Happy Is The Bride (16 page)

Around her nipple, he laughed. "That's the idea."
His hand slid to the mound at the apex of her thighs. His finger worked magic there, delving in and out in cadence with the strokes of his tongue.

Her breath increased to pants, and she delighted in
the effect of his lovemaking. His caresses sent her into
throes of ecstasy. The sensations built until she ex
ploded in a burst of golden pleasure.

He stretched out beside her and caressed her
breasts. "I love you more each day."

"As much as I love you." She pulled his arm across
her. "Come here and make love with me."

"I can do that, ma'am, if you insist." He moved on
top of her, careful not to press hard on her bulging
stomach.

She opened to him and he filled her. She raised her
hips to meet his thrusts. They matched their bodies,
by now finely tuned to each other's needs. Higher
and higher she flew, soaring toward heaven. Stars erupte
d around her, and she floated back to earth.
The warm flow of his seed signaled his completion. He exhaled and lay beside her, cuddling her close.

Nuzzling her neck, he kissed her where her shoulder began. "I'm the luckiest man alive."

She turned and looked at him. "We've done well so
far, haven't we, in spite of the jinx?"

He chuckled. "No jinx. An enchantment is more
apt."

Later, they heard giggles outside their room. Mason
rose and dressed and tossed Beth her gown. When
they were both presentable, he unlocked the door.

Three-year-old Howie and four-year-old Glennie
ran in

Glennie rushed to the bed. "Mama, Papa, Millie's
trying to walk."

Mason handed Beth her wrapper and slippers.
"Let's go see, shall we?"

Mason scooped up his daughter, and Millie
stopped crying to flash him a coquettish grin.

He laughed at her antics. "Good thing her brothers
are more easygoing like their mother. I think this
one's going to be a handful."

"I repeat, let's hope the next one's a girl. Other
wise, with no competition Millie will twist all you men
around her little finger."

Mason had finished the addition to their house, and it now contained enough bedrooms for all the
children, plus two extras and a small suite for Beulah,
their housekeeper.

Beulah handed Beth a glass of milk. "You got to
drink plenty of this stuff so our baby grows right. But
take it outta the kitchen." She made shooing gestures
with her hands. "I'll bring you breakfast somewheres
else. I gots to get tomorrow's baking done in here, and I can't with all you folks flitting around in my
way."

Mason carried Millie while the boys walked on each
side of him into the main parlor. Beth took a seat on
the sofa. She loved this room.

The fireplace kept them warm in winter, and the
large windows cooled the room in summer. A
rug covered the plank floor, and ivory lace curtains
hung at the windows inside open heavy jacquard
drapes. This morning the lace fluttered in the breeze.

Four-year-old Glennie curled up beside Beth. “Tell
us the story again, about you and Papa."

Three-year-old Howie plopped at her feet. "Yeth,
Mama. Tell uth how you got our Papa for a bolt of
thilk."