“A quick word about business,” a man said as he approached them.
“Just a few minutes,’ Robert replied and turned to Madeline. “I won’t be long.”
She watched as the two men walked over to the bar to get a drink and she saw their heads coming together as they discussed something. Her gaze was still fixed on them a couple of minutes later and she was unaware of the woman approaching her until the voice caught her attention.
“Make the most of it.”
Madeline turned to see the unsmiling brunette woman almost glaring at her. She appeared to be in her early thirties and would have been pretty but for the way her face was screwed up.
“What?” Madeline asked as her brow creased in a frown.
The smile that spread across the woman’s face was anything but friendly.
“Make the most of the happiness while you can,” she went on.
Madeline bristled at the comment, which was almost spat at her in a cold, unpleasant tone.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well…,” the woman snapped at her. “It won’t be long before Robert sees you for the uneducated, small town whore that you really are. It’s just so sad that he is wasting his time with this pathetic charade. He could do so much better for himself.”
Madeline was stunned at the vicious insult and her mouth gaped open.
“I guess I can see why he picked you,” the woman went on. “Most single men in their late thirties probably have a mid-life crisis and you’ll satisfy his need for an easy fuck. I don’t know why he bothered marrying you though. I suspect you’d happily open your legs wide in a back alleyway for any man that asked.”
Madeline found her voice as she got to her feet.
“Who the hell are you?” she exclaimed.
The woman just laughed quietly in her face.
“Don’t make a scene little girl,” she hissed. “You might think you are something special in that white gown and makeup, but I’m certain everyone here can see through it to what you really are. I’m also sure it won’t be long before Robert does too and sends you back to the hole you crawled out of.”
Madeline’s anger grew at the unrelenting insults being hurled at her. There was no one else close enough to hear what was being said and the woman seemed intent on spoiling her day with abusive comments. She didn’t want to make a scene, but wasn’t about to stand there and just take it. Her mouth opened then closed again as she saw Robert approaching them. It seemed his meeting was over already.
“I see you two ladies have met,” he said.
The change in the woman’s attitude was instant. A pleasant smile spread across her face as she turned around
“Robert,” she greeted him in a friendly voice. “I was just exchanging pleasantries with your gorgeous wife.”
Madeline was shocked to silence again at what was happening. The woman was suddenly all smiles and friendly words.
“The ceremony was wonderful and I just wanted to wish you both every happiness in your life ahead.”
Madeline could barely believe what she was hearing now. It was a complete contrast to the derogatory insults that were spilling from the woman’s lips only seconds before.
“I’ll leave you two to enjoy each others company,” the woman went on. “Please excuse me.”
“Thanks Victoria,” Robert said.
Madeline watched in disbelief as the woman walked off and disappeared into the crowd of people still enjoying the reception.
“I cannot believe that,” Madeline said out loud and shook her head as she dropped back in her chair.
“Believe what?” Robert asked as he moved around the table to sit beside her.
“Her, that woman,” Madeline went on. “She just called me every vile name she could think of when she caught me alone and then acted like it never happened when you arrived.”
“Victoria?” Robert queried and frowned.
“Yes, Victoria,” Madeline answered.
“Are you sure?” he went on. “Maybe you just misunderstood her.”
Madeline shook her head.
“I understood exactly what she was saying,” she told him. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Victoria Collins,” he replied. “She is the manager at my gold depository business in Melrose.”
“Well she doesn’t like me,” Madeline went on.
Robert let out a sigh and she waited for him to say more.
“What?” she encouraged him when the silence stretched out.
“I guess she is jealous of you,” he said.
“Why would she be jealous of me?” Madeline asked.
“Victoria maybe hopes there is more to her relationship with me than business,” he went on.
Madeline narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
“And is there?” she asked.
“Look…, we shouldn’t be talking about this on our wedding day,” he told her. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“But…” she started, but saw the annoyed look that crossed his face and stopped talking.
His sudden changing of the subject when she asked him about Victoria made her suspicious, but she already knew better than to question him. She didn’t want to make a scene on her wedding day and let the topic of conversation drop although couldn’t get the exchange with the gold depository manager out of her mind. She remained silent and picked up her glass to have a drink. Robert leaned across to her a minute or so later.
“It’s time for us to go,” he said.
All thoughts of what just happened flew from her mind at the prospect of going home and she started to tremble. Her wedding night loomed large and she knew just what that meant.
SIX
The carriage was waiting for them when they walked out of the hotel to the darkness of early evening. Madeline’s heart was racing. The grip on her arm was tight and there was an urgency about Robert as he helped her up to take a seat. He got in beside her and his leg pressed against hers. Nothing was said as the driver got the horse moving and there was no stopping the onset of nerves as they made their way home.
Madeline flinched as Robert’s hand settled on her knee again. This time it didn’t stay there and she shivered as it edged higher. She was all too aware of his fingers stroking on her inner thigh through the dress, but his hand moved no higher than that during the journey. He removed his touch as they approached the gate and composed himself as they approached the property. His hand was on her upper arm when they stepped down and he hurried to get her inside.
“Is there anything you need sir?” the butler asked.
Robert stopped to look at him then shook his head.
“No disturbances,” he said.
Madeline’s breath came out heavily as she was led up the stairs. She looked along towards the room she’d been staying in, but already knew it wasn’t where she was going. She gasped as the grip on her arm tightened even more and she could do nothing but follow as she was taken along to Robert’s bedroom. It was to be where she slept too from now on, but she knew it wasn’t sleeping that was on her husband’s mind.
They came to a stop as they got to the door and she was taken by surprise as the kiss pressed on her mouth. It rocked her back and Robert moved forward to pin her against the wall. His muscled torso crushed against her soft curves and the passion of the kiss came through. She was all too aware of the hardness that began to grow against her belly and there was no holding in the excitement that she was getting her husband turned on.
Madeline gasped as the kiss ended. Robert stroked his fingertips across her cheek and she kissed on them as they trailed across her soft mouth. Her chest heaved as the tip of his finger slid just between her lips and she could see the hunger in his eyes for her. It was more intoxicating than the alcohol she drank and a sense of apprehension and expectation welled up in her mind. She was on the verge of losing her virginity to her new husband and the very thought of it made her shudder.
“Are you going to
be a good girl for me?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
He dropped his touch from her face and wrapped his fingers around her wrist to bring her hand to his crotch. Madeline closed her eyes as her palm was held against his manhood through the material of his pants and she could feel it growing and stiffening.
“I asked you a question,” Robert said.
She opened her eyes to look at him.
“Yes,” she answered. “I’m going to be a good girl for you.”
His soft laugh unnerved her and she let out a quiet whimper as his lips gently nuzzled hers. The arousal was already taking hold in her body like never before and it was staring a fire that she was unable to contain.
“Stick out your tongue,” Robert ordered.
Madeline did it immediately and liked the way he took it between his lips to suck on it. She glanced along the hallway nervously when he moved back.
“Someone might see,” she said.
Robert laughed again.
“I made it clear there should be no disturbances,” he said. “No one will come up here now unless we ring for them.”
His lips found hers for another hungry kiss that pinned her head against the wall, but he reached for the door when it ended and they moved inside the room.
“Get me a whisky,” he told her.
Madeline moved across to the large globe and opened it up. She picked up a glass then searched for the bottle she saw him drinking from the previous evening. When she found it, she poured a shot of whisky in the glass and turned. Robert’s jacket and tie were lying on the bed and she liked the way the white shirt clung to the muscles of his chest. Her gaze remained on him as he crossed the room and sat in the seat beside the open globe.
She held out the glass to him, but squealed as he grabbed hold of her wrist to make her sit down on his lap. Even with her relative inexperience, Madeline could tell he was fully erect and she squirmed around. His arm came around her waist to stop her from getting up.
“Oh yeah,” he let out. “Keep doing that.”
Madeline gasped as she continued to wriggle around on Robert’s lap and there was no doubt how much he was enjoying the touch of her rounded ass rubbing on his cock. She could hear his harsh breathing in her ear and the kisses that started playing on her neck made her shiver.
“Your whisky,” she eventually said.
Robert relaxed back in the seat and she stopped wriggling around then turned slightly to hand him his drink. His arm remained around her waist to hold her in place on his lap and she could make out the occasional twitching of his erection as the hot blood pumped through it. He enjoyed a sip of the whisky and gave her back the glass.
“Try it,” he said.
She looked at the dark liquid swirling around in the glass and wasn’t sure she really wanted to take a drink. On the other hand she didn’t want to refuse a request by her husband, so took a sip. The alcohol burned her throat on the way down to make her cough and screw up her face.
“Why do men drink this,” she let out as she wiped her hand across her mouth.
Robert laughed and brought his mouth right to Madeline’s ear.
“There are some things men really like,” he said quietly. “Whisky is just one of them.”
The tickle of his lips caressing on her ear made her shiver and she let out a long, slow breath.
“Pretty girls are another thing,” he went on. “Like you. Can you feel how erect I am for you already?”
“Yes,” Madeline let out in a hushed voice.
“Do you like it?” Robert whispered as he kissed on her ear and slid his lips to the sensitive skin of her neck.
“Yes,” Madeline repeated.
She knew it was what he wanted to hear, but the truth was she did like the touch of his erection on her butt. Her growing arousal was a sign of that and she couldn’t ignore it.
“Have you let a man touch you before?” he asked.
“No,” Madeline confessed. “I always promised myself I wouldn’t until I was married.”
“Lucky me,” Robert said and laughed.
His hand slid down from her midriff, but the ruffles at the front of her dress stopped him really getting his hand between her thighs.
“Are you going to strip for me, so I can see those pretty curves again?” he asked.
“I can’t if you don’t release your grip,” Madeline replied.
She let out a soft gasp as Robert moved his hand to her lower back and helped her get to her feet. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she slowly turned around and she lifted it to the sight of her husband’s lustful expression. Their eyes met.
“Don’t be shy,” he teased her with a smile. “I’ve been looking at the wedding dress all day and thinking about what’s under it.”
Madeline wrung her hands together. She was getting the same buzz as she did the night before when Robert made her strip, but this time knew she wouldn’t just be picking up her clothes and walking away at the end of it. Reaching for the buttons at the back of her wedding dress, she loosened them and worked the material lower to start exposing more naked skin. She worked her arms out of the sleeves as she dragged the top of the dress down and it brought her silk bra in view.
“Keep going,” Robert told her.
She glanced up to see him take a sip of the whisky. His gaze was on her breasts, but came lower as she wiggled her hips to slide the white material over them. The dress dropped down her legs to pool around her feet and she stepped out of it then bent down with the intention of picking it up.
“Leave it,” Robert ordered her.
She straightened up and stood nervously in front of him.
“The petticoats too,” was his next command.
Madeline loosened them and let them drop down to her feet too. She didn’t bother trying to pick them up and just kicked them aside. Her breathing was becoming more rapid as she got closer to being naked. She waited for the instructions to remove her bra and panties, but they didn’t come. Instead Robert seized her wrist to drag her back down onto his lap. His hand immediately went between her thighs and she instinctively closed her legs.
“I thought you said you would a good girl for me,” he let out quietly.
Madeline inhaled deeply then held her breath as she spread her legs open for him and the air rushed back out as his fingertips slid onto the silk material of her panties. A shiver rippled down her spine as her body responded to the intimate touch. Heat blossomed between her thighs and she wriggled around as her husband’s fingers stroked gently along the outline of her pussy lips. His cock throbbed against her ass and she let out a soft groan. There was no hiding that Robert’s touch was turning her on as the damp patch began to show on her panties and she tilted her head to the side as kisses played on her neck. His mouth slid to her ear as he continued to tease touches on the wet material.
“You like that don’t you,” he whispered.
Madeline gulped and her voice was shaky as she replied.
“Yes.”
The soft laugh in her ear made her shudder and she rocked her head back as more hot kisses played on her sensitive skin.
“Now show me everything,” Robert demanded.
Madeline trembled as she was made to get to her feet again and she stood with her back to him. Her legs were weak as the flood of arousal swept through her and she unhooked the bra and let it fall to the floor before she turned around. When she did, she was holding an arm across her naked breasts and knew the order would come immediately.
“Take your arm away,” Robert let out in a hoarse voice as he sat up in the chair and leaned forward.
She gave him what he wanted and dropped her arm down to hang by her side. It exposed here naked curves and she saw her husband stare at them. He licked his lips as his gaze slid lower.
“Move closer,” he said.
Madeline took a step towards him. He put the glass he was holding down then reached out to stroke his fingertips on the naked skin just above the waistband of her panties.
It brought out a gasp and her belly muscles fluttered as the soft touch slid back and forth. Robert looked up to catch her gaze as he then worked his fingers under the waistband and dragged the silk material lower. Her pulse raced as her panties were taken down and she stepped out of them when they got to her ankles. It left her as naked as she’d been the night before, but this time she wasn’t about to be dismissed.
Bent Over A Barrel Bundle: Western Cowboy Romance (Full Length Novels) Page 43
