Kate's Secret (Bluegrass Spirits Book 2)

by Kallypso Masters

  Never.

  He kissed her again, but not as hastily as he had at the end of the ceremony. They had all night, and he intended to keep her up all night, too. With all the preparations and excitement of the last week, they hadn’t been able to steal away for even a quickie. He had no intention of rushing things tonight.

  “I love you, Travis,” she said, her eyes sparkling in the reflection of the yard light. “I always have.”

  “I know. Just glad you finally came to your senses.” How’d he get so lucky? Grinning and unable to wait another minute, he scooped her into his arms and walked across the yard to the front door. Without releasing her, he unlocked and opened the door then carried her over the threshold for the first time as husband and wife. “I can get used to this.”

  “But I’d rather you put me down so we can go upstairs.”

  “Are you saying I can’t carry you all the way to our bedroom?”

  “Oh never!”

  Sadie came bounding in from the front of the house, no doubt where she made her bed in the living room when Chelsea wasn’t around to sleep with. Kate reached down to return the dog’s greeting, but Travis refused to set her down.

  “Sorry, Sadie. Go back to bed. We’ll play later.”

  Kate giggled as he ascended the stairs with a bounce in his step until they reached the room they would share for the rest of their lives.

  Inside, he finally set her on her feet. “Turn around. I want to watch you loosen your hair.” She pivoted, her hands fumbling to remove the band of baby’s breath from her upswept hair. Was she nervous? All he’d been able to think about during the reception and dinner was watching her shake it loose for him tonight. Now he wanted her to hurry so she could remove her jacket and the dress, but he forced himself to enjoy the slow tease.

  At last, the pins plopped to the floor, and she shook out her hair until it cascaded down her back and across her shoulders. He couldn’t wait to run his fingers through it—but first… “Now face me and remove the jacket.” He’d caught glimpses of her bare skin under the see-through covering all day, but she hadn’t removed it once. Grinning at him, she opened the pearly button at the top, spread the panels to reveal the form-fitting V-neck of the dress, and let the lacy garment slide down her arms to puddle at her feet.

  He bent down to kiss the creamy expanse of skin revealed, and she threw her head back to give him better access. Trailing kisses over her collarbone and up the column of her neck, he paused over her pulse point. Judging by the hammering of her heart, she was as excited as he.

  He forced himself to control the barbarian tendencies that urged him to rip the dress off her body. Chelsea might want to wear the dress at her own wedding someday.

  A day far, far into the future. Chelsea could wait until she was thirty-four, too, just like her mom.

  His hands gravitated to her back where he grappled to determine if the dress had a zipper or buttons. All he encountered were pleats, smocking, and tiny beads. How was he supposed to take the damned thing off of her? Maybe he’d have to rip it off after all.

  “Should I call Chelsea home to get me out of my dress?” She giggled.

  He playfully swatted her ass, loving the feel of the silky material between his hand and her curves. “Careful, woman. If you intend to wear this dress again on our fiftieth anniversary, you’d better show me how to get you out of it…now.”

  “Oh, I intend to wear it on every anniversary, unless I gain too much weight,” she said.

  With her meticulous diet, the only way she’d gain weight was if she were pregnant. They hadn’t discussed having more kids, and he’d need some serious assurances from her doctors that a pregnancy wouldn’t cause undue stress on her body. So why couldn’t he banish the image from his head of Katie’s belly swollen with his baby—his second baby? Only this time, he’d be here to watch the baby grow from conception.

  “It just lifts over my head,” Katie said, reaching for the hem before he took her hands and raised them upward.

  Travis wouldn’t admit where his thoughts had strayed, but her teasing laughter made him harder. Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her around and, trying to show some finesse, lifted the dress over her head.

  He tossed it on the chair near her antique secretary desk and stared at the scraps of peach-colored lingerie she wore beneath that were so close to her skin-tone it was as if she wore no bra and panties at all. He pressed kisses across her bare shoulder blades until goosebumps broke out on her flesh. Her throaty moan was followed by a shiver.

  Oh yeah, darlin’.

  They were going to get absolutely no sleep tonight—and that was just the way he wanted it.

  * * *

  Kate’s heart raced as his lips burned a path over her skin. A tug at her bra hooks loosened the material, and his hands skimmed around her sides to cup her breasts a moment before his calloused fingers pinched her nipples.

  She gasped, not expecting him to move in so quickly, but smiled as the neglected peaks became swollen with need. After he slid the silky bra down her arms, he turned her around to face him and lowered his head to her breast. As he sucked the swollen nipple into his mouth, she held onto the back of his head for balance and to keep him from stopping. His tongue flicked against the sensitive nubbin robbing her of breath. All too soon, he stopped, but merely moved to do the same to the other.

  “Travis, I need you inside me.”

  He pulled away and met her gaze. Would he deny her, prolonging that moment for some twisted need to exert control over her feverish body? His wicked grin gave her no indication until he bent to lift her into his arms and carried her to the bed where he placed her gently on the edge of the mattress. She’d half turned down the quilt this morning in anticipation of making love here tonight but as she watched him discard his jacket and vest, she tossed the quilt and sheet lower.

  His tanned hands slowly removed the silver cufflink on one wrist, then the other, placing them on the nightstand. His gaze never left hers. Next came the shirt buttons. She wished he’d let her do it because she’d have ripped it open and let the buttons fly to end the agony of waiting. Why was he tormenting her so?

  At long last, he spread the shirt open to reveal his tanned chest, lightly furred with hair. Her fingers itched to run through the soft curls, but again he seemed in no hurry.

  “Please, Travis. Don’t keep me waiting any longer.”

  A sardonic brow lifted, telling her not to say another word or he’d only prolong the exquisite torture longer. Then again, perhaps…

  With her right hand, she let her fingers skim her abdomen and up to her nipple that had been in his mouth moments ago. She plucked at it to make it swell again, and his eyes grew smoky. When her left hand slid over her abdomen to her mound and slipped inside her panties, he shucked his trousers and boxer briefs and joined her on the mattress, stretching out beside her before giving her ample time to fully appreciate and adore his body.

  Taking her other nipple into his mouth again, he clamped his teeth over it and tugged. She stretched out her hand to run her manicured nails, a rare indulgence for her, over his skin. He hissed. “Keep that up, and this may not last long.”

  “We have all weekend. I’m okay with having a quick release then we can go for the slow burn when we get to Greg and Tillie’s inn.” She caressed his erection, evidence that he was as ready as she. “It’s been too long, Travis.”

  In one swift move, he stood between her legs at the side of the bed and yanked off her panties. Had she heard the fabric rip? He stretched over the length of her body, his erection pressing against her opening and his upper body a delicious weight on hers. She framed his face and pulled his mouth to hers for a searing kiss.

  He pressed inside her, then retreated. “Damn. Let me put on a condom.”

  She grabbed him by the shoulders. “Unless you have an aversion to babies, let’s stop using them.”

  He furrowed his brow. “I’d feel better talking it over with your doctor before
—”

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “I discussed the possibilities with both my endocrinologist and my gynecologist, and both said they would monitor me carefully and that I’d have to be on a strict diet and exercise, but there was no reason I couldn’t have a healthy baby and remain well myself.”

  His erection throbbed against her, and she grinned. He smiled back. “Then what are we waiting for? Wrap your legs around my back,” he said as he tugged her body closer to the edge of the mattress.

  She did as he’d instructed, and he entered her wetness with one stroke. Her eyes opened wider. So full. Intense. He let her body adjust to him, then he pulled out slowly before ramming inside her again.

  “Faster,” she begged.

  He let his body answer her plea, and they soon set a pace that had her panting on the cusp of an orgasm within mere moments. When his fingers dug between their bodies to find her sensitive bundle of nerves, he sent her over the top in seconds as he grunted his own release.

  Kate lay spent, while Travis tenderly washed her and then himself, wondering if they’d taken the first step toward making a baby tonight.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked.

  “That I’m the luckiest woman alive—and wondering when we’re going to make love again.”

  Epilogue

  Kate stared up at the old Federal-style brick house the next morning from the passenger window of Travis’s truck. Tillie Buchanan hadn’t done the place justice when she’d described her inn. “It’s gorgeous! I’m so excited to stay in a haunted house.”

  Travis cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. “Not as excited as I am to spend two nights with my gorgeous bride, protecting her from nefarious spirits.”

  Her eyes opened wide and then wrinkled her brow. “Protect me? I’m actually excited to see if I have a connection with them like I did with your friend Danny.”

  “As long as they stay out of our bedroom, I’m okay with that.” He shook his head, grinning, then leaned down to kiss her, taking her breath away.

  When their lips parted, she struggled to remember what they were talking about. “I think we might have to be sociable with the Buchanans for a little while at least before we can escape to our bedroom.”

  “We’ll make it quick. Now, let’s get inside before I embarrass you out here in their driveway.”

  Kate smiled. They’d had sex just about everywhere she could imagine—and some places she’d never have thought of—and that was only since the wedding yesterday. But he was right. If Tillie or Greg caught them making love in the truck, she’d die. After all, their little boy, Derek, was one of her riding students.

  Fortunately, they made it out of the truck and were removing their overnight bag by the time Tillie opened the middle door on the side of the house. Kate took one look at her, and her eyes nearly popped out. Greg had brought Derek to his lessons during fall break from his school in Minnesota, so she hadn’t seen Tillie since August. But there was now a sizable baby bump under her 1940s-style, navy-blue silk dress.

  Kate hurried over to her. “Tillie! Congratulations! When’s the baby due?”

  “February 18, if I last that long.” She laughed. “At least I’m past the morning sickness now. That was rough.”

  “Oh, I hear you. That’s the absolute worst part—only I think mine lasted all nine months with Chelsea.”

  “You poor dear! Where are my manners? Welcome to Jesse’s Hideout! We’ve been so looking forward to finally having you and Travis as our guests. And congratulations on your wedding!”

  “Thanks!” Tillie tried to insist that they should stay as friends, not paying guests, but she and Travis had quashed that idea. She didn’t want to take advantage of their budding friendship. And, after all, they paid Kate for Derek’s riding lessons even though he was a joy to have at the farm.

  She turned toward Travis, who had followed her, setting their shared roller bag beside him and greeting Tillie before he wrapped his arms around Kate and whispered, “I can’t wait to see you swollen with my baby, darlin’.” His words made her heart flutter wildly.

  Tillie held open the door for them, and they entered into the warm dining room, which smelled of cinnamon and pumpkin spices. A horn of plenty spilled its bounty onto the table, and a small Christmas tree was lit on the sideboard. Travis shut the door behind them to keep out the late November chill.

  Greg came through a doorway on the right. “Great to see you again, Kate and Travis.” He gave Kate a kiss on the cheek as he hugged her, then shook Travis’s hand, clapping him on the bicep. “Tillie just baked a fresh batch of my grandmother’s oatmeal-raisin cookies. Why don’t you come into the kitchen and warm up by the fire. We’ve had quite a drop in temperature since yesterday.”

  “The weather held off just long enough for us to exchange our vows at the winery’s gazebo,” Travis said.

  “Congratulations to you both.”

  Tillie chimed in. “And don’t you worry, Kate! I baked a special batch for you, taking your advice on how to adjust the recipe, so it shouldn’t spike your sugar.”

  Kate was touched that she’d go to so much trouble. “No wonder it’s so hard to book your place, if you cater to your guests like this.” She and Travis had asked about availabilities for this weekend back in September, but the only suite they rented out had been booked solid. Luckily, they had a cancellation about a month ago, and Tillie offered it to them. They’d snatched it up immediately. Since this weekend would be their only honeymoon, they were thrilled to be able to spend it in such a charming, romantic place. After all, hadn’t Greg and Tillie fallen in love here?

  In the kitchen, Tillie donned an apron and removed cookies from the baking sheet before glancing at Greg and turning to Travis and Kate with a smile. “Greg and I will be closing the inn to paying customers after New Year’s weekend, except during the Bourbon Festival and some weekends during the holidays each year. We’re going to have our hands busy with our daughter,” she rubbed her belly, “and with Derek when he’s here.” As an afterthought, she smiled at Kate. “But as our friends you two are always welcome here.”

  As if he’d heard his name, Derek came bounding through the doorway, his cheeks rosy from playing outside. In his hand, he held a banded woolly bear caterpillar.

  “Daddy, look what I found!”

  Greg scooped it into his hand, apologizing to Kate.

  “Oh, please. I live on a farm.” To the boy, she said, “Hi, Derek!” He glanced at Kate and then Travis as though not quite understanding what they were doing here. “Miss Kate, did you bring Twilight for me to ride?”

  Kate laughed. “I’m sorry, no. We’re here on our honeymoon. Mr. Travis and I were married yesterday.”

  “I was bestest man at my daddy’s wedding to Momma Tillie.”

  “I’ll bet you were an outstanding best man,” Kate said.

  He puffed out his chest. “I only dropped the ring one time. But I found it really fast!”

  Kate smiled, wondering if perhaps she and Travis would have a boy this time. Derek was her only male student, after Tony quit before he’d barely started, but she’d fallen in love with Derek from the start.

  Greg ruffled Derek’s hair before turning to them. “Why don’t I show you to your room and give you time to get comfortable before we enjoy these cookies in the parlor,” Greg said. “What can I carry?”

  “We packed light. Just lead the way.” They followed him into the dining room.

  Tillie shouted from the kitchen, “Give them the nickel tour, Greg!”

  “Right this way, folks.”

  In the next room, she looked around at the cozy furniture for reading or sitting by the fire, noting this one was ablaze as well. According to the website, they’d have one in their room, too.

  “We call this the birthing room. My grandfather was a country doctor here for decades, my grandmother his nurse—and Tillie’s grandmother was born right in here.”

  What a charming history! “
I’m fascinated by the stories old houses can tell. My own has been in the family quite a while, although not as long as this one must have been in yours.”

  “I might as well warn you—if you’re attuned to spirits, sometimes the walls do still talk here. But not nearly as often as they used to.”

  “As long as they give us our privacy tonight,” Travis said, “I’m fine with a few spirits.”

  “Speaking of which, the liquor cabinet is through that door, in the office. Help yourself to anything you’d like. And if hot buttered rum is your thing, I’ll fix us all one tonight. Well, not Tillie. She’s sworn off all alcohol until after the baby arrives.”

  “I think I’ll pass on one, too, but you two gentlemen feel free to enjoy one if you’d like.”

  “Oh yeah. I’ll bet alcohol can spike your sugar, too,” Greg said.

  Kate smiled and nodded, even though that wasn’t her reason for not having it this time.

  “I’ll pass, too,” Travis said, grinning at Kate with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll need all my wits tonight to keep up with my bride.”

  Greg chuckled and Kate couldn’t believe it when heat crept into her cheeks. Since she wasn’t carrying anything more than her purse, she couldn’t blame exertion.

  “Right this way. This door will be closed tonight to give you added privacy—and to keep Derek out. He usually sleeps in the small room that’s part of Amelia’s Suite, named for my grandmother, but he’s looking forward to sleeping in the attic room above our bedroom tonight.” Kate was about to insist they not put the boy out when Greg laughed. “Don’t worry. He loves it up there. We’ve actually put guests there when we’ve had a full house. Kids love it. There’s even a special plaster wall with the etched names of children who lived here over the centuries. My mother’s name is there and, not too long ago, we let him carve his next to hers.”

  “If you’re sure,” Travis said.