Devils on Horseback: Lee, Book 4 (13 page)

She approached him and stopped the mad pacing with one touch on his chest. “There is absolutely nothing you can be named that would make me walk out that door. Although if your name was Delores, I might have to think about it.” Genny chuckled as she pulled him close, pressing her belly into his, feeling the twitch of his cock beneath the trousers she’d made for him. “So are you going to tell me?”

Moments passed and she thought perhaps she needed to step back, concerned his first name would affect their marriage, silly as it sounded.

“Cornelius.”

Genny had no idea about Biblical names since she’d never heard or read the Bible, but it didn’t sound too bad to her. “I like it. Maybe your brother is right. We should test it out in the dark.” She leaned forward, pushing her breasts into his chest, then leaned up to whisper, “Cornelius.”

He shivered against her. Apparently Zeke wasn’t mistaken at all.

“Say it again.” His voice was husky with need.

She reached up to kiss him. “Cornelius.” Genny lapped at his lips and he crushed her to him, hard and fast. Her body heated immediately, growing damp between her legs, her nipples hardening almost painfully. “We can’t do this here,” she breathed against his lips.

“I can’t wait, Genny. I need you.” It was the first time he’d ever admitted to her that he needed anything, much less to join with her.

She couldn’t refuse.

He led her deeper into the mill so they were hidden from view by the giant wheel. Hopefully his family would leave them alone, thinking they were discussing Cornelius. She almost laughed at the silliness of it, but then he pressed his very hard cock against her and she wasn’t feeling humorous any longer.

“Pull up your dress, God, hurry, Genny, hurry.”

She heard him yanking at his trouser buttons, ones she’d made big enough to handle with one hand. She pulled up her dress and yanked down her drawers. She’d sewn up the slits in all her drawers years earlier to make Henry’s access that much more difficult.

Genny made a note to open the slits back up for her new husband.

As she bent forward to take off the cotton drawers, her cheek brushed against his cock. He was hot, so hot, and harder than steel. She laved his staff, but he hauled her up before she could do more.

“Much as I love your mouth on me, darlin’, I need to be inside you. Now.” He pushed her up against the wall, and she wrapped her legs around him. His right arm made a shelf for her ass, even as he moved in. “Put it in, Genny.”

She reached between them and guided the throbbing erection to her willing pussy. He entered her with one hard thrust. Genny’s breath caught in her throat as her body closed around him in utter satisfaction.

Yes, yes, yes. This was perfect, this was meant to be.

Genny braced herself on the beams around her as his mouth captured hers in a fiery kiss. His tongue twined with hers as he began to move. The angle allowed him to enter her completely, to fill her until she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.

“You feel so good.” He pumped into her, keeping her pinned to the wall behind her. She pushed down with each thrust up, taking him all.

Genny bit his lip as her body began to contract with release. She’d never had an orgasm with a man inside her, until Lee. She’d never had an orgasm within minutes of having him inside her, until now. It was as if her body knew he was her soul mate, her perfect match, and took the joy along with the emotions to form a perfect song of pleasure.

“Now, Genny. Now,” he whispered roughly. His whiskers scraped against her neck as he fucked her fiercely, so hard her head banged against the wall. He came with a husky groan and within seconds her body responded in kind.

Waves of ecstasy shook her, stretching out the pure bliss as it washed over her skin like a hard summer rain. She bucked against him, her nails digging into the wood beams. The only sound she heard was the frantic beating of her heart and the short staccato breaths she managed to suck in.

“Holy shit.”

She chuckled softly. “Holy shit indeed, Cornelius.”

He pressed his forehead into her breasts. “Now that was, ah, a perfect way to spend five minutes.”

Lee let her down slowly until her legs could support her, wobbly as they were. Genny and Lee took a few minutes to try to straighten their clothes, then he suggested walking out to the river to perform a discreet wash. Genny followed him outside, where the sound of the river was soothing. He showed her a small pool beside the mill where water had been warmed by the afternoon sun.

The water was perfect temperature by then, not too warm but cool enough on her heated flesh. The very fact they’d been inside fucking against the wall in the mill made a short laugh escape.

“Something funny?” He was barely discernible in the gloom around them.

“No, just a happy thought.” She took his arm as they walked back to the mill. “Life is just so perfect, Lee. I just want to keep it tucked close to my chest and hang on.”

He tightened his grip on her arm. “Yeah, me too.”

* * * * *

Supper was a lively affair with everyone teasing, laughing and enjoying the feast. Toasts were made in Genny and Lee’s honor. She couldn’t remember ever being so relaxed and happy. Lee’s family was wonderful and she already felt connected to them.

When a knock sounded at the door during dessert, none of them expected Margaret to be standing in the doorway. She looked at Gideon and Lee with enough worry to make Genny’s stomach flip.

Gabby took Margaret’s hand. “Please, come in. Do you want some coffee or peach pie? It’s not nearly as good as yours but—”

“No, I need to talk to Lee and Gideon.” She nodded toward the door. “Outside please.”

Genny stood as the men did. “I’m coming too.”

Margaret looked at Lee and he nodded. “Let’s all go outside.”

Genny’s heart thumped, wondering what it was that made Margaret leave the restaurant during the supper crowd to find Lee and Gideon. The fireflies lit up the night as Margaret paced on the porch.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your meal.”

“Get on it with it, Margaret. We know each other better than to apologize.” Gideon put his hands on his hips. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a woman and a man in the restaurant. She says her name is Camille.” Margaret shot a glance at Genny. “And the man with her is named Willard. She’s looking for Henry Blanchard.”

The world seemed to open up and swallow Genny whole as she tried to hold on to something. She looked at Lee and everything started turning black, then the ground rushed up at her.

Lee carried her upstairs to his old room, catching Cindy Cooley in the hallway apparently returning from the washroom. He didn’t have time to reassure her or even talk to her, so he just brushed past the startled, pale blonde. Gideon’s murmur followed Lee into the room.

“It’s all right, Cindy. Lee’s intended just had a bit of a spell. We’re going to let her lie down for a while.”

Lee lay Genny on the bed, concerned that she’d actually fainted. Fainted! The woman could hire thugs to kill a man, but fainted on the front porch after hearing about a woman named Camille. Who’d have thought that would have sent her into a fit of vapors?

He brushed the curls away from her face and felt her forehead. Her skin was cool and clammy to the touch, her breathing a bit ragged.

“What do you need?” Gideon hovered in the doorway.

“Cool water, a cloth and quiet.”

“Be right back.” Gideon disappeared in a wink, leaving Lee with an unconscious Genny.

There weren’t many things in life that frightened Lee. Not many he’d admit to anyway, but seeing Genny like this made him scared out of his wits. She was so strong, but maybe just tired. After all she worked really hard every day. Another horrible thought hit him—perhaps it was the rough sex in the mill. He hadn’t intended on fucking her against the wall, but once they started, well, he didn’t seem to be able to stop especially after the way she said Cornelius.

He stifled a hysterical laugh at the thought. Taking her in the mill was a stupid thing to do really and if it caused her harm, he’d never forgive himself. Gideon returned in moments with a pitcher, basin and a clean rag. He set them down on the floor beside the bed and poured the water into the basin to soak the cloth. Lee took the cloth from him and gently wiped her face.

Gideon left them alone while Lee wrestled with his own guilt. Perhaps he’d already ruined what had been gifted to him. Gabby poked her head in the door.

“Let me sit with her, Lee. Margaret’s about to wear a hole in the front porch so you need to get downstairs and talk to her.”

Lee looked down at Genny, so pale and small on the bed. Gabby put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of her, I promise.”

With a reluctant nod, he stood and left the room, ready to find out just who this Camille was and what she wanted. He found Zeke, Jake and Gideon outside with Margaret.

“I’m going to the restaurant to find out what’s going on. Will you come with me?” he asked Gideon.

“No need to even ask.” Gideon was once again their captain. “Jake, you stay here with the women. Zeke, you come with us as sheriff of Tanger. We don’t know what this woman’s game is and I’d like the law there to witness whatever happens.”

They split up, doing as he bade them. The three men walked in silence to the restaurant, Margaret trying to keep up with their long strides.

“If you’d slow down, I could catch my breath and tell you what I know.” Margaret came to a stop and sucked in a lungful of air.

“I’m sorry.” Gideon put his hand on her shoulder. “Matthew would have my hide if I did that in front of him. No need for your new husband to throw canned goods at my head.”

Lee thought about what Gideon said. “Husband?”

“Yes, you fool. If you took your head out of your ass once in a while, you’d know that Matthew and Margaret got married four months ago.” Zeke folded his arms across his chest and glared. “You’ve been hiding from the world at that mill for too long.”

“Well I’m not hiding now, am I?” Lee snapped at him. “Don’t you go judging me now, brother.”

“I ain’t judging you. You’re just—”

“Stop it, both of you.” Margaret huffed out an impatient breath. “Now I know we didn’t part on the best of terms, Lee, but I wish you well with your new lady. I’m happy with my choice and I love him dearly. Now let’s move on.”

The three of them murmured their agreement while Lee really wanted to punch his brother.

“Now this woman came in about eight o’clock, not long ago, with a young man who isn’t her husband, but he sure isn’t her son. Good-looking fella with slicked back hair. They both had an accent, likely somewhere in Louisiana. It wasn’t until they were halfway through supper when she asked me where Henry Blanchard lived.” Margaret looked worried even in the gloom thrown by the houses around them. “I told her I wasn’t sure, could she describe him and I’d go see what I could find. She’s waiting on me to come back, just not with three walls of mean muscle.”

“Louisiana? Are you sure?” According to Genny she was born and raised in New Orleans. His gut began to tighten with dread.

“Pretty sure. I knew a couple who were friends with my Ben, back before the war. They were from Baton Rouge and had the same kind of lilting accent.” Margaret took his hand. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if it involves your Genny, I’m willing to help in any way I can.”

Lee pulled Margaret into an embrace, this time without a bit of the puppy love he’d had for her. “Thank you, Margaret. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

She stepped back with a small smile. “I can’t believe you’re the same man.”

“Me either. I didn’t get a hug,” Zeke grumbled as he started walking. “Let’s quit jawing and get walking to the restaurant.”

“I’ll hug you later,” Gideon quipped.

Zeke growled at his cousin. “Shut up, Gid.”

They walked the rest of the way to the restaurant in silence, the teasing jabs forgotten. Lee’s throat felt parched as he stepped inside. He spotted the couple straight off, and he knew exactly who Camille was.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath.

“Do you know her?” Zeke whispered.

“Not yet, but I know who she is.”

Gideon and Zeke stood on either side of him as he made his way toward the strangers. The woman smiled at them with a sugary sweetness that made Lee’s gorge rise. She had the same curly hair as Genny, her eyes were blue, and the heart shape of her face was mirrored in her granddaughter, Sophie.

This had to be Genny’s mother.

“Gid, can you clear the restaurant?” he asked under his breath.

“On my way.” Gideon spoke quietly to the few diners who were left, and Lee knew the restaurant would make no money that night.

Zeke stood in the corner near the table, arms folded, star clearly visible on his vest. Lee sat down, pleased he had a bit of an upper hand on her, and totally lost as to what to do to protect the woman he loved from the mother who’d sold her.

Camille looked around at the people being herded from the restaurant, then at Zeke. “Is there some kind of trouble, Sheriff?”

“Not yet.”

Lee was never so glad his brother was a cold hard-ass of a sheriff. His brusque response rattled her, and Lee smiled inwardly at her discomfort.

“What do you want with Henry Blanchard?” he demanded.

“That’s between me and Henry.” She sipped at her drink which, judging by the scent, was tea laced with whiskey.

“No, that’s between you and me.”

She glanced up at him and raised one eyebrow. “I’m afraid I don’t know you,
monsieur
. My name is Camille Boudreaux.” Her gaze raked over his missing arm and he saw the distaste in her eyes. “Who are you?”

“Well, my name is Cornelius Blackwood, and I’m your daughter’s new husband.”

She started choking on the tea, and the young pup beside her slapped her on the back until she waved him away. Camille dabbed at her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. When she looked at Lee, this time the coquettish smile was gone and he saw the real woman she was. “
Merde
. That cannot be true.”

“Oh it’s true all right. Henry died in the spring and Genny married me today.” No need to tell her they hadn’t actually made it to the church yet. They’d become man and wife in heart and body, if not legally.