Whispering Hills of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 3) (24 page)

It was time to teach her, though, that there was more to lovemaking than just kissing, although he was thoroughly enjoying every single sweet tasting smooch. The lingering taste of the wine in her mouth made her kisses all the more delightful. And the brush of her doeskin soft lips against his set him aflame.

But now, the beauty and allure of her shapely body teased him, waiting to be explored and then cherished. Her body was so feminine, so enticing, so alluring. He was acutely aware of each place his warm flesh touched hers.

And every single pore she touched—seduced, beguiled, captivated—made him want to surrender to her budding charms.

He felt the intoxicating sensation of his lips against her neck as he placed lingering whisper soft kisses there. He continued to explore the creamy flesh at the base of her neck and then let his lips nibble on her ear lobe. Even her ears were sensuous.

“Kelly, I love you,” he breathed into her ear.

He reclaimed her lips, overcome by a compelling need to kiss her again. But now her lips held a dreamy intimacy that hadn’t been there before. His heart leapt as he realized they were slowly becoming one.

Soon they would be one. One body. One flesh.

Inch by inch, his fingertip slowly outlined both breasts before he fondled one, its tip already marble hard. Her back arched against the bed and he slipped one arm under her while he slid his other hand across her silky belly and then down the curve of her hip.

He continued the gentle massage over and over again, keeping his touch feather light, until he finally moved his hand to the inside of her thigh. She moaned and bent her knees and he knew the bud of desire just blossomed inside her. He would nourish that bloom patiently and tenderly until it flowered into its full glorious beauty.

Only then would he allow himself atop of her to feel the sweet caress of her entire body against his and release his ardor, unrestrained.

Reaching down, he continued to explore the inside of her thighs, reveling in how velvety her skin was there, like the downy softness of rose petals. Moving his hand up, he delicately stroked,
with the merest of touches, her womanhood for the first time.

The intimate contact made her cry out in pleasure.

He reveled in the moment, appreciating the awe-inspiring significance of what that touch meant to him. She was his—his wife—his lover.

He paused to kiss her again, deep and hard, with all the love in his heart.

Then he began a sensuous path to guide her to ecstasy for the first time.

Kelly squirmed beside him, gasping, and tightened her grip on his shoulders and arms.

It made his own desire flare, yet again, strong and agonizingly urgent. But his own needs would wait. He made himself focus on the poignant beauty of her body’s awakening to the power and passion of love.

She whimpered and her trembling limbs clung to him. Her body sought something she didn’t yet fully understand.

Soon, though, she would.

CHAPTER 22

T
he morning sun gilded the horizon as Kelly strolled down to the creek for water. The bright sunshine caressed her upturned face and a slight breeze brushed kisses on her jaw. Birds chirped and sang from every tree and she thought she heard the bellow of an elk off in the distant hills. The cool air, made clean and crisp by yesterday’s rain, made her pull her shawl tighter.

The stream’s water, no longer as swift as it was last night, hummed peacefully as it flowed by, brushing against rocks and brush. The lovely, colorful hills around her rose gently, inviting her to wander them.

She stopped and closed her eyes for a moment reveling in her beautiful surroundings and her happiness. Her mother had often said joy comes in the early morning. And she did feel pure joy this morning. Her spirit, light, buoyant, and carefree, soared for the first time in years. Her world was perfect. Except that, William had left early to see about the prisoner in his jail and arrange for the man’s trial. But she was well used to being alone and he had promised to be back soon.

She opened her eyes and surveyed the picturesque setting, wondering who had named it Whispering Hills. She couldn’t wait to hear the wind speaking to her through these hills. Words whispered soak into your heart so much faster than other words. Perhaps that is why these hills whispered.

Already she loved this place and the palatable feeling of rightness it bestowed. Mostly because of the man who had loved her so completely last night. But also because she now had a home to call her own. And a life of her own. Before she had been a part of her parents’ life and later only a small part of her father’s. But this was her life. Whispering Hills would be the home that held her hopes and dreams.

She also felt far braver here—her dormant inner strength renewed. She sat her bucket down, stretched, and drew in a deep chest-expanding breath of cool air.

As she stood there, invigorated, a sense of belonging filled her, and it gave her comfort. She decided she would bless Colonel Boone until the end of her days for his generosity. And if she and William ever had children, she would teach them to do the same. Maybe they would even name one of their sons Daniel.

Kelly decided to take a stroll around the place before she got the water. She wandered aimlessly, with no particular purpose except to familiarize herself with her new home. After a few minutes of exploring, she stumbled upon an old forlorn cemetery at the crest of a rise. Two simple stone markers lay flat against the green grass. The names carved in the rocks were covered with grass, leaves, and dirt and difficult to read. She plucked some of the leaves away, revealing only a few of the letters. It didn’t really matter to her who they were, but she promised herself she would take care of the graves. Later, she’d bring a hoe and shears and
clean the burial place up.

When she’d left her home, leaving her mother’s grave behind had been perhaps the hardest thing she’d ever done. No one would keep the weeds down or leave her mother flowers on her birthday. She hoped that someday, someone would find it and, like her, care for a stranger’s grave.

After she’d finished her walk about, she filled the bucket and started back toward the cabin. William had taken care of her horse before he left, letting her mare out in the pen to graze, so Kelly decided to start her day with cleaning. She would give the cabin a thorough cleansing and when she finished with the inside, she would start tidying up the outside. There were bits of leaves and branches on the porch and she intended to keep it as clean as the inside of her home. In the spring, she would plant some flowers, mint, and other herbs in front of the porch and perhaps start a garden nearby.

She warmed the coffee William had made before he left and set a Dutch oven in the coals, loaded with plenty of water, beans, some salt, and the wild onion she’d found on her stroll. As she sipped her coffee, she studied the cabin’s interior and decided what to tackle first. Then she started on her chores, her heart content.

After a couple of hours, she took a deep breath. It smelled cleaner and fresher now. She collected a few sprigs and twigs with fall colored leaves and made a bouquet for an old pot she found in the corner. Then she baked some corn bread in the hearth and when it finished baking, she sat it on a brick to cool. The sweet aroma made her stomach growl. William thought he would be able to make it back by noon, so she decided to wait and eat with him.

As she continued her chores, she thought about their lovemaking. The awakening experience had left her reeling.
Afterwards, he had held her in his arms, stroking her head gently as she slowly recovered.

Her own driving need shocked her to her core and, even now, made her face warm. And the way William was able to answer that need stunned her even more. She didn’t know it was possible to feel those things. He was a masterful lover. She had underestimated everything about being intimate with him. It was so much more than she anticipated. Spectacular even. And she was eager to learn more.

She wondered if William could have gotten her with child. She would know in a couple of weeks, but for now, she set aside the thought.

Suddenly drowsy, she decided to lay down and rest her eyes for a few moments. But her exhausted body and the warmth of their bed soon lured her into a deep, dragon-free sleep.

A wet tongue was licking her face. William?

Kelly’s eyes flew open. The face of the cutest puppy she had ever seen stared back at her, its eyes equally wide. With its puppy paws balanced precariously on the curves of her chest, the fat little ball of fur started wagging a fluffy tail and moved toward her neck.

When he licked her chin, she giggled and sat up. The long-haired golden puppy tumbled into her lap and curled into a tight ball. She glanced around, but there was no sign of William.

“Where did you come from little one?” She stroked the pup’s downy back several times and then picked it up. A male. A boy with huge feet and an even bigger belly. And long velvety ears that flopped down on either side of his warm brown eyes.

William burst through the door, his arms full of more supplies
and packages. A huge grin covered his face. “How do you like our new boy?”

“He’s completely adorable!” she exclaimed, standing up. “Is he mine?”

“Indeed.”

“I’ve never owned a dog. Oh William, how can I ever thank you!”

He chuckled. “I can think of some ways. Come see what else I got you.”

Holding the puppy, she hurried over to the table now laden with all manner of items. She gave William a big kiss before examining the bounty. There was a new wool blanket, a block of cheese, a pound of sugar, an apron, candles, some paper and ink, a pretty blue shawl, and a few books.

“Books, you got me books!” She opened each one reverently and then gave him a peck for each one.

“I remembered how worn your tomes were back at your cabin. They were falling apart and you had to leave the books behind. I wanted to replace them for you,” William explained.

“I read each of the three more times than I can count,” she said.

“The shopkeeper promised me they were all good stories. And he said that one, The Art of Cookery, contained some excellent recipes and as well as perfumery guidance. Take a look at the page where I put the ribbon.”

Kelly opened the book to the ribboned page and read,

Sweet Scented Bags to Lay with Linen

Eight ounces of damask rose leaves, eight ounces of coriander seeds, eight ounces of sweet orrisroot, eight ounces of calamus aromaticus, one ounce of mace, one ounce of cinnamon, half an ounce of cloves, four drachms of musk-powder, two drachms of white loaf sugar, three ounces of lavender flowers and some of Rhodium wood. Beat them well together and make them in small silk bags. A mortar, pestle and a grater are essential for creating a strong scent. Place the mixture in an 8 inch by 8 inch square piece of cloth and tie together with a ribbon.

That will be fun to try someday, she thought. This cabin could use a little sweeter scent. “How thoughtful. Thank you once again, William.”

“It is my great pleasure to bring you joy.”

“Being with you is my greatest joy.”

“And I you. But, I have to hurry back to town. I need to finish questioning Helms and interview the witnesses to the shooting at the blacksmith’s, and then later today, I have to meet up with Sam and Bear at our old campsite. I need to retrieve all my things and my law books before the two of them leave to return to Cumberland Falls. Not that anyone is likely to steal my humble possessions, but I wouldn’t want to risk someone stealing my law books.”

“I hate to see Sam and Bear leave,” Kelly said. “It’s reassuring to have both of them around.”

“Indeed, but it’s time they got back to the others. I’m sure Sam misses Catherine. After all, they are newlyweds.”

“I think he would miss her terribly even after they’d been married for fifty years,” she said.

“Sam told me something interesting at the swearing in
ceremony.”

“What?” she asked, her curiosity growing.

“It seems Catherine is an extremely wealthy woman.”

“Truly?”

“Not only that, her family is English nobility. And her late husband had a verified claim to ten thousand acres surrounding Cumberland Falls. That’s about fifteen square miles. Now she owns it. Or rather, she and Sam own it. She insisted that they share everything.”

Kelly felt her eyes widen and her mouth drop. She blew out a breath. “She never let any of us know.”

“She wanted Sam to marry her for love, not her wealth, so she kept it a secret from all of us, even him. She didn’t tell Sam until a few days into their honeymoon.”

“I’m astounded. She always seemed elegant, almost regal, but never would I have guessed she was noble. She’s so kind and humble.” She stroked the pup’s head as she talked.

“Well she is definitely noble. She even has a large estate in England that produces a substantial income each year,” William explained.

“That explains her fine clothing and all her pretty things. And why she could buy Jane and me those gowns and under garments to wear to her wedding. She was always so generous with all of us.”