Haven's Flame (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 1)

by Marie Piper

  On the far side of the pond was the big branch she’d leapt off a few weeks prior.

  Inspired by Matthew’s grand entry into the pond, she darted around the side and got to the base of the fallen tree. The tree cover cast shadows, and for a moment she lost sight of him. Perfect. Quickly, she dropped her nightgown to the ground and climbed out on the branch.

  “You seem to have lost your nightgown,” he noted when she emerged.

  “Is that going to be a problem?” she teased.

  “I don’t think so.”

  With a graceful dive, Haven entered the water. She came up right in front of him, and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.

  “In delay there lies no plenty, then come and kiss me, sweet and twenty,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her beneath the water, holding her tightly to him. “Shakespeare. I was going to recite the whole damn thing to you when I proposed, but I dropped the ring and forgot everything, including the part where I meant to tell you that I love you.”

  “Tell me now,” she requested.

  “I love you.”

  “Tell me again.”

  “I love you. And if you ever doubt that again, you come and find me immediately. I’ll set you straight.”

  Haven enjoyed the way his slick body felt against hers. The water was cold, and she was covered in goosebumps, but he was warm. He’d always been warm, a safe place for her to run and hide. With Matthew, she felt free. She trusted him to the ends of the earth, and she always had. With him, she could do anything she wanted, and she trusted that he’d catch her, should she fall. With him, she could be the wildest kind of scarlet woman, and he would match her step for step.

  Out in the open air, away from everyone and everything that usually restrained them, Haven felt the urge to be wild.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered with her cheek against his. “I think I’ll die if you don’t.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he replied. Matthew’s hands flew to her neck, his fingers winding tightly into her hair. His whole body seemed to meld with hers, and she dug her fingers into his back. He kissed her hard, bringing her into his embrace with a pressure that didn’t hurt at all. Nothing hurt, everything felt amazing. Haven remembered Callie’s words, “A kiss that will curl your toes.”

  Haven giggled as she pulled back from him. “First, you have to catch me.”

  As a strong swimmer, it didn’t take Haven long to cross the pond to where the large boulders made an edge. When she reached them, she got to her feet. He was right behind her, as she’d known he would be. Matthew caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist and arms.

  “You’re freezing,” he said as he kissed her shoulder.

  His lips on her cold skin left her breathless. “I don’t care.”

  “I’m flattered,” Matthew said. “But I’m going to warm you up.”

  Leading her by the hand, he pulled them both out of the water. He grabbed a blanket and tossed it over her shoulders, enclosing her in it as he quickly started the fire. Once the sparks had taken, he moved to sit by her on the bedroll. The warm wind blew across their bare skin.

  “Do I look frightful?” Haven stared at the fire, remembering the blaze of the barn.

  Matthew took her face in his hand and ran his thumb over the scarred part of her cheek. “Never. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. No scar can change that.”

  He kissed her then, and they both moved down to the bedroll. Gently, he kept her back off the ground and enclosed her in his arms while she lay on her side. Matthew reached around and took hold of her breasts, squeezing them as he kissed the red scars on her back. Haven marveled at how his touch could feel so much like medicine, taking away any lingering pain. Matthew turned her over, wasting no time. He made every movement count as he kissed her, his tongue exploring her. He teased her womanhood with his fingers, leading her near the edge of passion with every movement of his hand. She broke their kiss with a loud cry.

  “Oh my stars.”

  Matthew shifted his weight, and Haven felt bold. Before he could move, she pushed him onto his back. She was no naive pink rose, and if he thought he would always be in control of the things they did in the dark, he was dead wrong. It was time to take Matthew to where he’d taken her. She wanted to dance with him on the edge of pleasure before leaping from the cliff, just as he’d done to her.

  “Lie back,” she ordered, crouching down beside him.

  Matthew’s eyes grew wide.

  Haven tossed the blanket aside, falling forward to kiss him and push his chest back so he lay flat. Then she lifted herself up, threw a leg across him, and set herself down just above his manhood. She wouldn’t let him enter her yet.

  Haven heard him breathe her name so softly, it was barely a word. She leaned forward to lie on his chest. As she brought her lips to his, she began to slowly move herself back and forth against him.

  Matthew made a guttural sound and reached a hand up to touch her thigh.

  Haven grabbed his wrist and held it back. “Oh no you don’t.”

  His hands became fists, but he kept them at his sides. Not touching her was killing him, and she thrilled at the idea. The things men and women did in the dark were fascinating, and Haven wanted to know more.

  Back and forth, her movement never ceased. She watched his face closely as his eyes rolled back and then closed, his breath coming harder. Rubbing against him was pleasing her as well, and she felt a pulse growing between her legs again already.

  “Please,” he said raggedly, “I might die otherwise.”

  ***

  Matthew

  Haven giggled and sat up as she reached down to grasp his length. The feeling of her fingers around him nearly made Matthew lose control, but he bit back the rush and felt himself engulfed as she took all of him inside her.

  Opening his eyes, Matthew sat up on his elbows to watch as she rose up and fell down on him, the speed and force of her becoming faster and harder until he leaned his head back. Her long hair, still dripping with water, bounced along with her. It poured forward over her shoulders and draped over her breasts as she moved on him. He marveled at Haven, how the sweet girl he’d known had this wild creature of passion buried inside her all these years, and how lucky he was to be the man she’d chosen to unleash it upon.

  Matthew moved a hand to where their bodies met, and put his fingers to work teasing her. With his other hand on her hip, he helped her move until she threw back her head in satisfaction, and the sight of her pleasure made him explode into her. His hips left the ground, and Haven rose and fell on him with a squeal. Gripping her arms, pulling her down against him, and taking a great handful of her hair, he called out loudly and moved in her a few more times, until he was completely spent.

  For a few minutes, only the crackling of fire, the chirping of crickets, and the breathing of two lovers could be heard.

  “Deputy Frank,” she said softly as she rested her face against his damp chest. “You may consider your point proven. Being your wife will most certainly not be boring.”

  Matthew clutched her to him. “Two more days.”

  She gave him a teasing smile. “Until?”

  “Until I can make love to you every day in our bed in our home.” His dream had been a long time coming, and with her there next to him underneath the Texas sky, he finally felt like they would get there together.

  “That’ll be nice.” Haven circled a freckle on his ribs with her finger. “No more secrets too.”

  She nuzzled into his shoulder. Matthew smiled to himself, knowing he had one last secret. He’d figured out what to do with the part of the bounty that Braxton, despite all arguments, had insisted he take.

  In his saddlebag, he carried a brochure for a nursing program in Philadelphia. Everything was arranged. The morning after their wedding, they’d set out for a train and cross the country. Haven would attend the three-month long program, and Matthew would be with her. He’d visit libraries and see what city life was
like. In her free time, they’d enjoy the big city together. Then they’d return to Cricket Bend and settle in to their life, just in time for the fall harvests. In the meantime, Luke and Doc and Callie would keep an eye on the house and the horses.

  It would be a beautiful adventure. Everyone who knew about it fluttered with excitement.

  And Haven, who lay on top of him with her head on his shoulder and her hands resting on his chest, had absolutely no idea.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book wouldn't have been possible without all the clever creatives from Michigan to Chicago who didn't roll their eyes when I said I loved westerns and romance novels and declared I was going to write one. Thanks a million times for your support.

  Also, Amanda Bobbitt told me to write a book. Aloha, Amanda!

  ABOUR THE AUTHOR

  Marie Piper earned her B.A. in English Literature from Michigan State University, and lives in Chicago. She loves travel, coffee, and surrounding herself with her book hoard. Marie has several short pieces of romantic/erotic fiction being published in anthologies over the next few months, but she is especially thrilled to be joining Team Limitless with her 3-book steamy Western series, FIRES OF CRICKET BEND.

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