Alliances

Part 21

J.R. Ewing mischievously leered at his new bride, before lifting her into his arms, and carrying her over the threshold of his bedroom at Southfork Ranch. Once he and his blushing bride were inside the bedroom, he kicked the door closed behind them. A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket of ice on a table in the corner of the room.

J.R.'s bride trembled nervously in her husband's arms. The moment they had both been waiting for had finally arrived. J.R. Ewing, and his virgin bride would soon be making love. Sue Ellen was fascinated and terrified by the man who held her in his arms. The heir to the throne of Ewing Oil, John Ross Ewing II had taken Sue Ellen Shepherd as his bride.

Sue Ellen would, on that rare occasion, allow J.R. to kiss her here, or touch her there, but she vowed to remain pure, until they were married. Now that the moment had arrived, she wondered if she had been wrong to keep him waiting? What if the consummation of their relationship was as frightening, and as painful as her Momma, Patricia Shepherd had described?

J.R. placed Sue Ellen on top of his bed, gazing at her as the skirt of her wedding gown fanned out around her long, slender legs. Sue Ellen was too scared to meet J.R.'s steel blue gaze, but too mesmerized by her attraction to him to turn away from his penetrating stare. She wanted to announce to the world that this handsome man had declared his love for her in a wedding ceremony, and with any luck, would soon claim her as his only love.

Sue Ellen felt her pulse race as she watched her husband remove his tuxedo jacket.

The look on J.R.'s face was one she had only seen in movies she and her younger sister, Kristin, would sneak into while their Momma was out shopping in San Antonio. The look on her husband's face could best be described as unbridled lust.

J.R. spoke to Sue Ellen in a voice she had heard on occasion, when she had permitted him to kiss her too deeply, or touch her in a way that she knew she shouldn't, but couldn't resist. J.R. Ewing had a distinct way of touching Sue Ellen that made her ache for him to go further. The only other man she had ever considered going all the way with was her first honest to goodness crush, Clint Ogden.

She had actually considered having sex with Clint in a hotel room, while in her sophomore year as a student at the University of Texas, at Austin. That event never came to fruition for either of them, because Clint came up short for the money it would cost for the hotel room. Looking back, Sue Ellen concluded that it was probably for the best. J.R. wouldn't want to marry her if she hadn't been a virgin.

J.R. said, "Why don't you go change into somethin' more comfortable, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen lifted her hand to her necklace, tremulously moving the strand of pearls back and forth between her fingers. Always obedient, Sue Ellen did as J.R. had instructed. She stepped off of the bed, and walked toward the bathroom. Sue Ellen closed the door of the large bathroom behind her, and leaned against the vanity.

Lord, give me courage, she silently begged, as she glanced at the sheer, pale pink-colored nightgown with the lacy bodice, and the high-cut leg openings. J.R. had often commented to her about how any decent, self-respectin' woman should dress, and behave in the presence of a man. To J.R. Ewing, there were two kinds of women in this world, the kind of woman a man dates, and the kind of woman a man marries.

J.R. had declared that Sue Ellen was the marrying kind. At the time of his proposal, she considered it a noble sacrifice to fulfill her Momma's wishes, and live out the rest of her life as the wealthy wife of one of Dallas' most eligible bachelors. Now that Sue Ellen would soon be J.R.'s wife, in every aspect of the word, she was terrified.

Sue Ellen slipped out of her wedding gown, and reached for the nightgown on the satin covered hanger, on the hook behind the bathroom door. She slipped the gown over her head, and absently placed her arms through the thin straps of the gown. She was afraid to look in the mirror, fearing that she would never leave the room, and delay consummating her marriage to a man she had grown to respect and admire. Love would come for both of them soon enough, she mused.

Sue Ellen put her wedding gown and her slip on the hanger Miss Ellie had set aside for her on the vanity countertop. She stepped out of the bathroom, and gingerly walked into the bedroom. She noticed the color of the bedroom walls. They were painted a powder-blue shade, nowhere near as brilliant as the color of J.R.'s blue eyes. J.R.'s sharp intake of breath convinced Sue Ellen that he approved of how she looked in the simple, yet elegant nightgown.

J.R. stood next to the table in the corner of the bedroom. He was dressed in a navy blue robe, and apparently, nothing else. Sue Ellen's eyes fell to the thatch of dark brown hair on his chest. She quickly diverted her attention, shamed by her thoughts. J.R. had opened the champagne bottle, and poured champagne into glasses for him and Sue Ellen. J.R. held out a glass of champagne for Sue Ellen.

J.R. touched Sue Ellen's fingers as she reached for the glass of the chilled champagne. God, his touch felt as if it would burn her hands. She had never felt this way before. She prayed that in time, J.R. would grow to love her as much as she believed that she truly loved him.

J.R. said, "To my wife, Mrs. John Ross Ewing, II."

Sue Ellen's voice was shaking with fear, as she whispered, "Thank you, J.R."

J.R. quickly downed the contents of his glass, and stepped toward Sue Ellen. He removed the full glass of champagne from her hand, and placed it on the table. Sue Ellen lowered her eyes, unable to look at J.R. She was afraid that J.R. would know what she was thinking about, and regret his proposal of marriage.

J.R. touched Sue Ellen's upper arms, and pulled her to him for a kiss. His hot mouth covered her lips, as she braced her hands against his chest. She felt her knees buckle as J.R.'s insistent tongue forced her mouth open. The taste of champagne lingered on his tongue. God, he was an amazing kisser, she thought. She found herself wondering how many women he had kissed the way he was kissing her now?

J.R. was becoming highly aroused, as Sue Ellen yielded to his demands on her mouth. He had never been with a virgin, before. Sue Ellen Shepherd had proved to be a challenge for J.R. He would soon be able to add the former Miss Texas to the impressive list of his conquests.

J.R. pulled away from Sue Ellen, before picking her up into his arms, and carrying her over to his bed. Sue Ellen lovingly leaned her head into the crook of J.R.'s neck. J.R. glanced down at the revealing bodice of Sue Ellen's nightgown. She had permitted J.R. to fondle her breasts, but he hadn't been allowed to see her without clothing. That would change soon enough, he mused.

J.R. lowered Sue Ellen on top of the mattress. He untied the sash on his robe. Sue Ellen tried desperately not to look at his lower half. She turned her head, not trusting herself, or her avid curiosity. J.R. slid his fingers underneath one of the straps of her nightgown. Sue Ellen started to shake, as his hand grazed her shoulder. God, she wanted this man, she thought, then, quickly shied away from her wanton feelings.

J.R. lowered the gown over Sue Ellen's shoulders. The gown fell past her elbows, and gathered around her slender waist. The rise and fall of Sue Ellen's firm breasts held J.R.'s enthralled attention. Sue Ellen lowered her head, afraid that J.R. might be disappointed in how she looked to him. J.R. gently eased Sue Ellen onto her back, and pulled the gown past her hips.

J.R.'s eyes widened, as he stared at his prize. Sue Ellen's nude, nubile body was spellbinding to J.R. He wondered why Sue Ellen had waited so long to give herself to a man, when she had so much to offer a man, any man, so much that she had chosen to give to him.

Sue Ellen instinctively lifted her hips off of the bed, as J.R. moved on top of her. J.R. moved his hand up Sue Ellen's thigh. Sue Ellen gasped, at the feel of his hand on her exposed skin. J.R. leered at Sue Ellen as his face hovered in front of her. He voraciously kissed her lips, pushing her lips apart with his skilled tongue. Sue Ellen rallied his kiss, gently at first, then slowly increasing in pressure.

Sue Ellen's resolve melted at the touch of J.R.'s mouth pressed firmly against her satin lips. Sue Ellen's hands lifted to J.R.'s shoulders, as she pulled him to her, aching for him to continue his pursuit. Sue Ellen had never allowed her self to enjoy a man's touch as much as she did at this moment.

J.R. reached behind Sue Ellen and lifted her hips into the air. Sue Ellen arched her back, as J.R. took her. She turned her head away from his gaze, as she bit her bottom lip in response to the sharp pain. A sound resembling a muffled cry escaped her lips, as she closed her eyes tightly, trying to escape the strange conflict she was feeling between earth- shattering pleasure, and the anguished pain of losing her virginity.

Sue Ellen soon found herself anxiously trying to return the pleasure J.R. was giving her. She thrust her hips against him, and grinned as she saw the look of desire spread across J.R.'s face. The harder J.R. thrust his hips into Sue Ellen, the tighter she held onto his shoulders. J.R. cursed aloud, as Sue Ellen's fingernails tore into the flesh on his back.

Sue Ellen closed her eyes, desperately trying to envision one of her matinee idols on top of her, like Sean Connery, or her heartthrob, Robert Redford. Sue Ellen didn't care if a lady wasn't supposed to enjoy sex, like her Momma had always tried to impress upon her. Sue Ellen was thoroughly enjoying the way it felt to have a man like J.R. Ewing make love to her.

J.R. grunted as he continued his skilled gyrations. Sue Ellen was glad that her first lover knew what he was doing, and knew how to please a woman. Sue Ellen wanted to please J.R., more than anything. She secretly checked out a book from the library. She didn't care much for the pictures, but she learned that if she moved against a man, just so, she could make him give her everything he had to give.

Sue Ellen grabbed at the tangled sheets, as she cried, "Oh, J.R…."

J.R. shouted, "Oh, God, Honey…"

Sue Ellen hugged J.R. to her chest as he collapsed on top of her. So that's how it felt, she mused. She wanted to laugh out loud. Not bad for your first time, Sue Ellen, she silently said. J.R. certainly didn't sound disappointed. Don't worry, Darlin', you'll get better in time, trust your intuition, enjoy the way he feels, she told herself…

Sue Ellen awoke to the sound of a car stopping in the driveway at Southfork. Sue Ellen was dazed, as she looked around the veranda. She had fallen asleep, and dreamt about the first time J.R. made love to her, after their first marriage. J.R. walked over to the veranda, and leaned down to kiss Sue Ellen.

J.R. asked. "How was your day, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen realized that she was still holding onto the towel she held from her dream. Sue Ellen draped the towel over her legs, threw her arms around J.R's neck, and hungrily kissed him. J.R. was thrilled and surprised all at once by Sue Ellen's eagerness.

J.R. pulled away, and asked, "What's wrong, Sue Ellen?

Sue Ellen smiled at J.R., and said, "Nothin's wrong, J.R. I just missed you. Did you get everything settled with your contractor?"

J.R.'s eyes swept over Sue Ellen's figure, admiring the way her bathing suit accentuated her curves. He wondered why her face was flushed, and she appeared to have been perspiring.

J.R. grinned at Sue Ellen, and said, "Yeah, for now. Randy said that he'd call me if anything else came up."

J.R. continued, "That's a nice lookin' bathin' suit you're wearin', Honey. Is it new?"

Sue Ellen glanced up at J.R., and said, "No, I bought it some time ago. I don't wear it very often, it was the first suit I pulled out of a drawer in my armoire."

J.R. sat down next to Sue Ellen, placing his arm around her waist. J.R. pulled Sue Ellen onto his lap, and kissed her neck. Sue Ellen tilted her head to one side to give J.R. better access to the soft skin of her neck. His moist lips felt cool against her sun-warmed skin.

Sue Ellen pulled away from J.R., and said, "J.R. I hate to bring this up, but have you heard anything from anyone about the new Valentine ads?"

J.R. said, "No, not really. Randy asked me if I'd seen the billboards. He said that he was going to stop by the boutique and get somethin' like the model was wearin' for his girlfriend. Why do you ask?"

Sue Ellen said, " I've been doin' a lot of thinkin', and I might consider an offer I've been mullin' over for some time. The store manager of the Chicago boutique made me an offer to buy the entire company. I could sell, while profits are up, and no one would be the wiser."

The store manager of the Chicago Valentine Lingerie boutique was a man named Carson De Witt. The model whose proofs were originally intended for the new line of lingerie was Carson's fiancée, Claudia. Carson was a nouveau riche yuppie windbag, whom Sue Ellen didn't particularly care for, and despised having to work with.

J.R. said, "I can't tell you what to do, Sugar. That decision is one you'll have to make on your own. I can invite you to join me for lunch, though."

Sue Ellen took J.R.'s outstretched hand in hers, as they walked into the house. J.R. glanced at Sue Ellen, wondering why she wanted to sell her company, when just a week or so earlier, she seemed dead-set against it. Sometimes, J.R. simply didn't understand Sue Ellen.

J.R. stopped Sue Ellen once they were inside their bedroom, and said, "I stopped by that photography studio, and paid for duplicate prints of the original proofs I wanted taken of you wearin' lingerie, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen said, "Really? May I see them?"

J.R. flashed Sue Ellen a bewildered look, and asked, "What do you mean? Didn't you see them when they were dropped off at your boutique?"

Sue Ellen replied, "No, why do you think I was so upset when I found out about the mix-up with the proofs?"

J.R. put his hand over his mouth, and rubbed at his chin.

He said, "Damn, Sue Ellen. I really do owe you an apology. I guess I just assumed that you knew about the pictures they used in the new ads."

Sue Ellen gave J.R. a hurt look, and asked, "Is that the reason why you were so angry with me? You held me responsible for those pictures getting' printed in the ads, didn't you?"

J.R. sat down on the edge of the bed, and said in a low voice, "Yes…I don't know what I can say to convince you how terrible I feel about reactin' the way I did."

Sue Ellen glared at J.R., before turning away from him to walk into the bathroom. "

She hissed under her breath, "That miserable, selfish, self-centered, son-of-a…"

Sue Ellen's voice trailed off, as J.R. opened the door to the bathroom, and said, "You aren't gonna walk away from me like this, Sue Ellen. I said that I was sorry. What more do you want from me?"

Sue Ellen turned around and said, "All I ever wanted from you was a little respect, and for you to love me, J.R. Evidently, I can have one or the other, but not both. Does that sound about right?"

J.R. growled at her, "Hell, no! You know damn well that I love you, and I respect you, Sue Ellen. Why do we always end up fightin'?"

Sue Ellen cautiously gazed at J.R., and said, "Isn't that the question I'm supposed to ask?"

J.R. stepped closer to Sue Ellen, and said, "I told you that I was sorry, Sue Ellen. Didn't our night in Chicago mean anything to you?"

Sue Ellen softly said, "Wow, the shoe is on the other foot, now. Isn't it? I owe you an apology, J.R."

J.R. pulled her to his chest, and said, "You'll have the rest of our lives together to make it up to me, Sugar. Startin' now."

J.R. reached for Sue Ellen's hand, as he opened the bathroom door. That first night they made love together, so many years ago, would be incomparable to what J.R. had in store for Sue Ellen…