Quickly affected by his touch and obvious desire for her, she whispered, “Perhaps if I covered it the food would not suffer too greatly.” She captured his mouth with her own and chewed on his lower lip. “I warn you, though, I am ravenously hungry.”
“You’re not talking about food, are you?”
“No, I’m not,” she answered, her voice thick and breathy.
He slipped her gown off her shoulder and started to nibble there, lingering until he felt her chest begin to rise and her breathing quicken, then he lowered his lips as far as the dress would allow to the top of her breasts. “We need to get you out of this gown,” he suggested between kisses. “It’s impeding progress.”
“Indeed,” she said, and hastily covered the food.
When she finished, he kissed her again, then they reluctantly parted to dispense with their clothing in a feverish rush. Smiling at each other, they met again in the one place in the world where they could take time for tenderness and to give each other pleasure. To make their love sparkle with life.
William’s large hands began a lust-arousing exploration of Kelly’s flesh.
Holding her close, he was everywhere and every touch felt like a caress. Every kiss an embrace. Every cuddle a hug. Never had their love-making made her feel so worshiped. So valued.
Enfolded in the haven of his love, her spirit soared with happiness taking her on a glorious ride—first gliding through soft rolling hills and vales of pleasure—and then surging skyward in a wild frenzied spree of ecstasy to the tops of mountains.
Kelly wanted him to soar with her and she drew him closer to her and caressed the length of his back. Then her hands roamed freely over his firm body and she delighted in the feel of his strong muscles beneath her fingertips. Snuggling up against him, she wrapped her legs around his. As always, she felt the intense heat of his body down the entire length of hers.
She reached under William’s head, wove her fingers through his thick golden hair, and kissed him, letting all her love and fervor for him flow from her lips. The tender passion he returned filled her with a desire that heated every drop of her rushing blood.
Burying her face in his neck, she deposited an ardent kiss there, while he in turn kissed her cheek and hair. The caress of his soft lips set her aflame and passion pulsated through her head, her heart, and her entire body. Then a glorious soul-reaching kiss made her wonder if a heart could burst with love. For surely hers was in danger.
She wanted to say she loved him. But the words seemed inadequate. Too little and too few to express the profound depth of what she felt now for William. Her mind searched for another way to tell him. But everything she could think of seemed insufficient and imperfect.
Then, as his hand reached down below her belly, she remembered their child. What better way to show her love. The thought elated her.
Her heart raced, passion and excitement both making her dizzy and breathless. Sparked first in her heart, then smoldering through her breasts, the blaze within her own body quickly spread out of control, like a raging wildfire that couldn’t be stopped. It burned wildly, fed by her roaring desire, until a series of white-hot flashes began to explode within her, each one more powerful than the last. The final blinding flash consumed her, leaving her breathless and stunned.
As they ate their dinner companionably in their nightclothes, the room lit by the bright gleam of the hearth fire and the table by the soft glow of candles, William decided he could never be happier than this. He kept smiling at her, knowing he must seem like a love-sick schoolboy, but he couldn’t help it.
He also couldn’t help worrying about her. He decided it was time to broach the topic. “Kelly, I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh dear,” she teased. “I don’t know if I can do that again so soon.”
“As delightful as that sounds, that’s not what I was about to suggest.”
“What is it then?”
“I’m concerned about leaving you out here all alone every day. We averted this last danger, and you were extraordinarily brave, but it could have ended far differently.” He wouldn’t say exactly how bad it could have been.
“William, I refuse to live in town. I hate big cities. You know that. I need the peace and solitude of the forest and hills.” She threw a few more small pieces of wood on the fire and sparks fluttered off the glowing coals.
“I know how you feel about that and also know how much you love it here.”
“I do, it’s so incredibly picturesque. The hills are stunningly beautiful. No wonder Boone chose to settle here. And I’ve discovered this wonderful place at the top of the ridge. The view from there is remarkable. I went up there this afternoon and I actually heard the wind whisper.”
“What did it say?”
“That you love me.”
“I do Kelly. That’s why I want so desperately to keep you safe. Here’s my idea. Why don’t we ask your father to move here as soon as he finishes helping Sam out? He and I could build a small cabin next door and he can have his own place so we can keep some privacy here.”
“William, that’s a marvelous idea! It would make me so happy to have him close, now that he’s changed so much. I can keep an eye on him to be sure he stays strong and doesn’t backslide into drinking again. And he can lend a hand around the place while you’re in town every day. He would be a big help. And when he grows older, I’ll be able to help him. Just as a family should. That would mean a lot to me. And to him. Oh, thank you William, thank you.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
“I would do anything to make you happy and keep you safe. I love you so much my love,” he said.
“I could tell that quite well earlier,” she teased with a half-smile.
“It was a spectacular experience. Do you suppose we could have conceived a child? It was truly that special.” They had never discussed parenthood but the possibility thrilled him.
“No,” she said simply.
“No?”
“No,” she repeated, her face a mysterious mask.
He couldn’t understand. “Do you have some womanly problem you’ve never told me about?”
“No, she said again, this time with a coy look on her face.
Then her lovely eyes started to shine with moisture and her almost lustrous face blushed.
Did she not want children? “Then why?”
“Because you cannot conceive when you are already with child.”
He stood and nearly knocked the table over. Dishes clattered and one of the candles tipped over. He quickly reached for it, setting it aright. His suddenly buoyant heart felt like it had jumped out of his chest. He threw his napkin down, the rest of his dinner forgotten.
Breathless, he gawked at her, letting her news sink in. For a moment or two, they just stared at each other, too overcome with emotions to do anything else. Her eyes sparkled like the sun bouncing off glassy blue water. She held her hands together, as if praying, waiting for him to respond. When he was finally able to breathe, a smile broke across his face.
Intense satisfaction shone through her eyes and her grin broadened.
Joy bubbled out of him into a laugh and then he hollered with pleasure, feeling the glory of the moment. He’d been wrong earlier. It was possible for him to be happier than he’d been just moments ago. In fact, he was so overjoyed he felt like singing, humming, whistling, playing his fiddle, all at once. Or skipping, leaping, running, shouting, bouncing on his toes—anything to express his overwhelming pleasure.
He picked Riley up by his paws and danced with the young dog, who barked joyfully.
Kelly sat back in her chair and watched with smug delight, laughing.
He tried to find his voice, to invite her to dance with them, but couldn’t. Deciding a hug was more in order anyway, he held his arms out wide, and went to her. He wrapped his arms around her in an embrace so heartfelt that it heated the clothing between them.
Feeling exhilarated and light-hearted, he lifted her straight up, and t
wirled her in a circle.
She looked down at him with a brilliant smile.
He finally found his voice as he sat her feet on the floor. “I’m going to be a Papa!”
“He’ll be calling you Papa Sheriff.”
“He’ll? Maybe she’ll be calling me Papa Sheriff,” he said, elated by either possibility, and hearing his voice crack a little.
Joyful tears filled his eyes as he held his wife and child tightly against his heart.
Life is a beautiful thing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Like her compelling heroes, who from the outset make it clear they will not fail despite the adversities they face, this author is likewise destined for success. Called a “deft new writer of intelligent romantic fiction,” award-winning historical romance author Dorothy Wiley enjoys writing big, action-packed romantic adventures set in the American wilderness when it was still a frontier. In her exciting American Wilderness Series Romances, Wiley breaches the walls of time, bringing readers to a young America, where romance and danger are as powerful as the wilderness.
Readers describe Wiley’s writing as fresh, unblinkingly gritty, and highly enjoyable with well-portrayed characters. In 2014, her first romance novel, WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE, was a Central Florida Romance Writers of America Touch of Magic Finalist and her second book, NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE, was selected as an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE is a finalist in the 2015 BookBzz's Prize Writer Competition.
Wiley received a Bachelor of Journalism degree, with Honors, from The University of Texas. After a distinguished 35-year corporate career in marketing and public relations, she is living her dream—writing historical romances.
She would enjoy connecting with you:
Website: http://www.dorothywiley.com
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We hope you enjoyed reading
Book Three
of the American Wilderness Series Romances
WHISPERING HIILLS OF LOVE
Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley
Book One
WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE
The story of Stephen and Jane
Book Two
NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE
The story of Sam and Catherine
Coming soon…
Book Four
The story of Bear and ? We will just have to see what happens.
Please tell your friends...
Thank you for reading my novel. If you enjoyed reading this book, I would be honored if you would share your thoughts with your friends. Regardless of whether you are reading print or electronic versions, if you particularly liked the experience of reading William and Kelly’s story, I’d be extremely grateful if you posted a review on http://www.Amazon.com. Just enter WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE in Amazon’s search box and it will take you to the correct page. Then just scroll down on the page where you can write a customer review.
Please visit www.dorothywiley.com for the release date for the fourth book in the series. Thanks for your support.
All the best,
Dorothy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As I did in the first two books of the series, I would like to thank the daring and brave first-wave pioneers of early America. Their hard fought struggles for a place in the vast wilderness gave us the majestic country we enjoy today. Their stories must be remembered. Although this is a completely fictionalized and romanticized story, it still reflects some of the many challenges our ancestors faced. My husband’s brave ancestors, who actually did travel through the frontier and eventually became some of Texas’ earliest settlers, inspired this series of novels. There are many stories I would like to write about those amazing journeys and their life on America’s frontier.
Secondly, I would like to thank my husband (also my muse) and my wonderful sister for their help in polishing this manuscript. Thanks for your continued faith in me. And my thanks to my fellow author and friend Deborah Gafford, a wonderful writer, for her suggestions and support.
Third, my thanks to my cover designer Erin Dameron-Hill whose creative talent transformed my vision for the books’ covers into a beautiful reality.
Whispering Hills of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 3) Page 24