I tried to be as gentle as possible as I joined Maggie on the bed, but she still stiffened when she felt the added weight shifting the bed. She looked up at me, her blue eyes shiny from crying and I reached out and cupped her face tenderly, caressing her cheeks until all the tears were wiped away. I ran my thumb along her delicate cheek, stroking all the way down to her chin and she pressed herself into me, hiding her face in my flannel shirt. The fact that she seemed to feel safe with me, even after what had just happened, made my heart swell with love and an irrepressible desire to protect the woman who had promised herself to me. I liked the heat of her against my body, the way she clung to me as though there was nowhere else she’d rather be. Even as my cock stirred, hungry for claiming her, I dismissed the thought. She’d be too sore just now for even the tenderest lovemaking.
I excused myself and when I came back, I was holding a glass of water for her and a jar of ointment that my mother kept on top of the stove.
When I joined Maggie on the bed this time, a timid whimper escaped her parted lips. I shushed her gently before opening the bottle and tipping it over her bottom, allowing a generous amount of liquid to spill on to her cherry-red, striped cheeks.
Her happy sigh made it well worth it. “What is that?”
“Not sure, Mags,” I replied as I began to work the ointment into her bottom. I took my time, slowly rubbing her cheeks until they were well coated with the stuff. Even when I knew I’d done a thorough job, my hand still lingered on her backside, caressing her warm cheeks. “Just know my ma used it to treat burns and I can get some more, if need be.” Intuition told me it would be prudent to get a jar every other trip to town.
“That could get costly,” Maggie said, almost as though she’d heard my thoughts. “What do you say we just burn the strap instead?”
Would her sense of humor always take me so by surprise? Even though she was being sassy, I couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Was that your first jest as a married woman?”
She smiled up at me, her eyes radiating warmth. “I guess it was, Mr. Callahan.”
“Aw, you don’t have to go and be all formal-like,” I teased. “You can just call me Clay.”
She giggled up at me. “Clay,” she repeated in a murmur that I found downright tempting.
My cock strained against my trousers, hard to the point of aching. I had to get away from her naked skin, or I’d get drunk with my own desire. Taking one last peek, I pulled her dress back over her bottom. “How do you feel about a bath? A nice, cool one,” I added after seeing her wince.
“That sounds lovely.”
I smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her temple before going to the washroom. Once inside, I took a look around and hoped it would be up to snuff. Without a woman around to clean, I’d done the best I could and not let it bother me none, until now. I found myself longing to please Maggie in even this, by giving her a clean place to bathe. I wanted her to be comfortable in the home that would be hers. Then and there, as I was letting the lukewarm water fill the tub, I decided to take her into town to let her pick whatever she’d like for the house.
“What’s this?”
I turned around and found myself face to face with the woman of my affections. “Almost done in here.”
“What? But I thought…” She trailed off as she poked her head into the room, her eyes widening.
“You alright?”
“Yes, just… the washroom at home is outdated compared to this, that’s all.”
“Does that mean you like it?”
“Do I… why, I think it’ll do just fine, Clay.”
I grinned at her. I sure liked hearing her say my name in that teasing, intimate way she had about her. “Good. Let me help you undress.” The pink that reddened her cheeks made me think again of her striped backside. “Come on, Maggie. Turn around.”
“I can do it.”
The teasing was gone now and she spoke in a whisper, making my smile vanish. “Darlin’, don’t be silly. You can’t reach all the way back there and I’d think you’d appreciate the help, considerin’.” I thought that much movement might bring out the pain in her rear more and was trying to be a gentleman by not voicing it aloud. If possible, her cheeks went darker still, showing me she’d gotten the reference without my saying it. My, how the woman liked to blush. I didn’t mind—it brought out the blue in her eyes.
“I’ve been undressin’ myself for quite a few years now, thank you.” Though she still spoke in a hushed tone, the set of her jaw and the flash of her eyes made it plain that the fire was well and alive inside her.
I debated for a second. I’d just whipped her; I didn’t see the point to spanking her again for being a little mouthy. “Have it your way, but if it’s your modesty you’re trying to spare, you should know I’ll be seein’ you undressed one way or another.”
“Why is that?” she asked, her mouth tight with annoyance.
I chuckled softly at her. Spitfire, indeed, and she was all mine. If nothing else, Maggie was going to keep me on my toes. “Because you are my wife, unless you’ve forgotten, Miz Callahan. I don’t need to teach you a lesson in manners so soon after your hiding, do I?” I smiled to soften the words, but she still blanched.
“No, sir,” she said, and though her tone was a bit begrudging, she turned around and put her back to me.
I smiled at her back and set my fingers to working the small buttons on the back of her gown. When I finished, instead of pulling the fabric down, I stepped back. “You should be all set, darlin’.’
“Thank you, Clay.” She went into the washroom and stared back at me for a moment before gently pushing the door closed.
I let her alone for a spell until I was sure she’d had enough time to pull her clothes off and get settled into the tub. Then I opened the door and let myself in, keeping my face impassive even when she gasped and pulled her hands up to cover herself.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to help you wash up, and you’re not going to sass me about it.”
She opened her mouth, shifted her weight and winced before wisely shutting it again. Though it was clear she was uncomfortable, she didn’t protest further even when I came closer and stooped down to retrieve the cloth over the tub.
“Hand me the soap, please.”
“I know how to wash myself,” she said, without the earlier heat in her voice.
“I know you do, darlin’, I just thought it might be more fun if I helped.”
“More fun?” she echoed and I reveled in her sweet innocence.
“You’ll see.” She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of me as I lathered the rag with soap. “There’s only the two of us here for now, and I intend to enjoy it while we can.” I was rewarded with the smallest hint of a smile, but even that warmed my heart—as Maggie would warm to me, given time.
Once I’d soaped up the rag, I reached over and brushed it gently over her bare skin, leaving a trails of suds behind. At first, she kept her arms pressed tightly over her chest, but as I continued bathing her, she began to relax, bit by bit.
“Does that feel good?” I murmured as I washed her delicate shoulders, moving the rag toward her long, graceful neck.
“Yes,” she admitted with a sigh.
“Do me next?”
The fire in her cheeks returned so quickly I wondered if it had ever gone out. “Why, I never!” Then she surprised me—and herself, if her wide eyes were anything to go by—by laughing. “Alright, if you like.”
Not one to wait, lest she change her mind, I stood and began to strip. I unhooked my belt and let my trousers fall, eyeing Maggie as I undid the buttons on my shirt. She had her head bowed, staring at the water, her embarrassed flush plain to see. Would she ever stop blushing so easily? Would I ever tire of seeing it?
“Move over.”
She hurried to comply, and I slid in beside her, sighing when the warm water covered my body. I didn’t tend to linger in the tub, but I could take a liking for it,
if it was always like this.
“Let me do your back first.” I rubbed some more soap on to the rag before taking my time working down her back. I reached up and moved her soft brown hair out of the way so I could wash behind her neck. “I’ll put some more salve on your… er, backside when we dry off.”
Maggie stayed silent, but I couldn’t miss the way she leaned into me. It came as such a surprise that the rag slipped right out of my hand. I recovered quickly and pulled her closer, until she was resting between my thighs.
“Do you want to…”
“Yes?”
“I mean, you said we were alone ‘for now.’ Do you want… children, I mean. Do you want children?”
“You sure do take a while to get your words across,” I teased, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her shoulder blade. “But yeah, I reckon I do.” I moved my head to kiss the other shoulder, lest it get jealous. “What about you?”
She stayed silent so long, I’d begun to think she didn’t intend to answer. When she spoke, her voice was strained. “Yes.”
I laughed, pressing my lips to the nape of her neck. “You don’t sound all that happy about it, now, do you?”
“I… I don’t know if I can have children, Clay.”
I pulled back in surprise. It hadn’t occurred to me that she might think herself incapable of bearing children. “Why’s that?”
“Because… you know I’m not… young.”
I could hear the effort it cost her to say it and felt myself getting annoyed. “Look at me, Maggie Swift Callahan.” She turned her head and peeked at me over her shoulder, but I was having none of it and reached out to turn her until she was completely facing me.
“Clay!” she protested, but I ignored her.
“I thought we’d done been over this. I want you to stop talking about yourself like that, y’hear? You don’t look a day over nineteen, and if I hear you imply otherwise, you’ll be reacquainted with my strap sooner than either of us would like.” The last words came out as a growl and I knew they’d hit their mark with the way Maggie’s eyes widened and her body tensed.
“I… I’m sorry. Just… I don’t want to be a disappointment to you.”
I felt chastened by her words. It hadn’t ever occurred to me that she’d be worried what I’d think. “Maggie.” I pulled her close, gentling my voice. “Honey, it’s you I want. And now that I have you, it’s hard for me to mind if you have ten babies or none at all.”
“I’d prefer something in the middle of that,” she replied, the smile coming back to her face slowly.
“Well, that bein’ the case, I feel it my duty to tell you that if you want little feet runnin’ around here, you’re gonna have to get used to me lookin’ at you.”
She blushed—such a lovely sight—and looked down. Only then did she seem to realize how close we were, and she must have caught sight of my cock, hard and straining toward her, because when she looked back up I could see the surprise on her face.
“Let’s dry off, hmm?”
“Good idea,” she replied, standing up so fast water splashed over the side.
“Wait right there and I’ll get your clothes.”
She nodded, hugging her dripping, naked body. When I came back with her drawers and her slip, she accepted them quickly and I bit back a chuckle. I didn’t want her to think I was makin’ fun, but lordy, she made it hard. Maybe I’d seen one too many soiled doves, because Maggie’s innocence both surprised and delighted me. I wasn’t in any rush to cure her of it—I enjoyed her blushes and her modesty.
As she was climbing out of the tub, I couldn’t resist reaching out and cupping one of her bottom cheeks. The flesh felt hot in my hand, and I could feel it practically throbbing. When she winced, I released her, however reluctantly. “Let me get you some salve on, then you take yourself a nap. You look a bit peaked.”
“I… what about supper? And chores? I’m sure there must be something I need to do around here.”
“Not today there ain’t. Just do as your husband tells you, Maggie.” I smiled and leaned over to brush my lips with hers, pleasantly surprised when she met them and kissed me back.
“Now how can I argue with that?”
“I don’t know, but somethin’ tells me you’ll find a way, woman.”
Chapter Five
Being a married woman was different from what I expected in nearly every aspect. Clay was so loving and tender that he spoiled me horribly. I never got out of a well-deserved spanking, but he helped with the chores and even the cooking. More often than not, I’d wake to find he’d cooked breakfast.
“Being alone all these years has taught me to cook,” he’d said the first morning when I’d stood gaping at him. “It was that or starve to death.”
I tried to be a good and obedient wife, and Clay handled my mistakes with kindness I’d never seen from any man. He even let me get away with a bit of sass now and again. Another thing that surprised me was how much I desired his touch. Having sex was never something I’d let myself think on for too long—what proper Christian lady would?—but to my surprise I found that I not only enjoyed it, I craved it.
I rolled over in bed and peered at my husband who was still sleeping, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He looked so peaceful. A glance to the window showed me that it wouldn’t be much longer before the sun was up and he’d have to be off to the fields. The slow burning low in my belly told me I couldn’t wait until he got back home for supper—that in mind, I leaned over and snuggled close to him, letting my hands rove his body as they pleased. He was lean and muscular and just touching him multiplied my need tenfold. I let my hand glide over his perfect form, taking in his manly, delicious scent. After a moment, I let my fingers wander south until I found his sleeping cock. It wouldn’t be hard to awaken it.
Indeed, it wasn’t. Almost from the instant I touched it—slowly, at first, then with more assurance—it stirred in my palm. I cupped my hand around his long length and began working it up and down his cock, loving the feel of the power it gave me. When Clay himself stirred, looking at me through sleepy eyes, I beamed at him with a radiant smile.
“Mornin’.”
“Good mornin’ indeed,” he replied, grinning sleepily. “Beggin’ your pardon, Miz Callahan, did you need somethin’?”
I flushed, but refused to drop my eyes; my embarrassment gave him too much amusement. He loved to hear me ask for what I wanted. “No, not at all, I was just tryin’ to wake you in time for breakfast.” I dropped his cock, which sprang back, hard and ready.
“You know the best way to do that?” he asked, his tone teasing. “With breakfast.”
“Ah, I must have been mistaken. Forgive me.” I began to get off the bed, but just before my feet hit the floor, Clay’s arms came around my waist and hauled me back.
“Now, where do you think you’re goin’ off to?”
“To get breakfast started,” I replied with a smile.
“That can wait.” He stole any reply I might have made right from my lips, deepening the kiss as he pulled me tighter against him.
I kissed back with urgency that matched his own. As he kissed me, I could feel his fingers working to remove my drawers and I moved my hips to help him along. As soon as they had been stripped off, he spun me around and laid me down on the bed.
I’d thought it would be a quick coupling this morning, but Clay was always surprising me. He was looking at me so tenderly I thought I would bust with the love I felt for him. He started slowly, kissing the nape of my neck and sliding down to my breasts. He nuzzled them and kissed each one before turning to my right breast and pulling my nipple into his mouth.
“Oh!” I exclaimed, arching my back as he teased it with his warm tongue and nibbled at it with his teeth. He knew it was my favorite and effectively drove me wild. I had the impression that he liked me wanton when I was in bed with him, for he always seemed to make me so. “Clay, please,” I groaned, heat and wetness already spilling from my pussy.
>
He took no mercy, instead switching to the other breast and teasing it in kind, making me moan and writhe beneath him. When he’d finished, he met my eyes and kept my gaze as he slid down my body, peppering it with soft, tender kisses. “Are you ready?”
“Please,” I gasped.
“Please what?”
I flushed from the question and the way his eyes laughed at me when he asked it. “Please… take me.”
“Take you where?”
“Clay!” I exclaimed, bolting upright. “I am not gonna be teased this mornin’! If you—”
“Ah, my little spitfire has woken up, too, I see,” he said, his smile wide. “Be careful, darlin’, you wouldn’t want to start the day off with a sore bottom, would you?”
I sighed heavily, shaking my head meekly. I vow, I began to think he liked spanking me!
“That’s a good girl. You’re hot enough as it is, down here.” His fingers brushed my pussy and even that delicate touch made me shiver in excitement. When he slid a finger inside, exploring my wet folds, I whimpered with desire. “Now, if only we could do something about that.”
“Clay,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “Please. Take me.”
He arched an eyebrow, causing my flush to deepen. He wasn’t going to give an inch, I saw—then again, he rarely did. It was one of the things I loved about him.
“Please put your… cock… in my pussy.”
“Now, Maggie, who taught you to talk so?” he exclaimed in mock disapproval. Before I could reply, he’d already spread my legs wide and plunged into my pussy so quickly that I fell back on the pillow, crying out as I did so. I remembered it hadn’t been so easy the first time and had been a mite painful, but he’d been inside me so many times now he could thrust as deeply as he wanted to and it only added to my pleasure.
Maggie Meets Her Match Page 9