Prince Charming (58 page)

She reached up and caressed the side of his face. His whiskers tickled her lips and her fingertips. She hadn't realized how much she wanted him to touch her until he started nibbling on her mouth and teasing her with gentle kisses.

Her past didn't matter to him. He hadn't been offended or disgusted. Taylor was surprised by the relief she felt. She hadn't realized how important his reaction was to her.

Dear God, how she loved him. “Lucas, take me to bed.”

The invitation intensified his hunger. They had been apart for long weeks, and all he'd thought about was holding her in his arms again. He became frantic to have it all once again, to feel her squeeze him tight inside her, to show her how much he loved her.

His mouth settled on top of hers. His tongue swept inside to duel with hers. He caressed her shoulders and her back and then lifted her up against his arousal.

The kiss turned ravenous, and when at last he tore his mouth away, they were both panting for breath. He knew he was fast losing control. He lifted her up into his arms with the intent of taking her back to camp. He would make love to her in the privacy of their wagon, and even if it killed him to wait, he would make certain she gained fulfillment before he did.

He felt smooth skin against his hand. He came to a dead stop. “Where are your underclothes?”

She was fervently kissing the side of his neck. “I'm not wearing any.”

He almost dropped her. His stride became long and purposeful, and when they reached the second wagon, it dawned on him that Victoria was inside.

Taylor wasn't as rattled as he was. “She's sleeping with the children tonight,” she whispered.

He helped her inside, then followed. Their bed was already made. A thick mat, wide enough for two, had been placed on the floor of the wagon. A sheet and blanket covered it.

When Lucas let the flap drop back down, the wagon was pitched into darkness.

He stripped out of his clothes before she'd taken all the pins out of her hair. She was kneeling on their bed. Lucas stretched out next to her, then rolled onto his side and slowly began to caress a path up the inside of her thigh to the junction of her legs. His fingers brushed across her sweet flesh and then he began to stroke her.

Taylor's head dropped back. She closed her eyes and let out a low moan of surrender. The pleasure he was giving her was almost too much to bear. And when his fingers slowly penetrated her, her body instinctively reacted. Her hips slowly moved in the mating rhythm to gain more of the splendor.

He had to take her dress off. She couldn't seem to remember how. She was frantic over their separation and tried to pull him into her arms. They were both kneeling now, facing each other. His mouth covered hers in another long, drugging, tongue-thrusting kiss. His hands stroked her breasts and then dropped to settle on the tilt of her hips.

Taylor's hands were splayed against his chest. Her touch was feather-light, tantalizing. His breathing quickened when her caresses moved down his body and she grew bolder, and when at last her fingers closed over him, he let out a harsh groan of pleasure so intense, he felt consumed by it.

He very nearly lost his control then and there. His mouth never left hers as he pulled her hand away from him and then wrapped his arms around her and gently lowered her to the bed. He held her tight against him and rolled onto his back.

His hand cupped the back of her neck and his mouth captured hers again while he wedged one thigh between her legs. She rubbed against him, and his control completely scattered. His hand moved down low and into her warm, damp flesh. He tormented her with his fingers until she was writhing against him, and then he lifted her up and slowly penetrated her. She knelt on her knees now, straddling him, and with his gentle pressure pushing on her hips, she took him inside her. The warm knot of pleasure deep inside her seemed to explode into a thousand fragments. She couldn't go slow now. She squeezed him tight inside her and then began to move.

The pleasure they gave each other soon became unbearable. Neither could hold back. He was the first to climax. He arched up against her and gave her his seed, and the force of his release triggered her own. She whimpered his name and collapsed on top of him.

It took both of them a long while to float back to reality. He stayed inside her for as long as he could and held her close until her breathing had calmed.

“I didn't know we could . . .”

“Could what?” he asked.

“Like that,” she explained.

He could hear the blush in her voice. He laughed in response. “You were a hellcat a few minutes ago,” he reminded her.

She let out a sigh of contentment and closed her eyes. “I liked it,” she whispered.

“I know,” he replied. “I've got the marks from your nails to prove it.”

He sounded very arrogant and pleased with himself. Taylor was too tired to take issue with him.

Lucas was starting to like her, she thought. In time, if she really tried not to be so bossy and act as though she knew what everyone else should be doing and if she was able to prove that she could do just fine in the wilderness, maybe then liking would turn into loving. She'd told him she was miserable, and now all she wanted in the world was for her husband to be miserable, too.

She was just drifting off to sleep when Lucas rolled to the side and covered the two of them with the blanket. He pulled her back into his arms and closed his eyes.

“Taylor?”

“Yes?”

“We aren't going to raise our son and our daughters the way you were raised. They're never going to be afraid to tell us anything. They aren't going to be ashamed or embarrassed by their bodies, and by God, if anyone ever tries to touch them, they'll know how to scream.”

—William Shakespeare,
Troilus and Cressida

 

 

 

 

L
oving Lucas was easy. Getting along with the impossible man was another matter altogether. Taylor hadn't realized how stubborn he could be until he refused to back down and listen to reason. The issue of where they were going to live was under discussion, though in truth she was the only one doing any discussing. Lucas had told her they were moving to a large city and refused to hear her argument against the plan. She was just as determined to stay where she was.

Time was on her side, however. Victoria was exhausted from their journey and needed to rest before she went anywhere. Her dear friend had just climbed out of the wagon when she heard Taylor tell Lucas she was ailing. She immediately jumped back inside and took to her bed.

Hunter was getting his things together with the intent of taking off for the mountains. As soon as he heard Victoria was sick, he came up with one reason after another why he couldn't leave.

Rolly and three other men from town came marching into the clearing and inadvertently stopped the argument.

“We aren't finished with this discussion,” Taylor whispered to her husband before turning to smile at the visitors.

“We aren't having a discussion,” Lucas told her. “As soon as Victoria's feeling better, we're leaving.”

Georgie and Allie were both demanding his attention. He squatted down to find out what they wanted.

Hunter was putting out the fire he'd started to cook their breakfast. Daniel was helping him.

“Ross, Hunter,” Rolly called out, nodding after he shouted each name. He stopped in front of Taylor and bowed to her. “Morning, Mrs. Ross. Since you went and got yourself a house, me and the boys thought we'd go along and see to a few repairs. We'll make sure the place is clear of critters, so you won't have to worry about the youngsters stepping on something mean.”

Lucas had stood up during Rolly's explanation. Allie hid behind his leg and stared up at the giant, but Georgie was bolder. She walked right up to Rolly and tugged on his pant leg until he looked down at her.

The child lost her balance staring up at Rolly and staggered backward. Then she put her arms up and waited.

Rolly looked at Taylor. “What's she wanting?” he asked nervously.

Georgie answered before Taylor could. “Up,” she demanded.

Rolly looked thunderstruck. “I ain't never held me a baby. Guess I could give it a try if you're agreeable, Mrs. Ross.”

“Certainly, Mr. Rolly,” Taylor replied.

“It's just Rolly,” he instructed her. He bent over and gently lifted Georgie up. He held her up in the air at arm's length. “She don't weigh more than a feather.”

“Taylor, what's Rolly talking about?” Lucas asked. He'd held onto his patience long enough. He wanted an immediate answer.

Rolly stepped forward. “She got herself a house. Can I put her down now? I don't want to damage her none.”

Taylor reached up and took Georgie into her arms. The men smiled at the little girl, then followed their leader as Rolly turned and started back across the clearing.

“We'll be ready to help you move in by early afternoon, Mrs. Ross,” Rolly called out.

Taylor put Georgie down and told her and her sister to go help Hunter. Then she turned to her husband. “I purchased a house yesterday. That's why I went to see Lewis,” she said. Her words were hurried together when she added, “I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure it's going to be fine. It has wood floors and glass windows.”

There was only one house in Redemption with glass windows. Lucas let out a loud expletive.

“Callaghan's place,” he whispered. “Lewis sold you that crazy old mountain man's house?”

He wasn't shouting, but he was close to it. Taylor hurried to soothe him. “It isn't his house. Even if we do leave soon, we still need somewhere to stay tonight.”

“No.”

“Lucas, be reasonable about this.”

He took a step closer to her. “I am being reasonable. He's crazy, Taylor. You'll wake up and find him sitting at the table wanting breakfast. His smell will knock you over backward. I don't think he's had a bath in twenty years. He won't leave until he's good and ready,” he added with a nod. “And then he'll take half of what you've unpacked with him.”

Taylor hid her alarm. “Is he dangerous?” she asked.

Lucas wanted to lie, then decided on the truth. “No,” he admitted. “He won't hurt you, but you'll want to kill him after being in his company for ten minutes. It's out of the question. We're staying in the meadow.”

Victoria heard the argument and was peeking out the back of the wagon so she could watch the couple. She was ready to conclude that Lucas was going to win the argument. Then Taylor nudged the scales in her favor.

“My dear friend is sick,” she announced. “She needs a proper bed. Are you willing to take all of us to your brothers' place and let us stay there until she's feeling better?”

He would have loved to do just that but knew it wasn't a good idea. “The ranch is a hard day's ride on a horse. With wagons and finding trails, it could take as long as four days.”

“Lewis told me Callaghan doesn't usually come down from the mountain until the middle of summer.”

“We'll be living in the city by then,” Lucas told her.

“Then surely it will be all right if we stay in the house just one night.”

Lucas finally gave in. He assured her it was only because of Victoria's health and only for one night.

He had the last word. “If she's better, we're leaving tomorrow.”

 

The house was as wonderful as a palace in Taylor's estimation. There was a large glass window on either side of the entrance and one above on the second floor. The living area was quite spacious. To the right was a long wooden table with benches on each side that would surely seat eight or ten good-sized adults. Against the wall behind the table was a black iron kettle stove, and there was a little alcove with shelves and a long counter.

A small stone fireplace faced the front door. On the left side of the room was a bed and mattress Rolly assured her had already been aired out. And in the far corner of the room was a door that opened up into another bedroom. There was a bed against the wall, a crate next to it, and yet another glass window.

The steps leading up to the loft was on the other side of the fireplace. Taylor took the children up to look at their sleeping quarters. Her only worry was that one of the twins might try to climb over the railing, but Hunter assured her the girls had more sense than that. While he was defending them, Georgie got her head stuck between two of the banister spindles. Lucas had carried Victoria inside, for Hunter refused to get near her, and when Georgie started wailing, he put Victoria down on one of the benches and went up to free his daughter.