Miner's Daughter

by Duncan, Alice

  Oh, Lord, there was the blasted mine again, intruding, as it always did, into every aspect of her life. Resolutely, she thrust the Marigold Mine into the corner of her mind where her scruples lay huddled.

  Tony was shaking his head now. “How long have you had these stockings, Mari?”

  She blinked down at his head. His hair looked dark in the lantern light, although Mari knew it to be ash blond, almost golden. He carefully rolled one of her stockings down her right leg, then dangled it in front of her face, his mouth curled in an impish grin. His eyes looked green now.

  “I beg your pardon?” She’d forgotten his question.

  “How long have you had these? It looks as if they’d been mended a million times.”

  She grinned back at him, finding humor in the situation instead of a reason to feel humiliated, which seemed a step in the right direction. “They probably have. Stockings aren’t the first thing I buy when I get money.”

  “I should say not. We’ll have to remedy that situation, too.”

  “Tony . . .”

  “Yes?” He glanced up from rolling down her left stocking.

  It had been on the tip of her tongue to tell him she’d be no man’s mistress and that she’d buy her own shoes and stockings in the future, thank you very much, but the words wouldn’t come. A declaration of such a nature would put a damper on the evening, and she wouldn’t make it. “Nothing.” He still gazed up at her with that heart-stopping grin on his beautiful mouth, so she said softly, “I like what you’re doing.”

  His grin broadened into a smile “Good. I do, too.”

  He tossed the second stocking aside and surprised Mari by lifting her feet, one at a time, and kissing them. She hadn’t known people did such extraordinary things. How . . . how . . . how stunningly sweet.

  “I don’t want you to live in want anymore, Mari,” he whispered as he gently lowered her feet to the rag carpet once more.

  That one was easy. “I don’t want me to, either.” As if there was anything she could do about it. Still, she gave him an answering smile.

  “Good.”

  Good? Whatever did that mean? Mari didn’t ask for fear she wouldn’t like his answer.

  He stood abruptly, and Mari found herself at eye level with the front of his trousers, the fabric of which bulged alarmingly. She swallowed, knowing what that extremely large bulge meant.

  “Be with you in a second,” Tony muttered as he fumbled with his shirt buttons, He wore no collar or jacket in deference to the heat of the day, and he made quick work of his shirt, shucking it off in seconds.

  Too disconcerted by that bulge to stare at his trousers, Mari lifted her head and looked at his chest instead. At the moment, it was covered with a cotton undershirt—oh. No, it wasn’t. Not any longer. Tony had ripped the shirt over his head in one graceful, shrugging gesture, and Mari got to see a man’s naked chest for the very first time.

  And what a chest it was. Covered with light brown, curly hair, Tony’s chest was a work of art. When her gaze slid sideways, and she inspected his arms, she swallowed again She stared, rapt. “Merciful heavens, Tony, where did you get those muscles?”

  “I was on the rowing team in college. It’s hard work, although it’s a pretty useless occupation compared to most. I mean, we used our muscles to propel a sporting craft, not do anything worthwhile with them.”

  The results of plying those oars looked worthwhile to Mari. “Um, I think sports are good for boys.” And if all sports resulted in muscles like those, they were good for girls, too, albeit in a different way.

  But Tony shook his head. “Knowing you has made me reevaluate everything I’ve ever believed about life.”

  His words so shocked her that she left off devouring his musculature with her greedy gaze, and her glance flew to his face. He looked down at her with such warmth and tenderness, Mari at once became skittish and let her gaze slip to the rag rug.

  “It’s true, Mari.” He unbuckled his belt, then unbuttoned his trousers, and slid them down his legs. As Mari gaped at his muscular thighs, he sat beside her and took her hands in his. “I didn’t understand how frivolous my life was until I met you.”

  “Um, really?”

  “Really. You made me ashamed of the way I lived.”

  That was so sweet. And so utterly ridiculous. “Let’s not get carried away here, Tony. If I had a choice, I’d live the way you do, believe me. Anyone would.”

  He laughed and lifted her hands to his lips. As soon as her flesh touched his, gooseflesh sprung up on her arms, traveled across her torso, dimpled her nipples, and continued down the rest of her body, until she felt as though she were one massive, throbbing tingle.

  “Of course, everyone wants money. Money’s important. What I meant was that, until I met you, I didn’t know what selflessness was. I’d never seen it in action before.”

  “Oh.” Selflessness? Her? The word didn’t mean a thing to Mari. She’d always only thought she was trying to survive.

  “Yes,” he said. “Oh, forget all that, and come to me. Come here.”

  Thank God he pulled her into his arms, because Mar’s brain had started working again, and she knew better than to trust it not to spoil everything. His kiss was more fervent this time; harder, more insistent. Mari responded with gusto.

  Little by little, he lowered her to the bed, so that she lay on her back. She didn’t realize he’d been skillfully undoing the ties to her camisole until the garment fell away, leaving her bare bosom exposed to his avid gaze. She wasn’t shocked. She knew she had nice, firm breasts. They weren’t massive; thank God, but she believed they’d make a nice handful for Tony Ewing.

  He proved her correct in mere seconds. As his hands cupped her breasts, Mari’s eyes slid shut. She reveled in the sensation of his fingers caressing her sensitive nipples. When his tongue flicked one nipple, she didn’t think she’d ever felt a more exquisite marvel. Every cell in her body sang with pleasure.

  Then he took her breast into his mouth and Mari wasn’t sure she’d survive so much glory. The only way to bear it was to use her own hands, so she did, exploring Tony’s hard body with as much interest as he was investing in hers.

  She’d not understood before how intensely stimulating a man’s body could be. She’d never felt any inclination to explore, say, Gordon Shay’s lumpy muscles and hairy arms. She wanted to feel every inch of Tony’s smoother, more refined musculature. And more besides.

  She wanted to taste him, to nip parts of him, to discover every nuance of his flesh.

  Because her resolve not to allow her thoughts to interfere with her pleasure was still locked in a corner of her mind, she acted on her desire. Tony groaned with pleasure when she found his nipples and tasted them as her hands explored his marvelous chest.

  Although Mari knew her body was slim, almost sinewy, by modern standards, molded into strength by hard work rather than into softness by feminine pursuits, Tony didn’t seem to mind. His hands explored every nook and cranny of her naked flesh with evident rapture. Which was all right by Mari. She was every bit as enraptured by his body.

  “You’re so soft, Mari. But you’re so damned strong.”

  Although she wasn’t sure she should ask, she did it anyway. “Is that a good thing?”

  He chuckled. “It’s a very good thing.”

  “Oh. Good.” What a relief. When he’d spoken of her strength, she’d feared he’d been put off by her lack of womanly fleshiness.

  “You’ve got a strong body and a strong mind. You’re the perfect woman.”

  Good God. Mari couldn’t believe he’d actually said that, although she decided not to ask in case she was right. It was much nicer to think he truly found her body attractive. And stimulating.

  His hands had been exploring, inch by inch, until they’d reached a crucial part of her anatomy. Although a little disconcerted, Mari was yet more interested than shy. She wondered what he’d do when he got to that thatch of curls between her legs. Those curls were even
darker than her hair, and the portion of her body they hid was at present creating all sorts of havoc in the rest of her body.

  She didn’t have long to wonder. As his hand cupped her femininity, Mari bucked involuntarily. That’s where all the pressure was building. That was the spot, all right. She whispered, “Oh, Tony!”

  “Don’t be afraid, Mari.”

  He sounded fairly desperate, and Mari longed to put his fears to rest, but she didn’t know how to without sounding like a wanton hussy. Instead, she did what her body wanted her to do, and lifted her hips so that the nub of her pleasure pressed against his palm. He responded instantly by probing her passage with a finger.

  She swallowed and let go of an involuntary “Oh!”

  “You’re beautiful, Mari,” he murmured, again sounding moderately desperate. “So beautiful.”

  How nice. She wanted to shriek at him to keep doing what he’d been doing with his fingers, but again modesty held her back. That was a laugh. There was absolutely nothing modest about this situation any longer.

  Since that was the case, Mari decided she couldn’t lose any respect in his eyes, provided he still had any for her, so she whispered, “Oh, please, Tony, keep doing that.”

  Rather than horrifying or repelling him, her words seemed to give Tony’s hands a new life. He murmured something she didn’t catch and renewed his ministrations to her most secret place, leaning over to kiss her at the same time. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. The kiss progressed as her passion mounted, until their tongues were thrusting as furiously as Tony’s fingers.

  Then the climax came, and Mari’s few remaining inhibitions flew out of her body. Waves of pleasure claimed her, and she cried out with amazement, not having anticipated the intensity of the joy a man and a woman could share.

  She realized Tony had been watching her only when her spasms of pleasure subsided and she opened her eyes. He smiled down at her.

  With a hand that felt as heavy as lead, Mari stroked his lovely hair back from his head. She didn’t know what to say. Or do.

  Fortunately for them both, Tony knew exactly what to say and do. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Mari.”

  She blinked up at him, thinking how nice he was, really. Even if he was as rich as Midas. Although she was vaguely aware that he hadn’t enjoyed himself quite as much as she had, she was rather surprised when he suddenly stood up.

  When he stripped his underwear down his legs, and his enormous sex popped into clear view, she gasped. Good heavens. A tiny doubt wriggled, its way into her chest for only a moment, before Tony spoke once more, again reassuring her.

  “Don’t be afraid.”

  Mari couldn’t recall the number of times he’d told her not to be afraid this evening, but so far he’d been absolutely right. This was nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it was spectacularly exciting. Glorious, even.

  He got back onto the bed, straddling her body with his powerful legs. “I hope this won’t hurt you, Mari,” he whispered.

  She only shook her head, hoping he’d understand that she meant the shake to mean it didn’t matter. Tony Ewing had just given her the greatest physical pleasure of her life. She wasn’t going to begrudge him a twinge or two when she lost her virginity.

  As it turned out, it didn’t hurt at all. Perhaps because she’d had to work so hard in her life, her maiden’s barrier gave up its hold at once and without a trace of pain. The sensation of fullness she experienced was a novel one, but she accustomed herself to it quickly. Tony was panting as if he were running a race. It took Mari a moment to realize his condition was brought about by the great restraint he was showing in deference to her recent virginity, and her heart was touched.

  “I’m fine, Tony,” she whispered, stroking his hair and arms and back and everything else she could reach. She loved him so much. If she hadn’t been concerned with his feelings on the matter, she might have wept with the overwhelming love filling her heart and soul. But she didn’t want to scare him.

  Which was really rather amusing since he’d been concerned about her own fears and physical well-being. He was so sweet.

  “Are you sure?”

  She heard the strain in his voice and hastened to assure him. “I’m very sure. You feel good inside me, Tony. Wonderful.”

  Apparently that was the right thing to say, because the bonds of his constraint snapped at once, and he began to plunge almost wildly inside her. Merciful heavens, what an interesting phenomenon.

  She’d just begun to understand where this could lead when Tony, unable to hold himself back any longer, cried out and with one last thrust, spilled his seed inside her. He strained for another couple of seconds, as if squeezing the last ounce of himself into her, and then he collapsed at her side.

  Unable to help it, Mari allowed a very few tears to escape. They trickled down her cheeks, and she was able to wipe them away before Tony opened his eyes. He still panted, as if he’d run a marathon.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sweet Lord, he cherished this woman. Exhausted and with his soul afire with love, Tony lay beside Mari, marveling at how much a man’s life could change in so short a time.

  Only a few weeks ago, he’d come out to California hoping to find something; he didn’t know what. And by God, he’d found her. He’d been seeking Mari and didn’t even know it.

  He knew it now. The only thing he wasn’t sure of at this point was how to get her to marry him. She was so damned independent and stubborn. Maybe if he allowed her to keep her crazy father’s mine, she’d agree to a permanent alliance with him. What the hell, he had enough money to keep the mine operating forever without any hint of profit, if he wanted to. Tony didn’t like wasting money, but Mari would be worth it.

  After he’d regained his breath, he whispered, “Mari?”

  She stirred next to him, and he opened his eyes to watch her. She turned her head, and he smiled at her expression. Damned if she didn’t look shy. After what they’d just shared together! She was so perfectly delightful, Tony wasn’t sure he could stand it. His heart was so full, it felt near to overflowing.

  “Yes, Tony?” Her voice, whisper soft and caressing, made him go all mushy inside. It made another part of him begin to stir to life. How interesting.

  He cupped her cheek with his hand then smoothed the hair back from her face before drawing her into a closer cuddle. “Are you all right, sweetheart? Did I hurt you?”

  Her eye gazed at him with such tenderness, his insides squeezed and his heart soared. “You didn’t hurt me. I’m fine. Grand, even.”

  “Grand?” His masculine pride took a bow. He was pretty sure his grin showed how cocky he felt about his performance. “So am I. Very grand.”

  “I’m glad.” She dropped her gaze. “Um, I’d never done . . . that . . . before, and I’m not sure if I did it right.”

  She hadn’t been able to tell? Good God. On the other hand, Tony guessed that, as a recently deflowered virgin, she had nothing with which to compare their recent activities. Gratitude flooded him and again his heart pitched when he considered he’d been the first. He’d be the only, if he had anything to say about it. “You did it perfectly. Better than perfectly. You’re-you’re perfect.” Shoot, he wished he could think of a word meaning better than perfect.

  “I’m glad.” She kept her eyes lowered. “I thought you were wonderful, too.”

  His masculine pride quit taking smug bows and started dancing a triumphant jig. “Thank you. That makes me happy. You make me happy.”

  Her gaze darted to his face. She appeared uncertain. “Do I? Honestly?”

  “Honestly.” Absolutely. Phenomenally.

  “Good.”

  They stayed wrapped up in each other without speaking for several minutes. Tony savored each one of them as if they were pure gold. He was bracing himself to pop the question. He wasn’t nervous. Not exactly. Not precisely. It was only that he’d never asked a woman to marry him before, and he wasn’t quite
sure how to go about it.

  He also feared she might refuse his proposal. Any other female in the universe would jump at the chance to marry him or, rather, to marry his money. Which pretty much summed up why Tony had never proposed to anybody before.

  But Mari . . . Well, Mari was different from the rest of the women in the world. She was special. Unique. Magnificent.

  He cleared his throat. “Mari?”

  “Yes?” She smothered a yawn in the pillow.

  Tony thought she was adorable. “I need to ask you something.”

  “Yes?”

  This was it. He was going to do it. Right now. He was going to open his mouth and just blurt it out before he could get scared. He was going to say it. Right now. Outright. He was going to get it over with right this very minute. He was—

  On the floor a few feet away from them, Tiny whimpered.

  Mari sat bolt upright as if she’d been shot from a gun. “Tiny!”

  Blast. Tony had forgotten all about the dog. He considered the relief flooding through him in the light of cowardice, but he couldn’t stop it. He sat up, too. “We’d better check on him.”

  Mari had already slid out of the narrow bed. Tony had a splendid view of her naked backside as she reached up to grab an old flannel bathrobe from a hook beside the bed. She had a body a man might die for. She rushed to the side of her dog and knelt beside him

  Tony climbed out of the bed more slowly, savoring the delicious post-coital lassitude infusing him. With a sigh, he stood and glanced around, trying to find his trousers. Ah, yes, there they were. He went to them, picked them up off the floor, shook them out, and pulled them on. He’d as soon live naked for the rest of his life, as long as Mari did likewise. Unfortunately, the world was going to sneak in and interrupt this idyll all too soon.

  He padded softly over to the girl and her dog and he, too, knelt. “How’s he doing?” The slow smack of Tiny’s tail against the floor as he wagged it seemed encouraging to Tony.

  “I’m not sure.” Mari sounded concerned, but not overly worried, which also seemed like a good sign. “At least he’s happy to see us.”