Caleb Read online

  Lily linked arms with Ruby, and heads together, began to chat. Awkward silence followed as he tried very hard not to ask his brother how he felt about being a father in—from what he’d just seen—about two months.

  Better him than me.

  “How’s everything out there at the ranch?” Gideon said as he eyed the crowd, perhaps worried about how Ruby would be treated after Patience most likely informed the entire town about Ruby’s fall from grace.

  “Fine. I had a misunderstanding last week with a horse who thought I would make a good stomping pad.”

  “How you doing?”

  “Still a little sore.”

  Luckily after a few minutes of strained silence, the fiddlers started up a waltz and Caleb turned to Lily. “You ready to dance, darlin’?”

  At her nod, he took her by the hand and nodded at Gideon and Ruby. “Enjoy the dance.”

  Sweeping Lily into his arms, he found they fit perfectly. She followed his every move as if they’d been dancing together for years. The scent of whatever ladies’ soap she’d bought drifted to his nostrils from her body and hair. She tilted her head to look up at him. “You dance very well.”

  “I do have some talents.” He leaned in and spoke close to her ear. “I have others as well. Talents that will make you feel very good.”

  He grinned as her face flamed. He loved teasing her, and decided tonight was the night. He’d warm her up with attention and close dances and then a bit of caressing on the way home. His cock jumped to attention, begging him to end this stretch of celibacy. It wasn’t healthy.

  Once the waltz had ended, he escorted her to the punch table, where they were soon joined by several ladies who he’d been friendly with in the past. They all chatted away, throwing broad hints, and glancing at his arm around Lily’s shoulders. Hopefully, they would get the message, and he wouldn’t have to flat out tell them he was no longer interested in his old lifestyle.

  Although he’d never put the thought into words, that’s exactly what had happened in the past few weeks. He should be sad that his philandering days were over, but instead he felt a bit of excitement at discovering all the sensitive parts on Lily’s skin. From what he’d seen, she had hills and valleys on her body that would keep him entertained for years to come.

  He looked forward to coming home after a hard day’s work to a home cooked meal and a tumble in bed with a woman who was able to set his blood on fire. One day there would be sons and daughters. Little girls with their mama’s dark curls and boys with her deep brown eyes.

  As much as he loved Jamie’s kids, he’d always felt Cat and Jake were troublesome, and never thought he’d want a couple of his own. Now the vision of Lily swollen with his child played havoc with his lower parts as much as the time he’d almost won enough chess games to have her buck naked.

  With buck naked being on his mind, he bent near her ear as the ladies around them chatted away, continuing in their attempts to gain his notice. There was only one lady whose notice he was hoping to attain. “What do you say we leave now? You look tired.”

  She grinned up at him, bright eyed and looking anything but tired. Good. He intended to use up a lot of her energy once they got home.

  “It’s rather early. How about one more dance? A country reel?” She tugged him to the center of the room where two lines of dancers formed. They faced each other as the music began. The ladies held their skirts out and curtsied, the men bowed, and they were off. Joining in the center, they circled each other and then wove in and out, changing partners.

  By the time the danced ended, they were both breathing heavily. “Time to go, sweetheart. You had your final dance.” Caleb grabbed her arm, retrieved their coats from the table where the guests had tossed them, and placing his hand on her lower back, escorted her from the hall.

  The night air was cool and refreshing after the heat of the Grange Hall. It took some maneuvering to get their wagon away from the others, but eventually Caleb was able to leave the grounds surrounding the Grange Hall, and head toward home.

  “Did you enjoy the dance?”

  Lily smiled. “Yes, I did. How often do they have them?” She tugged her coat closer to her body and shivered.

  “Once a month.” He extended his hand. “Slide on over here, honey, I’ll keep you warm.”

  She snuggled against him, making him urge the horses to go faster. No playing chess tonight. He had other methods to get her into bed, and he was anxious to try them all out.

  They rode up over the rise from the main house. The moon cast his house in a silver glow, lighting the remaining snow. Lily rested her head on his shoulder as they pulled into the stable. During the ride he’d transferred the reins to his left hand while his right hand had wandered up to massage her breast, the turgid nipple rubbing against his palm. Lily nestled in closer, making small little mewling sounds that had his blood pumping.

  He wrapped the reins around the dash and turned to cup her cheeks, then took her lips in a burning kiss. He moved her head to position her mouth exactly where he wanted it. A slight touch of his tongue on her lips, and they opened. He delved in, sweeping her sweet mouth, tasting of the cake and punch she’d had at the dance. If he didn’t get the horse taken care of and into the house soon he would likely burst his denims.

  “Baby, go on into the house and change for bed. I’ll be in as soon as the horses are settled.”

  She glanced at him, chewing her lips.

  “It’s all right. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of everything.” God, dealing with a virgin was difficult. But it would be well worth it when he plunged into her warmth and took them both for a ride. He would make sure this was a night to remember for her.

  He’d never rubbed down a horse so fast in his life. Once the animal was set for the night, with some extra oats, Caleb hurried to the house. The only light burning came from the oil lamp in the bedroom. His boot heels tapped a cadence on the wooden floor as he walked across the main room.

  Lily sat on the bed in a white nightgown that she must have gotten in anticipation of her wedding night. He’d never seen it before. This was no virginal, high-necked, long-sleeved nightgown. Thin straps held the garment up, the tops of her creamy breasts visible above the low neckline. The material was some kind of a silky thing that shimmered in the light, emphasizing the sway of her breasts as she moved.

  His mouth dried up and he wrestled out of his clothes in record time. Left only in his drawers, he climbed into bed, reminding himself he had to go slow. This was his wife, not some doxy he’d picked up at the saloon.

  “Caleb, there’s something I should tell you.”

  “Shh.” He covered her lips with his finger. “It will be all right.”

  She opened her mouth to respond and he took the opportunity to sweep in and pull her body close. One of the straps on her nightgown slid down, exposing one perfect breast. With a groan, he dipped his head and took the nipple into his mouth, licking and sucking until she grew restless and made that sweet little sound again.

  Her skin was silky smooth, and tasted sweet and salty. He grasped fistfuls of her hair and inhaled the scent of flowers. A flick of his finger and the other strap fell, causing the top of the gown to pool in her lap. He leaned back and studied her. Slowly, she raised her hands to cup her breasts.

  He took her hand in his and moved them down. “No. Let me look my fill. You’re beautiful, Lily, don’t ever hide yourself from me.”

  She reached out and touched his chest. The muscles underneath her fingers jumped. He closed his eyes as her palm lay flat against his chest, then began to move over his skin, rubbing the hairs on his chest between her fingers. “The hair on your chest is soft. Not like I thought it would be.”

  Rising up on his knees, Caleb rested his hands on her shoulders and eased her back. They slid down together, and he lifted her bottom, whipping the rest of the gown off her. She stared in his eyes. “There really is something we should talk about.”

  “No
t now.” He circled her nipple with is fingertip, then feasted on her breast once again while his hand moved lower to cup her moist center. His fingers delved into her opening, and he grunted at the moistness that coated his fingers. She was ready for him, but he wanted her to take her pleasure first.

  “Oh, Caleb, that feels so good.” She pulled his head down for a kiss, pushing against where his fingers were busy circling the sensitive flesh that would bring her to completion. Her breathing picked up as he continued to suckle her breasts, going from one to the other. She tossed her head back and forth, then let out with a keening sound that almost drove him over the edge.

  Once her body slumped, he moved over her, nudging her legs apart with his knees. “Honey, this will hurt a bit, but the pain won’t last long.”

  “Um, yes, about that . . .”

  He eased into the warmth, sliding all the way in, with nothing blocking his way.

  What the hell?

  He frowned, and looked into her troubled eyes, and saw what he didn’t want to believe. His body took over, and he continued his rhythm, pushing the questions to the back of his mind.

  It had been so long since he’d been with a woman it didn’t take much for him to tug her close and stiffen to pour himself into her. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over him and he kept moving until he grew soft. Taking a shuddered breath, he slowly rolled off her, lying flat on his back.

  With his forearm thrown across his eyes, he whispered, “Who was he?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  One lone tear slid down Lily’s cheek as she stared at the ceiling. She felt the anger radiating off Caleb. There had been no sound except the pounding of her heart since he’d uttered those words. How she wished she’d told him before now. What had been the most beautiful experience in her life had been ruined. Right now she wanted to cuddle, to enjoy the warmth of their bodies together, skin to skin. She shivered with the loss of his heat.

  “Who was he, Lily?”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “Who was he, Lily?”

  She sighed and fingered the sheet. “Just someone.”

  He turned his head, his eyes boring into her. “Who was he, Lily?”

  “His name is Sydney Drummond. We were both only seventeen years old. I was already supporting myself and my sister, and thought I was an adult. It was a mistake.”

  He said nothing for a few minutes, just staring, until she began to squirm. Then, “How many others?”

  She jerked up as if pulled by a string. Yanking the blanket to cover her nakedness, she said, “What? How dare you?”

  “How dare I what? Do you expect me to believe you had a lover at seventeen and no one else since then?”

  “I didn’t have a lover. What Sydney and I did was nothing like what just happened here in this bed.”

  “And what happened to dear old Sydney?”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Because I’d like to know where the man is who fucked my wife before I did.”

  Lily bounded out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her. The blood pounded in her head so hard she thought she would explode. “I cannot believe you just said that to me. You are arrogant, coarse, foul-mouthed, and a bully. I won’t stay here and listen to this.”

  Before she got anywhere near the door, he was out of the bed and standing in front of her. “Oh, you’ll listen, and you’ll answer all my questions, too.”

  “I already answered your question,” she growled.

  “Not at all to my satisfaction. Where is Sydney now?”

  “I don’t know. I thought I was pregnant, and when I told him, he skipped out on me.”

  “And no boyfriends since then? In how many years?”

  “I am twenty-four years old. I had a somewhat fiancé who never touched me. He also ran out on me and married another woman. That was why I arranged to be a mail order bride. Because I was sick of men running out on me.” She pointed her finger at him. “And look what I got stuck with.”

  He pushed her finger aside “Did he run out on you, too, because you thought you were pregnant?”

  She stomped her foot. “No. I told you, Sydney was the only one.”

  He snorted.

  “Get out of my way. I’m sleeping on the floor in the main room.”

  He leaned in. “No you won’t, ma’am. You will sleep here in this bed, I will sleep on the floor. Bright and early tomorrow you will pack your bags and I will drive you into town and purchase a ticket back to wherever it was you came from.”

  She reared back as if he’d slapped her. “What?” she whispered.

  “Here I am feeling sorry for my brother being saddled with a fallen woman and I find my wife is the same. Except you’re not carrying a baby.” He narrowed his eyes. “Or are you?”

  “You. Are. Despicable.” She stormed passed him and headed to the front door. As she reached for the doorknob, she came to an abrupt halt when she realized she was naked under the sheet. Where could she go with no clothes in the freezing nighttime Colorado temperatures?

  Raising her chin, she wrapped the sheet tighter and sauntered back to the bedroom where she’d left him standing in the middle of the floor. “Excuse me,” she muttered as she swept past him. She gathered up her nightgown, her dressing gown from the bottom of the bed, and sailed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

  He was out in a flash. “I told you I would sleep on the floor.” He pointed to the bedroom. “You will sleep in there.”

  “No I won’t.”

  “Yes you will.”

  She waved him a dismissal, dropped the sheet and shimmied into her nightgown, then shrugged the dressing gown on.

  Caleb strode across the floor and scooped her up in his arms. Not saying a word and ignoring her kicks, he carried her back into the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed. “You will sleep there.”

  Lily made a move to get up, and with lightning speed he was over her, and clamped both hands on either side of her body. “Stay here.”

  She smirked and glanced at his naked form. “Aren’t you chilly, Caleb?”

  He growled and reached for his drawers, then shrugged into his shirt. He stomped across the floor and yanked the door open. “I will be on the other side of this door. Don’t come out until morning.”

  She was up in a flash. “I’m not a child being sent to my room.”

  “Ha!” He slammed the door.

  Lily picked up a book lying on the table next to her bed and flung it at the door. It bounded off with a thud.

  If it didn’t hurt like the devil, she would pull all her hair out. Frustrated, and no way to release it, she stomped around the room until her bare feet hurt. Somewhat calmed, she climbed onto the bed, sitting cross legged, her elbows resting on her knees.

  So tomorrow she was headed back to North Grove. Good. She’d rather face a town full of sympathetic looks than spend another day in Caleb Fraser’s house.

  Thinking back to their lovemaking in this very bed, she slumped and swiped at her eyes. If she didn’t love him so much, she would hate him.

  Caleb sat on the chair in the main room and fisted his hair. For weeks he’d held himself back from enjoying his wife’s body, on the assumption she was a lily white virgin who needed gentleness and understanding. All that time she’d been laughing at him.

  He didn’t like being made a fool of. He ought to write to that bride agency Mama got these women from and ask them why they don’t check these things before they ship the brides out. What man wants used goods?

  Jumping up, he paced in the small area. For damn sure he would send her back. Hell, he would get an annulment. Based on what, he had no idea, but there must be some reason. Once a woman lost her virginity there was no way of knowing how many men she’d bedded. He could be the last in a string of men who’d had that privilege. Maybe that’s why she signed up with the bride agency. Everyone in her town knew what a harlot she was, and there was no one willing to step up and marry her. So she gets shoved off on
him. Well, he was no idiot. He didn’t intend to spend the rest of his life looking into every man’s eyes and wondering if.

  Jamie went through that with Lucy. Besides being lazy as hell, she was a wanderer. He remembered his disgust when he’d found Lucy buck naked in his bed. He’d had his share of women over the years, but he never bedded a married woman.

  Until today.

  His ears perked up at muffled sounds coming from the bedroom. He tip-toed over and put his ear to the door.

  Sobbing.

  He wouldn’t give in this time. A man had to draw a line somewhere, and having a woman you couldn’t trust was high on his list of ‘no thanks.’ In the midst of the argument he’d forgotten to get a pillow and blanket. Shrugging into his jacket he went to the stable and got his bedroll from the tack room.

  After spreading it out on the floor and giving it enough time to warm up, he crawled inside and attempted to sleep. Pictures of Lily smiling up at him, laughing at what he said, proudly presenting him with a dried apple pie, and slowly pulling off her stocking during their strip chess game kept him awake for hours. No matter how hard he pushed away the visions, they came back to haunt him. Sunlight was creeping over the window sill when he finally dozed off.

  “I’m ready.” Lily stood over him, completely dressed, including her bonnet and coat. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. Her trunk sat alongside her. When his eyes met hers, she quickly glanced away.

  “I’ll want breakfast first.”

  “Surely you don’t think I’m going to cook for you?” She looked aghast.

  “No, I guess not. I’ll just make some coffee.”

  She settled herself on the trunk. Once he gave her a closer look, he noticed the drawn lines in her face, the dark circles under her puffy eyes. He tightened his lips and entered the kitchen. This was for the best. He could never trust her.

  “The water is hot if you want some tea.”