Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 by Beth Williamson

the room, he moved his mouth over hers, back and forth, with light touches. She sighed into his mouth as tingles raced down her skin.
    She liked kissing him. More than she’d expected.
    “I can stay with your pa. You two should enjoy your wedding night.” Mrs. Sheridan’s voice startled both of them.
    Eve scrambled away from Adam, slipped off the chair and landed on the floor. The impact slammed her teeth together with an audible clack and sent a lightning bolt of pain up her spine.
    “Oh, piccola , I’m sorry!” Mrs. Sheridan was there before Adam moved. She helped Eve to her feet and pulled her into a hug.
    Eve hadn’t been hugged by a woman. Ever. There hadn’t been any affection from the women in her life. Eve hadn’t known what she had missed; therefore she’d never bemoaned her situation.
    Until now.
    Mrs. Sheridan smelled of flowers and clean soap; her arms and body enveloped Eve in warmth. Hugging was as foreign to her as grinding wheat into flour.
    Yet tears burned Eve’s eyes and her throat tightened to the point she could hardly swallow. This was different than Adam soothing her nightmare. He was being sweet, but his mother was something else.
    She held Eve as though she was precious. And she called her piccola. A nickname! It was apparent the older woman’s attitude toward Eve had changed because of her role in saving Mr. Sheridan. Circumstance and happenstance had made Eve’s job easier. She didn’t have to work to convince anyone. She wasn’t sure if she felt better about that or worse.
    “You’ve saved my husband’s life, married my son and kept our family together. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.” Mrs. Sheridan kissed the top of Eve’s head.
    A tear snuck out and meandered down Eve’s cheek and she didn’t know if it was genuine or not. She was so far out of her experience she didn’t know whether to wipe it away or let more join it. Adam spoke and saved her from making the choice.
    “Mama, you’re smothering her. Let her catch her breath.”
    Mrs. Sheridan pulled back. “I’m sorry, Eve. I forget that not everyone is as affectionate as we are.”
    “I, uh, didn’t mind.” Eve crossed her arms. “I’m not used to it, though.”
    Concern flitted through the older woman’s eyes. “Then we’ll try not to overwhelm you.” She moved back to her perch on the chair beside the bed. “Why don’t you two go get some sleep? I’ll wake you in a few hours.”
    Adam took Eve’s arm in his big hand. “That’s a good idea, Mama. It’s been a long day and it’s already tomorrow.”
    Eve didn’t protest as he led her from the room. The darkened hallway was only lit by the golden light behind them from the lamp and the moonlight streaming in through the window nearby.
    If she wasn’t mistaken, she was about to have her wedding night.
    * * * * *
    While Eve got ready for bed, Adam walked outside for some air. The velvet-black sky was awash in twinkling pinpoints, while the nearly full moon hung low in the sky. The air was cool, but not cold. He took a deep breath, the peace of the night invading his bones.
    Tanger was quiet, with only a few lights on here and there. He sat on a chair on the front porch and rocked back and forth slowly, struggling with what he was doing and what he was feeling.
    He wasn’t ready to make love to his wife. The very real possibility that his father would die had put an end to the idea of a wedding night. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want her. If he wanted her any more, he would bust a few stitches on his trousers.
    No, it wasn’t physical want that stopped him. It was guilt. The scrabbling, fanged monster that sat on his shoulder and weighed him down. No matter what anyone said, he was responsible for his father’s accident. Adam had been fighting his father’s expectations all his life. Marrying Eve had been the pinnacle of doing what his father didn’t want.
    Adam leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Fixing the situation was