Chapter Seven

Laura

Seth showed her around the house and took her upstairs to a spare bedroom, telling her that she’d have that room for the night. He left the house to tend to the team and buckboard. Later, they ate dinner in the dining room. The evening had been entirely ordinary, just the two of them talking over dinner. Yet it had seemed almost unreal. She felt sure that at any moment, she’d wake up and find it had all been just a dream.

After dinner, she’d risen from her chair, a wave of shyness coming over her. “Tomorrow, we’ll say our vows?”

He nodded. His gaze was warm, unfurling tendrils of pleasure across her skin.

“I’ll come to your room later,” he said with a possessive tone. “To say goodnight.”

Her breath caught. At least three times, he’d told her they’d wait till they’d said their vows. He hadn’t said for what exactly, but he didn’t need to. She understood things would change tomorrow. What would happen tonight exactly, she wondered. Would he expect some sort of favors from her? And if he did, why didn’t he press for those favors now?

She turned away and went to her room to draw a bath. Sinking into the warm depths, she tried to imagine saying her vows to Seth Travis. She had a dress that she’d brought with her to Colter Canyon and it made her happy that she would have a chance to wear the gown. Would he like it? She’d made the gown from simple fabric and a plain design. Everything Seth possessed spoke of opulence.

Her thoughts flitted to the moment earlier that day, when Melvin had berated her in front of Seth. Shame burned inside her like a glowing ember. As she washed, she recalled with growing mortification the things Melvin said. Ever since he’d rejected her at the train station, he’d railed against her to anyone who would listen. What rumors had Seth heard, she wondered. She rose from the tub and dried off, tugging a night gown over her head.

Melvin suggested she and Seth weren’t married. Shame filled her chest. She wished she’d told Melvin that her heart belonged to Seth. That would have shocked him. She yanked the blankets down and crawled into bed, filled with self-loathing. If only she’d had the courage to finally look Melvin in the eye. The blankets warmed her, but still she felt no comfort, just restless fury, mostly with herself. Why hadn’t she spoken for her own defense?

A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts.

“Come in.”

Seth stepped into her room, somber and resolute and heartbreakingly handsome in the lamplight. “I’ve come to kiss my wife goodnight.”

She smiled.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have you right there in bed with me and I can kiss you goodnight at bedtime or any other time of the night.”

His words ignited a burning need insider her. She didn’t care that her thoughts were indecent. She didn’t care if they were married or unmarried. Her heart sought his. Pure and simple. Slowly, she sat up in bed, not caring that the blankets fell to her waist. Seth moved closer. A look of burning hunger lit his eyes. She shivered beneath his gaze. Her breasts ached, and she could feel her nipples tighten.

His eyes raked over her. “You’re a vision, Laura.”

“Seth,” she whispered. “I’m yours. The next time I see Melvin, I’ll tell him so.”

He narrowed his eyes. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy. Pressing his lips together he shook his head. “No, Laura.”

“I should have said something today,” she insisted.

“You’re not talking to him.”

Now she began to feel a little of the anger that he so clearly felt.

“I’m not afraid of Melvin. If I never speak up for myself, he won’t ever stop trying to bully me.”

Seth stepped closer to the bed, and from her seated position, she felt positively tiny. She wouldn’t allow him to intimidate her, even if he was twice her size. She remained obstinately silent.

“Melvin is my problem. He needs to be taught a lesson and I aim to do just that. The only reason I didn’t take him today was because you were there.”

She shook her head. “I should have spoken up. Next time I will.”

Seth rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. She could see he was thinking about her words and she hoped he was at least a little impressed by her fortitude. He offered her his hand. Puzzled, she set her hand in his. Her confusion grew as he coaxed her to her feet, so she stood in front of him.

He sat on the edge of the bed. Pulling her between his knees, he gathered her gown, tugging up. She gasped softly and instinctively recoiled, but he held her firmly.

“Ever since I first laid eyes on you, Laura, I’ve wanted to have you and, I especially wanted to take care of you. You can fuss about that all you like, but it’s going to cost you.”

“Cost me?”

“With a trip over my knee. For your own good.”

She blinked, trying to discern his meaning. He’d used the same phrase before and she hadn’t understood then.

“I’d never want to hurt you. Just a little sting on your sweet ass so you know I mean what I say.”

She froze and waited for him to say something more. Did Seth intend to spank her?

Disbelief flooded her thoughts. Her words lodged in her throat. When he lifted her, and draped her face-down across his lap, she tried to protest but couldn’t.

He gathered her gown and pushed it over her bottom. Mortification burned her face, but when he tugged her panties down, desire flooded her body. She closed her eyes and moaned. While the lantern offered only shadowed light, she knew the wicked display she offered Seth.

“Seth,” she said softly.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he brought his hand down on her bared bottom. It didn’t hurt exactly. It was more like a sting just as he promised. In all, he swatted her five times before he lifted her to her feet. Her bottom burned but the sensation that she felt most acutely was the warmth between her legs. The slick heat that made her feel restless and needful.

He pulled her closer, a smirk curving his lips. “You’re wet, aren’t you?”

His filthy words shocked her almost as much as the spanking he’d just given her. She shook her head. “No. Not really.”

“I can’t let you go to bed that way, Laura. That wouldn’t be very hospitable your first night in my home.”

He lifted her again, but this time setting her in the middle of the bed, stretching out beside her. Mesmerized by him, she lay still and drank in the way he looked at her. His gaze made her feel as though she were the most beautiful, desirable woman in the world.

She cupped his jaw. “Seth, you make me feel things I’ve never felt.”

“You do the same for me, sweetheart.” He kissed her and undid the buttons of her gown. He moved down her body as he loosened the gown from her shoulders. His mouth on her breast drew a trembling cry from her lips. He teased her with his lips and tongue. Her core grew wetter with each tormenting stroke of his tongue.

She writhed beneath him, wanting something more.

Moving away from her breast, he nudged her thighs apart with his shoulders. With a quick jerk he tore her panties free, tossing them aside. She gasped with surprise, but when he began kissing the inside of her thigh she understood his intention.

She tried to edge away, but he stopped her with a growl and pinned her hips to the bed with his powerful forearm. When he kissed her core, she stilled. The sensation was too wicked for her to comprehend.

He growled again, this time deeper and longer and she knew it was because he’d discovered how wet she was. She moaned softly as he licked her. He took his time, teasing her with slow strokes of his tongue. He found her swollen nub and sucked it and then with deliberate, measured strokes returned to licking her.

She writhed beneath him, running her fingers through his hair and clutching his forearm. He seemed to be waiting for something. Did he want her to beg? The moment the idea flitted across her thoughts, she let out a strangled cry.

“Please, Seth…”

He chuckled and with that, began to give her what she craved. He stroked her with his finger and his tongue with a cadence that made tendrils of pleasure tighten and twirl. She panted, each breath punctuated with a small cry. Her pleasure erupted. She cried out his name as she arched beneath him.

The world spun around her. Closing her eyes, she waited for everything to stop whirling. The girls at the Magnolia would sometimes talk amongst themselves about pleasing men. They never spoke of men giving them pleasure. With a trembling sigh, she opened her eyes to find Seth gazing down at her.

“You’re a virgin,” he said quietly.

She flushed and nodded.

“A virgin bride,” he mused. “I’m glad I know now. We’ll take it slow tomorrow. I’ll make it good for you. I’d never hurt you.”

“You just spanked me, Seth.”

“I spanked you for your own good. But now I might spank you just because I like it. Your ass was made for my hand.”

She drew a sharp breath.

“What’s more, I think my virgin bride really likes it.”

His smile and the gleam in his eyes made her indignation flare. “I have never heard anything so filthy or outrageous, and I worked in a brothel.”

He gave a sympathetic look. “Let’s put your gown back on. I’m not sure how long I can resist my naked bride, and I don’t want you to catch cold. I’ve got a lot more filthy and outrageous things I want to tell you tomorrow.”

She frowned, but complied. He helped her dress and get under the covers.

“What about you?” she asked. “The girls used to talk about easing a man’s lust.”

He circled the bed and lowered the lantern’s wick. In the darkness, all she could see was Seth’s shadowy figure moving to the door. He paused for a long moment.

“Tomorrow, Laura. After I’ve given you a ring and we’ve said our vows. Goodnight.”

She murmured a soft response. He closed the door. His footsteps faded, and she was left alone in her bed. Thoughts of the day’s startling events drifted through her mind, but the pleasure he’d wrung from her left her sated and sleepy. She closed her eyes, letting sleep come for her.