“Of course.” She nodded and yawned.
“Get up and let’s see your sores.” He stood up, still naked as the day he was born.
Ella looked, stared, at his naked beauty before she looked up and saw his grin.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m very glad you like what you see. It is most gratifying.”
She closed her eyes and got up off her side of the bed. “It’s just new to me. I’m sure if I saw more naked men I would find you less fascinating.”
He fell onto the bed and grabbing her nightgown, pulled her down to the bed with him. She squealed.
“There will not be any seeing other men naked. You are stuck with this one.”
She started laughing.
He smiled and then laughed with her.
“I’m glad to see I can rouse some jealousy from you, husband.” Then she reached up and touched his cheek. “I want no other man.”
He bent his head and kissed her, first tenderly and then completely. “Good, because you’ll get no other. Now get up I want to see how your sores are this morning.”
She stood up. “They must be better, I don’t feel them.”
“Well. What are you waiting for?”
“I’m not used to undressing in front of anyone, much less a man.”
“How did you get your dresses made if you didn’t undress to get them fitted?”
“I made them myself.”
He raised his eyebrows “You sew that well?”
“I said I was going to make you a shirt.”
“Yes, and I was prepared to like it, though I figured the effort would be pitiful.”
She put her hands on her hips. “How dare you? My efforts are not pitiful. I make all my own clothes.”
“I can see that you’re a fine seamstress, so if you don’t take that nightgown off and I rip it off you, you can make yourself another one.”
She backed up clutching the neck of her gown to her. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He stalked her around the bed. “Wouldn’t I.”
“All right, all right, here,” she whipped the offending gown over her head.
Nathan came around the bed, clearly ready to make love to her. She closed her eyes.
She was unprepared for the gentleness with which he touched her. Lifted her breasts so he could see underneath them, turned her around so he could see her back.
“They’re better. The salve is working its magic. Get dressed and don’t even think of putting on that corset or the one I found in the drawer last night. I will destroy them if you make me.”
She marched in all her naked glory to the bureau and yanked open the drawer with her bloomers and chemises in it. Grabbing one of each she put the chemise on then took a pair of stockings from another drawer and rolled one up her leg. Only then did she notice Nathan, watching her, hunger in his eyes and on his face and lower…she could tell he liked watching. She decided to tease him a bit. She rolled the second stocking slowly up, watching his eyes darken. Then suddenly he was there. Punishing her with his lips.
“You shouldn’t tease a man who wants you as much as I do. It’s not nice.” Then he pushed her back on to the bed and came down upon her.
“Nathan?” She was as breathless as he was. “Nathan! Don’t. Not like this. Not yet.”
He stilled. His breathing rough. “You’re right. Forgive me.”
“No,” she shook her head. “It is you who must forgive me. I shouldn’t have teased you if I wasn’t prepared for the consequences. When next I tease you, it will be with full awareness and desire.”
She put her bloomers on and then went to the closet, grabbed a shirt and black skirt to wear with it. She jammed her arms into the blouse, buttoned it up and put on the skirt.
“Feel better?” Nathan said from the bed where he laid naked, his arms behind his head.
“Much, actually. It’s rather freeing not to wear a corset. I can actually bend over to put my shoes on. I haven’t been able to do that in years. Now rather than lying there with a…grin on your face you need to get ready, too.”
He yawned and rolled over, his back to her. “I think I’ll sleep for a while longer now that you’re up.”
“Oh, no you don’t,” she slapped his naked butt, the sound reverberating in the silence. “You get your handsome butt out of bed.”
He laughed, the sound delicious to her ears. “Alright, if you put it that way.”
Still chuckling he got dressed and they walked down to the kitchen together.
Martha was already busy with breakfast, rolling out the biscuit dough. “Ah, there you two are. I was beginning to wonder if you’d be down at all for breakfast.”
Ella blushed and looked at Nathan to find he had a big grin on his face. It seemed everything was sexual with him and it all tickled him.
“What do you want me to do first?” asked Ella.
“You can cut out these biscuits and get them ready for the oven. Cut out as many as you can, then take the leftover dough put it back into a ball and roll it out again. Flour the rolling pin so it doesn’t stick to the dough. Keep doing that until you only got enough dough for one biscuit left.”
“I can do that.”
“I’ll leave you ladies to it. I’m milking the cows this morning, but tomorrow, Ella’s learning how to do it.”
“Oh, I’d like that. I’m eager to learn.”
Nathan leaned down and whispered in her ear, “And I’ve got a lot to teach you.” Then he flicked his tongue against her ear.
“Oh!” She touched her hand to her ear then grabbed the rolling pin. “You better leave now before I take this rolling pin and use it on you instead of the dough.”
He raised his hands in defense. “I’m leaving, I’m leaving.”
His laughter followed him out of the kitchen.
“Sounds like you and my Nathan are gettin’ on good. I’m glad to hear it. He’s needed someone in his life for a long time now.”
“How old is he?” Ella was too embarrassed to ask him. She should have found out from Mrs. Selby, but it never crossed her mind.
Martha thought about it for a moment. “He’s got to be thirty-four now.”
“Ten years older than me,” said Ella almost to herself.
“Guess so. Didn’t think you was that old.”
Indignant, she said, “I’m plenty old enough.”
“Never said ya wasn’t.” Martha nodded toward the counter. “Better get back to that dough. The men will be in to eat in about an hour and we got a lot of cookin’ to do afore that.”
A lot of cooking was exactly what they did. In addition to the biscuits, Martha made scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, cornbread. There were two pies, pancakes with chokecherry syrup and lots and lots of coffee. She’d made two pots before breakfast started and as soon as the first one was finished she started on a third pot.
They carried the food to the dining room. It was a lovely room. Ella quite liked the natural wood that the room was completed with. It was masculine. It reminded her of Nathan. Strong, lean.
After all the men had filed in and were seated, Nathan introduced her. “Men, this is Ella, my new bride. I know you’ll all make her feel welcome.”
They replied, “Welcome Ella” or “Welcome Mrs. Ravenclaw.”
She and Martha put everything on the huge dining room table and it was now laden from end to end with food. Ella had never seen anyone eat as much as these men did, including Nathan. And none of them were fat. Most of them were lean, one was even skinny. He was called Slim and he ate more than anyone.
By the time they finished and were leaving to get to work, the sun was up and Ella was already exhausted.
Martha noticed and said, “You’ll get used to it. The first couple days ’ll be the hardest, but I kin tell yer not a quitter.”
“No, I’m not. But it may take me more than a few days to get used to it. Nonetheless, what’s next? Dishes I assume.”
“Yup. You wash and I’ll dry
and put away. You can watch where things go and then after dinner, you’ll dry and put ’em away.”
“Okay, let’s get started.”
As soon as they finished the dishes, Martha had them start making the bread for dinner. They’d let it rise while they started the housework.
“How do you get anything besides cooking done? Feeding eighteen people, sixteen of them hard working men, takes a lot of food. I noticed you keep beans on the stove all the time.”
“I want ’em to have something to eat whenever they’re hungry. They work too hard to go without food when they need it.”
“I agree. So what do we do when we’re not cooking?”
“Today we change the linens and dust. There’s not time for much more’n that.”
“I do know how to change a bed. I always took care of my own room at home.”
“Good. The clean ones are in the closet in the little bedroom. Figured it would take a while before you’d be using that bedroom,” cracked Martha.
Ella felt the heat in her cheeks as she turned left the room. She got clean sheets for her and Nathan’s bed and for Martha’s. The beds in the other rooms hadn’t been used and she didn’t see any reason to change them.
After she’d finished that, she got a dust rag from Martha and started dusting. Everything. Luckily Nathan didn’t have a lot of knick-knacks to dust. Still the house was big and there were plenty of surfaces that gathered dust.
By the time she finished, it was time to fix dinner. Martha killed and plucked four chickens. Ella thought she’d be sick.
“I’m not doing that. Ever. Don’t even bother trying to teach me. If you don’t do it and Nathan wants chicken he can kill them and prepare them. I won’t.”
Martha laughed. “Finally some gumption from ya. I was beginning to think Nathan had his own little slave.”
Ella pouted. “I don’t know what you mean. I want to learn how to be a good wife to Nathan and except for the chickens, I think I’m doing well.”
“Never said ya wasn’t.” She handed Ella a bowl of fresh peas to shell. “Yer doin’ great. But you need to know yer limits or you’ll get stampeded right under.”
“Stampeded? What is that?”
“A stampede is when all the cows get to runnin’ in one direction. They’ll run over anything or anyone who gets in their way. It’s real dangerous.”
Ella sat down and started shelling the peas for supper. “Does that happen very often?”
“No,” said Martha as she took a seat at the table with her own pile of peas to shell. “Thank the good Lord.”
CHAPTER 4
By the end of the third day, Ella was beyond exhausted. She was so tired she couldn’t think straight and was questioning her decisions much less her skills. When she and Nathan got to their room all she wanted to do was fall into bed. She sat in the chair in one corner of the room and took off her shoes and stockings. Next she took off her skirt and blouse. By the time she was down to her bloomers and chemise she’d had enough and decided to sleep in them rather than wrestle with her night gown.
She lifted her arms to take down her hair and groaned. Her arms were so sore and tomorrow was laundry day. She’d never make it. Ella wasn’t a quitter, but this was so hard. She started to cry.
Nathan, who had been watching her, was suddenly there, holding her. “It’s alright. I know you’re tired. That’s all, you’re just tired. Here let me help you.” She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. He removed the pins from her hair and it fell around her waist. He ran his fingers through the thick sable tresses and loosened them. Then he massaged her scalp. It felt so good, she relaxed some.
“Feel better?”
“Hmm. Yes. Thank you.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. Then moved her hair to one side and kissed her neck. Shivers replaced the soreness of her muscles.
“Take off your chemise and bloomers.”
“I…”
“I want to see how your sores are doing.”
She nodded not wanting him to stop kissing her.
He helped her get off the top pulling it over her head. Then she stepped out of her bloomers. She should be embarrassed to be standing in front of him naked while he was fully clothed, but she was too tired to care.
“Beautiful,” he said looking at her, his eyes dark with passion. “Turn around, let me see your back first.”
She turned and he gently touched her. “They look better. I’m going to put some more salve on them.”
She had to admit it felt good. Whether it was the ointment or his touch, she wasn’t sure.
“Now turn around.” When she did he lifted her breast to see the sores underneath. Then as he released it he ran his thumb over her nipple. She swung her gaze to his. It felt so good, sending shock waves right to the center of her womanhood.
He did it again and she moaned, “Nathan.”
His lips crashed down on her. He took all that she would give and then some. She opened her mouth to him. She learned quickly and it was now as automatic as breathing. Her hands worked their way up his chest and around his neck. He crushed her to him.
Exhaustion gave way to passion. His shirt was in her way. She wanted to feel his naked skin against her own. Warmth against warmth. Flesh against flesh. She began to undo the buttons on his shirt. Frustrated she ripped one off and he ripped the others, buttons flying everywhere. She’d have to sew them back on tomorrow, but right now she didn’t care.
“Nathan, please.” She didn’t know what she asked for only that she needed more and he could provide it.
He toed off his boots, undid his belt and dropped his drawers and pants.
She stood back and admired her husband who’s manhood stood long, wide and proud.
“Come here” he commanded and she eagerly complied. He lifted her up, carried her to the bed and lowered them both to the mattress. “What do you want from me, Ella? Tell me.”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Do you want this?” He kissed her neck.
“Yes.”
“And this?” He licked where he’d kissed and then lightly blew on it, sending shivers up and down her spine.
“Yes.” Her breathing came in pants now. But what she really needed was more. More what, she didn’t know.
He moved lower and circled her nipple with his tongue and then sucked it into his mouth. He pulled back with a resounding pop. “How about that?”
“Yes.” She pulled his head back down to her. “Oh, God, yes.”
He chuckled. “I knew there was passion in you.” He took her other nipple into his mouth and lavished it with his tongue pulling little mewling sounds from her.
“Nathan, you said you wouldn’t make love to me until I asked, well I’m asking. Please, make me your wife.”
“With pleasure, darlin’. With pleasure.”
He moved from her breasts down her stomach to her belly button, poked his tongue in and out of it. She wasn’t totally naïve. She knew he’d be making that same motion with another part of his anatomy in short order.
“I’m going to make you the happiest woman on earth. Are you ready?”
She squirmed on the bed, his hands and mouth giving her wonderful sensations that traveled direct to her lady parts. He kissed her and moved lower. As embarrassed as she was, she couldn’t stop him, didn’t want to stop him. She needed the completion only he could give.
The next thing she knew his mouth was on her, his tongue stabbing against her pleasure nub. She throbbed and arched off the bed, needing closer to his wonderful tongue.
“Nathan!” She wrapped her legs around him trapping his head where it was. He laughed and the vibrations nearly sent her over the edge.
“Nathan, please. Help me.”
“Alright, love, alright.” He slid one then two fingers into her warmth and sizzored them in and out, stretching her as he did. Then he sucked her little bud and stabbed it, flicked it with the point of his tongue.
“Oh, oh my God. Nathan!” she shouted the words as she became a star shooting through the heavens.
As she came back to earth, Nathan raised himself over her. “I’m sorry for any pain I cause you.” With those words he slid his member inside her as far as he could easily, then back out and in again a little farther. She felt him against her barrier and then he backed out and slammed back into her, shoving through the barrier in one swift strike. There was some discomfort and he held himself still at her sharp intake of breath.
“Hold still, Ella. It’ll be better in a moment.”
“I don’t want to hold still.” She moved her body against his. “There’s no more pain. Love me now.”
He kept still only for a moment at her words. Then began to move in and out of her. She was a little awkward, but soon had the rhythm down. Back when he did and up when he pressed forward.
Soon he was moving fast, slamming against her. Fire built within her with each stroke of his penis inside her. She exploded. He followed with a roar of her name then buried his face in her neck and pumped once, twice, three times, his hot seed pouring into her.
Her heart pounded, her breathing was ragged. His was the same. She heard his rapid heartbeat beneath her ear. They laid there, her arms around his shoulders, her legs relaxed to the sides of his as they caught their breath. He rolled to the side taking her with him.
“Ella.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings between us. We are married in every sense of the word, but there is not love. There may never be.”
“Because of my scars.” She tried to pull away from him. He refused to let her.
“No. Not because of your scars. I simply don’t believe in love. I thought myself in love once. I was shown the error of my ways by being run out of town. Never again will I put myself in that position.”
“What about children? Can you love them when you don’t love their mother?” She sounded whiny to her own ears, but she didn’t care.
“Of course. Children are different. They are a part of me. They are innocent, their love pure. I have no doubt you will be a good mother. That’s all I require. As we get to know each other, we’ll form a friendship. Of that I have no doubt.”
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