“Let me help you,” he picked up the basin and she brought the cloths.
He sat and leaned forward onto the table as he had the night before.
“How’s it look?”
“Pretty good. It’s seeped blood a little bit and I’ll clean that up but it’s going to heal well, I think.”
“I had a good doc.”
She smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. “Thanks.”
After she got it all cleaned up, with only a little moaning and a few flinches by Liam, she covered it with a bandage, which she wrapped around his chest and shoulder.
“There,” she declared, “all done. Doesn’t that feel better?”
“Honestly, no. It hurts more because you were messing with it.”
“Here, the tea is ready and it will help. Trust me.”
“Alright,” he said and then took a sip of the tea. “Tastes awful.”
“Can’t taste much worse than whiskey does.”
He smiled over the top of the tea cup. “You have me there.”
They both lingered over their tea, in companionable silence. Finally, he’d finished his. “Are you done? Ready to go back to bed?”
“I am tired. The tea always relaxes me.”
“Not afraid now?”
“No, I’m not afraid,” she placed her hand on top of his.
He turned his hand until he was holding hers. “I’m glad. Come on, let’s get some rest. That tea seems to have helped with my pain, just like you said it would. I do believe I can sleep now,” he got up from the table, still holding her hand. “Will you let me hold you again tonight like I did last night?”
“But you’re not drunk tonight,” she said rising with him.
“What’s that got to do anything?”
“Well, I just thought…”
He stopped and made her look up at him. “I thought we settled this a little while ago. I want you.” He stroked his knuckle down her cheek. “My being injured has nothing whatsoever to do with that. I’ll always want you. You’re my wife.”
As though those last three words explained everything, he leaned down and kissed her, slowly, tenderly. Then his tongue begged for entry and she welcomed him. He hadn’t kissed her like this in days and she missed his kisses. His arms came around her back and he crushed her to him. She felt him, all of him and she felt powerful and needy at the same time.
He broke the kiss but continued to hold her, breathing hard. “We’re going to have to quit that if all I’m going to do is hold you tonight.”
She looked down at her hands and began fiddling with the tie to her robe. “About that…”
“Yes,” he prodded.
“I think I’d like to find out what husbands and wives do together.”
He smiled. “You sure? I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. This activity is supposed to be pleasurable for both of us.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “I want to learn Liam. I know we haven’t talked about it, but if I’m able, I want to have children. I don’t know if I can, I’m thirty-two years old after all. Most women have stopped bearing children by now, haven’t they?”
He pulled her into his arms. “Only if their husbands are dead. I’ve known women, who’ve had children later. Hannah’s mother was thirty-five when Hannah was born. Others have gone on to have children into their forties, though, I’m not sure we want to do that. I’m forty now myself.”
“Oh, I hope you’re right.”
“Come to bed.”
She stepped back out of his hug and grabbed his hand leading him to the bedroom. “Yes. I think it’s time for my first lesson.”
CHAPTER 14
Eleanor led Liam to the bedroom as quickly as she could. She was a woman on a mission. She wanted children more than anything she’d ever wanted in her life and she would not be frightened by the process to get there. Liam assured her it was pleasant, despite what the girls at The Gem said.
As soon as she got into the room, she dropped his hand and untied her robe. She let it fall to the floor as she walked toward the far side of the bed. Then she dropped her chemise and when she was next to the bed she stepped out of her bloomers.
She stood totally naked in front of him. Despite an overwhelming urge to use her arms to cover herself, she kept her arms relaxed at her sides. Her breathing was hard and fast and she knew if she didn’t slow down she’d pass out. She took a couple of slow, deep breaths and then looked up at Liam.
He’d followed her and stopped halfway across the room, next to her robe. He stood there and watched her disrobe, his mouth hanging open.
She smiled. “Are you going to stand there all night?”
“You’re lovely. Absolutely perfect.”
She knew she blushed but could do nothing to tame the fire or the heat. “Thank you. What do we do now?”
He dropped his pants to the floor.
She sucked in a breath. It hadn’t been that long since she’d first seen him, but she couldn’t help it, he was breathtaking. His arms and legs rippled with long, lean muscles. Strength fairly oozed from him. Now she knew how he had carried her with such ease.
He stepped up to the bed and knelt upon it. “Come here.” He patted the bed next to him.
She knelt on the bed, then crawled over to him and lay down beside him.
He stretched out next to her, leaned up on one arm and then started lightly rubbing her arm. “You have such soft skin. I fear I’ll scratch it with my old, rough hands.”
She shook her head. “Your hands feel nice.”
“Mmm, I could do this all day,” he began stroking her stomach and then weighed one of her breasts in his hand. “Very nice.”
“Oh, Liam, I…”
“Feels good, does it?”
She nodded, robbed of speech. Her body tingled and she wanted him to continue what he was doing.
He flicked her nipple with one of his fingers and she nearly came off the bed. “Liam!”
He chuckled, and then smoothed his palm over the turgid peak, soothing her before he moved to the other breast. This one he took the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, gently rolling it.
Eleanor turned toward him, leaning on her side. “This feels so good to me, but I have to ask…”
“Yes?”
“Can I touch you, too? I’ve been wanting to run my fingers over your chest since I cared for your wound earlier,” she admitted.
“Oh, I want you to touch me, but first I’m going to show you how much pleasure can be had.”
He leaned over and kissed her, his tongue delving into her warm depths, dueling with her tongue. He broke away and kissed down the side of her neck, then very lightly, soft as a whisper, he rubbed his beard over the skin he’d just kissed.
Eleanor moaned. She’d never experienced such sensations. Her body was on fire and her center seemed ready to ignite.
“Lie flat on your back again, please.” His request was accompanied by more stroking of her skin, much to her delight.
She did and he grazed her stomach and up and down her legs with his fingers. Going around and over her mons, but never stopping. Circling it, making her concentrate on the part of her that was so needy.
Suddenly he was there, delving between her nether lips, circling and pressing. He parted her and put a finger into her and she, though shocked, only wanted more. As if he could read her mind he inserted another finger before he started kissing her again.
“Part your legs for me.” His voice was low and gravelly, not the deep, rich, baritone she’d grown used to.
She did as he asked and he moved between them, his wide shoulders pushing her thighs far apart before he moved up her body. She was totally open to him and then he was kissing her neck, moving to her breast. He took her left nipple into his mouth and sucked. Her back arched and she felt the pull between her legs.
“Liam, please.”
The irritating man chuckled before he moved to the other side and suckled on that nipple wh
ile rolling the first one between his fingers. Then he worked his way down her stomach, with light, feathery kisses.
All the while the tension inside her built and built, working its way to a crescendo she could only imagine.
Then he was there and kissing her mons, parting her and running his tongue up and down her slit while working his two fingers inside her in a scissor motion, stretching her she knew for his entry. What she hadn’t expected was his mouth on her, driving her crazy at the top of her slit. There was a nub, where he worried with his tongue.
She grabbed his head and pushed it closer to her, bucking as she screamed his name and he sent her shooting through the sky.
He leaned up, grinned at her panting form and then worked his way up her body to her lips. He kissed her hard.
“I’ve prepared you as much as I can. I won’t lie to you, there will be some pain, but it will pass, I promise, and then there will never be pain again.”
She nodded and felt him at her entrance.
He reached down, grabbed his shaft and rubbed it up and down her wet opening. Then he stopped and entered her, slowly, gently, back and forth, in and out until he could go no farther.
“I’m sorry, Eleanor,” he said just before he reared back and slammed forward, burying himself as far as he could, thrusting through her barrier, making her a true woman. There was no going back now.
She felt him inside her. There had been pain when he breeched her maidenhead, which she’d been prepared for, but this fullness, feeling this amazing part of him inside her, she hadn’t prepared for. Oh, she knew it would happen but for some reason she’d never thought she’d feel anything. Certainly not this deliciousness.
She shifted a bit.
“Don’t…,” he croaked. “Don’t move. Not yet. I’ll hurt you.”
“You’re not hurting me and I’m ready for you to move. I want to. The feeling…”
His breathing eased a bit and he chuckled. “I know exactly what you feel…and what you need.”
He moved within her, sliding in and out, bringing back all those wonderful feelings. They built and built. She found her rhythm and moved with him, up and down until she was there. The pinnacle was before her.
“Liam!” she shouted as her second release washed over her.
He slammed into her, harder and yet harder still. Then he shouted his own release, pumped a few more times into her and buried his face in her neck, taking great gulps of air.
She couldn’t move. Didn’t want to. She’d never felt so languid or satiated in her life. And she loved the feel of Liam’s weight upon her while he recovered his strength.
“I could get used to that,” she quipped. “If I was sure I’d survive.”
Liam laughed and rolled off of her. “I knew you’d be magnificent. You’re so passionate and you have a sense of humor. That’s a wonderful thing.”
He pulled her to him and held her against his chest, then covered them both with the sheet and blankets.
“Liam.”
She heard his even breathing and thought he’d fallen asleep.
“Yes, my sweet.”
“Will we do that often?”
She felt rather than heard his laughter.
“Oh, yes. We will do that as often as I’m able and you’re willing.”
Cuddling into his side, she said, “Good.”
~*~
The next morning, Eleanor was up before Liam and put on coffee and started breakfast.
As the bacon cooked, she sat at the table and wondered at the lot God had given her. She had a family; a husband who cared for her; children she adored and if she was very lucky, there would be more children to love. So why did she feel ungrateful? Why did she want a husband who loved her as much as she loved him? She was an ungrateful wretch that was why. She should be happy. Thrilled that her dreams were coming true. And she was happy, but she wanted more.
She got up and went to the stove to turn the bacon.
“Hi there, beautiful.”
Liam came up behind her and pulled her back against him.
It appeared he was ready to make love again. She wasn’t sure she was, only because she was in some pain. She was tender. Her body was not used to what they’d done last night and would need some time to recover.
“How are you feeling this morning,” he asked.
“Sore,” she said honestly. She didn’t want to give him any ideas about doing that again for a while.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed the side of her neck. “Of course, you are. How would you like a bath? Then we can go for a walk.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good. You start the water and I’ll bring in the tub.
After they finished breakfast, she had a good soak in the hot water while Liam went to check in at the mine. The hot water eased her aches and tenderness and made her feel much better.
She dressed with care in her dark blue skirt and a white blouse with lace at the neckline. Having brushed her hair ’til it shone, she was just putting it up into her regular bun when Liam returned.
“How are things at the mine?” she asked, wrapping her hair in a long twist.
Liam came up behind her and stilled her hands. “They’re fine. Running smoothly. Leave your hair down. At least when it’s just the two of us, leave it down. I like it loose.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “All right.” She let go of the twist and ran her fingers through the length, freeing the waves. “I’m ready.”
“Good. Put on your coat, it could be a little chilly.”
For all the time that Eleanor had been in Deadwood, she’d never once gone outside the camp to explore the countryside. Now that she was going to be living on the river, near the mine, Liam wanted to show her the area.
They left the house, went out into the bright sunshine, then walked along the river. Liam held her hand so she wouldn’t fall into the fast moving water. She couldn’t see them, but the scent of lilacs was on the breeze that wafted through her hair.
“Here is where the brothers and I were first prospecting. We found enough nuggets and flake to see to our needs but not much more than that. Then we decided to explore the ridge. That’s where the real gold was—the quartz rock that we’re crushing in the mining operations. We run twenty-four hours a day and have twenty men working for us.”
“That’s amazing. I’m so glad it has worked out for you.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You do know the find benefits you, too.”
She stopped and shook her head. “Of course, I do, but that’s not the reason I married you and you know it.”
He laughed and pulled her to him. “Yes, I know. You didn’t even know me three months ago.” Leaning down he gave her a kiss.
“This is also the place where Hannah fell into the river. I’ve never been so glad that Becky was part of my family as I was then.”
“Oh, my God. Was the water running as swiftly then?”
“Faster.”
“Thank the Lord for Becky.”
“The Lord had nothing to do with it. Thank Jake for Becky.”
She let it go. Now was not the time to argue faith with him.
“Now come with me. Through the forest and just over the hill,” he pointed to the property on the other side of the house, “is a little meadow. If we’re very lucky we’ll be able to see some deer. There are a couple of new spring fawns.”
They walked up the little rise of land, rocks jutting out all over. She had to be careful not to trip as she wasn’t known to be the surest footed creature. About twenty yards from the house, the forest began. It was a forest where Ponderosa Pine, Blue Spruce, juniper and even some cedar trees abounded. The scent of the trees was amazing. So clean. She decided she would try to have some pine boughs over the fireplace to scent the house. When they got dry, she could throw them in the fire and get new ones. Or she’d find that lilac bush and bring some of those sweet smelling branches in the house.
They walked for about fifteen mi
nutes into the forest. She was glad she’d worn her coat. The temperature in the forest was much cooler because the trees kept out the sunshine.
Liam stopped in front of her.
“Shh,” he whispered, his finger to his lips. With his other hand he pointed between the trees to a clearing down the slope from them. It was wild with colorful flowers and tall grass. She recognized some of the flowers from her time in Colorado. There were Indian paintbrushes and some columbines, honeysuckle and blue bells. Too bad she couldn’t smell them, but the pine overwhelmed all other scents.
Eleanor slowly eased forward until she had a clear view of the little field. She saw several deer. Three of them didn’t have antlers. The female deer was called a doe. The buck had a magnificent rack of antlers. She’d heard her father talk with his parishioners about hunting them and knew what they were named. She couldn’t imagine anyone hunting these beautiful, graceful creatures, yet she was well served by the meat they provided.
She saw movement by a doe. A very small spotted fawn rose from the grass. He found his mother and began to nurse. Each doe probably had a fawn or sometimes two, but she saw only the one.
Suddenly, the buck raised its head and sniffed the wind. What kind of signal he gave to his females she didn’t see, but quick as that, they were running for the trees, away from Liam and Eleanor. The buck followed last, herding his family out of danger.
“What happened? Why did they leave?” asked Eleanor. “We were being so quiet.”
“He could have smelled us on the wind. We are upwind from them. I’m surprised we got as close as we did for as long as we did,” said Liam. “Shall we go back now?”
“Yes,” she stopped and looked up at him. “Thank you for bringing me here today.”
Standing on her tip toes she leaned up and gave him a kiss square on the lips. It was the first that she’d initiated.
He took advantage of her boldness and returned her kiss, holding her face gently between his palms.
“You’re welcome.”
CHAPTER 15
“You failed,” said Richard Jordan, his voice soft, cold, deadly yet he didn’t think the man in front of him realized just what kind of trouble he was in.
Liam Page 13
