Beloved Texas Bride

by Ginny Sterling

  “Just sleep, please, for tonight,” she reiterated nervously.

  “Of course,” Cole agreed softly.

  “You first,” he offered. He was sure his skittish woman would not be there in the morning if he let her sleep on the outside of the bed. If she was that scared of him, she would have to climb over him or wake him up to leave. He preferred the climbing.

  Nodding and pulling her eyes from him, she silently moved across the floor. There was something so personal and sexual about climbing into a man’s warm bed, she thought and felt her heart lurch and a wave of desire flood her body.

  Beth almost backed out of the bed when she suddenly had to restrain a groan of pleasure lying in the warmth his body had left there. His scent was on the pillows and it was devastating. She lay close to the wall, silently, with her back to him and felt the bed give as he joined her. Catching her breath, she waited for him to move and felt herself panicking.

  Mistake! She thought wildly. Mistake! Mistake!

  Cole could hear her practically panting and gasping in fear. What was she so afraid of? Him? “Shhh, Beth, relax,” he crooned gently. “I promised I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want – and I won’t. You don’t have to be afraid. It’s like the kissing. I’m just going to hold you while we both sleep.” Cole noticed that she did not respond but did not flee, either.

  “Good night, Beth,” he said, moving towards her to spoon her.

  Beth was glad he was talking her through it. His body seemed so very hard and so very large compared to hers. It was a bit terrifying to see him as well as to feel her response to him. She had read some women enjoyed their freedom and their sexuality, but those women were a pariah on polite society- or so her mother had told her. They were only to touch to procreate, according to mother and the church.

  So why was her body craving to touch his as well as having him touch her? As she felt his arms wrap around her, enveloping her in his warmth, a contented sigh escaped her. This can’t be wrong when it feels so good. She felt protected and cherished. Wasn’t that the point of a successful marriage?

  Cole expected to cuddle her taut frame and was pleasantly surprised to hear her sigh and melt in his arms. He felt her practically mold herself to him as he gathered her up against him. Her body fit his perfectly and felt so right.

  Someday, he thought, someday he will be able to enjoy her touch and fill his every desire. If this keeps up, I’m going to be nominated for sainthood, he thought as he heard her sigh in contentment one more time before nodding off himself.

  Fifteen

  Cole woke first in the morning and had to muffle a laugh. He didn’t want to wake her just yet as she slept contentedly draped across his body. He could feel her bare legs against his calves and was certain that if the sun didn’t wake her soon, that his erection certainly would. There was nothing like waking up with the woman you adore softly snoring against your chest. He lay there for some time, listening to her, hearing a hitch to her breathing. He knew the moment she awoke.

  I feel amazing, Beth thought sleepily. This was, by far, the best night of sleep… wait! She thought as she realized where she was and where she was located in the bed. At some point during the night, she ended up all over Cole’s warm body … but he hadn’t taken advantage of her or touched her.

  “Whoops,” Beth muttered, embarrassed. He really would hold true to his word and wondered how far she could push him and still say no. Beth moved to climb off of him and felt his hands reach up and grasp her waist.

  “You’re fine. You don’t have to move yet,” he said hoarsely, his own voice groggy from sleep. His hands quickly kept her from moving. As she started to protest, he shushed her again with a lazy smile.

  “This is the best morning I’ve had in quite some time thanks to you… care to make it better?” he asked suggestively as she pushed a mop of hair from her face.

  “You are a beautiful sight, my Beth,” he said and kissed her softly.

  Beth knew that she should be scared, that she should run, but she could not move for the world. It was heaven having him hold her and he was downright sexy in the dawning light. His tanned skin was practically golden as she saw his smiling lips move to kiss her. And what a kiss it was!

  Her body was pressed most deliciously against his. With just the barest fabric between them, it was most erotic. She could feel her nipples tighten as warmth blossomed in her belly. Beth whispered his name as he moved to kiss her, once again.

  Ever so slowly, Cole deepened the kiss and gently ran his hands along her back, enjoying her taste and her response to him. He did not want to stop, but didn’t want to backtrack either, when they were making such progress. He heard Beth give a small moan as he released her lips and kissed her neck softly. He was arrogantly pleased to see her arch into him, giving him better access.

  “Ah, Beth, you are so sweet. Is this what you want, love?” he said breathlessly against her throat, practically feeling her purr against his lips. “Or do you want me to keep going?” he said, sealing the suggestion with a soft nip against her collarbone.

  Keep going! She wanted to shriek but could only nod emphatically. Her world right now was centered in this very bed and she could not leave it just yet. She knew the proper thing to do would be to get up and return to her room to dress, but the woman inside of her blossoming with each hot touch of his mouth. She was going nowhere fast.

  Beth felt her world roll as Cole moved her beneath him. She gave another soft sigh as she felt him press against her body. They just fit and it seemed perfect. She opened her eyes to see his tender gaze upon her, silently asking for permission.

  “Let’s see where this goes,” she whispered and was abruptly cut off by his hot kiss.

  This time, it was a bit more heated.

  More aggressive.

  More dominating… like she had felt him kiss her before-but now? Now, she was blooming under his tutelage.

  Cole’s hands were everywhere and before she could protest or say otherwise, those same heated touches would completely wipe her senseless. Beth did not even realize that her gown had crept up, exposing her body, until she felt his warm lips envelope a taut nipple, drawing a gasp from her.

  Beth’s body was a work of art that she hid beneath her outer shell. Ensconced in that dreaded corset, lay a siren just waiting to be unleashed. He felt like he was a composer playing the finest instrument he had ever held in his life and there would be no wrongdoings, only stunning creations as he plucked, stroked and touched her body.

  “You are lovely,” he whispered as he captured one rosy peak upon her lovely exposed breast. He laved it reverently and worshiped the other breast fondly, thanking her courage silently for this gift. He looked up and saw her body arched and her eyes closed in delight. The sensation was most primal for him. He ran his hands possessively across the plane of her stomach and hesitated.

  Cole wanted so much to taste the dampness he could feel against his body. Beth was so heated, so wet, and her body was ready for his but he wasn’t sure if now was the right time for her. Would she regret this?

  “My love,” he hesitated, knowing it was the right thing to do for her. Give her the choice, he thought.

  Beth was dazed in the waves of pleasure coming off of her body that she barely heard him speaking to her. When she heard Cole repeating himself, it dawned on her that he was asking a question.

  “Beth, I want to love you so much. To make you mine… but I said I would let you decide and never force you,” he said quietly, trying to keep the desire from making his voice shake like a schoolboy. He could feel his hands trembling and itching to keep touching her.

  “It’s your choice, again. Do you want me to please you and make you scream in ecstasy or shall I stop?” Please don’t pick the latter, he thought. He didn’t have to bury himself in her, he wanted to! – oh how he wanted to! But right now, the idea of just tasting her and making her come was pretty powerful and would satisfy some small part of his desires for now.
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br />   Beth could feel the sun on her face, the heat of his hands still touching her body and was nowhere ready to stop this exquisite torment he was creating. Not sure she could trust her voice, she raised a shaking hand and laid it on his bare lower back feeling his skin jump at her touch. His back was so very smooth and she gave in to the urge to touch him, stroking her shaking hands along his spine.

  “Keep touching me, Cole. Don’t stop yet,” she whispered.

  Cole obliged gratefully and gave in to his every whim. He teased, tasted and kept his promise to her. When he heard Elizabeth’s cry of passion, he knew he had pleased his woman. The temptation to take her and make her his forever was overwhelming. Seeing her head tossing back and forth upon the pillow at his ministrations, he decided this time he would make the decisions for her. He had to be kidding himself earlier if he thought he could have stopped at this point. Tasting Beth’s juices against his lips, once again, he shrugged the loose pants that had grown too tight. Freeing his body, he settled himself between her legs and eased himself into her hot core, taking care not to hurt his sweet bride.

  Beth felt Cole move away for a moment as the waves of pleasure washed over her. She felt like her bones were water at the powerful explosion he had created in her. Her desires were overriding anything that her mind was telling her and when she felt Cole’s mouth in her most private of places, she almost launched off the bed in shock until he stroked her just right.

  Now, as the crests of passion were fading she felt him nudge his body between her legs. Cole’s hot body was now sliding into hers, creating a delicious fullness that was burning her alive.

  “Oh dear God, don’t stop,” she practically begged in a voice she didn’t recognize as she felt his body slip away from her. Beth let loose a gasp as she felt his heat surge forward, touching deep in her body. A different pleasure was now unfurling in her abdomen, not quite as intense as before but a building sensation that she couldn’t put a finger on. She could feel it growing and knew she needed more, arching her body to meet his as she felt a rush of heat in her womb and heard his guttural growl of satisfaction.

  The silence was broken by birds singing outside as they caught their breath, each lost in their thoughts. Beth was stunned by the sensations and feelings he had drawn from her, as well as surprised by her own carnal desires. Her heart fluttering in her chest, she practically giggled thinking back over how she must have looked or sounded when she was out of control.

  “What’s so funny?” Cole asked, as he leaned up on one elbow and watched Beth. She was amazing to him. There were so many facets to her personality. Each more perfect than the last. This side of her was most precious, he decided. Her flushed face surrounded by tousled hair, complete with a satisfaction in her eyes was quite heady.

  Cole pleased his woman and it showed. She had such sultry lips. As she shyly smiled at him, she couldn’t quite meet his eyes. She’s a temptress, he thought, and I have fallen willingly.

  “You aren’t supposed to laugh after we make love,” Cole teased. He was glad she wasn’t upset or regretting their actions. He had none and wished this moment did not have to end.

  “Begging for more is fine, or thanking me for the best experience and clamoring for me to ‘do it again’ works great for me, too,” he teased as he tickled her warm body still pulled tightly to his own. This is where she is meant to be, in my arms, he thought.

  Beth’s suppressed laugh escaped her as she heard his suggestions. “Thanking you? Begging you? YOU should be thanking me, you know!” she replied, a bit outraged that he would even suggest such a thing. Pulling the sheet over her, trying to hide from his wandering eyes, she felt his warm, strong hands stop her.

  Finally looking at him, she saw a light in his eyes that had not been present before. Happiness! Love? He is happy with us, with me! she thought, amazed, as she stared at his face. Cole had teased her before, but never on such an intimate level and never with such an intense look. This was their own world and it was heady to share with him.

  She watched as he leaned in and kissed her most tenderly. Lovingly, she thought and shooed it away. Was it too much, too fast? People don’t fall in love that quickly… or do they?

  His lips were quickly causing her to respond to him yet again. The scent of their bodies as well as his warmth was doing crazy things to her body.

  “We need to get ready for the social and I need time, please,” she said, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. Beth needed time to analyze this, to think it through. Why did she not fear this, fear him?

  Cole could feel her pulling away as if he could practically hear the tear between them. She was overwhelmed, scared or shying away.

  “Beth, it’s okay,” he said gently. He did not want her to run and was more than pleased with how things were proceeding. His little bride was skittish and if she needed a moment, he was all right with that. It might be good for her to step back, as long as she knew he was there for her when she was ready.

  “You are right. We need to get ready so I can show off my wife,” he said teasing her and trying to make light of the intimate atmosphere as he stepped from their bed, knowing she would be watching him. He stretched and lazily walked from the room to start the coffee for the two of them.

  Beth watched his taut body walk from the room, practically staring as her gaze drank in every muscle that moved. His tanned body would be emblazoned in her mind as if it were branded. That is mine, she thought, stunned, and fanned herself quickly as her face flushed. Shaking her head when he was out of sight, she quickly rose, staring at the empty doorframe.

  The strange soreness in her body should alarm her. Instead, it made her feel claimed. Possessed. Where she had run before from being someone’s possession, she was more than confused that she no longer felt the urge to leave the situation.

  The idea of being Cole’s did not scare her as she thought it would. The fear of losing her independence should be there and it was not. She listened to him move about their kitchen. Instead of bolting at the first chance, Beth took her time washing and dressing, almost as if subconsciously she wanted him to walk back in on her.

  Beth smiled, satisfied.

  There was no decision to make, she was sure of her answer already.

  She had found her home… and it was in Cole’s arms.

  Sixteen

  Cole said nothing to Beth on the ride to the gathering. The church social was a large event for the community. Most people in the area that he would be remotely in contact with would be there… including those that he had known since he was a child. It would be strange seeing them all since it had been so long ago that he had attended last. The last social had been with his father after his mother’s death. It had been a solemn event filled with “I’m so sorry about your mother” as well as many offers of assistance. The congregation was family and had always accepted his father. Would they accept him as well since it had been so long? He was not his father and never had attended regularly before, nor had plans to now. However, he did plan to make Beth his bride on paper as well as having claimed her verbally.

  Anxious, Beth nervously fidgeted in the wagon seat as they crested the hill. Cole had been so quiet yet ever polite. The intimate mood had been broken and he had given her the space she had asked for.

  Why on earth had she broken the moment? she thought as she peered past her bonnet towards her now chosen partner. Surely he wasn’t having second thoughts? She almost wished she could rewind the morning and do it all over again but knew it wasn’t possible. Moving forward was her only choice and making the best of it all would guide her through it.

  Feeling like a princess, Beth smoothed her gown carefully over her knees and was glad she had thought to bring the shawl to place over it. The wagon was throwing up dust and gravel as they rode on in silence. “Thank you again for the dress,” she said politely, trying to get him to engage in conversation because the silence was bothering her on a deeper level.

  Maybe he had changed his min
d now that he had his way with her, she thought, bringing a flush of heat to her face as well as her body thinking of how he touched her. Remembering his sultry looks, she banished the doubts from her mind.

  No, she knew better.

  Cole was doing his best to keep from pulling off the side of the dirt road and having his way with Beth. She looked ethereal in the dress he had bought her and the most vibrant pink stained her smooth cheeks. He wanted to touch her soft skin and sample her lips to see if it was as sweet as he had tasted not long ago. Not wanting to bother her, Cole wanted her to enjoy the day he had promised her. It wasn’t a fancy party in Indianapolis, but the gathering was sure to be festive with music, laughter, and food aplenty. She deserved an outing and to feel welcomed in her new homeland. “Nothing to thank me for, Beth. I want my bride to shine,” he said with a smile. “We are almost there. It’s just over the ridge.”

  As promised, the small steeple was the first thing Beth saw over the green hills. It was strange how some areas would be barren and dry, but others would be lush and filled with small trees. If there was water nearby, you knew it by the vegetation. The church was a stark contrast against the landscape, almost gleaming in the whitewash paint that covered it thickly. Tables and benches were spread everywhere along the yard near the steps of the entrance. People surrounded each other, hugging and embracing each other with smiles. It was heartwarming to see such open joy on their faces.

  Beth spotted the clerk from the mercantile as they pulled the wagon forward and came to a stop not far from the rear of the churchyard. It was nice to at least know one person in the grouping as she nervously wondered if she would be welcomed as warmly. Beth leaned towards Cole, happily, announcing that she saw Sam in the distance and pointed as she lay her hand gently on his.