He looked at her, his hand cupping the side of her neck before he leaned back down. His kiss was surprisingly gentle, his tongue dipping inside her mouth to taste her in slow, lingering strokes that made her heart race and caused heat to pool between her legs.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and she pressed her leg against his erection, earning a small moan from him in the process. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to feel when Matthew finally came to her but this dizziness had never entered her mind. Her limbs felt shaky, her stomach doing little flips and each swipe of his tongue against her own sent more of those tingles racing down her spine. She felt weak, her mouth burning with fire and she wasn’t close enough. She bunched the material of his shirt into her hands, leaned against him and kissed him back with a crazed sort of intensity that made her feel as if she was no longer in control of her emotions.

  He broke the kiss a few moments later, panting out harsh breaths against her kiss-swollen lips and braced his forehead against her own. His hands moved to her shoulders, to the fabric of her gown. “Can I see you?”

  She nodded and watched his face as he leaned back and pulled the gown down her arms, the material pooling on the floor at her feet. He took in every inch of her, his hands following the path of his eyes. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Julia felt a pleasant sort of heat wash over her from head to toe at the compliment, but embarrassment followed as he stood there staring at her. Matthew’s gaze roamed the length of her body one last time before he gave her another small kiss then lifted her into his arms her carried her to their bed.

  Chapter Ten

  Matthew wasn’t in bed when she woke. Julia frowned and sat up, holding the blankets against her chest as she looked around the room. That familiar pain that was usually there when she realized Matthew hadn’t come to bed was back and she tried to tell herself it meant nothing. That him not being there when she woke didn’t mean she’d disappointed him and he’d left.

  But it sure felt that way.

  She smoothed her hair down and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her thoughts going back to the night before. Despite her disappointment in Matthew not being there, she couldn’t help but be stupidly happy. It had been perfect and she’d never felt so loved and cherished. It’s what she’d always wanted when she’d dreamed of married life. She glanced beside her. She just wished Matthew had been there when she woke up. It would have been nice to wake in his arms.

  She slid to the edge of the bed, threw back the blankets and started to rise. The door swinging open pulled a startled squeal from her and she snatched the blankets back up to cover herself.

  Matthew gave her a lazy smile when he stepped into the room, his gaze lowering to her barely-covered breasts as he crossed the room. When he stopped by her side of the bed, she realized he was holding a tray. He sat it on her lap, then leaned down and placed a kiss to her forehead. “Breakfast in bed for my lovely wife.”

  She blushed. It wasn’t that she was naked with nothing covering her but the sheets on the bed, or remembering what they’d done the night before. It was nothing more than pure delight, that and she felt silly for thinking he’d abandoned her when she woke.

  The tray held nothing more than bacon and eggs, toast with fresh butter and honey and … “Is that tea?”

  “It is.”

  Her head snapped up. “We have tea?”

  “We do now. I picked some up yesterday when I was in town. I wasn’t sure how you liked it, though.”

  “The honey will sweeten it perfectly, thank you.” The tea was in one of the regular mugs they used for coffee every morning but she didn’t mind. Who needed china teacups anyway. It was the tea that was important.

  She tucked the sheets underneath her arms and made sure it was going to stay before pulling the honey spoon out of its container and dribbling it into her cup and giving it a stir.

  “I have a few things to take care of outside so eat and dress, then come find me and we’ll go gather those pine boughs you wanted yesterday.”

  Her heart fluttered at the suggestion, then skipped a beat when he leaned down and kissed her, taking his time tasting her lips. When he pulled back, he said, “And good morning.”

  She giggled, then blushed for being so silly. “Good morning.”

  He gave her another quick kiss and left and Julia grinned through her meal. The marriage may have gotten off to a rocky start but Matthew had made up for it in a single night. The breakfast in bed was a nice touch as well and as she ate, and sipped her tea, she stared out the window and daydreamed about what their future would look like.

  Of all the mornings to be needed for one task after another, it had to be this one. Matthew finally made it back to the barn an hour after leaving the house and walking inside to find Julia with the colt was enough to erase his foul mood.

  She smiled at him as he shut the barn door. Her hair was once again pulled up and his fingers itched to twist inside those locks again. Every single moment from the night before came to mind and he debated on heading back to the house instead of traipsing off into the woods for sticks.

  She turned her attention back to the colt. He wasn’t sure if the joy on her face was due to seeing the horse again or if maybe he was the reason. He hoped it was the latter. He hadn’t seen her smile like that in all the weeks she’d been here so it gave him hope that maybe things were as they should be.

  “He’s already been fed this morning but when we get back, I’m sure he’d appreciate some attention.”

  “He seems as if he would.” The colt butted her hand with his nose, wanting to be rubbed. “He seems starved for it.”

  “There’s too much to do around here to give him the attention he craves.” He crossed the barn and stopped beside her, reaching over the rail to scratch the colt behind the ear. “He seems to want us around more than the others do.”

  “With no mother, I’d imagine he did.”

  Matt watched her pet the horse, took in her features as she smiled and talked to the colt and wondered why he’d waited so long to walk up those stairs. He’d been foolish, he realized that now. He’d lost weeks of time by assuming she didn’t want to be a proper wife to him. Weeks he’d never get back now but he’d make up for them if it took him a lifetime.

  “You’re staring at me.”

  Her soft voice drew him from his thoughts. He smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I suppose I am.” She flicked a quick glance at him before her cheeks turned red. He held back a grin. “Ready for our walk to get the pine boughs?”

  “Yes.”

  They left the barn and Matt stopped in front of the house to grab Julia’s basket and his rifle. She looked at it worriedly when he came back outside. “Just in case,” he said. “I don’t want to be surprised by those wolves if they decide to come back.”

  “Do you think they will?”

  He didn’t want to frighten her with talk of dangerous animals but he didn’t want her to be ignorant and not realize they were here, either. He offered her his arm and started for the trees. “The sheriff was here to warn me about a pack of wolves that have been seen roaming the valley but I already knew about them. I’ve been missing some cattle and the herd had roamed further than they usually did. When we went to round them up, we found a fresh kill. They took down one of the younger cows so when the sheriff showed up, we rode out into the pasture to see if we found any tracks. We found plenty, but they veered off in so many different directions they were hard to track.”

  “And then they found me.”

  It wasn't a question and the slight tremble in her voice told him she was still shaken by the attack. “Luckily I was near the house when I heard you screaming.”

  If he hadn’t been—he shifted the conversation, the what-ifs about the wolf attack too frightening to even contemplate. “Tell me about Charleston? What’s it like there?”

  The smile that lit her face was one he hadn’t seen before. “It’s beautiful.” She glanced at him, her hold on his arm tightening. “We lived in town and our house faced the harbor so we had constant ocean breezes in summer. The veranda spanned the entire front of the house and both sides and I could have sat there all day.” She laughed. “Well, I did spend most of my day there when it was warm. I never grew tired of staring at the ocean.”

  “Sounds nice. I’ve always wanted to see the ocean myself.”

  She looked up at him, a hopeful expression on her face. “I’d very much like to visit again someday.”

  Could he leave the ranch long enough to make a trip like that? That look on her face wanted to make him try. “I’ll do my best to get you back there one day.”

  “Oh, thank you!” She bounced on her heels and leaned up, kissing his cheek, then blushed like a virgin. He laughed and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “You don’t have to be embarrassed for showing me affection.”

  She stared at the buttons on his coat, her face turning a darker pink until he tucked a finger under her chin to bring her head up. Every memory he had of the night before came back in an instant. The sounds she made as he loved her. The feel of her hands on his bare flesh, the taste of her kisses—the way she begged for more.

  He lowered his head, taking her lips again in the kind of kiss he’d been wanting since leaving her naked and warm in their bed. She opened for him eagerly, her tongue slipping into his mouth as her arms came up to wrap around his neck. She made those small moans he’d heard the night before and his need for her was overwhelming.

  He broke the kiss to give her a chance to breathe and stood there panting, their foreheads touching. “Would it be unseemly for me to say I wanted you again.”

  She grinned. “It’s not even noon yet.”

  “Hmm … my desire for you doesn’t care what time of day it is.” He kissed her again, lingering until she moaned deep in her throat.

  Julia pulled away panting. “Prudence said she’d come to take me into town today so I could visit with my friends.”

  “I can take you into town anytime you wish. All you would have had to do is ask.”

  “I didn’t want to bother you with something so trivial. I know you have things to do around here.”

  “Nothing you want is trivial, Julia. It would be my pleasure.”

  “All right then. After we’ve picked the pine boughs.”

  He leaned down and gave her another soft kiss. “And after I’ve taken you to our bed.” He gave her another kiss. “Before noon.” And yet another kiss. “And had my way with you.” Her face glowed so bright red he laughed. “You are a delight, wife.”

  “And you are a shameless flirt, husband.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Matthew wasn’t finished “having his way” with her, as he called it, for a solid week, not that she was complaining. She’d been loved to the point of exhaustion, had most of her meals while in bed with him, and even spent an entire evening being pampered with a hot bath for two in front of the fireplace in their bedroom.

  He’d put all his things into the dresser again and hadn’t left her bed since the night he’d knocked on her door and asked to come in. He’d delegated most of the chores to the ranch hands in order to spend time with her and she couldn’t have been happier.

  They’d learned a lot about each other over the past week and she hoped her friends couldn’t tell what she’d been up to. The smile on her face seemed to be permanent and she feared the moment they saw her, they’d know she’d just spent the past six days, more or less, naked in bed with her husband.

  Of course, her friends were newly married as well. For all she knew, their husbands were as enamored with them as Matthew seemed to be with her.

  Julia hurried down the stairs and into the sitting room, peeking out the window to see if Matthew had brought the wagon around yet and was reaching for her cloak when someone said, “That’s some fine decorating you’ve done in here.”

  She squealed, and jumped, hand flying to her heart as she spun on her heel to find Abe in the center of the room, arms crossed over his chest, head cocked to one side. “Abe! You scared the devil out of me.”

  He laughed like he always did and gave her a wink, then studied her in that way he sometimes did. “You look different.”

  “Oh?” She patted her hair, making sure it was all in place. “How so?”

  “I don’t know, just—different. Something’s changed. You’re near to glowing.”

  She grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Well, I’ve done nothing different since the last time I saw you.”

  “Things been going good with you and Matt then, I take it?”

  She blushed. “Is it that obvious?”

  He chuckled. “I’d say so. You look younger and a whole lot happier than you did the last time I saw you.”

  “Well, the last time you saw me I had just been nearly killed and yelled at.” She bit her lip, pushing the memory away. It wasn’t one she liked to recall. “So,” she said, “What brings you by?”

  “Nothing in particular. I just like checking in on you to make sure things are as they should be and to make sure Matt’s treating you like he should. The Bailey’s have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

  “Well, I don’t think Matthew’s done anything to shame any of his relatives. And we’re fine, thank you for asking. Everything is—perfect now.”

  “Well, that’s good to know. Seems as if my job here is done.”

  “What exactly is your job around here?”

  “Oh, this and that. I was known as a jack-of-all-trades. There weren’t many things I couldn’t do and that included burning a pan of biscuits every now and again.”

  She laughed as he headed across the room toward the kitchen, stopping to look back at her. “You take good care of him now, you here?”

  “I plan on it.”

  Her attention was drawn to the front door as it opened. Orin stood grinning in the threshold. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

  Julia hooked the clasp on her cloak. “You sound as if you’ve read a book or two.”

  “As many as I can get my hands on.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful to hear. I know exactly what to get you for Christmas now.” She turned to tell Abe goodbye but found him already gone. She shook her head, wondering how anyone could be so quiet when they came and went and was still puzzling over it when Orin escorted her outside, then helped her down the steps as they were iced over in a few spots. He took hold of her arm when they were on the ground, helping her across the yard to the waiting wagon. She laughed at his behavior. “I’m sure I can make it such a short distance without assistance, Orin.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not taking any chances.”

  “Chances on what?”

  That grin on his face widened. “Well, as long as you and Matt have been holed up in that house, we all figure there’ll be a new Bailey in the family by end of next summer.”

  It took her longer than it should have to suss out what he meant and when she did, her face must have shown every ounce of her embarrassment. Orin laughed as Matthew jumped down from the wagon and walked her way.

  “What did he say?”

  She wasn’t about to repeat it and shook her head. “Nothing worth mentioning.” He lifted her up into the wagon and spent the entire trip into town telling her about life on the ranch, how the field behind the apple orchard fills with wildflowers for as far as you can see, and of the swimming hole in the creek behind the house. He’d built a table and benches for Pru years ago and sat them under the trees along the banks. They hadn’t used the area once since they lost Jonas and his pa but hoped come summer, to have a good many picnics there.

  By the time they reached town, she was eager for the spring thaw so she could explore the ranch properly, and since Orin mentioned it, she wondered what the summer would bring.

  She placed a hand on her stomach as they rode to the livery stable, a secret smile curving the corners of her mouth. Could she be carrying already? It was possible. Matthew had barely let her out of bed since he’d come to her so yes—she could very well be carrying his child. Was that what Abe had meant when he said she looked different? Hope bloomed in her chest at the possibility.

  The town was decorated with pine boughs and ribbons and with the snow still on the ground, it looked exactly how she’d always pictured Christmas should look. The only thing missing was the carolers and the tinkling of a bell as someone from one charity or another stood with a collection cup on the corner.

  Matthew left the horse and wagon in the care of Willie at the livery stable, then took her to the only restaurant in town, a small eatery which boasted a “fine dining experience,” complete with lace tablecloths and an imported wine, for those who could afford to purchase it.

  He introduced her to every person they met and she’d never felt so decadent in her life. Having his attention was an addicting feeling and as much as her heart fluttered every time she looked at him, she knew it wouldn’t take very long at all to be completely in love with her husband if she wasn’t already.

  When they stepped back out onto the sidewalk, a light dusting of new snow covered the street and flurries were still falling. “Will it be all right to stay or should we head home?”

  Matthew looked at the sky. “The clouds aren’t thick enough for it to be much. I think we’ll be fine.”

  “What will you do while I’m visiting my friends?”

  “I’ll find something to occupy my time.” He lifted her hand and said, “If we weren’t on the street and in plain sight of anyone looking, I’d kiss you properly,” before placing a soft kiss to her palm. “Tonight, though—I’ll kiss you in all my favorite places.”

 

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