Wilderness Trail of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 1) by Dorothy Wiley Page B
Authors: Dorothy Wiley
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she hadno shield. She could not stop herself, or him.
She tugged off Stephen’s shirt, revealing his powerful set of shoulders and tight muscled stomach. Despite his medium stature, her husband was wiry strong and she thought spectacularly built. She caressed his broad chest, a wall of muscles rising beneath her touch. Her fingertips tingled as she slid them slowly across his silky chest hairs. Even that simple touch brought her pleasure. A delicious shiver of passion rippled through her.
Stephen lightly fingered a lock of hair that touched her cheek, then sank his hands into her curls and pressed his lips against hers for a long unhurried moment.
The kiss hummed inside her heart. His lips felt soft and warm—always the best thing she had ever tasted—and made a tingle of pleasure rush through her chest. Kissing was her favorite part of lovemaking and he made a considerable effort to be sure she enjoyed it. He would linger at her mouth, teasing her lips, softly, unhurriedly, until she left all the cares of motherhood behind. Transported on a gentle wispy cloud, until the only thing she wanted was more of him.
Then, he would turn his attention to the rest of her, as he did now. His lips left hers to nibble on her earlobe. Then he seared a path down her neck, her shoulders. His lips recaptured hers, this time more urgent and exploring. His hand slipped under her dress and skimmed across her thigh.
The gentle movement of his hand sent a bolt of need deep within her. She curled into his chest.
A smoldering flame in his eyes, Stephen took her hand to lead her to bed. Shivers of desire made her tremble in anticipation.
He would take them both to their own private world of soul-reaching ecstasy.
Afterwards, she knew he would dream—dream of what waited beyond the horizon.
CHAPTER 12
S tephen withdrew his savings at the bank and settled his financial affairs. Land in Kentucky was selling for a minimum of a dollar an acre and he would need all he had inherited and saved, although they all hoped to be able to get land grants and save their money for livestock, equipment, and building homes. He also found a buyer for his cattle, all but his best young bull, and two good-looking heifers. He would take them with him. He had fed corn to the bull separately from the other cattle to tame him and get him used to coming to Stephen’s feed bucket. Not yet old enough for breeding, the young bull would be easy to handle. He’d follow Stephen and the feed anywhere and the heifers would follow the bull. They would be the start of his new herd.
With his financial tasks completed, he joined his brothers, still hard at work loading the wagon parked in front of Edward’s store. “Aren’t you finished yet?”
“You could help some you know,” John grumbled.
“I could, but then who would ensure you loaded everything properly?” Stephen said, only half in jest.
He double-checked the long supplies list with meticulous detail,knowing that adequate provisions could make the difference between success and failure in the wilderness. And he had no intention of failing.
John and Bear loaded the last of the supplies. Kegs of salt pork, half barrels of flour and cornmeal, a barrel of fat, rifles, ammunition, candlewicks, and other supplies Stephen had ordered, filled the wagon. Stephen could see that they had arranged everything with care. Space was precious, so they could take only what was essential.
What little space still left when they finished would be all the room allowed Jane for her trunks. She had struggled for hours over what to take and what to leave behind. In the end, she took only what she could not replace, a few items of strong sentimental value, and absolute necessities like blankets, woolen stockings, scissors, needles and thread. She and the girls were spending the afternoon with Edward’s wife and children. It would be their last chance to be together and it gave Jane a chance to give many of her things to her
She tugged off Stephen’s shirt, revealing his powerful set of shoulders and tight muscled stomach. Despite his medium stature, her husband was wiry strong and she thought spectacularly built. She caressed his broad chest, a wall of muscles rising beneath her touch. Her fingertips tingled as she slid them slowly across his silky chest hairs. Even that simple touch brought her pleasure. A delicious shiver of passion rippled through her.
Stephen lightly fingered a lock of hair that touched her cheek, then sank his hands into her curls and pressed his lips against hers for a long unhurried moment.
The kiss hummed inside her heart. His lips felt soft and warm—always the best thing she had ever tasted—and made a tingle of pleasure rush through her chest. Kissing was her favorite part of lovemaking and he made a considerable effort to be sure she enjoyed it. He would linger at her mouth, teasing her lips, softly, unhurriedly, until she left all the cares of motherhood behind. Transported on a gentle wispy cloud, until the only thing she wanted was more of him.
Then, he would turn his attention to the rest of her, as he did now. His lips left hers to nibble on her earlobe. Then he seared a path down her neck, her shoulders. His lips recaptured hers, this time more urgent and exploring. His hand slipped under her dress and skimmed across her thigh.
The gentle movement of his hand sent a bolt of need deep within her. She curled into his chest.
A smoldering flame in his eyes, Stephen took her hand to lead her to bed. Shivers of desire made her tremble in anticipation.
He would take them both to their own private world of soul-reaching ecstasy.
Afterwards, she knew he would dream—dream of what waited beyond the horizon.
CHAPTER 12
S tephen withdrew his savings at the bank and settled his financial affairs. Land in Kentucky was selling for a minimum of a dollar an acre and he would need all he had inherited and saved, although they all hoped to be able to get land grants and save their money for livestock, equipment, and building homes. He also found a buyer for his cattle, all but his best young bull, and two good-looking heifers. He would take them with him. He had fed corn to the bull separately from the other cattle to tame him and get him used to coming to Stephen’s feed bucket. Not yet old enough for breeding, the young bull would be easy to handle. He’d follow Stephen and the feed anywhere and the heifers would follow the bull. They would be the start of his new herd.
With his financial tasks completed, he joined his brothers, still hard at work loading the wagon parked in front of Edward’s store. “Aren’t you finished yet?”
“You could help some you know,” John grumbled.
“I could, but then who would ensure you loaded everything properly?” Stephen said, only half in jest.
He double-checked the long supplies list with meticulous detail,knowing that adequate provisions could make the difference between success and failure in the wilderness. And he had no intention of failing.
John and Bear loaded the last of the supplies. Kegs of salt pork, half barrels of flour and cornmeal, a barrel of fat, rifles, ammunition, candlewicks, and other supplies Stephen had ordered, filled the wagon. Stephen could see that they had arranged everything with care. Space was precious, so they could take only what was essential.
What little space still left when they finished would be all the room allowed Jane for her trunks. She had struggled for hours over what to take and what to leave behind. In the end, she took only what she could not replace, a few items of strong sentimental value, and absolute necessities like blankets, woolen stockings, scissors, needles and thread. She and the girls were spending the afternoon with Edward’s wife and children. It would be their last chance to be together and it gave Jane a chance to give many of her things to her
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