“Let go, kitten. Take me with you this time.”
Leslie threw her head back and screamed her pleasure. Gabe buried his face at the base of her neck and shuddered. He sucked in huge draughts of air, breathing in the smells of musk and sweat and her own unique scent, like sunshine and honey.
Not wanting to break their connection, he fell back onto the bed, clasping her to his chest. He used his legs to slide them up until he could rest his head on the pillows. He turned to the side and spooned her body in the curve of his own. They fell asleep like that, with his cock still nestled in her welcoming sheath.
Chapter 12
A few days later, Gabe scowled thoughtfully as he surveyed the ground. He’d been out checking his crops when, on his way back home, he’d noticed that one of his horses was missing from the pasture where they grazed. There was a section of fence where all three rails had fallen down. He might have assumed that the horse had merely wandered off, except for the half dozen boot prints he found in the soft soil near the fence.
He placed his own boot alongside one of the prints, and the prints were of a similar size to his own. There was a notch in the middle edge of the boot heel impression, and he frowned. The impression must have been made from an older boot with some wear on the heel to leave that distinctive notch.
This was the latest in a string of incidents over the past two weeks, and Gabe was both furious and frustrated. He had begun to think that they weren’t simply due to bad luck. It seemed like someone was purposely sabotaging him, but he had no idea who or why.
He had dealt with damaged fences and trees, missing tools, trampled crops, and now, stolen livestock. If he didn’t figure out who was behind this soon, it would have serious financial consequences for him.
He didn’t have any enemies that he knew of. His thoughts turned to Lena. She had been pretty upset with him, but he couldn’t imagine her orchestrating some elaborate plan for revenge. Despite the warnings about a woman scorned, she would need to have a vindictive nature, and he didn’t think she had it in her. Plus, these footprints were made by a man’s boot. The only male relative Lena had was her father. Gabe couldn’t picture her rather rotund father sneaking around his farm bent on destruction. The man had always seemed rather jolly and mild mannered. Not to mention that Gabe thought the older man wore much smaller boots.
Gabe repaired the fence and hopped up to the wagon bench for the short ride back to his cabin. He had agreed to take Leslie for a visit with her family that evening, and he decided to talk with Brian McKenzie about the problem.
Gabe had grown used to Leslie’s warm welcome when he arrived home, and she didn’t disappoint him. When she heard him coming, she came out onto the porch wearing a glowing smile. His heart did a little backward flip in his chest.
She was beautiful. She wore a navy-blue dress with mother of pearl buttons and a rounded neckline trimmed in white lace. It showcased her bosom to perfection and emphasized her tiny waist and gently rounded hips. The dress was one of his favorites, and he grinned.
By the time he hopped down from the wagon, she was beside him. She threw herself into his arms, and he swung her in a circle. He chuckled at her gleeful giggle.
“Well, hello there, kitten. Did you miss me?”
“Oh, yes,” she breathed, stretching up to give him a kiss.
He took charge of the kiss, tasting her mouth with leisured thoroughness. By the time he lifted his head, they were both breathing rapidly. He squeezed her waist and patted her fondly on the bottom.
“We’d better stop this now, or we’re not going to make it to your folks’ place for supper. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded, pulling out of his embrace. “Just give me a couple of minutes. I made a peach cobbler to take for dessert.”
“That’ll give me time to clean up.”
He quickly washed his face and hands while she ran back inside the cabin. He followed her and changed into a clean shirt. When he came out of the bedroom, she was waiting with a covered dish. He bent and took a deep whiff. The scent of peaches and cinnamon wafted up to him, and he sighed. “That smells delicious, kitten.”
“It’s my Aunt Selena’s recipe. She says it’s one of Uncle Liam’s favorites, so I was hoping you might like it, too.”
Gabe took the dish from her and ushered her out of the cabin. “I’m sure I will,” he said with a playful grin. He waggled his brows as he eyed her breasts. “I have a special fondness for sweet, ripe peaches. Especially when I can roll them around on my tongue. And that delicious, juicy sauce that comes with them…creamy smooth with just a hint of spice. I could lap that up all day long, kitten.”
Leslie’s cheeks flamed and she swatted his arm. “Gabe Faulkner! You are shameless.”
“What?” he said, his face the picture of innocence. “I was talking about the cobbler.”
“Humph. I’ll just bet you were.”
Gabe chuckled. After stowing it under the wagon bench, he lifted her up to the seat and hopped up beside her.
She noticed that he was quiet on the short drive to her parents’ home, and she hugged his arm. “Is something wrong, Gabe?”
He sighed heavily. “One of our horses is missing. I noticed it on the way home.”
“That’s strange,” she murmured. “How did it get out?”
“Someone took down a section of fence and led him out. I found some boot prints to prove it.”
Leslie frowned. “Why would anyone steal a horse? I can’t imagine who would do such a thing.”
“Me neither,” he muttered. “But this isn’t the first time something strange has happened recently.”
He hadn’t told her about the other incidents, but he proceeded to do so. Her frown only deepened as she listened to him.
“Why haven’t you mentioned these things before?”
“I didn’t really connect the different things until today. I just thought I’d had a run of bad luck. But now that I think about it, I’m not so sure.”
Leslie squeezed his arm. “Maybe those other things are just coincidental,” she suggested. “Maybe stealing the horse was the only thing that was done deliberately.”
“Maybe,” Gabe muttered. “But I don’t think so. I’m going to speak with your pa about it, and I need to notify the sheriff, tomorrow.”
By then, they had reached the McKenzie farm, and they pulled to a stop just as Leslie’s family came out onto the porch to welcome them. Warm greetings were exchanged, and they laughed and talked as they made their way inside.
Sarah McKenzie had always been an excellent cook. Gabe enjoyed watching her and Leslie as they worked together to prepare the meal. Leslie was seated at the kitchen table, peeling and chopping potatoes, while her mother stirred something on the stove. Gabe suddenly wondered what it might feel like to see Leslie teaching their own daughter how to cook in years to come. The thought filled him with warmth, and he smiled.
Gabe noticed that Leslie’s father had been watching him, and the older man returned his grin. It was as if the older man had read his thoughts.
“It’ll be a little while before supper is ready,” Brian murmured. He stood up and gestured for Gabe to follow him. “Let’s sit outside where it’s cooler.”
They ambled out to the covered porch and sat in the two rocking chairs situated in the shade. Brian sent his sons to finish a few chores, so it was just the two of them. Even though it was evening, the July heat persisted, and the fresh breeze blowing from the river was refreshing. Brian stared at the scenic view and sighed.
“I’m glad to see Cat looking so happy,” Brian murmured. He pinned Gabe with a challenging stare and lowered one menacing brow. “Although I couldn’t help noticing that she was sitting kind of gingerly on that chair. Is it possible you’ve been spanking my little girl?”
Gabe felt his cheeks flush, but he maintained eye contact with his father-in-law. “With the greatest respect, sir, that’s none of your business. I would never do anything to hurt Leslie. You sho
uld already know that.”
To Gabe’s surprise, Brian hooted with laughter. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Seeing the younger man’s surprise, Brian’s eyes twinkled with humor. “I’ve known that my daughter was in need of a good spanking for quite some time. I considered cracking down on her, but I thought it might be more effective if discipline came from a loving husband.” He winked at Gabe before turning back to face the river. “I’m glad to see that you’ve taken her in hand. I’ve always said that she’s just like her mother.”
Gabe blinked with shock. “You spank Mrs. McKenzie, too?” he blurted.
Brian grinned at him. “With the greatest respect, son, that’s none of your business. But I will say that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to my wife and my daughter. They both need a little stern discipline from time to time just to remind them of who’s in charge.”
Gabe relaxed back into his chair and chuckled softly. “That’s certainly true with Leslie. She’s a handful. Sometimes, I think she behaves badly just to see how I’ll react.”
“That’s my Cat. You seem to be enjoying the challenge, though,” Brian offered, meeting his eye. “I can’t remember you looking so happy. I would say that marriage agrees with you both.”
Gabe grinned. “It does, sir. In fact, things would be pretty perfect if it weren’t for…” Gabe broke off with a frown.
Brian raised his brows. “What?”
“I was going to wait until after supper to discuss this with you, but since we have a few minutes, maybe we could talk about it now.”
Gabe proceeded to tell him about the damaged fences and trees, the trampled crops, and the missing tools that he hadn’t used for a while but could swear he had put back where they belonged. Then, he told him about the stolen horse and the boot prints he had found by the section of open fence. Brian’s scowl grew deeper as he listened with interest.
“That does seem like a long list of strange incidents.” He met Gabe’s eye. “A little too coincidental, if you ask me.”
“I think so, too. Have you noticed anything similar around your place?”
“No,” Brian replied, shaking his head. “But I’ll mention it to my brothers, tomorrow, and we’ll keep a closer eye around the border between our farm and yours. You might want to talk with your other neighbors, too, to see if they’ve had any recent troubles before you talk with Sheriff Wilson.”
“I’ll do that,” Gabe said with a nod.
Sarah smiled at Leslie as they stood side by side at the stove. “You and Gabe seem to be getting along awfully well.”
Leslie nodded. “We are. Thanks to you, I’ve started to get the hang of cooking. I’ve become a lot more confident in my role as Gabe’s wife. I even started sewing on that dress that you helped me cut out the fabric for.”
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart.” Sarah eyed her shrewdly. “But something tells me that you’re not quite as happy as you could be.”
Leslie sighed and met her eye. “I’m very happy, Ma. I just wish that Gabe loved me like I love him.” She was surprised when her mother chuckled softly. “What?”
“Oh, honey, your husband is head over heels in love with you. He might not have said anything to you. As stubborn as he is, he might not have even realized it himself. But you mark my words.” She met Leslie’s eye and grinned. “He loves you with all of his heart, and sooner or later, he’ll admit it to you.”
“Do you really think so?” Leslie asked eagerly.
“I know so, sweetheart. No man looks at his wife the way Gabe does unless he loves her.”
Leslie’s heart swelled with hope. If she could win Gabe’s heart, her happiness would be complete. She intended to do everything within her power to make sure it happened.
When supper was ready, they called everyone to the table. It was a very pleasant meal. Conversation flowed freely, and everyone was in a good mood. Gabe was seated across the table from Leslie, and he enjoyed watching her interact with her younger brothers. It was obvious that they had missed having her around, and they teased her mercilessly. She gave them back as good as she got, and laughter was plentiful.
When it was time for dessert, Leslie served the cobbler, smiling proudly as she passed around the bowls. Gabe scooped a bite into his mouth and met her eye with a mischievous grin.
“Mmm, mmm,” he moaned, swallowing the bite with a sigh. “Best cobbler I ever tasted, kitten.”
Leslie’s cheeks flushed with heat, but she sent him a flirtatious grin. “I’m glad you like it.” She took a bite herself, using her tongue to collect a stray morsel from her bottom lip. Seeing that she had Gabe’s undivided attention, her grin widened. “You’ve got to love sweet, ripe peaches. Especially when you can roll them around on your tongue. And that delicious, juicy sauce that comes with them…creamy smooth with just a hint of spice.”
Gabe’s aching cock was straining against his britches. From the corner of his eye, he caught the knowing glance that was exchanged between Brian and Sarah, and it was Gabe’s turn to blush.
Once they’d returned home that evening, Gabe led Leslie straight to the bedroom. He tipped her over his knee, peeled down her drawers and landed a sharp smack on her bottom.
“That is for making lewd comments during dessert,” he growled.
“What lewd comments?” Leslie gasped. “I was talking about the cobbler.”
“Just for that, I’m going to use my belt to leave some stripes on this pretty ass after I’ve set it on fire with my hand.”
He gave her a harsh swat, and her answering moan sounded far too smug. Gabe paused. He pulled her thighs apart, and sure enough, she was dripping with musky fluid. He shook his head and chuckled, running his fingers along her slit before slipping them into her welcoming heat.
“What am I going to do with you, my naughty little kitten?”
Leslie met his eye and grinned. “Anything you want to, of course.” She wiggled her bottom enticingly. “And I’m certain that I’m going to love every minute of it.”
The next day, Gabe left early to talk to their neighbors before going to report the stolen horse to the sheriff.
By midmorning, Leslie was busy in the barn when she heard someone approaching outside. She stepped to the doorway and shaded her eyes with her hand. When she saw Bernie Phillips dismounting from his horse, she inwardly groaned but pasted a friendly smile on her face. “Hello, Bernie. What brings you by today?”
Bernie smiled at her and removed his hat. “No special reason. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. Your husband stopped by earlier, and he mentioned that you’d had some trouble recently.”
Leslie felt a swell of irritation. She was really tired of Bernie always acting as if she needed his protection. She tamped down her annoyance and answered politely, “Thank you for your concern, but you really needn’t have bothered. As you can see, I’m fine, and I have a husband to look after me.”
Bernie swept her with a slow perusal, and his eyes widened when his gaze landed on her breasts. He coughed and blushed as he looked away.
Leslie remembered belatedly that she wasn’t wearing any undergarments. She glanced down and saw that the outline of her nipples was obvious through her soft cotton dress. She crossed her arms over her bosom and hoped he wouldn’t notice her mortified blush. “Could you excuse me for a moment?” she asked breathlessly. “I have to check something on the stove.”
She hurried to the cabin and hastily donned a chemise and drawers. She had gotten so used to not wearing them that she sometimes forgot that she didn’t have them on. After donning her dress once more, she hastily buttoned her bodice and checked her reflection in the mirror before going back outside. Bernie was nowhere in sight, but his horse was still tied to the porch rail.
“Bernie?” she called, wondering where he had disappeared to.
He appeared from around the corner of the cabin looking sheepish. “Sorry.” He gestured lamely over his shoulder. “I had to answer the call of nature.”
“I hope you are well,” he replied. “I’ve been worried about you, Leslie. After that scene in town, I got the impression that you weren’t exactly happy being married to Gabe. I thought maybe he had taken advantage of you.”
Leslie stiffened and shot him a glare. “You are quite mistaken. I love my husband, and I’m very happy being his wife. Now, I really think you ought to leave. I have a lot of work to finish.”
Bernie looked crestfallen. “Please don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just want you to know that if you ever need anything, you can always count on me. I only want you to be happy, Leslie. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
Seeing his pleading expression, Leslie heaved a weary sigh. “I want that for you, too, Bernie. You’ve always been a good friend. But you have to understand that things have changed. I’m a married woman now, and you need to move on. You can’t keep dropping by like this.”
“I know, I know,” Bernie said, nodding his head. “It’s just that I always thought you and I…well, never mind. You already know what I thought,” he said miserably.
“Yes, I do,” she agreed. “But that’s never going to happen. Find yourself a wife, and forget about me.”
“I’m trying,” he said. “But it’s easier said than done.”
He replaced his hat, mounted his horse, and gave her another sad smile. He rode off with a dejected slump to his shoulders.
That evening, Gabe had just shed his clothes when Leslie joined him in the bedroom. He gave her a heated kiss and started to unbutton her bodice. He paused when he noticed that she was wearing undergarments. He pulled her wrists behind her back and pressed her against the door of the wardrobe.
“What’s this, kitten? Didn’t I tell you specifically that you’re not to wear anything under your dresses?”
His Sweet Kitten (Return To The McKenzies Book 1) Page 20
