They stood there for a long time, catching their breath as he waited for his strength to return. She savored the feel of him, hot and throbbing, lodged in her depths. She could feel the warm trickle of his seed running down her inner thighs, and cool breeze reminded her of her nudity. She had responded to him with absolutely no shame, but she couldn’t find a single ounce of remorse.
But when Leslie finally regained the ability to think, she realized what he had gotten her to say in the heat of passion. She raised one brow and frowned at him.
“That wasn’t fair, Gabe. Is this how you intend to solve all of our future disagreements? By manipulating me?”
“You mean by fucking you into submission?” His smile was full of masculine smugness and completely unrepentant. “It’s a hell of a lot more pleasurable than fighting, don’t you think, kitten?”
She blushed hotly and squirmed to get down. “You fight dirty, Gabe.”
He laughed and lifted her easily off his beleaguered cock. “I’ll do whatever it takes, kitten. Now that I’ve finally found a way to win an argument with you, I’m a lot more optimistic about our future.”
Leslie grunted and scooped up her clothes. She sent him one more baleful glare and then retreated into the cabin, confident that he was still watching her ‘sassy little ass’ as she walked away.
Later that afternoon, she started making the cornbread. This time, she was more careful when mixing the ingredients for the batter so that it wouldn’t overflow the pan. She stirred the beans, and they seemed to be almost ready. She returned to the river to gather the laundry.
Leslie was dismayed to find that the sheets had several large rips in them. The breeze had picked up in the afternoon, and it had caused the sheets to snag on the branches of the bush. They weren’t all ripped. Only the two that were facing the wind. The ones on the other side had been blown by the breeze until they trailed halfway on the ground. They were smeared with dirt stains. She groaned with frustration. Why did things have to keep going wrong?
Returning to the cabin, she shook out the sheets, brushing off the dirty streaks. She had no choice but to use the stained ones. She would have to repair the rips in the other set, or else they would just rip more from being slept on.
Sewing was definitely high on Leslie’s list of things she hated to do. Her mother had insisted that she learn how to use a needle, but Leslie had refused to learn more than the most basic stitches. She had never had the patience to sit and sew when she could be out having fun with Gabe and her cousins and brothers. She wished now that she had spent more time learning the skill, because she knew that her efforts to repair the sheets would be sloppy, at best.
By the time Gabe finished his chores, supper was ready. He smiled at her as they sat down to eat.
“Smells good, kitten.”
“Thank you. I hope you like it,” she replied shyly.
Leslie felt a surge of pride as she ladled beans onto his plate and added two of the perfectly golden cornbread sticks. She placed the plate in front of him and served smaller portions for herself.
Gabe took a large bite of beans and frowned. Then, he sputtered. Then, he hastily swallowed and coughed, reaching for his cup of milk.
Leslie gave a puzzled frown and took a bite of her own. She had much the same reaction.
“Just how much salt did you put in these beans, kitten?”
“Not very much,” she exclaimed defensively. “I only put a few spoonsful in the whole pot. I don’t understand.”
Gabe looked at her like she had two heads. “A few spoonsful? And then, you added salt pork? No wonder these beans taste saltier than the ocean.”
Leslie glared at him. “Well, you don’t have to be so mean about it. Crumble up some cornbread and mix it in. That will make it better.”
She watched as he picked up a corn stick and attempted to crumble it. He frowned and tried again. Then, he tapped it on the edge of the table. It was as hard as a rock.
“Is this a corn stick or a pickax?” he quipped.
Leslie’s cheeks burned with shame. She had tried so hard to make everything perfect. She suddenly felt like the biggest failure in the world.
She couldn’t face him. She jumped up from the table and ran to the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and took a few shaky breaths, trying to hold back the tears that threatened. When she glanced at the smudges of dirt on the freshly laundered sheets, she couldn’t help it. She threw herself across the bed and bawled like a baby.
The mattress dipped, and Gabe took her into his arms. “Hey, kitten. There’s no need to cry. I was just teasing.”
His gentleness made her feel even worse than she already did. She cried harder, releasing huge wracking sobs that shook her entire frame.
Gabe was at a loss. He had never seen Leslie cry. She had been as tough as any of the boys. She hadn’t cried the time she fell out of a tree and broke her leg when she was eleven. He had carried her all the way home, and she’d never made a peep. She hadn’t cried when her pa had refused to let her go with the boys on a three-day camping trip. She hadn’t even cried when her favorite dog died. Gabe had no idea why she would cry like this over one ruined meal, of all things.
“You don’t have to cry like it’s the end of the world. It’s just a pot of beans, for heaven’s sake.”
Her only response was to cry harder and louder. Gabe frowned with confusion.
“Come on now, kitten. Stop crying. I’m surprised at you. You’re acting like a baby.”
Leslie wailed so harshly that she could barely breathe, great gulping sobs that went on forever. Gabe paled, starting to really worry. He didn’t know what to say or do, and he felt helpless to comfort her. He tucked her head beneath his chin and stroked her hair.
“Aw, kitten, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I can’t stand to see you like this. Please stop crying, baby.”
Leslie could barely talk, managing only a few words in between her hiccupping sobs. “I wanted t-to make everything nice for you, so you would b-be happy t-to have me as your wife,” she wailed.
His heart twisted, and he felt a pang of guilt. “I am happy to have you as my wife, kitten.”
“No, you’re not,” she insisted, releasing another harsh sob. “Why should you be, when I can’t d-do anything right? Everything I touch gets ruined.”
Gabe brushed the hair back from her wet cheeks and kissed her forehead softly. “That’s not true, kitten.”
“It is true,” she cried, shaking her head. “I can’t cook.” She released a bitter sob. “I can’t do the laundry right.” Another racking sob. “I can’t even d-dress t-to make you proud.”
She was growing more and more hysterical. Gabe was desperate to soothe her. Her distress was breaking his heart.
“Shh, baby. Please stop crying. You’re killing me. Everything will be okay. I promise. Just please stop crying.”
He kissed her, nibbling softly on her lips. At first, she kept crying. But the more insistent he became, the more she calmed.
He spread kisses over her whole face, licking her salty tears away. By the time he returned to her mouth, she was starting to kiss him back. She surprised him when she looked up at him with huge, pleading eyes still brimming with tears.
“Please make love to me, Gabe. I need you to hold me.” Her quivering bottom lip was his undoing.
Gabe undressed her slowly, worshipping her body as he methodically unveiled each and every exquisite curve and hollow. He caressed her reverently, showering her with devotion. For once, he handled her only with gentleness. When she was trembling with need, he hastily stripped off his own garments and knelt between her thighs.
Their eyes met and held as he slid gently into her welcoming depths. Leslie clung to him like a lifeline as he slowly began to move inside her. She needed him so desperately, body and soul. His tenderness was like a soothing balm, and she gratefully accepted his ministrations.
His thrusts were unhurried and smooth. He took his time, slowly s
toking the fires within her as he brought her gradually up the mountain of pleasure, taking the most poignant path to the peak. Each stroke of his body into hers calmed her, centered her, helped her focus only on the joining of their bodies. As he languidly probed her depths, he used his hands and mouth to soothe the rest of her body. He lavished her with pleasure, kissing, caressing, nibbling, and suckling until Leslie couldn’t think about anything except their slow, steady dance.
He took her higher and higher, until her heart felt full to bursting. He compelled her to stay with him, until their breath and their heartbeats and their very souls had synchronized. When she didn’t think she could stand it a moment longer, he met her eye and smiled tenderly.
“Come for me, my sweet kitten.”
He thrust into her depths, cupping her cheek in his palm as he stared into her eyes. She toppled over the edge, whispering his name as her inner muscles clamped down on his shaft. He let her pulsing contractions carry him with her. He shuddered, closing his eyes and sighing as he surrendered to the relentless tide and found his own sweet release. She clutched him to her with arms and legs to hold him inside for as long as possible. By the time their muscles relaxed, they were both wrung out.
They drifted in a sea of bliss for the longest time. Gabe’s head was a welcome weight on her bosom, and Leslie languidly stroked her fingers through his sweaty hair. She felt drained emotionally and physically, but she had found some measure of peace in his arms.
He finally heaved a sigh and rose onto his elbows to look at her. He searched her face, seemingly satisfied that the storm had passed, and she was no longer sad. He gave her a tender smile, and she responded in kind.
Something had changed between them. This had not been about passion and pleasure, dominance and submission. Gabe had gifted her with such tenderness that it took her breath away. The ground had shifted beneath their feet, and she could sense that things would never be quite the same. At least not for her. She could only wonder whether Gabe felt the same.
He rolled onto his back and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled against his side, sighing when he kissed the top of her head.
“Go to sleep, kitten. Things will all look better in the morning.”
Leslie murmured something unintelligible and fell deeply asleep almost immediately. Gabe smiled, listening to her soft snores. Her warm breath feathered his chest with each exhale.
He couldn’t sleep. His mind was far too busy trying to make sense of what had just happened. Sex between them had always been incredible. Every single time he had sex with Leslie, he experienced pleasure beyond any he’d had before. But this time, while there had been unbelievable pleasure, it had been different. What they had shared had been more than just sex. It had been a hell of a lot more. For the first time, it had been lovemaking rather than just sex, and it had shaken him to his core.
Leslie had always been special to him. Since the day he met her, she had roused his protective instincts. When her brothers and cousins would have preferred to exclude her from their gang, she had always appealed to him. Gabe had never been able to resist those huge, pleading hazel eyes. It was because of him that she had been permitted to tag along with all the boys.
Gabe suddenly realized that he had always taken her for granted. She had looked up to him, tried to imitate him, wanted his approval. She had followed him around with a serious case of hero worship, and he had enjoyed her company because having her around made him feel good about himself.
But now, he was beginning to realize how much had changed between them. She had grown up—and not just physically. He had noticed the physical changes years ago, which was why he had been avoiding her much of the time. His physical attraction to her hadn’t fit in with his idea of how things were supposed to be between them. Now that they were married, that was no longer an issue. He could enjoy her body anytime he wanted without guilt or shame.
But it was only now that he was beginning to understand how much she had matured emotionally, too. She was no longer a child, his playmate, a tough little tomboy. She had grown into a woman with delicate feelings. The really surprising thing was how much his own happiness was tied up with hers. Seeing her cry had nearly killed him. He had literally felt his heart clench as she sobbed in his arms.
And when she had gazed up at him during their lovemaking, he had known with complete certainty that Leslie had fallen in love with him. Even though he had warned her not to expect the same from him, he knew that she would. Her adoration had been right there in her huge hazel eyes, and those beautiful eyes had begged him to love her in return.
When he had insisted that they marry, he had known he was assuming a huge responsibility. But he had only been thinking of his own needs. Gabe had selfishly assumed that Leslie’s needs were similar to his. He needed companionship, and so did she. He needed to do the right thing, and since her rash behavior had forced his hand, she had to live with the consequences. He needed control, and she was happiest when she submitted to him. He needed sexual gratification, and she was an eager participant. He hadn’t anticipated that she would fall in love with him and need him to love her in return. In fact, her happiness hinged on him returning her love in full measure.
Her emotional dependence on him scared the hell out of Gabe. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Leslie or make her unhappy, but he didn’t know whether he was capable of loving her the way she needed him to. He cared about her, certainly. He felt protective of her, absolutely. He enjoyed her company, without question. His appetite for her had only grown over the past few days. But did all of those things add up to love? Would he ever be able to look her in the eye and declare that he loved her as a man should love his wife? Or would he eventually satisfy his craving for her body and wish that he had married someone else?
Leslie released a shuddering sigh in her sleep. He rubbed her back soothingly and kissed her head. She snuggled closer and slept on.
He lay awake until the wee hours of the night trying to figure out the answers to his questions. If it was supposed to be as clear cut as Brian McKenzie had said, then Gabe was in real trouble. He was anything but certain about what he felt for Leslie. When he finally fell asleep, he was no closer to a solution.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Leslie woke up with a feeling that something was wrong, but she didn’t know what. Then, she realized that she was missing the warm male body that had been wrapped around hers during the night. She could hear Gabe making breakfast, and she groaned. She was supposed to be the one cooking breakfast for him, not the other way around.
She dressed, washed her face quickly, wound her hair into a bun and joined him in the kitchen.
When he saw her, he smiled. “Good morning, kitten.”
She gave him a tentative smile in return. “Good morning. Can I help?”
“Sure, you can set the table and pour yourself a cup of milk.”
“I could finish cooking if you have other chores you need to do.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “I’m almost done. I was about to come and wake you up.”
Leslie blushed as she hurried to set out the cutlery and plates. “You should have woken me when you first got up. I don’t usually sleep so late.”
Gabe spooned the scrambled eggs onto the two plates, set the skillet aside, and snagged her hand as she passed by on her way to fetch the cups. He pulled her in for a gentle, leisurely kiss. Leslie’s heart fluttered as she relaxed into his embrace. When he raised his head, he grinned at her and tapped the end of her nose.
“I figured you needed a little extra sleep, kitten. You wore yourself out crying, last night. Are you feeling better this morning?”
Leslie blushed at the reminder, and she nodded as she looked down at his chest. “I’m sorry for crying like a sissy,” she muttered.
Gabe hooked a finger beneath her chin and met her eye. He smiled gently. “I’ve never once thought you were a sissy, kitten. You are the toughest, bravest, most determined girl I know.”
Leslie frowned slightly. “I’m not a girl, Gabe. I’m a woman. And I should be cooking your breakfast. Isn’t that what wives are supposed to do?”
Gabe studied her, trying to think of what to say that wouldn’t hurt her feelings. “You’ve got the rest of our lives to cook breakfast for me. Just for today, I thought you needed to rest. I didn’t intend it as an insult, okay?”
She merely nodded, looking down at his chest again.
Gabe sighed and turned her toward the table. He wondered whether he would ever understand her moods. “Come on. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
They sat down and started eating. The silence was a bit strained, and Gabe noticed that Leslie wasn’t eating very much. He refrained from commenting. When the meal was finished, Leslie cleared her throat and met his eye again.
“I know that you said you wanted to go into town today to pick up supplies, but—”
“And some pretty dresses for you,” he interjected, giving her a pointed look from beneath his brows.
“And some dresses for me,” she conceded reluctantly. “But I was wondering whether you would mind if we waited for a day or two.”
“Why not today?”
Leslie shrugged and looked away. “I wanted to visit my folks today, if you don’t mind me going.”
He shrugged and sipped his coffee. “Kitten, I never mind if you want to see your family. You can visit them every day, if you want to.”
“I don’t want to visit them every day. I want to help you with all the chores around here. But I would like to see them today. I could ride over and be back by early afternoon.”
Gabe would have offered to take her, but she seemed to prefer to go alone. He figured she must be pretty homesick, especially after all the things that had happened in their first few days of marriage. He nodded and gulped down the last of his coffee before standing.
“That’s fine, kitten. Say hello to your folks for me, okay?”
Leslie nodded. “I won’t be gone long. I’ll leave as soon as I’ve done the dishes.”
His Sweet Kitten (Return To The McKenzies Book 1) Page 12
