Grace’s apprehension from past experiences quickly dissolved as Levi made love to her. She reveled in the wondrous new feelings that swept through her. What she used to fear and found repulsive, turned into the most pleasurable experience she’d ever had. Her fingers dug into Levi’s shoulders, clinging to him as their bodies entwined even more.
Heat raced through her with the most wondrous sensations imaginable. Levi stared into her eyes, a look of complete awe that mirrored her own, while he spent himself inside her.
He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard, then quickly rolled to the side, pulling her against him, as if he was afraid she’d disappear. Levi’s heart beat fast and strong against her ear.
“I love you,” he murmured, his arms trembling as he held her.
Grace snuggled into his embrace, their skin slick with sweat, entwining her limbs with his. He kissed the top of her head, and Grace closed her eyes. A soft, content smile formed on her lips. The terror of her past faded away, replaced by new sensations and awareness, feeling completely wrapped in Levi’s love. She savored this new feeling as she lay in her husband’s arms long after her breathing and heartbeats returned to normal.
* * * * *
Levi opened his eyes. Faint light shone in through the window to the left of the bed. He shifted to the side, but his arm wouldn’t budge. The feel of a warm body pressed up next to him sent a ripple of heat through him. A slow smile formed on his lips. He glanced down at the woman nestled up against him. Her dark hair spilled in disheveled strands around her face and over her shoulder, but not enough to expose most of her skin.
His right hand rested on her hip, and she had one bare leg draped over his thigh. Levi groaned. The flames of desire ignited in him like a lightning strike setting fire to a parched forest. Memories came back from the night before, increasing the sensations rushing through him. Warmth and tenderness washed over him for the woman he held in his arms. She looked so at peace in sleep. He didn’t dare move his left shoulder, for fear of waking her. He couldn’t help but smile. Maybe he should wake her.
His right hand lightly stoked along her hips and waist. He’d never get enough of feeling her soft skin beneath his fingers. Heat of a different kind seared him. Grace was his wife. She’d given herself over to him completely, and he’d given himself to her. She was his to love and protect, and he’d do so with his life, if he had to.
The familiar dread of loss gripped him, and he shook his head. He wasn’t going to lose her. Maggie’s image drifted from his mind, her memory no longer sending pain through him. He had a family now, as unbelievable as that notion had been weeks ago. Whatever it took, he’d keep them safe.
Grace stirred next to him. Her eyes fluttered open, and a fleeting look of panic pierced her gaze. She tensed, and Levi gritted his teeth. When would her old wounds and fears disappear completely?
Just as quickly, her body relaxed, and the soft touch of her hand on his cheek tempered thoughts of hatred for the man who had hurt her. The time would come when he’d deal with Harlan Randall.
Grace favored him with a satiny smile. “Good morning,” she said, her voice raspy from sleep.
“Yeah,” he said simply, returning her smile. Renewed heat coursed through him. He’d be waking to Grace in his arms each morning from now on.
Levi shifted to pull her firmly up against him. His arms trembled while his body’s response to her dissolved any tension in him. She wriggled beneath him, and wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him closer.
He renewed his exploration of her, becoming more familiar with Grace’s body. With each stroke of his hips, he sought new ways to give her pleasure. Words weren’t needed to show her that he loved her, and that she’d always be safe in his arms.
Time stood still while he held her, and she lay against him, a look of complete trust and contentment on her pretty face. It could be noon for all he knew, or cared, when she finally stirred beneath him, and insisted that it was time to get out of bed.
Levi’s fingers caressed her bare back when she raised herself to a sitting position, his lips trailing down her shoulders and arms.
“I think I’m in a heap of trouble,” he murmured against her neck.
She turned to look at him. “Why are you in trouble?”
“How am I supposed to get any work done when all I can think about is holding you and keeping you right here in this bed?” He grinned sheepishly.
Grace’s cheeks reddened, and she lowered her gaze.
“Perhaps if I get dressed, it might help. I wish I had my other clothes, though.”
Her wedding dress lay in a pile on the floor, next to his shirt and britches. Levi heaved himself off the bed, and he strode to the chest of drawers. Grace’s wide eyes and appreciative gaze when he stood didn’t escape his notice. Would he ever be able to stop grinning, after last night and so far this morning?
“I hate to admit it,” he said with his back to her, opening one of the drawers. “But I have something else for you to wear.”
He lifted a light blue dress from the drawer, and held it out to her. Her eyes widened even more. She hesitated before reaching for the garment, then stared up at him. The look of pure love in her eyes nearly brought him to his knees.
“Where did you get this?” she whispered, fingering the soft cotton material.
Levi reached for his britches, and slipped into them. “It caught my eye in Elk Lodge when I was there last week. Thought it would look pretty on you.”
He handed Grace her undergarments, and turned his back to her, or else he’d be back in that bed with his wife. He stoked the coals in the hearth, and didn’t face her again, until she came up beside him. She’d used the handrails he’d installed on the walls rather than her crutch. Their eyes met.
“You were in Elk Lodge?” Her hand rested on his arm.
Levi faced her fully. This was his first chance to talk to her alone since he’d gone to the Perkins Farm. He should have told her sooner, so that she could set aside her worries about Rose. He reached for her hand.
“There’s no more bounty on Rose,” he said. “I made sure that the couple who was hired by Randall to adopt her withdrew the reward on her.”
Grace’s eyes widened, and her grip on his arm tightened. A fleeting look of worry clouded her eyes at the mention of Randall’s name. Levi squeezed her hand. He wasn’t going to ruin this day by talking about the man who was the cause of Grace’s fear and mistrust.
“I also sent a telegram to the Children’s Aid Society. I put in a petition to adopt Rose and Andy, in our names. I hope to hear back from them soon.”
Tears spilled down Grace’s cheeks, and she threw her arms around his neck.
“What did I do to deserve you?” she whispered against his lips.
“No, Grace. What did I do to deserve you,” he murmured, and then grinned broadly.
Levi’s intentions to get some work done today dissolved into thin air. He lifted Grace into his arms, and carried her back to their bed.
Chapter Twenty
“I can’t believe we are actually in town today.”
Wide-eyed, Andy glanced up the busy street, a bright smile on his face. “Mrs. Kincaid gave me a penny, and told me to buy some licorice for Jonah and me.”
“Soon, you might be coming here more often, once school starts up in the fall,” Grace said. She smiled down at the excited boy. “Then you’ll make lots of new friends.”
Levi’s eyes met hers. He lifted her from the buckboard he’d borrowed from Cade, and handed her the crutch. Taking her other hand in his, they walked up the boardwalk.
Over the last few weeks since their wedding, he’d spent a lot of time with Cade, Trace, and Ethan, who had all come to help add a couple of rooms to the little cabin he’d brought her to on their wedding day. Trace had offered to sell the place to him, and they’d already worked out a deal before the wedding.
Grace’s eyes had widened in surprise when Levi told her that he’d bought the little hom
estead, along with a small parcel of land that surrounded it.
“Don’t you want to return to your cabin in the mountains?” Grace had asked in disbelief.
“I’ll have to go back for my supplies and belongings, but I can’t keep you and the kids living so far away from other folks,” he’d said, taking her hand in his. He’d given it a lot of thought during the week leading up to the wedding. Working on the cabin, making improvements, and turning it into a home where he would bring his bride had made him realize that he couldn’t go back to his old way of life, isolated in the mountains. He had other people, a family, to think about. It had been his choice to marry Grace, and it was now his choice to give up his old life and start something new with his wife.
Grace had scrutinized his face, obviously looking for a hint that he had any regrets over his decision.
“You’re giving up your entire life, all you’ve come to know, for me and the kids,” she’d whispered.
Levi had pulled her into his arms. “You’re my life now, Grace. I’ve thought on it a lot. The mountains aren’t a place for you, or for Rose and Andy. I nearly lost you to a cougar, remember?” His hold on her had tightened. “Seeing you lying on the ground with that cat about to pounce still haunts me to this day.”
“Mountain lions come down into the foothills, too,” she’d argued. “I know I’m a hindrance with my crippled leg, but I don’t need constant hovering.”
He’d kissed her, a smile on his face. Although she’d let go of her mistrust and misgivings about him, Grace was a stubborn woman, and that was something that would never change. Not that he’d wanted it to. He wouldn’t have her any other way. It was just her stubbornness that made her resilient to all the things that had happened to her.
“Grace, you get around fine with your crutch, and no one hovers over you,” he’d said, trying to appease her. “Your handicap ain’t the reason I’m moving into the valley. I ain’t gonna make you live in the high country in isolation from folks. It’s not a life for you, or the kids.”
Grace had finally nodded in agreement. “I liked the cabin in the mountains, and its seclusion, but I also know that it’s not a place for Rose and Andy to grow up.”
“Trace’s little homestead is far enough from town that I won’t feel like I’m constantly around other folks,” Levi had continued. “It’s still private and out of the way, but close enough that the kids can go to school, and you’ll have neighbors nearby.”
“How do you plan to pay for the homestead?” Grace had asked after his announcement that this would be her permanent new home. She’d favored him with a sly smile. “You always said you have no use for money.”
Levi had returned her smile, and shrugged. “Buck had some money stashed away. It’ll pay for most of it. Trace saw the chest of drawers I was building for you, and asked me to make him some furniture. He said once folks in the valley see my work, I’ll have more business than I can handle.”
Grace had wrapped her arms around him, her eyes filled with love and admiration that made his limbs go weak. “Trace is right,” she whispered. “I wanted to ask you about building furniture for other folks, but didn’t know if that would be something you’d want to do. Your work is beautiful. People will be coming to you from all over the territory.”
It had never occurred to him before to build things for other folks, until Trace had mentioned that he wanted a new table and china cabinet for his dining room. Now that he had a family to provide for, hunting and selling furs would no longer be enough.
“Building things kept me busy in the mountains,” he’d told Grace with a careless shrug. “I have you and the kids to see after now. I guess I don’t mind selling what I build.” He’d kissed her before adding, “but I’ll still make the nicest pieces for you.”
Grace had giggled in his arms, and returned his kiss. “If you’re going to become a businessman, that means you’ll have to talk to people.”
Levi had ignored her teasing comment. Cade, Trace, and Ethan had become good friends, and he was comfortable around them, as well as when all the families got together. It was a different kind of comfort than being alone.
Seeing Grace mingle with the other women put a smile on his face, because she looked happy. He’d also paid attention to how the men talked with their wives, just as he would observe things in the mountains in order to learn about his surroundings. He still had a lot to learn about how to interact with her, but no one could say he wasn’t trying, and Grace hadn’t objected or seemed upset with him about things he said or did.
Coming to town, and having to mingle with lots of folks, would be something entirely different to get used to, but he was up for the challenge. He simply ignored the curious stares from some of the people, just like he’d done in the past.
Levi chuckled quietly. The day he’d come to town to trade his furs, he’d vowed that it would be at least another year before he returned. He glanced over at Grace, who walked next to him, her soft hand firmly entwined with his. How quickly things changed. While this was their second trip into town together, he’d been to Elk Lodge on several other occasions since bringing her off the mountain.
Their only other time, they’d been with Cade and Laura, and had left Rose and Andy with the Mallorys. At the time, they still hadn’t received word from the Children’s Aid Society about the adoption, and Grace hadn’t wanted to bring the kids to town for fear they might get taken away. Cade had stopped by the homestead the day before to tell them they had a telegram waiting.
Grace had been visibly apprehensive on their first trip into Elk Lodge. Levi had to remind her that there was no more bounty on Rose, and no one even knew who she was or where she’d come from.
“We’ll just say I’ve been hiding you away in the mountains with me all these years, and I’ve just recently allowed you to be seen in public.” Levi had grinned at her, and winked. “The good folks in Elk Lodge, no doubt, have already thought up all kinds of stories about me, speculating about my solitary existence.”
The thought that Harlan Randall would find her if she lived closer to town was constantly on her mind, even if she didn’t let on. Levi could see it in her eyes. He’d tried to put her fear to rest by telling her about his confrontation with the Perkins family, but it wasn’t enough. He’d already vowed that he would find a way to make the man pay for what he’d done to Grace and countless other girls.
“The Perkins couple described him as acting out of his mind when he made his deal with them to adopt Rose,” Levi had told her. “He’s not going to get away with what he’s done.”
“Of course he’s not right in his mind,” Grace had shot back. “No decent person would do what he’s doing. Being crazy makes him dangerous. Don’t seek him out, Levi,” she’d implored. “Somehow, we’ll find a way to stop what he’s doing, but I don’t want you to get hurt, or in trouble with the law, because of him. I just wish we could somehow help more orphans, and get those girls away from Harlan that he forced to work in his bordello.”
“We’ll shut him down,” Levi had said firmly. “If I have to go to Denver, I’ll find a way to stop him.”
“I couldn’t go to the Children’s Aid Society or to Father Aldren who oversaw the group of kids Rose and I were apart of, because I’ve always been afraid that I would get arrested for murder. Otherwise I would have tried.”
“Grace, I checked…there is no record of a warrant anywhere for your arrest,” Levi had said to put another one of her fears to rest. “The day I went to the Mallorys to tell them about the baby being born, I also came to town, and had a talk with the sheriff. He couldn’t find anything.”
Anger continued to consume him, even though he hid it from Grace. She didn’t want him to directly confront Randall, but if he didn’t, no one else would put a stop to the man’s vile schemes. Shutting down his bordello would be impossible, but there had to be a way to prevent him from getting his hands on more innocent orphan girls.
As they walked along the shops, Gr
ace moved closer to him, and hugged his arm. Only a few folks along the boardwalk looked at them with mild curiosity as they passed, but most of the people gave them no notice. Levi stopped in front of the mercantile.
“Once I’m done at the telegraph office, I need to go to the lumber yard. Do you think you’ll be done with your shopping by then?”
“Yes, it should give me plenty of time.” She smiled up at him. She tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes. “You’re going to split up our errands so we can get out of town faster, aren’t you?”
Levi grinned. She knew him too well. “The quicker, the better.”
“I want to get some material to make a new dress,” Rose said enthusiastically.
“You already have two new dresses,” Grace reminded her. “Laura has been more than generous with her supply of fabrics for you.”
Rose’s lips pursed in a pout. “Well, at least we need material for some curtains for my new room, once it’s finished.”
Levi reached into the pouch around his neck, then pressed some coins into Grace’s hands. He leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
“Get whatever you need,” he said.
Grace glanced at the money in her palm, then up at him. Before she had a chance to ask, he said, “The day you ran into me, I sold a cache of furs. This was part of the payment I got for them. I used some of it to buy you that blue dress. Use the rest to get whatever food supplies and other things you and the kids need.”
“Does that mean I get my curtains?” Rose grabbed his arm, a hopeful look in her eyes. Levi smiled at her.
Grace shot her little sister a disapproving look. “It means we’ll get what supplies we need right now,” she said sternly, then directed her gaze back at him. “Don’t spoil her,” she warned.
Levi chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
He touched his hand to Grace’s cheek, then nudged her toward the mercantile. “I’ll leave the shopping decisions to you, just don’t take all day. I’ll be back in an hour.”
In His Arms: Blemished Brides Book 3 Page 16
