He must have replied, because she patted his back. “Good boy.”
Charlie didn’t want to feel guilty. He had made his choice and he was a grown man. If he wanted to come back to the fort, she wouldn’t stop him. But she wouldn’t join him either. She shook off any lingering doubts.
“Are you sure about this?” Isabelle had stepped up, her brows drawn together.
“For the last time, yes. This has nothing to do with you or Mason or the boys.” She cleared her throat to dislodge the lump. “I will miss all of you, but I’ll see you at Frankie’s for Christmas every year. We can plan on that right now.”
“Yes, I promise you we’ll be there no matter how deep the snow is.” Isabelle opened her arms and Charlie fell into them. No matter that she was bigger than her older sister, and a twenty-five-year-old woman, she still felt like a child who needed a hug.
“I will miss you terribly, tamia. Every day when the sun rises, I will think of you. The colors of the sunrise are like the beautiful colors of your hair.” Isabelle leaned back and cupped Charlie’s face. “Write to me when you can.”
Charlie nodded. “I love you, Iz.”
“I love you too. Please promise me you’ll let Eli into your heart.” Isabelle’s eyes swam with tears.
“Take care of those boys and Mason. You’ve got a hell of a family.” Charlie hugged her sister so hard, she swore a rib cracked. Then she let Isabelle loose and turned away.
It was time to leave her past behind.
Chapter Eleven
Eli and Charlie rode at a brisk pace after they left the fort. He was worried. She had ridden with her back straighter than an oak. Her shoulders seemed unnaturally stiff and then there was the fact she hadn’t spoken a word.
Not that his wife was someone who talked for the sake of talking. However, considering their lives had turned around in circles in the last twenty-four hours, and they were now married, he expected they would discuss a few things.
She definitely wasn’t in the mood to do anything but ride south. The morning heat built until sweat trickled down his skin. His stomach growled, reminding him they hadn’t eaten a meal before leaving. Knowing his mother, she had packed three days’ worth of food in the sack she’d given him.
His mother’s chin had quivered as she smiled at him. He’d never meant to hurt her. Guilt swam through his conscience that no matter his intention, he had caused her pain.
Eli was all she had. After his father died, their congregation had continued west. There was no one else for her. Eli should have asked the captain to look after her. However, Eli had faith that as long as Hamilton stayed at the fort, he would take care of everyone there, including Eli’s mother. The captain, regardless if he had wanted to marry Charlie, appeared to be a good man.
As soon as he could, Eli would write to Hamilton and request his help. His mother might not appreciate it, but it would make Eli sleep better, if not alleviate a bit of his guilt. For now, he had to focus on the other woman in his life.
Eli finally spoke. “We need to stop and eat. I’ve got the food.”
“What?” She looked at him as if he’d said he wanted to ride naked. Bareback.
“Food. You know, the tasty bits you put in your mouth that you chew and swallow. Gives you energy and helps you not die.” He pointed at his mouth and then his stomach.
She blinked a few times—perhaps her thoughts had been a thousand miles away. “Are you hungry?”
He glanced at the sky. “Got to be midday, Charlie. I haven’t eaten since yesterday. My stomach is about to start scratching my spine.”
“Oh.” She licked her lips. “I’m parched myself. We can stop to eat.”
Eli motioned toward a small pond ahead. “The horses can rest a spell and get a drink too.”
She let him lead her to the pond and even allowed him to help her down off the gelding. Definitely not herself. He wondered if it had to do with their impromptu wedding or the fact they left her home of ten years. Perhaps it was deeper still, the trauma of leaving her sister.
He laid out a blanket and dug into the sack his mother had given him. Charlie stood with her arms crossed, watching the horses nibble at the sweet grass around the edge of the pond. It was peaceful, quiet.
Too bad Eli wasn’t feeling at all peaceful. His gut churned, and if he didn’t get some food in there, he might just embarrass himself and puke.
“Charlie.”
She appeared not to hear him, her gaze locked in the distance in a place only she inhabited.
Frustrated, he decided to test her patience as she’d done to him. “Should we fuck now or later? I’m thinking now, since we’re married.”
Her head snapped around. “What the hell did you just say?”
“Oh, you were listening? I thought maybe you forgot I was here.” Damn, his words sounded petty. That was the wrong thing to say. What the hell was wrong with him? Stupid, stupid, stupid. He always said the wrong thing around Charlie, tripping over his tongue and rarely saying what he meant. His confession of love was the first time he’d been one hundred percent honest with her.
“Jesus, Eli. I was thinking about my sisters. You turned it into something about you.” She scowled at him, her hazel eyes flashing fire. “Fuck you. You can head right back to the fort and forget you married me. That’s obviously what you want to do anyway.”
Her hands fisted and he had to remind himself she was hurting inside. Her words were always her sharpest weapons.
“No, it’s not what I want. I meant what I said yesterday. Where you go, I go. For always.” He pulled out some of the food. His heart pounded, but he told himself to stay calm. Getting angry could cause damage to their new marriage, and that was the last thing he wanted. “I still love you, Charlie. That hasn’t and won’t change.”
She took a deep breath, opened her mouth and then seemed to lose all her anger in an instant. As though she were a bubble that popped.
Charlie sat down on the blanket with a thump, her expression unreadable. “What did your mother pack? Isabelle gave me as much as the damn horse could carry.”
Eli blew out a relieved breath. “Ham, bread, pickles and what I think is a good portion of a cake, plus biscuits—”
She held up a hand. “Probably cleaned out half the dining hall pantry. I’ll take some of the first three.”
He put together a plate for each of them, surprised how comfortable he was sharing a meal with her. Their relationship had always run from fun to adventure to anger and back again. He never knew what to expect from her, but that was part of her charm. She was like a package wrapped with thousands of layers—each time he managed to unwrap one, the next one beckoned.
At the bottom of the sack, he found a small velvet pouch. Curious, he pulled it out and something inside crinkled. He opened it to find a paper, yellowed with age.
“What’s that?” Charlie spoke around the food in her mouth. She had no artifice, another reason he had fallen for her.
“Dunno yet.” He opened the paper and could barely make out the faded writing. “It’s addressed to my mother. ‘Dear Harriet, I wish you the best on your married life. Your P and I will miss you. Write to us when you can. If you need money for yourself, please sell my mother’s ring. She would have wanted you to be safe, no matter what. Love, Mother’.”
Eli shook the bag and a gold ring fell into his palm. Charlie looked on with curiosity while he picked up the ring. It had a dark blue stone in it that winked in the sunlight. His mother had an expensive ring tucked away for when she needed money and she gave it to him. Something that had belonged to his great-grandmother.
“It’s the same color as your eyes.”
He glanced up at Charlie. “What?”
“The stone. The blue is the same color as your eyes.” She wiped crumbs off her mouth and nodded at the ring. “Your mother couldn’t sell it becau
se it reminded her of you. Maybe why she kept it all this time.”
Eli had never seen the ring, but it was apparent his mother had kept it all his life, hidden where his father couldn’t have appropriated it for his church and no one could have stolen it. Now she had taken this precious possession, given to her by her own mother, and given it to Eli.
Damned if he didn’t feel like crying.
“She loves you very much. That’s what mothers do.” Charlie’s smile was crooked. “Iz told me that even when they’re no longer with you, they’re in your heart.”
Eli nodded. His mother was most definitely in his heart. He knew why she had given him the ring and it wasn’t to sell if they needed money. No, she wanted Eli to gift it to his wife, who also resided in his heart.
“Will you accept this as a wedding ring?” The words tumbled from his mouth in a rush.
Her eyes widened. “Me? She gave that ring to you.”
This time, it was Eli’s turn to smile. “What do you think she wanted me to do with it?” He reached over and took her left hand. “I didn’t get a chance to do this part today.”
As he slid the ring over her finger, it glided into place as though it had been made for her. A perfect fit.
“Your great-grandma wasn’t a small girl.” Charlie’s voice had become breathy. “Like me.”
A breeze ruffled her hair, the curls caressing her cheek. She was a stunning creature, made of all the colors of the sun and moon. His love surged in his heart until it pounded like a drum, urging him.
He cupped her chin and kissed her. She tasted of sweetness and of life. He climbed over the food and deepened the kiss, pressing her into the blanket. Her form molded to his, warm and firm. His body hardened in an instant, eager and ready to consummate their unusual marriage.
Charlie reached between them and unbuttoned his shirt. He smiled against her mouth, pleased to see she was as interested as he was. Her hands crept into his open shirt, caressing, leaving a tingling path on his bare skin. A groan crept up his throat.
“Does that feel good?” She would always say what was on her mind, no matter what.
He levered himself up to look at her freckled face. “Anything you do feels good, honey.”
“Oh.” She blinked then licked her lips, already reddened by his kisses. Every time he touched Charlie it reminded him of how lucky he was. “Can you show me?”
Although he was somewhat embarrassed, he placed her hand on his nipple. “I like it when you touch me here.”
A quick study, she circled the nipple and then pinched it. A bolt of pleasure raced through him. She found the other one and doubled the experience. He shook above her, his body thrumming with need. His pulse echoed through his cock, eager to plunge into her heat.
She pushed at his shoulder. “Lay down on your back.”
It was unusual, but everything about their marriage was also. He rolled onto his back, anticipation making him almost giddy. She got up on her knees, her hair wild from the blanket. Passion darkened her hazel eyes. She grinned.
“You’re like a table full of my favorite things waiting for me to touch and explore.” She ran her hands up and down his chest and stomach, then back again. “You know when I saw you naked the first time, this is what I wanted to do. You are so perfect.”
He almost snorted at the thought, but who was he to argue? If she thought he was perfect, then he wouldn’t contradict her.
She leaned down and licked his nipple. Her tongue was warm, and when she pulled away, the cool air made his nipple even harder. “I like it when you do that to me, so I thought you’d like it too.”
“I do, honey.” He could hardly make his mouth work. Need coursed through him, making him teeter on the edge of frantic.
She continued to nibble and lick at his nipples while her hands explored every inch of his upper body. He would lose his mind by the time she was finished. Mad with lust for his wife. Knowing they were married made this experience that much sweeter. He’d never thought it would happen. Everything he’d ever dreamed of had come true.
Her hand meandered down his stomach and onto his cock. His britches were about to burst or they’d cut off the blood to his brain and he’d expire from that. He couldn’t stop the moan that exploded from his throat.
She stopped, raising her eyes to his. “Was that wrong?”
“Hell no.” His voice had dropped to a gravelly whisper. “It ain’t nothing but right.”
She continued her exploration, gauging his length through his trousers. Then she unbuttoned them and he was lost. As soon as her fingers touched his bare skin, he clenched his teeth to stop himself from coming in her hand.
“I can’t last long. I need you, Charlie.” He hoped she took pity on him.
“My drawers are wet already.” She would never be anything but flat-out honest with him. “Can I ride you?”
He had to clear his throat three times before he could answer her. “Hell yes.”
She jumped to her feet and shucked her clothes. He watched in delight as she revealed her curvy, beautiful body.
“It’s a good thing I’m already on my back or would have fainted from the sight of you. God, Charlie, are you really mine?” He blinked at the beauty she revealed.
She smiled as women had at their men for centuries. “And you are mine.”
“Come here and ride me, honey.” He held out his arms and she took his hands, straddling his body, moving down toward his waiting cock.
She took hold of him and positioned him at the entrance to her pussy. Heat enveloped him as she sank on his length inch by incredible inch. By the time she had taken him deep into her body, Eli ceased thinking at all.
He took hold of her hips and pulled her up, and guided her back down. She found a rhythm and picked up speed. He cupped her breasts, tweaking the nipples. It helped him keep control because he was fast losing it.
“This feels so damn good.” Charlie looked like a goddess, flush with pleasure and passion, bringing them both to the ultimate pleasure.
“I can’t last. I can’t last.” He reached between her legs to find the hidden bud in the folds and stroked her. He wouldn’t find his release until she did too.
She began to move faster, harder. He held on, his balls tightening and his cock harder than he ever thought possible. As the orgasm ripped through him, her pussy gripped him and she screamed his name. Waves of joy and ecstasy washed through him, pulling into a whirlpool of sensation. He saw stars behind his eyes.
“Holy shit.” She collapsed against his chest, her heart thudding against his.
“Definitely.” He kissed the top of her head. “Holy shit.”
Sweet God, he had married a woman who was as passionate as the sun. He knew there was something burbling beneath the surface, but he never dreamed this. It was more than he expected, and he would enjoy it for the rest of their lives.
The silver of predawn crept across sky, creating shadows around them. Charlie hadn’t slept well, not because she was cold or uncomfortable, but because she’d slept with someone for the first time in ten years. The last time she had slept beside anyone was Isabelle in the wagon before they’d arrived at the fort.
Now she had a husband, in every way possible. They’d made love with heat and passion. He showed her how much he loved her with every touch, every caress, every kiss. And of course there was the ring. She stared at her hand, the blue stone sparkling in the dim light.
She didn’t know how she felt about the ring or her marriage. Isabelle was convinced Charlie was in love with Eli. Charlie was not convinced. She didn’t know if she could fall in love, but if she could, Eli would be the man of choice. He had never showed any hint of how he felt, and then suddenly it was a downpour.
Was it because of Kenneth? Or had Eli developed feelings before the captain came into the fort? Charlie had no answers, and she decide
d if she asked Eli, it would hurt him more than she was willing to. For now they would continue south and their marriage would ride along with them. For better or for worse.
Something shifted in the small group of trees. Charlie forgot about her tumultuous thoughts and focused on the shadows. Glad they’d dressed before going to sleep, she slipped out from Eli’s embrace and pulled the pistol from its holster beside her.
“What do you see?” Eli’s whisper didn’t surprise her. He’d been hunting by her side for years. His instincts were nearly as honed as hers.
“Not sure yet.” She crept forward, keeping her gaze on where she’d seen movement.
Eli joined her, his progress as silent as hers. The horses continued to doze, which meant whatever was nearby wasn’t a danger, but Charlie was on her guard. Something or someone was watching them.
They made their way to a small knoll to give them a better view of the other side of the pond. The sun began to paint the sky in shades of pink along the horizon, which revealed her and Eli, but left the shadows in the trees.
“Shit.” She started to move again. Eli’s hand on her shoulder stopped her progress. “What?”
“If someone is there, they can see us, but we can’t see them.” He frowned. “We should pack up and leave.”
“What?” She swatted his arm. “What if they want to do us harm?”
“Then they’ll regret it, since we’re armed.” He raised one brow. “Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester are a team to be reckoned with. Nobody has chance against both of us.”
Charlie had never been part of something like this marriage thing. “Team?”
“It’s you and me, for now and for always. You’re stuck with me.”
She wanted to investigate the shadows and whoever might be watching them, but Eli was right. They were both armed and good shots. It might be an animal or nothing at all. She’d spent so long protecting herself, it became habit. Allowing someone else that privilege would be difficult if not impossible.
The Gem: The Malloy Family, Book 12 Page 11
