Effie nodded and he walked her to the door, waiting for her to come out. Picking her up in his arms he carried her to the bed.
“Do you want a drink of water?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Sam poured her a glass and stood while she drank, setting the glass on her bedside table.
“Let’s get you tucked in,” he said, pulling the covers down.
“Why are you doing this, Sam?” she asked in a raspy voice.
Sam took her shoulders and laid her back on the pillows. “You belong to me now, Euphemia. I take care of what’s mine,” he replied as he pulled the covers over her and tucked them around her. Her questioning expression and raised eyebrow was a little unnerving, but he leaned down and kissed her anyway.
“We’ll talk in the morning.”
*
Tossing and turning, Effie wondered if she’d ever sleep again. Everything, absolutely everything Grace told her was true. It was frightening in a way you never wanted to stop. Sam was frightening and compelling, harsh and gentle, cold and caring. How was that possible? People were either kind or they weren’t.
Well, she rationalized, making love was both painful and yet full of the most consuming pleasure she’d ever known. In her wildest dream she’d never have been able to imagine such an intimate act between a man and a woman, nor the sheer joy of it. No wonder people got married. Of course, she and Sam weren’t married. In fact, other than saying she belonged to him like a pair of slippers, he hadn’t mentioned any type of commitment.
Did she want to marry, Sam? Effie didn’t think so. Goodness, how did married people get anything done, go to work, or cook a meal? Why, she’d want to do nothing but stay in bed all day if that was the alternative. No wonder she’d heard Sam complaining about Hugh not making it to work. If that’s what he and Amelia were doing, why would he want to go? And Grace and Jonah, lord, it was no wonder they were smiling all the time and went to bed early.
Apparently she was going to get quite an education on this trip, she thought as she finally drifted off.
Chapter Six
For the second day in a row, Effie awoke to Sam in a chair by her bed. He looked rough, unkempt, with dark stubble along his jaw he hadn’t bothered to shave. The white shirt he’d worn last night was open, making the tanned skin of his sculptured chest clearly visible. His feet were bare.
Effie lay quietly on her side and studied him. She noticed his hands, resting on his knees, were clenched into fists and he was staring into the embers still burning in the fireplace.
“Don’t you have a room of your own?”
“I needed to speak with you before the others got up,” Sam said, turning to look at her and uncurling his fists. “We have to make some plans and I wanted to be sure you were all right,” he continued, rising.
“I’m fine,” Effie replied, flopping over onto her back and stretching.
“That’s good, I know I was a little… aggressive and…”
“You were?”
“Yes,” he answered, looking away.
“So that’s not the way it’s usually done?” Sitting up on the bed she hugged her knees and waited for his answer.
“It is and it isn’t,” Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The basics are the same but a gentleman would have been more patient, gentler…”
Effie snorted. “A gentleman would never have done any of those…”
“I know, I know. I’ve done nothing but regret my actions all night. Please forgive my abominable behavior last night, Euphemia. I have absolutely no excuse for my lapse in judgement. You are a guest in this house, not to mention a young woman of breeding. I can only offer my humble apologies and promise to do the right thing to protect your good name and reputation. Once we are married, I will try to control my baser instincts and treat you in a more… refined manner.”
“Married?”
“Of course. You didn’t think I was the kind of man who would steal your virtue and abandon my responsibilities?”
“Actually, I did,” Effie murmured thoughtfully. “I chose to think of last night as more of an educational experience than any indication of a commitment.”
“Educational…” he hesitated. “How so?”
“Well, first of all, I don’t regret it, so you needn’t feel terribly guilty,” she informed him. Sliding off the bed, she went to him and patted his shoulder consolingly. “I had no idea a man’s touch could make my body… sing. Truthfully, I’ve always dreaded losing my virginity; afraid of the pain or that I would displease my husband. Now that it’s gone, I feel surprisingly free,” she laughed, walking away and twirling in a circle, her nightdress flowing around her.
It wasn’t often Sam was speechless and looking at him now with his mouth opening and closing like a fish was delightful.
“Sam, do you think you could ring for tea and have it sent up while we continue with whatever you wish to discuss? I’m famished.”
“No, it wouldn’t be proper,” he responded firmly.
Effie giggled and collapsed onto the chair by the fire. “Proper? You’re concerned with propriety after last night? Oh, Sam, that’s hysterical,” she cried, dissolving into laughter.
“I don’t find a damn thing amusing about this, Euphemia, and don’t go feeling too free because you aren’t,” he avowed as he planted his hands on his hips.
“Of course I am,” she said, wiping the tears from her face. “I’m an unmarried woman and the biggest impediment to my freedom has been removed, thanks to your amazing attentions in the kitchen. Frankly, Sam, had I known it was going to be so much fun, so glorious, I would have given it away a long time ago.”
Sam looked at her as though she’d lost her mind and a new round of giggles began when he smacked himself in the head. Finally, sobering at his distress, she went to him and put her arms around him.
“Oh, Sam, I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it as I did, but I’m grateful just the same. Perhaps with another woman you would feel differently. Speaking of that, will I adore it as much with another man?”
“No!”
“No? How can you be so sure?” she asked doubtfully, stepping back.
“Because you will never, not as long as I am alive, do that with another man,” he roared.
“Now, let’s not get all excited,” she suggested, taking another step back and patting his chest. “There’s no need to…”
“Euphemia Lane,” he growled, taking her shoulders in his hands and pulling her to her tiptoes, “you could be carrying my child! Have you given any thought to that?”
His scowl was so fierce; Effie gulped and struggled to maintain a reasonable tone.
“Why, yes I have. I thought about it quite extensively last night before I fell asleep. I have money of my own, Sam. If that should occur, I would simply change my last name, move to a city where I know no one and conveniently become a grieving widow, at least for an acceptable amount of time. I see no reason that would not suffice. Of course, Grace and Amelia would know the truth, but they would never reveal my secret. Maybe I could even visit now and again and we could… you know,” she said sweetly as a blush stained her cheeks.
Waiting patiently for his response was unnerving. She watched his expression getting darker and darker. A small tick began on the side of his jaw and his hands moved to her upper arms and tightened.
“Sam, be reasonable. We both know we are not suited for marriage. We don’t really even like each other,” she pleaded.
“Oh you poor delusional girl,” he sighed, pulling her into his arms. “Do you think that what happened between us last night is normal; that every man and woman has that kind of combustible physical connection?”
“Well, I assumed so. Amelia seems very happy with Hugh in that respect. Grace told me what it was like with Jonah, so naturally…”
“Comparing what others have to what we have is like trying to compare a campfire to a volcano,” Sam insisted, his face buried in her hair.
“
Really?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yes, really. Trust me, I know.”
“Hmm,” Effie murmured, wiggling out of his arms. “Well, I imagine you’re much more experienced than I,” she conceded, nibbling on her fingernail. Walking a few paces away she paused and returned to him. “Perhaps if I tried it with another man, your argument would be more convincing,” she offered, ignoring Sam’s eye roll.
“So you won’t take my word on this?” he demanded, leaning down until they were nearly nose to nose.
“I don’t think I can, Sam. I’m sorry. Perhaps you could recommend someone, you know… nice? If I knew for sure you were the only one who could make me feel those things, I guess I would be forced to consider your proposal. I sure wouldn’t want to miss out on…”
“I can’t do that, Effie, but here’s something I can recommend,” he said with a tight lipped smile. Grasping her arm he towed her to the bed and sat, pulling her over his lap. “I can recommend you get that idea right out of your pretty blonde head.”
Pulling up her nightdress he spent a moment caressing her bottom. It was heavenly and she lifted into his touch.
“I can recommend that unless you want to spend the next forty or fifty years standing, you will behave yourself and do as you’re told. I can also recommend that when the time comes and the preacher asks you to say ‘I do’ you damn well better or I will blister your sweet little ass in front of the entire assembly.”
“Sam, you cannot force me to marry you,” she insisted, glaring at him over her shoulder. “That would make you no better than Horace Remington,” she spat.
“Don’t you dare compare me to that weasel,” Sam thundered, smacking her bottom crisply. “Did I or did I not ask if you wanted me to take you last night?” he demanded.
“Yes, you did,” she sniffed indignantly, wishing he wasn’t holding her hands trapped at the back of her waist. She desperately wanted to rub the sting from her bottom.
“And your reply was?”
Clamping her lips together, Effie refused to answer. It turned out to be a big mistake. Sam began spanking her in earnest, moving swiftly from one cheek to the other. Struggling to get away was useless, so she tried to kick him and ended up with her legs trapped between his.
After what seemed like hours during which his huge hand fell over and over while she squealed and swore, he paused.
“And your reply was…?”
“Yes, damn you, yes. I told you to take me,” she screamed. As she panted over his leg she thought she heard someone at the door. Popping her head up she blew the hair out of her eyes and saw the knob turn, but the door didn’t open. A tentative knock followed. “Come in,” she yelled.
“Get the hell away from that door and don’t come back,” Sam roared. “We’re busy.”
“No we’re not, come back! Get the key,” she screeched.
Sam laughed, leaned down and kissed her ass. Kissed her ass, for God’s sake!
“Euphemia, as much as you annoy the hell out of me, I think I’m going to enjoy being married to you,” he said, patting her bottom gently.
“If you think for one moment I am actually going to marry you, you barbaric ass, it is you who are delusional,” she hissed.
“Is that so?” he teased.
“Yes, that’s so. You can beat me every day for the rest of my life and I will still refuse you!”
“Wanna bet?”
Effie remained silent.
“No, I didn’t think so. Let’s just get on with this, shall we. In fact, I’m quite looking forward to it.
“You know the first time I spanked you; I didn’t enjoy it. Yes, having you at my mercy with your sassy little mouth silenced for once was somewhat pleasurable. Teaching you a lesson in manners had its appeal. This, however, is so much more satisfying. You have such a lovely bottom, sweetheart, that I won’t mind spanking it any more than I mind kissing it. Of course, there are other pleasures that center on these sweet cheeks, but we’ll save that discussion for later.”
“What other pleasures?” she asked, pausing in her struggles for a breathless moment.
Sam laughed. “Euphemia, do you know what the word insatiable means?”
“Of course I do, you moron.”
“Good, because I think it fits you.”
“You’re out of your mind. I hate and despise you,” she spat.
“I suppose that’s possible. However, there is a certain part of your anatomy that likes me well enough,” he said, slipping his hand between her thighs and finding her slick.
“Ugh! You’re despicable.”
“Agreed, but let’s get down to the business at hand. Are you going to marry me?”
“Not now, not in a million years,” she said, smiling sweetly at him over her shoulder.
“So be it.”
The spanking that followed was astonishing. If she thought he went hard on her the night she shot out his mother’s window, she now had a new understanding of just how gentle he’d been. Each smack of his hand sounded like a clap of thunder summoned by an angry god. The heat it produced rivaled a bolt of lightning, scorching her tender skin. His hand fell in a horrible rhythm. She knew each spank was coming but could do nothing to prevent it.
Every so often he stopped and asked again.
“Are you going to marry me?”
Each time, Effie refused. She could hear Tempest and Grace at the door, demanding entrance. Totally humiliated and screaming her fool head off, Effie refused to ask for mercy from Sam, nor would she agree to his demands. Her bottom felt three times its normal size and she was sobbing her eyes out when he paused again.
“I’m no longer enjoying this, Effie,” he said sadly. “Please agree to become my wife. I take full responsibility for what occurred last night and my moral code demands I do the right thing. I could never allow you to take our child and leave, so get that idea out of your head immediately, darling. Please, honey, don’t make me get my belt.”
Effie gasped. Sweet Mother of God, he couldn’t be serious. She couldn’t take it, not even one lick. She’d been foolish too, she rationalized. She could have stopped him last night, and what if she was going to have a baby? Would it be fair to deprive a man of his child, or Tempest of her grandchild? Sobbing she felt her resolve weaken.
“Please marry me, Euphemia. I know you don’t believe it, but this is hurting me too.”
“You’re right, I don’t believe you feel anywhere near the pain I do,” she cried as he rubbed her back. “However, I will agree to your proposal, but only if there is a child. We will wait and see.”
“No,” Sam said firmly. “We will marry immediately. I won’t have people counting the months to see if our son or daughter is a bastard. In any case, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you now that I’ve had you. It’s as simple as that, I’m afraid.”
“Must you always have your way?” she asked slumping in defeat.
“It seems so. I’m a very determined man, but you’ve known that from the beginning,” he admitted as he turned her over and tipped her face to his.
“We’re going to end up truly hating each other,” she warned, shoving his hand away from her bottom when he tried to soothe it.
“Let me make myself clear, sweetheart. You can hate me all you want, but if you ever leave me, I will hunt you down and drag you back home. Remember this spanking well; for it is but a taste of what will be waiting for you once we get here. Do you understand?”
Looking into his dark eyes, Effie could see he meant every word he said. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
“Get dressed and come down when you’re ready. We’ll make the announcement at breakfast,” Sam said, wiping the last of her tears away with the hem of her nightdress.
“Couldn’t we wait a bit? You’re mother and Grace will know…”
“They’ll know I gave you a good spanking. It’s nothing they haven’t experienced themselves on more than one occasion. Hugh and Amelia will most likely arrive shortly an
d we’ll tell them all at the same time,” he continued, setting her on her feet between his legs.
“They know I’d never agree to marry you willingly, Sam. Everyone will think it’s a farce. Even if we’re able to convince your parents, what will I tell the girls in private? They’ll never believe it.”
“Tell them you’ve discovered you have a grand passion for me,” he said as he pulled her forward. Tugging her long hair he tipped her head back and claimed her mouth. His tongue teased her lips apart and entered her mouth with a gentle thrust that made her gasp. Releasing her hair he cupped her head and held her in place while he explored at his leisure.
His hands moved to her shoulders, and then lower, stroking her breasts until her nipples felt as though they would poke right through her nightdress. Knees shaking, she was relieved when he gathered her up and lay her back on the bed, undoing each tiny button down the front of her garment. Soon his lips were licking and sucking her nipples and her back bowed as she offered herself up to him.
A grand passion wasn’t far from the truth she realized when his hand slid up the inside of her thigh, pushing the gown higher. His fingers danced their way, teasing and stroking until he got to his destination and impaled her on his thick digit. Thumbing the hidden button he’d tormented last night had her ignoring the pain in her punished cheeks and rising to meet each lovely thrust. This damn man was going to be a thorn in her side, but oh he had lovely talents. When she was right on the verge of experiencing that exquisite culmination he’d demonstrated to her last night, Sam stopped.
“What are you doing?” she gasped breathlessly.
“I like you like this,” he remarked with a smile as he stared into her confused eyes. “You’re all soft and sweet, your face flushed, both sets of cheeks pink and you’re oh so compliant. I think I’ll keep you like this until the wedding.”
“What?”
“Yes, my sweet, naughty girl. You want me. It’s in every quiver of your body, every sigh that passes your lips. I believe I finally have the answer to dealing with you, Euphemia Lane. I shall torment and tease you to the brink of release every chance I get. By the time we marry, the ache you have here,” he continued, moving his large hand to her pelvis and applying slight pressure as he cupped her, sliding his long finger between her lower lips, “will be such that you’ll run to my arms. Of course it will be quite uncomfortable for me as well, but I’m much more experienced at denying my carnal urges.”
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