Once the trunk was packed, she looked at Malinda one last time. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Sure.”
Ellen shook her head and walked to the door, calling down that they needed help getting the trunk.
Both of the men went up the stairs and carried it out leaving the sisters alone again. Ellen looked at her sister and hugged her tightly. “We’ve never lived apart. This is going to be strange. We need to make sure we see each other often.”
Malinda nodded, the tears still threatening. “I’m going to miss you so much!”
“You’ll only live a fifteen minute walk away. We can see each other every day if we want to.”
They walked down the stairs to the front door, and once the trunk was loaded into the buggy, Wesley drove them both home. “I’ll return the buggy and horse tomorrow.” He stared straight ahead as he said he words, not willing to look at his brother, because it would mean seeing Malinda.
Patrick nodded, watching them drive away with a contemplative look on his face. “What happened between them?”
“Malinda said something stupid and I think she hurt Wesley’s feelings.” She sighed. “We have to let them figure it out for themselves.”
He looked at the clock and saw that it was only five in the evening. “Are you hungry?”
She swallowed hard, suddenly nervous now that they were home alone for the first time. “A little.” They went to the kitchen and found a small casserole left to warm in the oven. “Your staff is amazing.”
“Our staff. Our home. Our lives.” Patrick smiled as he said the words, thrilled that he could finally say them to her.
She smiled and nodded. “I love that.” She took a towel and removed the hot dish from the oven and pulled down plates from the cupboard. She set the table in the kitchen and fixed their plates for their first meal alone together.
They ate slowly without saying much. She couldn’t stop worrying about her sister. She just hoped she did the right thing and was able to fix things with her husband.
She stood up to do the dishes after they finished eating, but he stopped her. “We’ll just put them in the sink for Alice to do on Monday.”
She looked at him in shock. “I can’t just put the dishes in the sink! They’ll only take a minute.” She’d never left dishes overnight in her life.
He stilled her hands when she went to fill the sink with water. “They’ll keep.”
She sighed. “At least let me soak them so they’ll be easier to clean.”
He just leaned against the counter watching her, his dark eyes filled with heat. When she was finished, he took her hand and led her out to the back porch, and they settled on the swing. “This is my favorite place in your house. And my favorite time of day. I love sitting out here with you.”
“Our house,” he reminded her as he dropped a kiss on top of her head.
She leaned back against him happily, staring out at the quiet garden. “I’m so glad we decided not to wait any longer.” Even though it had obviously made Malinda very unhappy.
He ran his hand up and down her arm. “I am too. And not just because I couldn’t handle another night in that lumpy bed.”
She stifled a yawn. She’d gotten up earlier than usual that morning to get ready for the wedding and make sure everything was going right in the kitchen. “It’s only seven-thirty and I’m already tired.”
“We can call it an early night if you’d like. I haven’t been getting much sleep at Wesley’s house.”
She swallowed hard, knowing very well what an early night would mean. “That sounds nice.” If she went upstairs now, she could get the wedding night she feared over with. She knew what would happen between them, but the reality of it was more than a little frightening.
He stood and held his hand out to help her out of the swing. “I’ll give you a few minutes before I come up.”
“Thank you.” She brushed her lips across his before climbing the stairs.
Chapter Seven
Once Ellen was in their bedroom, she stood for a moment with her hand over her heart, trying to calm its out of control beating. She knew she didn’t have much time, but she was so nervous. She stood there for a full minute before she remembered she’d need his help getting her dress unbuttoned. So instead of changing into her nightgown, she reached up and started pulling pins out of her hair. He’d expressed an interest in seeing it down, and she could have it down for him when he came upstairs.
When Patrick did come up to their room, she’d just removed the last pin and was taking her first swipe over her hair with a hairbrush. Patrick opened the door and stopped short. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d given you enough time.” He stared at her in wonder, obviously entranced by her hair. “Do you want me to go?”
She smiled at him. “I remembered after I got up here I can’t get out of my dress by myself.” She turned her back to him. “There are too many buttons.” She pulled her hair out of the way so he could see the line of buttons that went from her collar down to her waist, ending just above the curve of her bottom.
He took a step toward her, his fingers going straight to the top button. “I guess I’m good for something.”
She laughed softly. “I’m glad you’re here. This would be very uncomfortable to sleep in.”
He took his time unbuttoning her. The buttons were tiny and his fingers kept fumbling over them. By the time he reached the bottom button, there was a fine sheen of sweat across his brow. He pushed the dress forward and off her shoulders.
She was startled by the movement and caught the dress before it could fall too far forward. She blushed as she realized he had every right to see her, and let the dress fall to the floor. She turned to him wearing only her corset and petticoat, watching his face as he saw her mostly unclothed for the first time.
She dropped the hand that was holding her hair, and let it fall in a cascade over her shoulders. “You’re beautiful,” he mumbled as he dropped his head to brush his lips across hers.
She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back wanting their first real kiss as man and wife to be special. Sure, they’d kissed at the church, but this was different. This time there was no audience, and the kiss was for their own pleasure not for show.
He tongue traced the seam of her lips for a moment, before she opened her mouth wide for him. His tongue invaded her mouth, going inside to mate with hers. He let out a low groan and backed her toward the bed. “Sit down.”
She sat on the side of the bed, while he dropped to his knees to remove her shoes. Once they were out of the way, he slowly reached under her petticoat and rolled her stocking down her leg. His touch both shocked and aroused her as she watched the powerful man before her acting as her servant.
Once her stockings were gone, he pulled her to her feet, and untied her corset. Once the strings were undone, he pushed it down over her hips to the floor. She stood before him in only her white petticoat, embarrassed to realize that although she only had her petticoat and drawers on, he was still fully clothed. He’d left his jacket downstairs, but other than that, he was wearing exactly what he’d worn to the church for their wedding.
She reached up and untied his tie for him, placing it on top of the dresser, and then her fingers tackled the buttons of his pristine white shirt. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands over his chest, which was covered with only a white undershirt. She pushed the undershirt up and over his head, her hands tangling in the hair covering his slim chest.
“Don’t stop there,” he mumbled, taking her hands and putting them on the waistband of his pants. “I’m still wearing something.”
She blushed and removed her hands. “We have to get your shoes and socks off first, don’t we?” Putting her hands on his shoulders, she pushed him down on the side of the bed, kneeling before him to remove his shoes the same as he had done for her. After the shoes were gone, her fingers slid up the leg of his trousers and removed his socks.
When she was
finished, she stood up. She wasn’t bold enough to remove his slacks for him, and she hoped he didn’t request it of her.
He seemed to understand how she felt, because he moved his hands to the shoulders of her petticoat and pushed it off, watching as it fell to the floor. Her drawers came next, and he removed them quickly before scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to the bed, laying her down on one side of it. She stared up at him with wide eyes as he slowly lowered himself beside her, kissing her shoulder and neck.
He cupped her face in both hands and lowered his lips to hers, his tongue immediately seeking entrance to her mouth. She parted her lips and stroked his bare shoulders as he kissed her with more passion than before. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispered against her lips.
She explored his back with her hands finding a mole just above the waistband of his slacks. She couldn’t believe how hot his skin felt underneath her fingertips.
His lips roamed from her mouth, down to her neck, and then across her shoulders. One hand cupped her pink tipped breast and he squeezed it in his palm. His thumb and forefinger toyed with her nipple as his teeth gently grazed her shoulder.
She arched under his touch loving the feel of his hands on her. She wondered in the back of her mind why he hadn’t yet removed his pants, because even she knew they needed to be off for what they were about to do. His hand moved from her breast down over her stomach and to the triangle of curls shielding her innocence. He stroked his fingers over her for a moment, before moving his hand down further to the juncture of her thighs.
She kept her legs tightly together, too nervous to do anything else, until he reached his hand down and tickled her knee. She giggled slightly and turned under him at which point he slid his hand between her thighs. His fingers worked their way up her inner thigh to her core, and touched her softness.
Ellen jerked as she felt Patrick’s hand move against her most secret place. He ran his finger over her, and finally found her opening, one finger slipping inside and moving within her. She was startled by his finger, and opened her mouth to protest, but when the finger moved inside her, she felt such pleasure she immediately closed her mouth, and settled back against the pillow to simply enjoy what he was doing to her.
Her breath was coming fast and furiously. She’d never dreamed a man could make her feel so weak in her stomach with the simple touch of his finger. She lay enjoying his touch and the feeling of something building inside her. Her stomach clenched, fighting against whatever was happening to her.
His mouth returned to hers and she eagerly parted her lips, her hands clenching against his back as she silently urged him to continue whatever he was doing to make her feel so good.
He reached out to turn down the kerosene lamp beside the bed, and stood up. She couldn’t tell what he was doing, but when he returned, it was without his pants or anything else between them. His hands framed her face as he kissed her passionately while settling his legs between her own. His face lifted from hers briefly. “I’m sorry, but I think this is going to hurt a little.”
She nodded, and then realized he probably couldn’t see it in the dark. “Will it hurt you, too?”
He let out a low laugh. “No, it’s only going to feel good to me.”
“Well, that’s not very fair, is it?”
“I’ll do my best to make it feel as good for you as I possibly can.” His mouth was on hers again before she could protest, and then she felt something pressing against her where his fingers had been only moments before. It was much hotter and bigger than his fingers, though and she wiggled a little to escape the pressure. “Hold still.”
She grabbed onto his shoulders and held onto him as he finally pushed inside her. It didn’t seem to hurt at all, and she was happy about that. For a moment he stopped, and lifted his head. “Okay so far?”
“Yes, it doesn’t hurt at all! It feels kind of good.” She was relieved to realize the pain wasn’t going to happen after all.
“Good. Just remember that feeling for a moment, okay?” He pulled out a little and pushed hard into her breaking her maidenhead. His mouth dropped to hers to stifle the small cry of pain she let out, and he remained still inside her, giving her time to adjust to his presence inside her body.
After a short while, he lifted his head again. “Are you all right?”
She lay beneath panting, and considered his question. It certainly didn’t hurt as much as it had just moments before. “I think so.”
His lips crushed down on hers again as he began moving inside her. She didn’t feel the same good sensations she had when he’d used his fingers, but it didn’t hurt anymore either. After a moment, the good feelings started coming back and she let out a low moan against his lips.
He increased the speed of his movements and let out a groan, collapsing on top of her. He buried his face against her neck, but did his best to catch most of his weight on his elbows so he wouldn’t hurt her.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to go slower next time.”
“Why are you sorry?” He hadn’t done anything she hadn’t been willing for him to do. Why would he apologize?
He laughed. “You’ll understand next time. I promise you that.” He rolled to her side and pulled her against him, cradling her head against his shoulder.
She snuggled against him happily, pleased their first time together was over, and feeling like she’d pleased him. “Did you like it?” she asked, needing to be certain he’d enjoyed it.
“I couldn’t have liked it any more than I did.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head. “You were wonderful.”
She sighed contentedly and let out a loud yawn. “I’m so tired!”
He smiled, stroking her back. “You just go to sleep then.”
She nodded, her head still pillowed on his shoulder, and she closed her eyes, knowing she’d sleep soundly. She was married now, and she’d done her duty by her husband. She was thrilled to know she’d done the right thing.
*****
She woke during the night to feel hands stroking her body. Teeth were softly scraping her ear and a hand was plucking insistently at one of her nipples. She moaned softly, arching against his hand.
Patrick dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her wildly. “I tried to wait, but I woke up, and you were pressed against me, and I just had to have you again.”
Her hands went to his shoulders, exploring his taut skin. She hadn’t expected him to be ready to do this again so soon, but she had heard that men had stronger physical needs than women did. Within moments, she was ready to have him inside her again. How could she tell him that, though?
She spread her legs silently, and he lifted his mouth from hers. “Are you ready?”
She blushed, happy the darkness hid it from him. “I think so,” she whispered.
He settled between her spread thighs again, and this time when he entered her there was no pain. He began moving inside her, his strokes slow and steady. The building pressure inside her stomach started right away this time. She was reaching for something, but she didn’t know what it was. He seemed to know, though, because he whispered, “Just let it happen.”
Her head turned from side to side as she fought whatever strange thing was happening to her body. Finally, with a gasp, she felt as if her insides exploded. She arched up against him, almost lifting him off the bed with her hips.
He continued moving inside her, increasing the speed now that she’d finished and with a groan, collapsed against her. “Now do you understand why I was sorry the first time?” She could barely understand his words because he was so out of breath as he spoke.
“Is that what you wanted to happen for me the first time?”
He rolled off of her to his side and once again gathered her against him. “It was worth waiting for, wasn’t it?”
She nodded, her hair rubbing against his shoulder. “It definitely was.” She kissed his shoulder her eyes already closing as she drifted back to sleep. Her last waking tho
ught was about how embarrassed she’d be to face him in the morning, but how good she felt at that moment. She could get used to the physical side of marriage very quickly. It was much better than her friends had let on.
He ran his hand over her shoulders and held her while she slept. He was so happy to have this precious woman in his life. How could a man ask for anything more?
*****
Because Alice took Sundays off, Ellen slipped out of bed early the following morning. She wanted to start her first full day of marriage off right and have breakfast ready when Patrick came down the stairs. She hurried around the kitchen frying bacon and getting out eggs, and only then realizing she didn’t know how he preferred them cooked. Deciding scrambled was probably the best bet she pulled down a bowl and beat six eggs with milk.
When Patrick walked into the kitchen, she had two plates ready to go. She’d fixed bacon, scrambled eggs and toast with butter. Thinking he may want jam on his toast she put that on the small table in the kitchen as well. Not ready to meet his eyes after their night together, she asked if he was hungry.
He walked across the kitchen and tilted her chin up with one finger kissing her softly. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She put the plates on the table and poured them each a cup of coffee. “I hope you like scrambled eggs.”
“Sure. I’ll eat them however you make them. I just prefer them not to be raw.”
She laughed. “I don’t tend to serve them raw.” She walked across the kitchen to the table and sat down in the chair she’d eaten breakfast in every morning all week.
He sat down opposite her. “Why are we eating in the kitchen?”
She shrugged. “I’ve been eating breakfast in the kitchen all week. I guess we can move to the dining room if you want to. I’ve just enjoyed talking to Alice while I eat.” She hadn’t thought about how it might seem strange to him to eat in the kitchen instead of the dining room.
Mail Order Mix Up Page 9
