Chapter 7
Slowly, Lonnie Winston's senses began to return to her, and her warm glow of contentment began to fade as she remembered that at last she'd been fulfilled by a man ... two men and a male dog, to be exact ... but mainly by the forceful vengeance of a man who hated and despised her. Sam had finally conquered her, and she had truly succumbed to him and Brutus ... and to anybody else he'd wished, his hold over her was that strong now. But it was too late for her. With returning bitterness, she knew that he held her out of vengeance and fury, not love and compassion....
"Jeeee-zus!" she heard Olin Hale gasp in ragged breaths. "That was the damnedest four-way split I've ever had!"
Lonnie cringed, waiting for the blistering, sarcastic comments she was certain would come from Sam's lips in response.
"Yeah ... I sure have to hand it to Lonnie," Sam sighed in reply. "She's one of the finest lovers a man could have!"
Lonnie was struck dumb by Sam's praising words. Unable to stop herself, she stared unashamedly at the handsome officer who was her partner and lover, and saw an infinite amount of the old tenderness she knew so well returning to his expression as he gazed back at her. She opened her mouth to speak several times, before she finally managed to say anything at all.
"But ... but you hate me, Sam! You hate me too much to say a thing like that and ... and mean it!"
"But I do mean it, Lonnie ... honey," Sam confessed. "When I came here and saw you with Brutus, all I wanted to do was kill you. But not any longer." He looked at her with passionate eyes. "Honey, I love you!"
"And I ... I think I love you," Lonnie responded. "It took awhile-"
"And a dog!" he interrupted.
"Yes, and a dog ... to make me a whole woman. But now I'm over being that shallow, prissy female you met, Sam. I'm me, the entire me, and every cell in my new body loves you!"
"Then ... you'll marry me?" Sam asked hesitantly, still unsure that this miraculous change was true.
"Tomorrow, darling!" Lonnie sighed, her heart pounding powerfully in her chest. God, how fulfilling her life would be! It was going to be beautiful for all of them! Yes ... everything had turned out all right after all! "At once ... and forever, darling!"
"Can I be the best man?" Olin requested.
"I don't see why not," Sam agreed.
Suddenly Brutus began barking angrily. The three naked people all turned to look at the dog, and then they all burst out laughing.
"Well, I'm sorry, Olin," Sam chuckled, "but I guess Brutus wants to be best man instead!"
"Just my luck," Olin complained. "Always the bridesmaid!"