As far as he knew, Leslie had barely eaten all day. She had hardly eaten two bites at the wedding luncheon. Surely, she must be hungry. He looked at his own half eaten meal and snorted in disgust. He would be damned before he let the little minx know she had ruined his meal.
Gabe tossed the remains of his meal in a bucket for the hogs, cleaned up his dishes, and left the rest on the table, in case she changed her mind. It was almost dark, and Leslie still hadn’t budged from her spot. She showed no signs of changing her mind, and that just strengthened his resolve. Muttering a curse, he stalked to the lonely bedroom. This wasn’t how he had pictured his wedding night.
He lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. Just twenty-four hours earlier, he had been lying there trying to decide who to marry, and now he had a wife not of his choosing. It was just his luck that he had married a stubborn little wildcat who wouldn’t give him a moment’s peace. He had thought that he would at least have the pleasure of bedding the little hellion. Instead, he was as horny as a hound dog without any relief in sight.
Gabe was determined to go to sleep and leave Leslie out there all night if necessary to get his point across. Sooner or later, she would have to give in. He just had to wait her out.
He kept telling himself that as he tossed and turned. Glancing out the window, he judged it to be at least midnight, if not later. It had been an exhausting day, and he had barely slept the night before. Thanks to his wife, he couldn’t sleep tonight, either!
A wolf howled nearby, Gabe jerked upright in the bed. Muttering a string of vicious curses, he threw the covers off and stalked outside to retrieve his wayward bride.
Leslie propped her head on her hand and tried to get comfortable leaning against the side of the wagon bed. She ached all over. She was hot and sweaty and bone tired. The corset and dress felt like they were going to strangle her. Her feet were pinched and throbbing. Her bottom was already tender and sore from being spanked, and sitting on the hard wood all day had only made it worse. She was so hungry and thirsty that she had considered admitting defeat and going inside at least a dozen times. Now, on top of everything else, she desperately needed to pee.
A wolf howled and startled her so badly that she jumped to her feet. She peered off into the nearby trees, trying to see if any eyes were staring back at her. Another wolf answered, sounding even closer than the first one. She began to tremble, and she hugged her arms around her waist.
She was on the verge of giving in and seeking the refuge of the cabin when she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She whirled and her jaw dropped at the site of Gabe. He was buck naked and stalking toward her with a scowl on his face.
Without a word, he bent and hefted her over his shoulder, just like he had done the previous night in the barn. Her breath left her with a whoosh as her abdomen connected with his hard shoulder. Thanks to the blasted corset, she didn’t even have enough breath to scream.
Gabe turned on his heel and carried her into the cabin, slamming the door behind them. He stomped into the bedroom and dumped her unceremoniously onto the mattress.
Leslie had barely landed before she scrambled to her feet on the opposite side of the bed. “How dare you manhandle me like that, you big jackass!”
Gabe rounded the bed in two long strides, and he backed her up against the wall between the bed and the dresser. Leslie swallowed hard but met his furious gaze. When he spoke, his voice was an angry growl.
“I’ll handle you any way I damn well please, kitten. No wife of mine is going to spend the night with a bunch of wolves because she doesn’t have the good sense to come inside the house. Now, unless you want another spanking, you’d better watch your mouth.”
“You wouldn’t dare spank me on our wedding night,” she snapped.
Gabe stepped closer, bracing his hands on either side of her head and trapping her between his thighs. They were touching from chest to groin, and Leslie was aware of every solid inch of his body pressing against her own. Even through her layers of clothing, his erection felt like a fiery brand on her lower abdomen. His breath was a hot blast against her cheek as he leaned near her ear.
“You’ll soon learn that there’s not much I won’t dare,” he growled. “I’ve been sorely tempted to spank you all afternoon, so unless you want another trip across my knees, I suggest you watch your mouth. The next time you use foul language, I’m going to blister your sweet little ass. Is that clear?”
Leslie was glad it was dark in the room so that he couldn’t see her blush. She nodded shakily.
He cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eye. “Not good enough, kitten. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” she gritted out.
She tried to push against his chest, but he didn’t budge an inch. He smirked at her, raising an imperious brow.
“Good. Now, you’re going to get undressed and get your little fanny in that bed.”
She made a scoffing noise. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to make love with you after the way you’ve acted today.”
“Make love with you?” Gabe gave a scornful laugh. “You have to be in love to make love, kitten. Anything else is just sex.”
She turned her head to the side to hide how much his words had stung. “Well, I hope you don’t think I’ll have sex with you then.”
He grasped her jaw in a firm grip and kissed her. She tried to resist, but his lips were persistent and persuasive. He nibbled and teased, coaxing her to respond. He gently probed with his tongue, and she opened her mouth on a gasp. He surged inside, claiming her mouth and making her forget anything else as he tasted her leisurely. In no time at all, she had wound her arms around his neck, and she was kissing him back. He lifted his head and gave her a mocking grin. She was panting eagerly in his arms.
“Believe me, kitten, if I wanted to have sex with you, I wouldn’t have any trouble persuading you.”
Gabe’s gaze dropped to her heaving bosom. His cock was aching, and he trembled with arousal. There was nothing he wanted more than to peel off her clothes and claim her body. It took every ounce of his willpower to refrain from doing so, and it infuriated him that she could so easily stir his lust. After the childish way she had behaved that afternoon, he wanted to hurt her feelings, and his lips curled into a nasty sneer.
“Not that it matters anyway, kitten. You belong to me now, and I warned you how it’s going to be. I plan to enjoy your body anytime I want. But tonight, you can rest easy. I have no intention of touching you. I can barely stand to look at you after the way you behaved this afternoon. I just want to get some sleep, and I’m sick and tired of your silly, childish games. Now, get undressed, or I’ll do it for you.”
Gabe stepped back and stood with his arms crossed as he glared down at her. Leslie clenched her jaw to keep her chin from trembling. She absolutely refused to let him see how badly his words had hurt her.
“I will not get undressed in front of you.” She crossed her arms and raised her chin defiantly, but he merely laughed.
“Either you will get undressed, or I will undress you myself. But believe me, if I have to undress you, there won’t be much left of this pretty dress when I’m done ripping it off. And after I’ve done that, I will turn you over my knee for the spanking that you so richly deserve.”
Leslie could see that he was perfectly serious, and she released a frustrated screech. She turned her back to him and started unbuttoning her dress. She wasn’t familiar with all the fastenings and her fingers were trembling. She groaned, straining to see what she was doing in the dark. After a couple of minutes, Gabe heaved an impatient sigh, gripped her shoulder and turned her back to face him.
With surprising ease, he released the rest of her buttons and hooks, and he pulled the dress down over her hips so she could step out of it. He unlaced her corset and drawers in record time and threw them on top of her dress on a nearby chair. Leslie gave a surprised yelp when he knelt and yanked her garters off and impatiently rolled her stockings down her legs. When he stood up aga
in, she was left in nothing but her chemise, and she crossed her arms protectively over her bosom. Her pulse was pounding, and her skin still tingled where his fingers had brushed down her inner thighs.
Gabe’s eyes were fully adjusted to the dark. There was plenty of moonlight for him to see her huge rounded eyes and heaving bosom. His hands fairly itched to pull her close and caress her ripe curves. He hated being so susceptible to her. If he wasn’t careful, he would soon be panting at her heels, and he absolutely refused to be led around by his cock.
“That’s good enough,” he growled. “You can sleep in that instead of a nightgown. Now, get in bed so we can get some sleep.”
With a huff, Leslie complied. Gabe crawled into the other side and punched his pillow as he settled in.
“How do you know so much about unfastening women’s clothes?” she grumbled.
“As you already know, I’ve had a lot of practice down at Harvey’s saloon,” Gabe growled.
“Oooh,” she screeched. “I hate you. You’re an inconsiderate beast!”
Leslie turned her back to him with a huff of outrage. Gabe chuckled and faced the other wall.
“I suggest you remember that the next time you get the urge to act like a child.”
Leslie was rigid with anger, but she was determined not to give him the satisfaction of baiting her any further. She tried her best to go to sleep, but she couldn’t help squirming and shifting. After almost an hour, Gabe heaved a long-suffering sigh. He sat up and glared at her.
“Are you planning on settling down anytime soon, or are you determined to keep me up all night long?”
“I need to pee,” she murmured.
Gabe growled and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Well, for heaven’s sake, get up and pee.”
“I don’t know where the bathroom is.”
“It’s the first door on the left,” he growled.
Several moments passed, but she made no move to get up. Gabe sighed again and shook his head with frustration.
“What’s the matter now?”
“It’s dark in the hall. How will I be able to see my way?”
Gabe muttered something under his breath and lit an oil lamp beside the bed. He stood up and hauled her to her feet. Leslie studiously avoided looking at his naked form. He towed her behind him, opened the door to the bathroom, and tugged her inside.
“There’s a commode there. I’ll empty it in the morning.” He set the lamp on a small table, stepped outside the door, and gave her a deep, mocking bow that looked especially ridiculous, given his nudity. “Will there be anything else tonight, your majesty, or do you suppose I could finally get some sleep now?”
Leslie glared at him and then slammed the door in his face. She heard his footsteps retreating, and she sighed. She relieved herself and cleaned her hands. When she saw her reflection in a small oval mirror, her expression crumbled. Fat tears fell in rivulets, and it was several minutes before she could regain her composure.
She washed her face and took a few deep breaths before finally leaving the bathroom. There was no way she would return to the bedroom. Not after Gabe had been so mean. Instead, she extinguished the lamp and left it on the kitchen table before curling up in a rocking chair in the living room. She found a warm blanket and wrapped it around her. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but she was so tired that she was asleep in no time.
Chapter 6
Bright sunshine streaming through the window and right into his eyes woke Gabe up. He groaned and rolled over. Without thinking about what he was doing, he reached for Leslie, only to find her side of the bed empty. He bolted up with a curse.
A glance out the window confirmed it was a lot later than he usually rose in the morning. Even so, he was exhausted. He had slept only fitfully for the rest of the night, and he was as grumpy as an old bear.
He donned his clothes and boots and went in search of his wife. She wasn’t in the kitchen, and when he stepped out onto the porch and looked around, she was nowhere to be seen. He heard a delicate snore from inside, and he finally spotted her. She was curled into a miserable looking ball in one of the rocking chairs.
He quietly approached her and greedily scanned her sleeping form. Her bottom half was covered by a blanket. She had drawn her knees up, but he could see the tips of her tiny bare toes peeking out from beneath the edge of the blanket. Her hair had come loose from several of the pins, and long golden curls fell in a sultry mess around her shoulders. He was tempted to run his fingers through that hair and bury his nose in it so he could breathe in her delicious scent.
One strap of her chemise had slipped off her shoulder, and the ribbon and top few buttons had come undone. The lace edged neckline drooped precariously as a result until it barely concealed her perky nipples. The swells of her breasts were displayed to mind blowing perfection.
His cock was aching and throbbing just from the sight of her. Strange that he was used to seeing saloon girls traipse around in much more revealing clothes, but they never had this effect on him. However, just the idea of Leslie’s body made him as hard as a stone.
Her skin was as smooth and white as a pearl. He longed to run his finger along the edge of the garment or, better yet, his mouth. Her pink nipples strained against the soft silk, and it would take only a brush of his finger to bare them completely. He wondered how she would react if he were to do so. He imagined waking her up by sucking one of those pretty pink nipples deep into his mouth. Would she melt against him willingly, or would she spit in his face?
She wriggled to find a more comfortable position, and the chemise slipped even lower, exposing the edge of one areola. His mouth watered as he stared, transfixed by her beauty. His cock was hard enough to pound nails. He was tempted to lift her in his arms and carry her to their bedroom.
That thought made him pause. Why was he willing to make a romantic gesture like carrying her now when he had refused to carry her across the threshold the day before?
In hindsight, it was a small thing she had asked of him. In fact, it would have been the gentlemanly thing to do. He had accused her of being childish, but hadn’t he been equally immature? By refusing to honor her request, he had made her feel unwelcome in his home. Then, when she needed to find the bathroom, he had mocked her. No wonder she had elected to sleep in the chair rather than returning to bed. She had been right to call him a jackass.
He straightened and gently tucked the blanket around her shoulders. He quietly left the cabin, leaving her to catch a bit more sleep. He fed the animals, milked the cow, and gathered the morning eggs. He returned to find she still hadn’t stirred.
As he stared at her, he relived the events of the previous night. He could have handled things much differently, and he would have awoken this morning feeling refreshed and relaxed. Instead, he had spent a nearly sleepless night and felt more sexually frustrated than he could ever remember being.
He was determined to make Leslie submit to his demands, both in bed and out. However, that didn’t mean that he had to treat her cruelly. It would be easy enough to bend her to his will using persuasion rather than force. If he chose to be charming instead of callous, he could easily have everything he desired from her. It didn’t make sense not to enjoy her body. She was his wife. She would serve his needs, but he would prefer it to be just as pleasant for her as for him.
Gabe put on a pot of coffee, and he started breakfast. He worked as silently as possible, and he was just starting the scrambled eggs when Leslie groaned and blinked her eyes open.
“Rise and shine, kitten. Breakfast is almost ready.”
She frowned at him suspiciously. Whatever he was cooking smelled divine, and her stomach grumbled so loudly he could hear it from the kitchen. Gabe gave a good-natured chuckle.
“I figured you’d be hungry. Go wash up.”
Leslie unfolded her stiff body from the chair and stretched, oblivious to the sight she made in her thin chemise. She padded into the bathroom, and Gabe tried to cool his blood while he finished
cooking. When she returned a few minutes later, she was dressed in her normal britches and shirt.
He was used to seeing her in boy’s clothes, but on this particular morning, it bothered him. A lot. He wasn’t exactly sure why. He should have been relieved that she had dressed in something less provocative, but he wasn’t. Still, he refrained from comment as she took a seat at the table and gave him another wary frown.
Gabe dished up two plates of steaming eggs, sausage and fried potatoes and set them down on the table. He poured her a cup of milk and himself a cup of coffee before joining her. They both tucked into their meal.
Leslie avoided looking at him as much as possible. Every small ache and pain reminded her of her uncomfortable night in the rocking chair. The fact that he looked good enough to eat only added to her aggravation. She was pale and had dark circles beneath her eyes, while he looked like he had slept like a baby.
It was only when she had cleaned her plate and emptied her cup that she noticed he was silently watching her. She stiffened, wondering what he had on his mind. His next words surprised her so much that she nearly fell off her chair.
“I’m sorry about yesterday, kitten.”
Her brow furrowed. “You are?”
“Yes. You were right. I should have carried you inside and welcomed you into your new home. I hope you can forgive me, and we can start fresh.”
She swallowed hard, blinking to hold in the unexpected tears burning the backs of her eyes. An apology was the last thing she had expected. It made her feel guilty for her own behavior. She had acted rather childish.
“I’m sorry, too,” she murmured.
Gabe grinned and held out a hand to her. “Truce?”
His Sweet Kitten (Return To The McKenzies Book 1) Page 8