Western Widows

SETH

What an infuriating woman! She'd been like a mouse, scurrying into hiding at the sight of me for the past three months. Why? Because she was afraid for me. I'd thought she'd been afraid of me, my overlarge size often putting the fear of God in many. It was to my advantage quite frequently, as with the drunk who'd cared to touch Rachel in front of the saloon. With a woman such as Rachel, I didn't want her fearful, I wanted her lustful. For my desire for her was unlike any need I'd felt before. I was distracted at the mine, consumed with thoughts of her dark hair, her pale, creamy skin, the succulent sway of her hips.

All this time—months!—she'd maintained her distance and a cool air of disdain as a falsehood, for she had just revealed her desperate need for me. My cock swelled as big as my pride at the discovery. She wanted me. Wanted me enough to avoid me at all costs. The stupid, willful woman! I could have had her in my bed beneath me, on top of me, any way I could have her a

ll this time. Instead, I'd been like a schoolboy with his first crush, chasing after her.

The woman needed protecting. Overzealous and lecherous men abounded in Collins, eager and ready to pluck a ripe fruit like Rachel. I'd given many a man clear warning as to whom Rachel belonged. Unfortunately, there were too many men to lecture and Rachel had free roam of town. I couldn't run a mine and keep Rachel safe simultaneously. There were most certainly moments when she was prey for the underbelly of the town.

Now, well, now everything changed. When I had her standing still long enough to speak with her, I was able to glean so much. She'd not only confirmed the status of her marriage to Aaron, but she'd intimated that her desire for me was so great she had to maintain distance to keep from possibly tarnishing my honor.

Complete rubbish. As a man, it was my job to ease the woman's worries, to remove any concerns or hindrances to her happiness. It wasn't Rachel's job to defend me. I was strong enough to protect the both of us. In one quick action, I'd taken control, taken the worry away from her and put it on my own shoulders. I claimed her quite publicly, which, when news spread, would tarnish my honor, not hers. There was only one way to make it right and that was to marry her. This was what she wanted all along, but needed me to take control of the situation. Finally. I'd been tiptoeing around like a pansy until the truth of it struck me like a pickaxe to the head.

She wanted to submit but didn't know how. I did. With one passionate kiss, she'd given herself to me and now she was irrevocably mine.

* * * * *

"Are you insane?" Rachel asked two hours later.

I lifted her up in my arms and carried her over the threshold and into my house. The soft feel of her in my arms was incredible and I intended to carry her directly to my bedroom to continue to touch her. Without the hindrance of clothes.

"I was, but no longer." For the first time since Aaron was killed and Rachel had become a widow, legally available for marriage, I was clearheaded.

"Seth, put me down!"

I kicked the door shut behind me and strode up the steps and into the bedroom, ignoring her attempts to escape. I released her only when my large bed was beneath her and she landed on the blue quilt. Her eyes widened in surprise at the realization of her surroundings.

"You have been leading me around by my dick for the longest time, and I've been insane enough to allow it. No longer. It's time you realize who has control in this marriage."

I started to undo the buttons of my shirt and her dark eyes widened. She licked those plump lips of hers and my cock pressed painfully against my pants. I'd been this way for months, whenever she crossed paths with me. Hell, whenever I caught a hint of her scent. I could do something about it now.

"You married me!" Somewhere along the way her hair had fallen loose from the pins that had held it securely at her nape and she looked a little disheveled. In my opinion, not disheveled enough. "I had no choice since you compromised me most thoroughly out on the thoroughfare."

"Damn right." She was trying to make me feel contrite for my actions when I felt anything but. I tugged my shirt from my pants, stripped it off. Her eyes lowered to my chest and it appeared I distracted her. "You don't dictate how I feel about you."

"Half the town saw your kiss and all but marched us to the church."

"Damn right," I repeated, thinking the very dour, very austere members of the community would have lynched me just as readily as led me to Reverend Pick if I'd had less than honorable intentions. The town had even remained, settled comfortably in the church pews, to witness our union. "Did you think I'd let you get away from me once I found out you want me as much as I want you?"

Her eyes darted from meeting mine, to my chest and back. "You do?"

I took a breath and ran a hand over the back of my neck.

"If that kiss didn't convince you, then I've got work to do. Now get that dress off before I rip it from you."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "You can still renege. We haven't consummated the marriage."

"You think the townsfolk will let me abandon you after the disgrace I made of you on the street?"

"No. You kissed me!"

I grinned, remembering the taste of her. "I did."

"Why? I told you the kind of person I was. What I did to Aaron."

"Yes, you told me. You wanted to kiss me, to do those things you are imagining that you consider whorish. I want you to. That's the difference. I want to do all those wild, dirty things." The bed dipped as I placed one knee upon it. "Tell me what they are, Rachel."

She came up on her elbows and started to scurry back but I stopped her with one hand on her ankle. "You've disgraced me enough. Do you think I will shame myself further by uttering something such as that?"