Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4)

by Maggie Ryan

  "Katherine would want that," Ettie said softly, lifting onto her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. "Whoever the woman is, she will be a very lucky woman."

  Lucas gave his baby sister a smile as Lawrence again tucked her hands into her muff. Ettie suddenly pulled her hand out and looked at the jewel on her finger. "Wait. Exactly how long have had that ring in your pocket?"

  Lawrence laughed, took her hand and slid it back into her muff. "Since the day I decided that I loved you and wanted to be prepared at any moment to claim your heart."

  After he kissed her cheek, Ettie looked at her brother and smiled, silently thanking him for helping her understand that her heart did indeed know the proper choice for her.

  The ride home was made by four carriages instead of two. Lucas and Edward held their wives on their laps as their carriage took the lead. Stefan and Emmie shared the second with Bea and Frank, while the third held Samuel and Franny and the final held Ettie and Lawrence.

  Edward kissed his wife again and then grinned. "The last time we left a ball, it was with one newly engaged couple. Who would have thought the next would see two?"

  Lucas grinned back. "I remember you stating it was hard to let them go but, I have to admit, Franny and Ettie are with the right men. I have no doubt that they will be just as happy as the four of us." The group all nodded, hearts that had threatened to stop while they were apart now full of love and the knowledge that their family was truly a blessed one.

  Once home, the group did not gather around the dining room table. Instead, they enjoyed their midnight feast sitting on the floor of the library; the fire blazing in the hearth, the tree they'd decorated together standing in the corner, and the contents of the baskets spread out before them. Mr. and Mrs. Mayes, Edith and her husband, Bertha, Joseph and Molly all joined them. The typical separation of staff and family was discarded, as most had known these girls their entire lives and all had known how Drakemore had threatened Franny's happiness before. Once plates were filled, the story was told.

  Louisa and Franny had followed Lucy to the retiring room but before they reached the door, a man had sprung out from another room and yanked them inside. In doing so, he'd hit Franny's head against the side of the door, knocking her unconscious. When Louisa tried to flee, he'd told her that if she made a sound, he'd kill Franny. When he'd called her Lucy, she had pretended to be her twin. He'd flung Franny over his shoulder and pulled Louisa down a flight of stairs at the back of the house.

  "I wanted to scream but with Franny unconscious, I couldn't. All I could do was scream in my head and keep calling for Lucy."

  "I heard you," Lucy said, reaching for her sister's hand. "I was terrified that you'd be knocked out as well, and not be able to talk to me."

  Lucas bent to kiss the top of her head and then leaned over and kissed Louisa as well. "All I can say is thank God that you two have such a strong connection. I have never seen anything like it."

  "I'm just glad you believed me, Papa," Lucy said. "You never doubted me even when I started to doubt myself."

  Edward fed Louisa a bite of tart and chuckled. "Well, I can't say that I'm surprised Drakemore thought you were Lucy. I wish you could have seen his face when he realized there were two of you."

  The group ate and talked until eyes began to drift closed. Lucas nodded at Molly, who stood to help him with Lucy who was battling hard to stay awake. Standing, Lucas turned to address his two guests who would soon become family.

  "I just want to thank you both again," Lucas said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  "There's no need to thank us," Samuel said, his arms around Franny.

  "That's just what packs do," Lawrence finished the statement as he pulled Ettie to him.

  "I'm guessing you'll both be back in the morning?" Lucas said and then chuckled. "Hell, it's already morning. Come for brunch."

  "Try to keep us away," Samuel said, shaking his hand before bending to kiss his fiancée. Lawrence gave his thanks for the invitation and kissed Ettie. Once the men had left, Bertha and Molly led the two young women upstairs as the men carried their wives towards the other wing.

  "There is only one thing that has me still a little angry," Lucas said as the friends climbed the stairs.

  "What is that?" Edward asked, bending to kiss the top of his wife's golden head.

  "I wanted to punch the bastard but you beat me to it."

  Edward shook his head, grinning just the slightest. "Well, that's only because you whipped him first."

  Reaching the landing, Stefan stepped forward. "And neither would have been possible if not for those women in your arms. I suggest we make sure we remember to hold on to what is important and let the rest of the bullshit go. The man is not worth another thought."

  Edward and Lucas both had to agree, giving each other a grin as they reached the door to Lucas's bedchamber. Pushing inside, Lucas knew one thing for sure. He intended to keep his incredible wife in his arms for the entire night and knew that in the next room, his best friend intended to do the exact same thing.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It had been Christmas Eve for several hours when Lucy opened her eyes, though she instantly squinted. Sunlight streamed through the windows, one of the rays falling across her face, turning her hair into spun gold.

  "Good morning, sleepyhead," Lucas said, bending to kiss her cheek and then drawing her up to sit on his lap.

  "Good morning, Papa," she said with a huge yawn. "What time is it?"

  "Almost late enough to have to wish you a good afternoon."

  "Oh, we're going to be late for church!"

  "Relax, kitten." Lucas chuckled. "We'll attend service this evening. The powers that be know that most of their congregation were up until the wee hours on the night of the Grand Ball."

  "Oh," Lucy said with a smile, snuggling into her husband's arms. "That's very accommodating of them."

  "You'll be happy to know that your Papa is just as accommodating," he said, running his hand through her hair. "There will be no atonement today."

  She looked up at him. "Thank you, Papa."

  He brushed his lips across her forehead. "You are welcome, kitten. As I've constantly reminded you, good little girls get rewarded."

  Lifting her head, she smiled. "Perhaps I need yet another reminder?"

  A deep chuckle filled their bedchamber as he rolled her onto her back and moved to brace himself above her naked body. "Perhaps you do." Her giggle turned into a gasp as his mouth descended on her breast. Her arms lifted to embrace him as he suckled first one nipple and then the other until she was squirming beneath him.

  "There's my little worm," Lucas said, before flicking the tip of his tongue across her wet, turgid bud and drawing another moan. "Shall we see if you can remain still?"

  Lucy shook her head. They often played this game and she failed to win every time. Her husband knew every spot on her body better than she knew them herself.

  "I believe we shall," Lucas countered, guiding her arms above her head and wrapping her fingers around the bedrails. "Remember, little squirmy worms get their just desserts." Her moan made him smile as he began the game. Kisses were dropped on her forehead, her cheeks, and the tip of her nose before his lips covered hers. The moment he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she arched with the sensation. He kissed her thoroughly before lifting his lips from hers and grinning.

  "What penalty shall I extract?"

  She didn't have to wait long as he easily rolled her onto one hip and gave her exposed bottom a quick rub before his palm connected with it. Though this was but one swat, she felt the heat and though she'd never understand why, her body instantly craved more.

  Once she was again on her back, the game resumed until she bucked up again when he gave the nipple he'd drawn into his mouth a bite at the same time as his fingers tightened around her other aching peak.

  "Ah, another penalty is required." A half dozen swats were given, three to each cheek, every one followed by a quick rub. Guided onto h
er back again, she was panting, her facial cheeks as pink and hot as her nether cheeks.

  "Oh, Papa," she moaned when he began to lick down her body, his tongue dipping into her navel before he knelt between her spread thighs.

  "Yes, my love?"

  "You don't play fair, sir," she admonished with a smile. "We both know that you will be the victor here."

  "But surely, kitten, I won't be the only one?"

  He moved to lie between her legs, his tongue gliding up the sensitive flesh of her inner left thigh before sliding across her bare mons. When he gave two quick flicks of his tongue across her swollen clitty, she arched to offer herself to him.

  "Hmmm, shall I swat you again or do you wish to concede?" he asked, lifting his head to meet her gaze.

  "Ye-yes, I concede."

  "Though you know a penalty will be required?"

  Her hips lifted as if to demand his mouth return to his feast, and she gave her answer when his hands slid beneath her to lift her a bit higher. "Yes, Papa, anything you wish, I will pay."

  Lucy felt a mixture of emotions flow through her as his eyes darkened with desire. Though he didn't speak, he named her penalty when he bent his head, lifted her higher, and used his fingers to pull her buttocks apart. The moment his tongue drew across her most intimate opening, she had her answer. Though she'd not received anything requiring such an intimate penance, today would still find her offering her bottom to her Papa. She trembled and felt her nipples puckering even tighter, her thighs moistening from the cream that was flowing from her cunny. When he gave a final kiss to her small, puckered rosette before lifting his head, she was able to give him a small nod.

  "Good girl, but first, I want you to come for me, kitten. I want you to come very hard." His mouth descended upon her core, his lips nuzzling her labia lips open until his tongue was able to slip deeply inside her.

  Relinquishing the game to the man she adored, Lucy moved her arms until her fingers could draw through his hair. When he drew her throbbing bud into his mouth, she moaned and tugged on his locks. When his teeth encircled her sensitive clitty and bit down, she bucked hard and exploded, screaming his name. And when he continued to bite, lick, suck and stroke her with his tongue, her attempts to push his head away were fruitless. She came again, obeying her Papa and coming hard; very, very hard.

  "I love you, kitten," Lucas said when he had reduced her to a quivering mess. As he lifted himself to kneel again, she could easily see his erection. Though she'd just come twice, she wanted him to fill her, to claim her, to make her his.

  "I love you, Papa."

  Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers and she moaned with the knowledge that she was tasting herself as well as the passion they shared. It was with very little effort that she was turned onto her tummy and two pillows slipped beneath her hips.

  "God, I love your bottom," Lucas said as he ran his palms across her skin. "I shall never tire of seeing it, caressing it, spanking it and, my love, sinking balls deep within it."

  His words had her heart pounding and her fingers reaching to clutch at the bedcovering. The sound of the jar holding the unguent opening had her quivering and when the first dollop was dropped into her cleft, she moaned.

  "Easy," he said, bending to press a kiss to her shoulder before he pressed a well-greased finger into her passage. "Relax your pucker, kitten. Let Papa play."

  Heat flamed across her cheeks at his words but wanton desire coursed through her body. She unclenched her buttocks and attempted to help the preparation by pushing back.

  "Good girl, that's it. Let me in." A second finger soon joined the first, both stretching her until another moan was heard. The burn of her sphincter being forced to stretch was lessened by his patience in preparing her, allowing her time to adjust and accept the invasion. Lucy knew her body could and would accept her husband's cock, and yet it took conscious effort not to tense or attempt to pull away. Long strokes in and out of her passage soon had her writhing a bit, her hips beginning to lift, to thrust back as if begging for more. A third digit joined the two and continued to prepare her, loosening her gradually. This was not a penance; this was a penalty she'd granted for losing a silly game. By the time she felt the tip of his cockhead at her entrance, she was ready, and the moment he began to push inside her, she came.

  Lucas chuckled and then gave each of her buttocks a swat. "I hardly think that coming when paying a penalty is proper, little one."

  "I-I couldn't help it," she moaned as he sank another inch into her bottom. "You fill me so completely."

  "That's fine, my dear, as long as you come with me when I instruct you to do so." He pressed forward, sinking half of his length into her. Bending forward, he placed his mouth next to her ear. "And, kitten, if you fail to wait for that instruction, this gorgeous pink ass of yours that feels so incredible surrounding my cock, will become quite a darker shade of rose."

  Her entire body felt as if a lightning strike had coursed through it as he licked her ear before giving her earlobe a quick, sharp bite. Leaning back, he placed his hands on her hips and pulled her back into him. Lucy felt as if she were impaling herself and tried not to imagine how she must look with her bottom lifted, the flesh pink from his playful swats, her cheeks forced open, glistening from the lubricant he'd applied, her pucker stretched around his shaft and pulsing with each stroke he made in and out of a spot that most considered taboo. When he suddenly pulled back only to thrust deeply in one stroke, she knew the game was not yet done. She also knew that there was very little chance she'd leave their bed without a crimson rear, no matter that no atonement would be required this day.

  Lucas took his time to enjoy every second. There was nothing better in life than to make love to his wife. He'd spoken the truth. They could live to be a hundred and yet he knew that every kiss, every touch, every stroke they shared would make him feel as if he were the luckiest and most blessed man on earth. They'd come such a long way in what seemed like such a short time, and yet he'd not trade a single moment.

  Pulling back, he withdrew from the warmth of her ass until only his cockhead remained inside her, the rings of muscles attempting but failing to expel him. The sound of her soft mewls made him grin as he watched her push back as if asking where he had gone. He gave her the answer to that question as he pushed slowly back inside and one hand moved from her hip to cup her core. Her entire body jerked as his fingers found her sex, the copious amount of cream she'd been leaking making his fingers slide easily into her quim.

  "What a wet little girl you are, Lucy," he said, driving both his cock and his fingers into her body. "Wet and wanton, I do believe."

  "Pa-Papa… please, I-I can't…"

  "You know the price, my love," Lucas said, once more leaning to speak into the delicate pink shell of her ear. "Just as the choice of being naughty is yours to make, the choice of coming without permission is also yours." He bit her ear and then licked the pain away. "And, my beautiful, wanton little one, you know both will result in having a very hot, and very red, tender little bottom." He accentuated the last words with long, deep thrusts, and when she tensed and then screamed as her body convulsed around his digits and his cock, his smile was huge. Her contractions pulled his own release from him and his deep groan of satisfaction joined her whimpers of pleasure. After pulling from her, he moved her from the pillows to his lap.

  "Ready to pay for your concession, kitten?" Her answer consisted of a soft moan and the barely discernible lifting of her hips. Another smile lit his face as his hand rubbed over her backside before delivering a smack. The process was repeated again and again until her bottom was definitely pushing into each swat. It took very little effort to slide his free hand between her slightly parted thighs, urging them to open further. All it took was a single feather touch over her swollen lips to elicit a long, drawn out moan from her. "I wish to reward you for your graciousness in losing the game," he said. A slightly stronger stroke earned him another moan and another coating for his fingers
.

  "Papa… I-I don't think I can," Lucy whispered.

  "Yes, you can, little one. Don't fight it, simply let yourself feel." Her hand reached to grasp the linens as if to pull away and yet her hips began to rock, arching into the rubbing of his palm before dropping with each smack, only to find herself pressing against his slick, ever moving fingers. Once again, her Papa was proved correct as she came, not with a scream this time but with a string of soft whimpers and moans.

  After they'd finally forced themselves from bed, Lucas left her in Molly's capable hands, who quickly stripped her charge and helped her into the steaming tub. "Isn't it wonderful, Nanny Molly?" Lucy asked as she bent forward so that her nanny could pull run the soapy cloth over her shoulders and down her back. "There are now three brides at Hunter's Ridge! Just think, Ettie will be a doctor's wife and Emmie will have Franny right next door! It will be strange when they leave, but…" Suddenly, she stopped talking and dropped back to sit after being told to lift up so that her bottom could be scrubbed.

  "Lucille Rose," Molly scolded as water sloshed over the edge of the tub. "What on earth? You know that even a red little bottom needs a thorough scrubbing. Up with you, now."

  Lucy paid no attention to the scolding as she looked at the woman who'd once been her lady's maid. "You-you won't leave me too, will you? I mean after you and Jos—Mr. Grover get married?" Lucy said, her voice trembling.

  Molly's expression instantly softened. "No, sweetheart," she assured her, "you can't rid yourself of me that quickly."

  Lucy reached out and laid her hand on the nanny's arm. "I don't ever want you to leave but I thought maybe—"

  "Don't fret, little one. I promise that I'll be here for a very long time."

  Lucy knelt up and gave her a hug, neither caring that additional water sloshed onto the floor and soaked into Molly's uniform. After scrubbing every inch of Lucy's skin until it was pink, and washing her hair, Molly had Lucy stand and then helped her from the tub, wrapping her in a thick towel. Rubbing another over her hair, she then went into the nursery and took a seat in the rocker, pulling her charge down onto her little stool. Working the brush through her wet locks, she continued the discussion as if it hadn't been interrupted with instructions to lift a leg, bend forward, spread her knees apart or hold her breath while pitchers of water were poured over her head.