The Unexpected Wife

“Now, Doreen…” Hyrum said, following her back to the party.

Abby’s gut clenched as the rancher’s stark words tumbled in her head. She rose slowly, tucking her damp handkerchief back into her cuff. Mr. Barrington…Matthias had married her because he cared about her and not out of economic necessity. Forcing herself not to dwell on the doubts that stalked her, she returned to the picnic.

Much later, when they’d accepted more advice than they’d ever need and tucked the boys into the wagon, they stood side by side under the night sky staring at the thousands of stars. They were so close, yet not touching.

Lord, how she loved this man.

She took his hand in hers. His fingers felt warm, so strong. He dropped his gaze to hers. His eyes gave no hint of his emotions.

“I promised myself that I would not do something but I have,” she said.

He rubbed his thumb against her palm, but still he said nothing. Finally, he asked, “What’s that?”

She pursed her lips. She had never been so afraid in her entire life. “I have fallen in love with you.”

He brushed his knuckle against her soft cheek. “You are a fine woman, Abby Barrington. And I will do right by you.”

Disappointment sliced through her. She’d wanted him to tell her that he loved her. She wanted him to banish the worries she’d harbored since the first. But Matthias wasn’t the kind of man who made false promises.

She drew in a deep breath. “I know you can never love again. And truthfully, I have made peace with that.”

He cupped her face in his rough hands. “Abby.”

Her mind was rambling. “And it’s not like we don’t have love in our marriage. I do love you and well, you have a certain respect for me. So I think it’s quite possible that our marriage will be successful.”

He tipped her chin up to face him. He stroked the underside of her jaw. “I think we’ll have a fine marriage.” He leaned forward and kissed her on her lips. He tasted of salt and a hint of whiskey.

She ran her tongue over her lips. Lord but she loved touching him. She nestled close to him, wrapping her arms around him. Being in his arms felt so natural, as if they’d been together a lifetime.

He tightened his hold around her and she could feel his arousal pressing against her. “I promised myself the last time I touched you that I’d never do it again. No matter how tempted I was. I didn’t want to take, when I couldn’t give back.”

She laid her cheek against his chest. His heart beat fast. “We are wed now.”

“You deserve a proper wedding night in a real bed,” he said gruffly.

She didn’t care about fancy beds. If he’d said he’d loved her, the night would have been perfect. Say you love me. “A blanket under the stars suits me just fine.”

He dipped his head and kissed her fully on the lips. She wanted him so much that she could barely breathe.

When he released her, she found that her knees were weak and that she could barely stand. He took her hand in his and scooped up several blankets from the back of the wagon.

They checked on the boys and confirmed that they were still sound asleep, and then hand in hand walked the twenty paces to the old oak tree. There the ground was smooth and covered with a thick coat of grass.

Matthias spread out the blanket as Abby watched. Her body tingled with anticipation. She tried to imagine what it would feel like to make love to him now that she was his wife. Would the passion still be the same?

He sat down on the blanket. He tugged off his boots and took off his gun belt and set them both by his right hand. He looked up at her. He patted the spot next to his. “Have a seat.”

With the other bundled blanket in her arms, she took her place beside him. She stared up at him, suddenly unsure of what to do. This moment felt nothing like the wild abandon that had possessed them that night in the barn.

She supposed this was her cue to undress. Primly, she unlaced her shoes and set them on the ground beside her. She reached for her stockings.

Matthias’s calloused fingers pushed her hands away. “Let me.”

The smoke and heat in his voice had her looking up. A fire burned in his eyes that took her breath away. This night promised to be as erotic as the last they’d shared.

Abby moistened her lips as she set the blanket aside and leaned back on her elbows. She held up her leg for him.

Slowly, Matthias’s hand slid up her leg over her knee to the top of her stocking. He traced the band with his finger then slowly pulled the black stocking down over her slender leg. Her breathing grew shallow. Her heart raced.

Reaching for the buttons of her skirt, he deftly unfastened them. Eagerly she lifted her hips, so that he could pull her skirt over her hips. The cool evening air ruffled the soft fabric of her chemise.

She felt wicked, indecent.

Matthias’s eyes glowed with dark passion as he straddled her hips and stared into her eyes. Quickly, he pulled his shirt off. Moonlight glistened on his muscled chest and flat belly covered with a mat of thick, dark hair.

He kissed her lips and then the hollow of her neck as he cupped her breasts.

When he lifted his head and reached for the buttons of her bodice, she slid her hand up his naked chest. His heartbeat was rapid and strong, his breathing shallow and quick. “Your heart is racing.”

“I want you.” He unfastened the tiny buttons that trailed down between her full breasts. He pushed open the folds of her calico bodice top and tugged it off her shoulders. The crests of her full breasts rose in white mounds over the top of her corset and thin chemise.

He kissed the top of each breast then moved back to her mouth. His tongue explored the soft folds of her lips.

She slipped her hands through his thick hair, savoring his taste and the feel of him.

In his arms, she felt as if all was perfect and right in the world. Her hands slid down his back to his buttocks then traveled around his belt and reached for the thick buckle. Her fingers fumbled with the buckle until it came loose. She unfastened the top buttons and eased her hand downward.

He hissed in a breath as if he had been scalded. “You’re making me crazy.”

She chuckled. “Good.”

He stared down at her, the moonlight slashing across his rawboned face. He possessed intensity in his gaze that made her skin burn.

He covered her body with his and kissed her on her mouth. This time there was no holding back. They both began tugging and pulling at what remained of the other’s clothes until they lay naked under the blanket.

He kissed her again, this time pushing his thigh between her legs. She opened her legs wider, wanting to feel him inside of her.

Matthias kissed her naked breast, suckling it until it was a hardened peak. Abby swallowed, digging her fingers through his hair.

He pressed the tip of his erection at her feminine center. She grew moist and the desire inside of her nearly drove her mad. She lifted her hips, ready to accept all of him.

The passion stripped away all barriers and in one smooth thrust he pushed into her. Her moist hot body wrapped tightly around him.

“Abby.” He

whispered her name. His voice was so hoarse she barely recognized it. “Abby. Abby.”

She understood the intent behind her muttered name. He was making love to her. There was no one else here but them.

She lifted her hips to accept all of him. And when he was hilt deep, he started to move his hips in a rhythmic movement that had her senses reeling.

When his fingers slid down to her moist center and touched her, her head dropped back against the grass. “Matthias!”

She wasn’t sure what devilish thing he was doing to her but she loved it. Soon her body rose higher and higher until finally she couldn’t hold back any longer. Her blood boiled hot, pumping through her veins.

Then, she tipped over an imaginary edge and her world exploded. She called out his name and dug her hands into his back. Every muscle in her body tensed as waves of sensations rushed over her.

He moved faster and faster until finally, his muscles bunched. Sweat glistening on his forehead, he growled her name and exploded inside her.

For several long moments, he lay on top of her, his head buried in the crook of her neck, his breathing rapid. Gently, she stroked her fingers through his hair as she savored every sensation.

If she lived to be one hundred, she’d never forget this moment.

Finally he rose up on his elbows and kissed her on the lips before he rolled on his side. He pulled her against his chest, spooning his body against her naked backside. He drew the blanket up over their warm bodies, and then cupped his hand around her breast.

Nestled against in his body, she was completely satisfied. For this moment everything was simply perfect. “I love you,” she whispered.

He kissed her on the shoulder and hugged her closer against his body.

She held her breath as she lay on her side, waiting for him to speak some words of endearment.

But he said nothing.

Chapter Seventeen

“About time you two got here,” she said. “It’s past nine o’clock,” Mrs. Clements said as she moved out from behind her store counter the next morning. “Lands, half the day is gone.”