.R. thought. She was his very own Miss Texas. He didn't waste any time in taking her. She writhed underneath him, as he moved against her. Each thrust of his hips sparked a flame that could easily consume them. Sue Ellen's breathing became raspy, as her heart hammered inside her chest. She tightly held onto his arms, as she reached the climax of their lovemaking. J.R. arched his back as he, too, was swept away by the earth-shattering culmination of their union.

Sue Ellen was the first to break the deafening silence that hung over them in the bedroom.

She said, "J.R. I don't know how you do it, but you get better each time we make love."

J.R. lifted his head, and said, "I can't be anything but good where you're concerned, Sugar."

He gently kissed her forehead, as she closed her eyes, and tightened her grip on his arms.

J.R. kissed her closed eyelids. Her eyelashes fluttered against his lips. Her lashes tickled his lips, and he rubbed at them to dissipate the effect. Sue Ellen opened her eyes, and her gaze met J.R.'s probing blue pools. His fierce gaze seared into her soul, leaving her powerless to resist any question he posed to her.

J.R. spoke, "Do you have any idea how easily you can get to me with just one look? Your eyes are hypnotic, Honey. When you look at me like that, I get weak. My stomach fills with butterflies, and I can't breathe. I find myself reaching out to touch you, even after you've left the room."

Sue Ellen's voice was a whisper, as she said, "I know how you feel, J.R. There have been times when you look at me from across the room, and the only thing I can think about is how much I want you to make love to me, how much I want to feel your hands touching me all over. I've resorted to sneaking up here into your closet, and smelling your clothes. I feel like, if I close my eyes, and breathe in deep, that you'll somehow magically appear out of the blue."

J.R. laughed, as he absently played with a stray strand of Sue Ellen's hair. He kissed her and lowered his head next to hers on the pillow. They fell asleep on top of the mattress.

J.R. awoke a few hours later, when he heard the sound of a car stopping in the driveway.

He carefully rolled over, and climbed out of bed. He picked up his robe, and put it on, tying the sash around his waist. He walked over to the bedroom window and peered outside. Clayton and Miss Ellie finally came back home from their day at the State Fair.

J.R. looked at his watch. It was after ten at night. He wondered if Bobby, Christopher and John Ross were still at the fair?

Sue Ellen sat up in bed, and asked, "J.R., is anything wrong?"

J.R. turned around and said, "No, Sugar. Mamma and Clayton just got back from their day at the fair. I was just wonderin' when John Ross and Christopher, and even Bobby would be comin' home."

Sue Ellen asked, "How late is it, Darlin'?"

J.R. walked over to the bed, and said, "It's not too late, just a little past ten. I'm hungry, would you like to walk downstairs with me and get somethin' to eat?"

Sue Ellen glanced down at her lap. The sheet had fallen off of her chest, as she sat in the moonlit room.

J.R. stared at her exposed breasts, and said, "Uh…Maybe we can grab somethin' and bring it back up here?"

Sue Ellen shook her head, and said, "You never stop, do you?"

J.R. said, "Hell no, Sugar. You're the one fillin' my head with all sorts of notions about how much you enjoy it when we make love."

Sue Ellen smirked at his comment.

She said, "Let me put on a nightgown, and grab my robe and we can go downstairs."

J.R. watched as Sue Ellen walked past him to her armoire. She pulled out a white lacy nightgown, and a matching peignoir. He watched as she slid the frilly fabric of the gown over her head, and loosely tied the laces on the bodice of the gown. The gown hung gracefully from her body. She slipped the peignoir over her arms, and smiled at J.R.

He opened the door for her, as his eyes followed her as she walked in front of him.

They walked down the hallway to the staircase. Miss Ellie and Clayton were walking up the staircase at the same time.

Sue Ellen asked, "How was the fair?"

Miss Ellie, exclaimed, "The Royal Canadian Mounted Police exhibit at the coliseum was delightful. Such exceptionally trained horses, you wouldn't believe it."

J.R. said, "Well, Mamma, Clayton, if you'll excuse us. Sue Ellen is hungry, and you know you shouldn't keep a hungry woman waitin'."

Sue Ellen's jaw dropped, and she swatted at J.R.'s arm.

She said, "J.R. Ewing, you are impossible! You're the one who wanted to get somethin' to eat."

J.R. laughed out loud, and said, "I was only teasin' you, Sugar. We'll see y'all in the mornin'. Night Mamma, Clayton."

Sue Ellen said, "Good night, you two. We'll see you at breakfast."

Miss Ellie smiled at Clayton, and said, "Isn't it wonderful how well they're gettin' along, lately?"

Clayton said, "It is, Ellie. I just hope that it will last."

J.R. overheard the exchange between his Mamma and Clayton. His Mamma was right, it was wonderful how well he and Sue Ellen had been getting along. Didn't anyone notice the changes in him besides Sue Ellen?

Their opinions didn't matter that much, they were nice to hear when they were complimentary, but that happened all too infrequently. He wasn't going to let what Clayton said about him and Sue Ellen, bother him. He would simply store the tidbit of information in his memory future use…