In His Touch: Blemished Brides Book 2

by Peggy L Henderson

  Jonah giggled. “You have to call her mama, now.”

  Cade glanced at his son, who sat between him and Laura, then over at his wife. She turned her head at the same time as he did, and their eyes connected.

  “No, you have to call her mama,” he said slowly. “I get to call her sweetheart, or darling, or my little slice of huckleberry pie.”

  “You wouldn’t dare call me something as silly as huckleberry pie.” Laura’s eyes narrowed on him. “You may call me Laura, like before.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled, and his insides warmed.

  The heaviness in his chest that had plagued him for weeks had lifted the moment Laura told him she’d marry him. He would have preferred for her to find out the truth from him directly, but now that it was all out in the open, he could breathe easier and let go of his guilt and fear. He hadn’t lost her. She loved him, and she was now his wife.

  Nothing was going to ruin his happiness from now on. He wasn’t under the false notion that Jack would leave them alone once he found out about the marriage. No doubt he’d try something else to get his hands on the property. Gold made even normal men do crazy things, and Jack had been known to kill for far less.

  Cade cast a glance at Laura and his son again. This time he’d be ready. No one was going to hurt his family, or take them away from him again. One of these days, Jack would trip up, and even his money wouldn’t be able to save him then. It was only a matter of time, like Laura had said earlier. He clucked to the horse, pushing unpleasant thoughts of his father aside. Today, he didn’t want to think about anything but his future with Laura.

  The roof to the house and barn that were now his permanent home loomed on the horizon. The sounds of crickets chirping in the late-afternoon sun mixed with the jingling of harness buckles. Off in the distance, a horse whinnied loudly. Cloud was welcoming them home. Even out on pasture with his small band of mares, the stud was ever alert of anyone approaching what he’d claimed as his territory.

  A few minutes later, Cade pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the house. His eyes drifted over his handiwork with the barn. The roof was mostly intact now, and he’d replaced the sides that had the most fire damage. Eventually, a new barn would be in order.

  He hopped from the rig, Jonah right on his heels. Turning, he raised his arms to help Laura down. The feel of her hands on his shoulders sent a current through him, as if this was the first time she’d ever been in such close contact with him. He lifted her from the buggy, and drew her up against him.

  “Welcome home,” he mumbled against her cheek, then kissed her like he’d been itching to do for the last couple of hours since leaving town.

  “Welcome home to you, too,” she said with a tentative smile. “I hope it will be to your liking.”

  Cade grinned, and chuckled. “There isn’t a finer place in this entire valley,” he said and kissed her again.

  He led her up the porch, then bent forward, and scooped her into his arms. Laura squealed, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “What are you doing?” she giggled.

  Cade elbowed the front door open. “Carrying my bride across the threshold,” he whispered against her neck.

  Her slight shiver sent his pulses racing. He kissed her, then quickly set her down, before he did something crazy like carry her all the way to the bedroom. His hands lingered at her waist. Unfortunately, with Jonah underfoot, that would have to wait until later.

  “I’d best get the horses looked after,” he murmured.

  Her eyes held his, the soft look of love, and trust, displayed there nearly taking his breath away. He’d never tire of looking at her, and holding her. He dipped his head toward her.

  “Can we go fishing tomorrow, Papa?”

  Jonah burst into the house. Cade groaned, and straightened. Laura’s lips twitched, and she took a step back. Cade stretched his arms, his hands still holding her. Reluctantly, he broke contact with her.

  Laura swiped some loose hair behind her good ear, and cleared her throat. “I think I’ll go see what I can whip up for supper, while the two of you unhitch the buggy and feed the animals.”

  Her eyes rested on Cade while she spoke. He forced his attention to his son. The unmistakable longing that shone in Laura’s eyes was nearly his undoing. He ushered the boy outside. Another minute in the house, and he wouldn’t have cared if Jonah was right there, watching him pull Laura into his arms and kissing her senseless.

  Cade put Jonah to work feeding the horses in the corral while he unharnessed the gelding from the buggy. When they were done taking care of the animals and Jonah had gathered eggs, Cade slung his saddlebags over his shoulder, and headed back to the house. He raised his hand to knock, but stopped before his knuckles connected with the door.

  It’s your home now. No need to knock.

  Tentatively, he opened the door. The strong aroma of fried meat made his stomach growl, a reminder that he hadn’t eaten since sometime late last night. Jonah darted past him and headed for the back rooms. Cade walked toward the kitchen, following the sound of meat sizzling in a pan. Laura turned as soon as he stepped into the small space. Her smile was instant, leaving him weak-kneed like a newborn calf.

  “Supper’s almost ready. I didn’t have much to fix on such short notice. I was expecting to eat in town, but I promise I’ll make something better tomorrow.”

  Cade tossed his saddlebags to the ground. He swept her into his arms the next second, pushing her up against the counter behind them. She stumbled slightly, and he tightened his hold, pulling her up flush against him. His mouth was on hers the next instant. She answered his kiss with a soft moan, and wrapped her arms around his back.

  Cade’s head dipped to her neck, pushing back her hair to give him better access. Laura tilted her head to the side. He fumbled with the top button of her dress to free his way to the skin along her neck.

  “You could feed me old shoe leather right now, and I wouldn’t care,” he panted against her cheek.

  “Cade,” Laura whispered his name. She sucked in a deep breath. Her hands gripped his back, igniting his body into a hot inferno.

  “I love you,” he rasped, taking in some much-needed air. The fragrance of her hair drove him near his breaking point. If he weren’t so daft, he would have asked Trace Hawley or his sister to take Jonah to their place for the night.

  “Is that what ma’s and pa’s do?”

  His son’s innocent voice behind him jolted him back to reality. Laura stiffened, and dropped her arms from around his back. Cade stepped away, but didn’t turn around to face the boy. He fought to take in a normal breath. Laura fumbled with the button on her dress, and swept her hair from her cheek. She plastered a quick smile on her face, and pushed away from the back of the counter.

  “Yes, Jonah,” she said softly.

  Cade raked a shaky hand through his hair. He wasn’t composed enough yet to turn around. He swallowed, his heart beating in his chest. Somehow he’d make it through the next few hours until he could have his wife all to himself.

  “When two people love each other, and are married, they share hugs and kisses,” Laura continued. “I hope it didn’t frighten you.”

  “No,” the boy said as if it didn’t matter. “Can we eat supper?”

  Laura chuckled. “Yes, we sure can.”

  Cade handed her some plates when she came back to the counter. His thumb grazed her hand, and she offered a quick smile before dropping her gaze. He grabbed his saddlebags up off the ground and hurried from the kitchen. Slowly, he twisted the knob to Laura’s bedroom, and stepped inside. The familiar, subtle fragrance he’d come to know on her clothes and in her hair infused this room. His eye fell to the bed, and his body instantly reacted again.

  “Hell,” he grumbled.

  Kissing Laura the way he’d done today was different from all the other times he’d held her in his arms and kissed her. She’d sparked his desires then, too, but now, each time he was near her it was as if she tossed a
match onto a parched haystack. He ignited instantly. Without trying, Laura was the most enticing, alluring woman he’d ever known. He smiled. And he was the luckiest man in the entire territory.

  Cade dropped his saddlebags in a corner of the room, ran a quick hand through his hair, and left to join his wife and son for supper.

  * * *

  “Just a few more minutes, please. Papa hasn’t heard about how Tom got lost in the cave,” Jonah pleaded.

  Laura sighed, and smiled at the boy on her lap. She ran her fingers through his thick hair. She glanced up from the book Jonah held for her. Cade sat by the hearth, his legs stretched out in front of him, his feet crossed at the ankles. The unspoken message in his dark eyes couldn’t be clearer. He was ready to call it a night, at least for Jonah.

  Goosebumps crept up her arms, accompanied by a shiver of delight, remembering the way Cade had kissed her in the kitchen before supper. Several hours had passed since then. Jonah had done most of the talking during the meal, oblivious to the silent stares his father cast toward her, or that Cade had reached under the table once to run his hand along the top of her thigh. She’d nearly choked on her potatoes at the time. Cade had winked at her, but thankfully removed his hand.

  After the supper dishes had been cleaned and put away, Cade had lit the fire in the hearth, and Jonah had asked her to read from Tom Sawyer. An hour later, her voice was hoarse, and the boy showed no signs that he was tired and ready for bed. Nervous apprehension caused her to stumble over the words she was reading several times. This was her wedding night, and judging by Cade’s actions already, he wouldn’t simply go to bed to sleep.

  Jonah turned the page, and Laura continued the story. She didn’t recall a single word she’d just read on the previous page. She glanced up briefly when Cade shifted. He stood, and turned to the fire, using the metal poker to bank the coals.

  “Time for bed, Jonah,” he said when he straightened. His eyes were on her.

  “We’ll continue the story tomorrow. If we don’t get some shut-eye, we won’t be able to do our chores in the morning.”

  Cade reached for the boy in her lap, and lifted him into his arms. Jonah mumbled his disappointment, but didn’t argue further.

  “Good night, Mama,” he said as Cade carried him off to his room. Laura smiled and blew him a kiss. She closed the book and set it on the table next to her chair, then stood.

  Cade stepped out of Jonah’s room just as she opened the door to hers. The heat from his body was instant in the narrow hall. Their eyes met. Cade leaned toward her, and her heart sped up in response. She held her breath. Just as he was about to touch her, he straightened, and cleared his throat.

  “I’m gonna go check on the horses, if you . . . ah . . . need some time to yourself.”

  He nodded, and moved past her. Seconds later, the front door creaked open and closed. Laura expelled the air from her lungs, and held her hand over her pounding heart. Had it been like this with Noah? She’d never felt this alive, as if her body was on fire, from a simple touch or glance.

  She quickly entered her room and lit the lantern by the bedside table. Her gaze fell to her bed. She’d no longer be sleeping alone. Her hands trembled when she turned back the covers. Unbuttoning her dress became a chore with her shaky fingers. Goosebumps covered her, even though it wasn’t cold.

  Laura ventured a quick look in the mirror that hung over the dresser. She reached for her brush, and ran it through her thick mass of hair several times. Parting it into three strands, she braided a quick rope, tying off the end with a thin strip of ribbon.

  Tying her hair back exposed her scars along the side of her face. She turned sideways, her eyes traveling down her neck, shoulder, and arms. The chemise she still wore hid the rest of her scars that disfigured her as much, or worse, than those she couldn’t hide underneath her clothes. The doctors who had treated her in Anaconda had called it a miracle that she’d survived such extensive burns.

  Sudden dread infused her. Cade didn’t know about the other scars. He’d seen the side of her face and neck, and that her earlobe was mostly missing, but he didn’t know the extent of the scarring to her right breast and torso. What if he found her repulsive now? She hadn’t truly looked at those scars since the bandages came off and she didn’t have to treat the wounds any longer. What if . . .

  The door creaked behind her, and Laura spun around. Her hands flew to her chest, clutching at the thin material of her chemise. A lump formed in her throat when Cade stepped fully into the room.

  Her eyes raked over him. He stood there, in his dark trousers, water droplets glistening on his bare chest. Laura’s mouth went dry, her mind wandering to the day he’d startled her awake, wearing only a towel. His chest had been bandaged then.

  Wordlessly, Cade closed the door behind him. His eyes drifted through the room, then he headed for the chair in the far corner. He picked it up, and set it in front of the door, propping the back under the door handle.

  “What are you doing?” Laura’s voice sounded foreign in her own ear.

  “Barring this door.” Cade turned, and grinned at her.

  “What for?”

  Cade strode toward her. His hands cupped her face, and he tilted her head slightly to look up at him.

  The grin vanished from his face. “To keep out uninvited guests.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers. Laura inhaled a quick breath before their lips touched. The warm, masculine scent of his skin intoxicated her senses. She reached her arms around his back, the tips of her fingers sliding over the hard planes of his muscles. Cade groaned and took her lips in an exhilarating kiss that left her melting into him.

  His calloused palms moved slowly from her cheeks to her neck, then lower to her shoulders. His tender touch sent ripples of desire through her, even as the apprehension grew that he would realize she had more scars than what she’d previously revealed.

  Laura’s heart pounded out of control. She couldn’t stop him, nor did she want to, when he tugged on the strings that would part her chemise. Swallowing her fear, she stood before him when the fabric fell from her shoulders and fluttered to the ground. Cade’s eyes roamed over her.

  “I should have told you about the other scars,” she whispered, her lips quivering. She pushed thoughts aside that he would reject her. He’d repeatedly told her he loved her, that her disfigurement didn’t matter, and she believed him. The way he looked at her now, and the way he touched her, was all the proof she needed that he was sincere.

  Wordlessly, Cade skimmed his hands up her arms, his actions slow and unhurried. Laura closed her eyes, giving herself over to the feel of his palms and fingers on her skin. Every part of her came to life from his touch. He stroked along her neck, following the outlines of her scars on her right side down her chest to her breast, and down toward her hip where the scars finally ended. While she had little feeling on that side, he copied his actions on the left, bringing her alive ten-fold from his tender exploration. She stepped out of her bloomers when he loosened the strings that held them up. A second later, his mouth was on hers again.

  Laura wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. The last shred of insecurity melted away in that kiss. Without breaking the contact, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to their bed. As if he were handling a rare piece of china, he placed her on the mattress and leaned over her. The light from the lamp cast his face in a warm glow as he smiled down at her, his eyes dark and smoldering with love and desire.

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, and dipped his head to kiss her again. He fumbled with his trousers, and, seconds later, he lay beside her, pulling her into his arms. “You’re the strongest, most amazing woman I’ve ever known.” His breath was hot against her neck.

  Laura copied the actions of his exploring hands. Where she was blemished and disfigured, he was beautiful and perfect. The hard contours of his muscles beneath her fingers shuddered, just as ripples of desire coursed through her from the tender touches of his ha
nds.

  When he slid inside her, her heart pounded and her insides flooded with love so intense, she had no words to voice her emotions. His kiss intensified with each stroke of his hips, and Laura clung to him as her tension built and finally exploded, matching his movements until they both came back to reality. She raked her hands across his sweat-slicked back when he finally collapsed on top of her.

  His lips dragged across her cheek to her neck, his breathing hot and labored in her ear. Cade’s weight on her pushed her into the mattress, and she held him even tighter, willing him not to let her go. In his touch she’d discovered a whole new meaning of feeling beautiful and loved.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cade woke with a start. The sound of someone pounding on the door grew persistently louder. Next to him, a warm body stirred. Cade raised his head, and he smiled. Heat flowed through him when memories of the previous night came rushing back.

  “Oh my goodness, we overslept,” Laura said, a shocked expression on her face. Bright sunlight shone in from the window, casting golden ribbons across the bed.

  “Quit banging on the door, Jonah,” Cade called.

  “Are you in there?” Jonah’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door. “Why can’t I open the door?”

  Cade chuckled. He leaned over and winked at Laura. “Glad the chair held,” he said, and kissed away the mortified expression on her face.

  He slipped out of bed, dragging one of the sheets with him and wrapping it around his middle.

  He glanced over his shoulder. Laura clutched the blanket to her chest. Her hair hung in a disheveled mess around her face and over her bare shoulders. He grinned again, and a renewed wave of desire swept through him.

  “Stay right where you are,” he called, and pulled the chair away from the door. He opened it part of the way.

  Jonah’s eyes widened when he stared up at Cade.

  “What are you doing in Miss . . . Mama’s room? I couldn’t find you out in the barn.”