She grabbed the bench with one hand, and her hat with the other as he slapped the horse, and the buggy sped up. Her husband’s lips were set in a grim line, and sweat beaded his forehead.
Well, I wonder what I did wrong this time?
Nate parked the buggy in front of the hotel, and they entered the dining room. With Nate’s hand pressed firmly to her lower back, he steered her past several people he acknowledged, stopping every once in a while to introduce her. Each time she met someone new, she felt more welcome.
The smell from roast beef, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and biscuits on most diners’ plates made her stomach growl. It was so good to eat a meal she hadn’t struggled over. She’d never appreciated all the years everything had been done for her. Still, she experienced a certain amount of satisfaction in doing things for herself. She grinned.
And her family.
Less than an hour later, the only thing keeping her from enjoying her dessert of dried apple pie and coffee, was the way Nate kept drumming his fingers on the table. He seemed terribly jumpy.
“Everything all right?” Angel asked, her hand covering the strong fingers that tapped relentlessly on the table.
“Just fine.” He flashed a quick smile, and taking a final gulp of his coffee, slid his chair back. “Are you ready?”
Angel nodded as she wiped her mouth with the napkin. Before she could place it on the table, he jumped up, pulled her chair out so fast he almost dumped her on the floor. As they left the dining room, Nate put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the front desk in the hotel area.
A small, dark haired man stood behind the desk, leaning over a spread-out newspaper. He glanced up as they approached. “Hey, Nate, long time no see. How’s the family?”
“Great.” He barely got the word out before he continued. “Ernest, my wife is feeling poorly. Headache, you know. I wonder if we could have a room for a couple hours so she can rest away from the noise of the children?”
Her head whipped around as she turned in surprise to listen to Nate tell this bold-faced lie. What was he up to?
The man smiled and extended his hand. “I heard you got married. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Nate nodded. “The key?”
“Oh, sure thing, Nate. I imagine things are a little noisy out at your place. We usually have an open room in the afternoon.” He nodded at them both. “Room Twelve,” he added as he handed them a key, and went back to his reading.
Nate brought his finger to his lips when she started to ask a question, and hurried her upstairs to room twelve. He unlocked the door, hustled her through, and turned the lock.
“What in heaven’s name was that all about?”
He turned her and cupped her face in his hands, and leaned down to cover her mouth with his. After a few moments, he pulled away, and removed her hat. “Lord, woman, I had to get you away from that house before another interruption.”
Angel’s body flushed when she realized what he meant. Her heart sped up as she put her arms around his waist and leaned into him. Feeling her response, he kissed her once more, tilting her head. He ran his tongue over her closed lips, and she opened. He forged ahead, touching, tasting. Shyly, she parried with him, using her tongue as he had. He groaned, and moved his hand to cup her breast, kneading the flesh, sending jolts to her middle.
Oh, my.
Her knees grew weak. In the time they had been married, their kisses had progressed from something light to demanding, but nothing like this. Her nipples hardened, taking her breath away. Using his thumb, Nate rubbed over one swelling tip, and moaned at the sigh that escaped her lips. He put his arm around her waist to keep her from falling.
He pulled his mouth away, leaving her feeling abandoned. Staring in her eyes, he reached up and removed the hairpins from her bun until the brown waves cascaded down her back, and over the front of her dress.
She attempted to pull him back again, but he stopped her by opening the buttons on her dress. Slowly, he pushed it off her shoulders, and stared at her chemise, soft white cotton with small pink rosebuds across the top.
Her body was on fire. She slid her hands up his chest, feeling his muscles ripple as he ran his hands over her back. He lowered his head, and splaying his palms across her back to anchor her, began to suckle her breast through the chemise. If he let her go, she would surely melt in a puddle at his feet.
He nibbled at the stiff peak until she moved her head back and forth, and funny little noises rose from her throat. Slowly, he walked her backwards until the back of her legs hit the bed. He pulled down the straps on her chemise.
Since Nate had caught her by surprise, she’d had no time to work up anxiety. The feelings he created washed over her in waves. Parts of her body throbbed that she hadn’t even known existed.
Nibbling at her mouth, he grasped her dress, bunching it at her waist. With both hands he pushed it down along with her drawers and petticoat. She stood naked except for her stockings and shoes.
“My God, you’re beautiful.” His gaze skimmed her. He ran his hands down her sides, noting the indentation at her waist, and the gentle flare of her hips. His hands traveled over her thighs, and back up, running his fingers through the brown curls at the juncture of her legs.
Angel pulled him to her, searching for his lips, urging him to open as he’d done to her. Blood roared through his body and settled in his manhood. Somewhere in his lust-crazed brain, he remembered he bedded a virgin, and needed to go slowly. Although, given her responses, she was no reluctant virgin; maybe untried, but certainly responsive.
He teased the soft skin under her ear with kisses and nibbles, while his hand roamed over her sweet body, plucking her nipples, then moving to cup her femininity.
Angel fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. He helped her take it off, and rubbed his skin against her bare breasts, all the while kissing her deeply. She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest, tugging lightly.
Nate pulled away, and quickly removed the rest of his clothes. Angel’s eyes grew wide at the sight of his erection. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off it. Gently, Nate put his fingers under her chin and moved her head up.
“It will be all right, sweetheart,” he said softly, pushing the sweat-dampened ringlets from her forehead. “It may hurt at first, but I promise you’ll experience pleasure.”
He returned his attention to her breasts, suckling and massaging until she writhed under him. No longer able to hold off, he pushed her knees apart and settled over her. Whispering words of encouragement, he licked the soft shell of her ear. She ran her hands over his back, lower to his buttocks, where she pulled him closer. Her uninhibited movements fired him.
He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, and slid his finger into her opening, circling, moving it in and out. She was wet, warm and slippery. He added a second finger, and deciding she was ready, withdrew his fingers and gently entered her.
“Hold on, honey, this may hurt a bit.” Sweat beaded his forehead, and his jaw tightened. God, he hated having to hurt her.
“It’s okay, it feels okay,” Angel panted.
He covered her mouth with his, and kissed her as he thrust into her body. She didn’t cry out, but whimpered a bit, and one lone tear slid down her cheek. He stilled his body to give her a chance to accept the fullness, enveloping her face with light kisses.
After a minute, he began to slowly move, trying to hold back, which was almost impossible. As he started the age-old rhythm, he reached between them and, finding her little nub, fondled it.
Their bodies slipped and slid against each other as Nate worked his magic. Angel let out a cry just as he stiffened and, throwing his head back, poured himself into her welcoming body.
He collapsed on top of her and mumbled her name. What the hell had just happened? Ten years of marriage to Amy had apparently taught him nothing. Never had he been so out of control. He didn’t think it was the months of absence, either. This woman lying under him fired his blood like no other.
Nate raised his chin, and gazing at her, kissed her smooth forehead. She ran her fingers over his cheek, her eyes focused on him.
“I didn’t know it would be like this.” She said, softly laughing.
“Darlin’, believe me when I tell you it’s not always like this.”
He eased off her, and rested her head on his shoulder. Angel drew lazy circles on his chest, pulling and tugging at the hair. Then she laughed again.
“What’s funny?” Nate grinned.
“I’m still wearing my stockings and shoes!” She bit her lower lip.
“Don’t worry, we’ll take them off next time.”
“Next time?” Angel said, startled.
“Oh, yes, darlin’, since I finally got you into a bed, with no one around, there will definitely be a next time, and possibly a time after that as well.”
She sat up, and pulled the blanket over her breasts. Nate immediately tugged it back down.
“I can’t believe you lied to the desk clerk and told him I had a headache.” She ran her fingers up and down his chest. “Suppose he knows why you really wanted this room?”
“Sweetheart, if he knew what I’ve been through since our wedding, he would have sent a room key with my meal.” He pulled her down on top of him. “Enough talk. I have other, more interesting uses for your mouth.”
The sun was low in the sky before they decided her headache was probably cured enough to vacate the room. Nate had brought a wet cloth to her, and gently cleaned and soothed her, wiping the blood from her thighs.
He swatted her playfully on her bare bottom, and gave her one last kiss. “Check-out time.”
Slowly, studying each other with a new awareness, they dressed, and left the room. Nate tossed the key on the counter and, nodding to the new desk clerk, they left the hotel. His wife blushed at the grin the desk clerk gave them.
They stopped at Alice’s house, and picked up Julia-Rose and the twins. Mark and Matt were already home, and wondering where they were.
“I took Angel to see Dr. Penrose,” Nate said, rubbing Matt’s head when the boy asked.
“What’s for supper?” Mark looked up from his spot on the floor where he played with his top. “I’m starving.”
“How about eggs?” Nate answered.
Luke rolled his eyes. “It’s not morning time.”
“Eggs are good anytime.” Nate spoke over his shoulder as he retrieved the bowl of eggs from the pantry. “Now let’s all help get supper on the table.”
Nate managed to get everyone working. The twins set the table, Matt sliced bread, which Mark buttered and cut into pieces. Angel scrambled every egg in the house, poured them into the pan, and watched them so they wouldn’t burn. Nate sliced ham from the pantry, and warmed it on the stove.
When the eggs were done, Angel strapped Julia-Rose into her chair and poured milk for the children, while Nate made a pot of coffee. Soon the family was sitting at the table, and Nate said the blessing.
“Why are you two looking funny at each other?” Matt asked, glancing back and forth between Nate and Angel.
Angel peeked at him from under her eyelashes, a flush starting at her neck and moving to her hairline. They both burst into laughter.
“No reason, son, just finish your supper.”
“Looks to me like there’s a secret,” John said. “Hey, are we getting a pony?”
“No, son, no pony. Now I want you all to eat up. It’s getting late and I’m sure you still have homework before you get ready for bed.”
Nate took Julia-Rose upstairs to wash and change, and supervise the boys’ homework while Angel cleaned up the kitchen. He felt more relaxed than he had in weeks. He whistled and grinned until Luke tugged his sleeve.
“Papa, how come you’re so happy?”
Happy. Yes, that was it. He was happy.
A while later, he propped himself up in the doorway as he watched his sons mesmerized by the story Angel read. They sat wide-eyed as she used different voices for the characters in the book. Julia-Rose had fallen asleep in her lap, her fingers in her mouth. The twins were tucked securely under each arm as she held the book, their eyes glued to the page.
Her hair had come down from her bun, strands of it tickling her neck, resting against her soft skin. A stained apron covered her dress, and she’d kicked off her shoes. One toe stuck out of a hole in her stocking. She sat with her legs crossed, her dress bunched around her knees. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Yes, even though his wife was sorely lacking in housekeeping skills, she’d brought love and warmth to his family.
Aside from Mark’s stubbornness, the boys had fallen under her spell. Julia-Rose spent most of her waking hours wrapped around her “mama.” She loved to be carried everywhere, and his wife didn’t seem to mind.
Sending for a mail order bride had been a good idea. Then he stopped and considered. No, sending for a mail order bride who had turned out to be Angel had been a good idea.
One day he must send a ‘thank you’ note to Sylvia Hardwick.
Chapter 10
After the book had been closed, and the boys asleep, Angel and Nate sat on the settee in the parlor. They held hands, staring at the dying flames in the fireplace. Nate rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand.