He had finally chased them all away after his wife was settled comfortably in their bed, and then he had joined her. He didn’t think that either of them had ever slept so well that night or the nights that followed. He had worried that she would be plagued with nightmares from her ordeal, but not once did she sleep fretfully. Life had actually fallen into a peaceful routine and he cherished every minute of it.
She smiled at him and extended her hand for him to help her down.
His hands, instead, went to her waist and he lifted her off the ladder. He kissed her lips lightly before placing her on the ground.
She surprised him when she stepped away from him, planted her hands, and scolded, “When are you going to stop treating me like some fragile flower. I have told you repeatedly that I am fine and still you treat me as if I’ve yet to recover.”
He went to say something and she held up her hand.
“I’m not finished.” She ignored the way his eyes darkened and narrowed and continued having her say. “You kiss me as if my lips will break and your touch,” —she threw her hands up in the air— “I barely feel it.”
He went to speak again, his temper on the point of erupting, and she shook her finger at him.
“Not a word until I finish,” she warned. “And when you’re inside me you barely move and—”
“Enough,” he bellowed and scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m doing exactly what you intended me to do, Caro, though God knows I’m going to have to go to confession again when I’m done.”
“What? You went to confession? Put me down,” she demanded and squirmed until he finally did. She faced him. “You truly took confession from Padre Marten?”
“I did. It was time,” he said, tucking a strand of her soft dark hair behind her ear. “When our child is born I want to be able to stand beside you in church and see our baby baptized.”
“You know I’m with child?”
“You’re with child?” he said so shocked that he took a step back.
“But you said...” she shook her head.
“Sooner or later you would have to be with child with how often we make love, but I didn’t,” —he stepped forward and placed his hand on her stomach— “know that the babe already nestled inside you.”
“I have only realized it myself and I wanted to make sure before I said anything to you.”
“You’re sure now?”
“Very sure,” she said with a wide grin, which faded quickly. “That doesn’t mean you have to treat me like I’m fragile.”
“But you’re with child. It won’t be proper to make love until the babe is born.”
“What?” she said her eyes turning wide. “You can’t mean that. All those months without you touching me,” —she shook her head—“no, impossible I can’t do that. I cannot live without your touch, without making love with you—” She stopped as soon as she caught the smirk in his eyes and slapped his arm. “That was mean.”
He scooped her up in his arms. “Not as mean as telling me you barely feel anything when I’m inside of you.”
She cringed, though with a smile. “I didn’t know how else to get you to stop treating me as if I’d break each time you touched me.” She chuckled. “Besides, this way worked faster.”
He stopped just outside their bedroom door. “I’m going to make love to you and believe me you’re going to feel it. Then we’re going to gather the basket I’ve had Dolores fill and go to the pond, which had been my intention, and spend the rest of the afternoon there, eating and making love again, and then—”
“We’ll return home and fall in bed exhausted, though make love again.” She laughed.
“And fall asleep in each other’s arms as we will do every night even when we are old and gray.”
He kissed her with such passion that she sighed with the pleasure of what was to come and, with his wife pressed snugly against him, he walked into the bedroom and kicked the door closed.
THE END
You can read Gaby and Raphael’s story and Rosa’s adventure in Los Angeles in Untamed Fire.
Titles by Donna Fletcher
Single Titles
San Francisco Surrender
Rebellious Bride
The Buccaneer
Tame My Wild Touch
Playing Cupid
Whispers on the Wind
Series Books
Untamed Fire (Rancheros Trilogy)
Renegade Love
Book Three, Available 2014
The Wedding Spell (Wyrrd witch series)
Magical Moments
Magical Memories
Remember the Magic
The Irish Devil
Irish Hope
Isle of Lies
Love Me Forever
Dark Warrior
Legendary Warrior
The Daring Twin
The Bewitching Twin
Taken By Storm
Highlander’s Bride
Return of the Rogue (Sinclare brothers’ series)
Under the Highlander’s Spell
The Angel & The Highlander
Highlander’s Forbidden Bride
Bound To A Warrior (Warrior King series)
Loved By A Warrior
A Warrior’s Promise
Wed To A Highland Warrior
Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy)
Forbidden Highlander
Book Three, Available Fall 2013
About the Author
Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling romance author. Her books are sold worldwide. She started her career selling short stories and winning reader contests. She soon expanded her writing to her love of romance novels and sold her first book SAN FRANCISCO SURRENDER the year she became president of New Jersey Romance Writers. Donna is also a past President of Novelists, Inc.
Drop by Donna’s website www.donnafletcher.com where you can learn more about her.
Renegade Love (Rancheros) Page 30
