A Bargain Bride (Brides of Liberty, Texas)

by Rebecca de Medeiros

  “Nothing as sweet as the taste of a first lover’s kiss”

  An Irish saying

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  As Gabriel strolled calmly into their bedroom, he pretended not to notice his pale bride perched on the edge of the soft bed. She looked almost ready to flee at any moment. He told himself to go slowly and let her get accustomed to being alone with him in her nightclothes. Although he had no experience with bedding a virgin, he knew that it was going to take the patience of a saint which was one thing he was far from. Turning to face her head on, he noticed she had slightly crumpled papers in a death grip. Her clenched fists crumpled them even further.

  “What ya’ got there Mel?” He asked deliberately, lowering his voice to a comforting level. It worked for him when he started training with his horses; he’d half hoped it would work on his nervous bride.

  “The letters. I thought it might help if I read them before we…” Melody just couldn’t finish her sentence. She was too embarrassed to say the words aloud.

  “Hm?” He cocked an eyebrow at her explanation.

  There she went again talking about letters. Gabriel hadn’t known what she was talking about, when she’d first mentioned them on that fateful day he’d picked her up from the stage. He had no idea what she was talking about now, which wasn’t any surprise to him. He rarely knew what to make of Melody. She was a constant puzzle to him.

  “Gabriel I’m worried... about tonight.” Melody said quietly, turning his attention.

  “Trust me honey. Everything will be fine.” He said as he sat down beside her. He took her shaking hands into his and lightly massaged them. Without sparing them a glance, Gabriel placed the papers beside her on the bed out of reach. She wouldn’t need them tonight. He was going to comfort her himself, or die trying. He noticed that her prim nightgown was buttoned up all the way to her chin under her robe and smiled. She couldn’t have looked any more appealing if she’d tried.

  Melody’s freshly scrubbed skin nearly glowed as her cheeks blushed irresistibly. Her lengthy golden blonde hair was left down for the night, falling in waves to the middle of her back. Brushing her hair away from the nape of her neck, Gabriel placed light kisses to the exposed area. The action enticed goose bumps to arise and her body to begin to quiver in uneasy anticipation.

  “Do you like that?” He questioned her.

  “Um hm.” She sighed unable to fully respond.

  Her neck was apparently a highly sensitive spot on her body. Gabriel would remember that. He could not wait to see how she would respond when he kissed and licked the rest of her body.

  “Would you like me to kiss you?” Gabriel asked stroking his hands along her arms. He was going to let Mel set the limits tonight. If she’d said no it would kill him, but there was no way he’d force her into anything. She had to be willing. Lord, he prayed silently, let her be willing.

  “Yes.” His bride said shyly, hoping to god that he wouldn’t ask permission every step of the way. She wasn’t sure she could deny him anyway.

  So, with tenderness he had no idea that he could have possessed, Gabriel began his assault on her senses. Helping Melody from her robe, Gabriel brushed a knuckle gently across her cheek. His warm mouth molding to hers, lightly raining sweet kisses. Giving her what he could in the form of reassurances.

  Tasting her passion as it was arising; he deepened the kiss and laid her gently down upon the bed. As not to give his intentions away, he ran his finger gradually down the columns of buttons down the front of her gown. Unbuttoning the first three just to make her more comfortable, he told himself. He moved the material aside and began to taste the soft skin he had just brought to light running his tongue over the velvet softness of her skin.

  “Oh lord.” She whispered breathlessly.

  Everything inside Melody became a rolling ball of fire. Her senses were reeling and she clung to him in desperation, as his hands began to roam her burning body.

  Gabriel chuckled throatily, when she continued to chant “Oh lord” as he unbuttoned more of her gown.

  With each button he released, her voice became louder, though she made no move to stop his exploration. Mindless to anything but the pleasure of his kisses following the trail down her body, Melody hadn’t noticed her nightgown was now gaped open allowing Gabriel full view of her body.

  Rosy tipped nipples the size of cherries crested her great bountiful breasts, jutting upwards begging to be worshiped. A downy triangle of pale curls nestled tidily below a sweetly curved belly. A small beauty mark rested charmingly above her navel begging to be kissed. Gabriel’s mouth watered just from the sight of her. His shaft hardened further against his trousers, straining them.

  Melody was so caught up in the experience, that she hadn’t had time to protest when he touched her in the most sensitive of places. She felt the heat growing as he slowly stroked the throbbing area. Wetness gathered between her legs. Her pulse raced and her body ached with sweet longing, as he slowly whispered his encouragement in her ear. She stiffened and cried out however, when he inserted a thick finger inside of her, to begin making her body ready for him. Gabriel immediately withdrew his hand and began stroking the side of her face softly, with his thumb.

  “It’s going to be Okay honey, but I need to touch you. It’s the only way I can keep from hurting you.” He whispered against her ear. “Relax baby.”

  He knew Melody didn’t have any clue as to what he was trying to explain to her, but she made no more protest when he began touching her again. His clever fingers lightly began stroking a fire inside of her burning, throbbing core. Gabriel added another finger to her sweet opening.

  Her body felt like silk against his work roughened hands. The tightness of her sheath nearly unmanning him as it pulsed with life around his slick fingers. He felt almost ashamed, of the calluses that dotted his palms. She deserved one of those eastern dandies, but damned if he was going to let her go. Melody was in his arms and that’s where she was going to stay.

  Melody felt the loss of his touch rocket through her, as he moved away from her slightly to shrug out of his shirt. The display of his thick muscles and flat stomach which made up his torso caused her heart to beat wildly. Shyly she ran her hand down his chest, feeling the soft hair that lightly graced his body. His skin was warm to her touch as she ran her palm down his tight stomach. She smiled when he sucked in his breath, but she didn’t allow herself to go any lower. He was such a large man, that she should have been frightened. Instead, she only felt secure when he pulled her fully into his embrace.

  Burying his face into the side of her neck, he inhaled deeply. Gabriel tried to calm himself. Hell, he felt like a school boy again. He told himself to just breathe and relax, but it was pretty hard to do when he was near to bursting. This slight woman was driving him beyond his limits with her very touch, as innocent as it was.

  He quickly shed his pants, all the while his lips playing havoc on hers. Never giving her the chance to bolt in fear, he came to rest upon her naked body. Allowing her to feel the length of his body, he tossed away the remains of their clothing and began to kiss and caress her generous breasts. Rolling and pinching her pebbled nipples lightly, he played with her body the way he been dreaming of doing.

  Melody wasn’t sure this was such a good idea anymore. Having never seen a naked man before, his broadened erection was alarming to her. It looked too large and forbidding. All thoughts of stopping flew out of her head, as he continued to work his magic upon her newly awakened body suckling the tips of the sensitive globes into his hot mouth.

  “Oh, Gabriel.” She sighed as his lips tugged in a pleasure, pain wonderful sensation.

  When he had kissed and licked her belly button and then began to work onward to the most shocking of places, she thought she’d die of pure hedonism. Parting the veil of curls, Gabriel’s scorching mouth settled over the plump lips hidden there. His tongue slowly licked and teased, lapping at the molten juices that flowed from her. All the while he devoured her,
Gabriel pushed another finger into her fully aroused body stretching her slightly further. The room began to spin for Melody, as she felt herself flow with rapture. Her body convulsing with desire, she cried out in wonder.

  Gabriel knew he couldn’t hold off for much longer without being inside of her. He slowly positioned himself to her in the age old way and began his entry. She was ready for him, but he knew it was going to hurt her. For that he felt bad, but for his self, it was too late to stop what they’d begun.

  The sharp pain that Melody had felt with his initial thrust, was unexpected and robbed her of the pleasure she had been feeling. Tears streamed down her face and she gasped with the burning pain. Trying in vain to dislodge his engorged member from her, Melody bucked hard against him.

  “Baby... God I’m sorry! Just hold still, the pain will pass.” He groaned.

  Gabriel felt wretched that he’d had to do this to her, but it was necessary. He began kissing her in earnest now, wanting her to forget the shock he’d just given her. His hand slipped down between her legs and began to caress the moist valley where they were joined together. He could feel her tension ease bit by bit. Gently he pressed upon the sweet nub, using his thumb and forefinger to strum her. Tease her.

  Gabriel began to move slowly at first, afraid to hurt her further. He gritted his teeth against the need to spill too soon. Her snug channel felt like heaven against his aching organ. As Melody’s body relaxed in welcome to his thick cock, be began pushing deeper and deeper into her slippery folds. So deep, that it felt like he joined their bodies completely.

  Soon pain gave way to ecstasy and it consumed them both, as the first tremors of release grabbed Melody she tightened her grip on her husband. Thrust after forceful thrust, he filled her body with his need. Melody felt as though she had just vaulted off a cliff into a dark sea of turbulent waves. Arching her back she gave more of herself to him. As he pushed even deeper inside of her, Melody gasped as her orgasm shattered through her. Never in her life had she felt such total ecstasy.

  With a groan of satisfaction Gabriel allowed his own fulfillment to wash over him. His seed pumped hot and thick. His essence spilled forth into the depths of her pulsating womb. Gabriel lay atop his woman panting for breath, trying to regain the control he’d lost to her. He kissed her eyes, the tip of her nose and snuggled her closer to him as he rolled to his side.

  “Are you alright honey?” Gabe asked, unsure of himself for the first time in his adult life. He had wanted to make this night special for his bride.

  “Hm... I think so.” She answered between gulps of breath. “It was amazing.”

  “I’m glad you approve.” He said with a cocky grin, reassured. Hell, she’d just given him the best praise he could have hoped for.

  Gabriel wiped away the last of the tears that had clung to the sides of her beautiful face. Kissing her deeply he rubbed her back with shaking hands. He couldn’t believe that with all of his experience, this was the one and only time he’d been so blown away.

  “Did you enjoy it...? I mean did I please you?” Mel asked in a near whisper. So unaccustomed to these feelings that he’d brought forth in her.

  “If you pleased me anymore I think you would’ve been made a widow this very night.” He said with a chuckle.

  “I wouldn’t want that.” Melody smiled up into his gaze daring him to kiss her once again. Gabriel of course complied with her demand.

  “Was it as bad as you feared?”

  His hand strayed toward her perky bottom, cupping it in possession. The gently curved flesh filled his palm. Hell, Gabe could feel himself growing hard again. The need to take her again almost overrode his senses, but he stopped himself from splaying her legs wide and pounding into her. She would be sore as it was, he did not want to frighten her away from his bed by acting like an animal.

  “No. Though actually, I think it honestly helped to have read your letters before we... You know.” Snuggling closer to her husband Melody explained. “I knew the minute I read your first letter tonight, that you were going to make tonight beautiful for me.”

  “Come again?” His hand froze on her soft buttock.

  Good lord was the woman cracked? He really had no idea why she kept mentioning those fictitious letters. There was only one way to find out. Releasing his hold on Melody he made a grab for the letters that had fallen to the ground during their passion.

  “You really do have a way with words Gabriel.” Melody said, as he in disbelief looked through the words that he had supposedly written to her. This drivel wouldn’t have ever come from his hand. Yet there was his name Signed to the bottom of each. Well, actually G. O’Malley was signed to each. G. O’Malley? He thought to himself. How could this have happened? Not that it really mattered. She was his wife now, and if she’d thought he’d written those flowery phrases, well better for him right?

  He was just about done convincing himself not to tell her the truth, when she’d said the one thing he hadn’t expected.

  “These letters mean the world to me.” She said with a tender smile. Okay, he told himself don’t say a word. No sense in upsetting her, it’s best to let the subject drop.

  “Why, without these letters, I don’t think I could have gone through with today. I mean we are almost strangers.”

  The afterglow of their love making was ripped away suddenly. God damn! The woman had to go and say that, didn’t she? Why her admission set him off, he couldn’t have said at that moment. But for some reason he was pissed enough to not hold his tongue. For which he would all too soon regret.

  “You wouldn’t have married me?” He said his body turning to stone under her fingers. After the night of loving and all of the sighs of pleasure she’d made. The woman could lay there and say she wouldn’t have married him?

  “I don’t honestly know.” She said in all innocence. “I mean, Lily depended on me to give her a good home...for her I would do almost anything.”

  “Holy shit! You’re kidding me right?” His jaw clenched tightly, Gabe questioned his bride

  “Gabriel?” Melody was starting to feel uneasy all of a sudden.

  “Never mind.” He bit out.

  Gabriel felt the tension ease from his body. It had been a long day and it was late. His wife’s body was a tempting diversion as well. He was still semi hard from wanting to have her again as her soft body pressed against his. Gabriel began to pull the covers about them and prepare for bed. As he kissed the frown from Melody’s face, it finally dawned on him that G. O’Malley stood for… Gus O’Malley. Fergus O’ Malley!

  When he’d started chuckling to himself, Melody had smiled. When his chuckles gave way to outright laughing she had to question. “What’s so funny?”

  When he still hadn’t answered her because he was gasping for breath, so hard was his laughter, she could wait no longer.

  “What is so funny?” She asked louder this time.

  “Those weren’t mine.” He continued to chuckle.

  “What?” She demanded not sure as to what he was talking about.

  “I didn’t write them?” Gabriel casually shrugged.

  “What?” Melody shot out of the bed, quicker than lightning.

  “The letters I didn’t write them.” Gabriel rose from the bed unconcerned by his nudity.

  All this time he’d thought she was crazy whenever she’d mentioned them. Now, he knew the truth. His grandpa had been wooing him a bride. He should have known the old man was up to something. Why he didn’t see it before, Gabriel would never know.

  “What?” She shouted this time. In the blink of an eye his sweet and shy little bride became irate. With the swiftness he’d never thought possible of her, Melody turned stark raving mad!

  Swiftly gathering up her clothing, she avoided his grasp. As she made her way toward the door, in order to reach the bathing closet to dress in privacy. In her haste to get away from his amusement, she nearly tripped over the sheet, that she had pilfered from the bed to shield her nakedness.


  “God Mel! It’s really hilarious if you think about it.” Gabriel tried to reason with her.

  “Hilarious?” She screeched in rage.

  “Well yeah…” He began.

  Too late he’d realized she didn’t think the situation was quite as funny as he had.

  He never even saw it coming. Her boot connected sharply with his head.

  “Ouch! Son of a bitch. Not again!”

  “Better to have a hundred enemies outside the

  Home, than one enemy inside”

  An Irish proverb

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Gabriel let me explain.” Gabe was in no mood to be placated. He was fit to be tied. Standing before him was the entire cause of his ire, the person whom orchestrated this total fiasco.

  “Thanks to you Pops, my own wife won’t even sleep with me!” He said with a roar.

  Gabriel was beyond angry. The tears in Melody’s eyes last night combined with her declaration of how she wouldn’t have married him had she known, had torn him up pretty badly. He did not want to focus on why it had, but it did. When she’d thrown him out of his own bed… well that had pissed him off but good.

  Those god damn letters! He would’ve set fire to each and every one of em' last night if he would’ve had the chance. She had refused to listen to reason; those letters hadn’t meant a thing to him. Unfortunately, they seemed to mean the world to her. He sighed. Standing in his barn, and confronting his grandfather was not going to make things right, but it was going to make him feel a hell of a lot better. Right here in this damn barn was where it had all started, and right here was where it was going to be fixed. Come hell or high water. Fergus was going to make his angry bride like him again damn it.

  “Gabe calm down son, I’ll just explain to the lass, and everything will be alright.”