mother’s father was a wealthy man, and, upon his death, she inherited it all. I’ve almost no ties left anywhere, besides my sister. She would be the only one who would dare to object in my choice of partner, and I don’t plan to give her the opportunity to do that.”
“But…I’d want to live here, sir. I doubt you’d agree to that. All my family is here.”
“Live in this lawless, dusty town?” He smiled faintly. “This heathen bedlam? The town too dead to bury?”
“You shouldn’t insult my place of residence.” But, I wasn’t insulted, trying to hide my own amusement.
“I do require one thing, though, before I put forth a true and honest proposal.”
“What’s that?” I waited, nearly holding my breath.
“A kiss. Please kiss me, Mary.”
Chapter Eleven
I would never be able to object to an entreaty like that, and, as I considered the ramifications of such an action, I’d begun to sway towards him, eyeing his mouth, which looked soft and inviting.
“I take that as a yes,” he murmured huskily, his hands holding my face, while he neared.
I’d closed my eyes, feeling the touch of his lips. He parted his mouth slightly, and I did the same. Things escalated, especially once I snaked my arms around his neck. I stunned myself by the small, yet audible moan that escaped me, but I had never experienced anything more pleasurable in my life, and I could not contain my delight in the matter. I was going to be his wife after all, and it would hopefully only be a few days before we were joined.
His lips were near my ear, his breath ragged. “I think I got the answer I was looking for.”
“Yes.”
I grasped his face, feeling the rough quality of his beard. Then I kissed him, being the aggressor, even having the audacity to suck at his lower lip, grazing it with my teeth. Fingers drove through my hair, holding me in place while we explored each other’s mouths, delving into secret places and mingling our breaths, which had begun to sound raspy and winded. He smelled freshly of soap, with hints of whiskey that had lingered on his tongue.
The sound of a door closing roused us from the languid stupor we had succumbed to. As he pulled away, his hand was on my knee. I glanced over my shoulder, but I saw no one. Without another thought, I wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting to continue to be close to him. His hair was slightly damp from the bath.
He grasped me, clutching me to him. “I think that’s enough of an answer.”
“Answer to what?” I asked somewhat breathlessly.
“You desire me.”
“My word…”
“But you do. Would you deny it?”
“No, sir.” I met his gaze, while my belly flipped over. Realizing that I clung to him, I moved away, but he refused to release the grip he had on me.
“I realize we don’t know each other all that well, and I wish I could change that, but I’d prefer to marry you at the earliest possible convenience.”
“I know of your worries, but…can’t you just humor your sister when she arrives? We mustn’t rush into anything as important as marriage. What if you discover in a month or two that you don’t like me as much as you thought? I must warn you that I hog the bed. Any one of my sisters will tell you that.”
He smiled. “I doubt I could find fault with you in that manner. I know no union is perfect. There will be disagreements and irritations, but that is with anything in life.”
“You would stay in the Colorado Territory? What about your work? I thought you were traveling to California?”
“I do have to finish the line to Denver City, but, after that, I can choose my projects. What if I decide to open a mine here or a business? I’ve enough capital to do it.”
“You sound far too good to be true. There must be a catch somewhere.” I’d said what I had been thinking—without thinking—again.
He withdrew his arms from around me. “You’re right.” He sighed. “Perhaps, I shouldn’t rush
“But…I’d want to live here, sir. I doubt you’d agree to that. All my family is here.”
“Live in this lawless, dusty town?” He smiled faintly. “This heathen bedlam? The town too dead to bury?”
“You shouldn’t insult my place of residence.” But, I wasn’t insulted, trying to hide my own amusement.
“I do require one thing, though, before I put forth a true and honest proposal.”
“What’s that?” I waited, nearly holding my breath.
“A kiss. Please kiss me, Mary.”
Chapter Eleven
I would never be able to object to an entreaty like that, and, as I considered the ramifications of such an action, I’d begun to sway towards him, eyeing his mouth, which looked soft and inviting.
“I take that as a yes,” he murmured huskily, his hands holding my face, while he neared.
I’d closed my eyes, feeling the touch of his lips. He parted his mouth slightly, and I did the same. Things escalated, especially once I snaked my arms around his neck. I stunned myself by the small, yet audible moan that escaped me, but I had never experienced anything more pleasurable in my life, and I could not contain my delight in the matter. I was going to be his wife after all, and it would hopefully only be a few days before we were joined.
His lips were near my ear, his breath ragged. “I think I got the answer I was looking for.”
“Yes.”
I grasped his face, feeling the rough quality of his beard. Then I kissed him, being the aggressor, even having the audacity to suck at his lower lip, grazing it with my teeth. Fingers drove through my hair, holding me in place while we explored each other’s mouths, delving into secret places and mingling our breaths, which had begun to sound raspy and winded. He smelled freshly of soap, with hints of whiskey that had lingered on his tongue.
The sound of a door closing roused us from the languid stupor we had succumbed to. As he pulled away, his hand was on my knee. I glanced over my shoulder, but I saw no one. Without another thought, I wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting to continue to be close to him. His hair was slightly damp from the bath.
He grasped me, clutching me to him. “I think that’s enough of an answer.”
“Answer to what?” I asked somewhat breathlessly.
“You desire me.”
“My word…”
“But you do. Would you deny it?”
“No, sir.” I met his gaze, while my belly flipped over. Realizing that I clung to him, I moved away, but he refused to release the grip he had on me.
“I realize we don’t know each other all that well, and I wish I could change that, but I’d prefer to marry you at the earliest possible convenience.”
“I know of your worries, but…can’t you just humor your sister when she arrives? We mustn’t rush into anything as important as marriage. What if you discover in a month or two that you don’t like me as much as you thought? I must warn you that I hog the bed. Any one of my sisters will tell you that.”
He smiled. “I doubt I could find fault with you in that manner. I know no union is perfect. There will be disagreements and irritations, but that is with anything in life.”
“You would stay in the Colorado Territory? What about your work? I thought you were traveling to California?”
“I do have to finish the line to Denver City, but, after that, I can choose my projects. What if I decide to open a mine here or a business? I’ve enough capital to do it.”
“You sound far too good to be true. There must be a catch somewhere.” I’d said what I had been thinking—without thinking—again.
He withdrew his arms from around me. “You’re right.” He sighed. “Perhaps, I shouldn’t rush
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