“No need to rush back early,” Gabe said. “I’ve already packed my lunch, and I won’t be back until late this evening. I’ll be mending some fences along the northeast side of the orchard. Why don’t you relax and spend the day, and I’ll see you at supper?”
The thought that he didn’t really need her around almost made her burst into tears again, but Leslie turned away and nodded. He kissed her on the cheek and left for the day.
When Leslie arrived at her parents’ home, she was relieved to find her mother home alone. Sarah greeted her with a warm hug and then held her at arms’ length to search her daughter’s face.
“Uh oh,” Sarah said softly. “I can see that you’ve been crying. Tell me what’s wrong.”
That was enough to make Leslie start crying again. She allowed her mother to lead her to the kitchen table. Her mother listened patiently while Leslie poured out the whole sad tale of her first few days of marriage, including the disastrous wedding night, the ruined meals, the fire, the fights, the torn sheets, and Gabe’s insistence that she change her attire.
“So you see,” Leslie said between sniffles, “I just can’t do anything right. We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon, but everything I try to do just gets ruined. I’m a terrible wife, and Gabe is never going to fall in love with me.”
Sarah squeezed her hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Come now. It’s not as bad as all that, sweetheart. You can learn to cook and sew, and you can certainly learn to wear pretty dresses. You may even grow to like them, once you see how your husband looks at you when you wear them.”
She gave her daughter a wink, and Leslie gave a weak laugh. But almost immediately, another thought struck her and she started weeping all over again.
“But don’t you see, Ma? I’m not a talented seamstress like you, and I never will be. Gabe is going to hate me when he sees how much those pretty dresses cost to buy them ready made. He’ll think I’m a terrible burden.”
“Gabe would never think that about you. Now, wipe your tears.”
Leslie took several deep, calming breaths and managed to regain her composure. She gave her mother a grateful smile.
“Thanks for not telling me ‘I told you so’, Ma. You tried so hard to interest me in these things. I wish now that I had listened to you.”
“There’s plenty of time to learn.” Sarah gave her daughter an impish grin. “In fact, would you like to know a little secret, sweetheart?”
Leslie gave her a curious glance. “Yes. What is it, Ma?”
Sarah giggled like a little girl and motioned for Leslie to follow her into her bedroom. She led her to a large cedar chest and opened the lid. She lifted a beautiful navy blue dress from the chest and shook it out. She laid it on the bed and reached for a green one trimmed in cream colored lace. Leslie stared at it and smoothed her hand over the soft cotton fabric admiringly.
“These are beautiful. I’ve never seen you wear these, Ma.”
“That’s because I didn’t make them for myself,” Sarah said with a grin. “I made them for you.”
Leslie’s brows rose in surprise. “For me? But why?”
“Because I always hoped that, someday, you would want to wear pretty clothes.” She saw tears welling in Leslie’s eyes again, and Sarah shook her finger. “Oh no. No more crying, young lady. The rest of this day is going to be happy.”
Leslie gave a little laugh of relief. “I knew you would know how to cheer me up.”
Sarah gave her a quick hug and then motioned at her britches. “Now, let’s get you out of those boy’s clothes and into this dress. I can’t wait to see it on you.”
Leslie stripped off her clothes and donned a pretty chemise and drawers that her mother handed her. She slipped into the green dress, and Sarah helped her button it up. When she turned to the large mirror, she gasped. “Oh, Ma! It really is a beautiful dress.”
“See, honey?” Sarah pulled a few tendrils of Leslie’s hair down to frame her face. “The color really brings out the green in your eyes, and your neck looks so feminine and elegant.”
Leslie turned back and forth, looking from all angles. “Do you think Gabe will like it?”
Sarah’s chuckle was full of feminine smugness. “He won’t be able to resist you in that dress; just wait and see. I doubt he’ll be able to keep his hands off you.”
Leslie’s cheeks turned a rosy red and she gave her mother a sheepish grin. “I don’t think it matters what I wear. He hasn’t been keeping his hands off me even when I’m wearing britches.”
Sarah’s eyes widened and she met Leslie’s gaze in the mirror. Her mother gave a surprised hoot of laughter and then they both started laughing uproariously.
Just when they started to catch their breath, Leslie’s father opened the bedroom door and looked in on them with a puzzled grin. His eyes widened at the sight of Leslie wearing a dress. He gave a low whistle of appreciation. “Is that my little Cat looking so pretty?”
“Do you like it, Pa?”
“Very nice. You’re as pretty as you mother in that dress.” He gave Sarah a wink. “But what’s all the ruckus in here? You two are laughing as if you’re up to something you shouldn’t be.”
The two women’s eyes met, and they burst out laughing again. Brian’s grin widened. He was obviously pleased to see his two favorite women in high spirits. They finally tired themselves out, and Sarah gave her husband a kiss before shooing him out of the room.
“We’re just having a bit of girl talk, dear. Give us some privacy. We’re working on something important.”
Brian glanced at his daughter once again and gave her a smile of approval. “Come visit me when you’re done, Cat. I miss my little girl.”
Leslie beamed at him. “I will, Pa.”
They waited until they heard Brian leave the cabin before Sarah gave her daughter a reproving look. “You didn’t mention that things were going so well in the bedroom, sweetheart. That puts a whole different spin on things.”
“What do you mean?” Leslie wondered.
Sarah leaned close and grinned. “Making your husband happy in bed is nine tenths of the battle if you want to win his heart. They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but it’s not. It’s through his penis.”
“Mama,” Leslie exclaimed, blushing furiously, even though she was smiling. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
Sarah looked completely unrepentant. “I’m serious, sweetheart. I’ll teach you how to cook and sew. Those things are easy. They just take patience and practice. But unless you know how to please your man in bed, those other things don’t matter one bit.”
Leslie giggled and felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. Her parents had a blissfully happy marriage, so she could only assume that her mother spoke from experience. She gave her mother a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“I love you, Ma. You always make me feel better.”
Sarah hugged her back. “I love you, too. Now, let’s get you out of this dress. I want you to try on the others.”
“The others? You mean there are more?”
Sarah laughed with obvious delight. “Sweetheart, that whole chest is full of pretty dresses, just for you. I hoped and prayed that, someday, you would decide you wanted to dress like a young lady instead of a tomboy. I’m so pleased that I finally have a chance to see you wear them.”
Leslie was thrilled with the clothes her mother had made for her. There were a dozen dresses in every color she could want, along with pretty undergarments and soft, comfortable shoes. They packed them carefully into some bags that she would be able to tie to her saddle when she returned home.
They spent the rest of the morning and afternoon in the kitchen. Sarah showed Leslie some basics, like measuring ingredients, reading recipes, and meal planning. She chose some simple recipes that her daughter would be able to easily follow, and she explained the steps. She showed her how to make properly seasoned beans and light, fluffy cornbread. She even showed her
how to inventory the pantry so that she had an organized shopping list for her trip into town. As Sarah explained, it was impossible to cook tasty meals without the proper ingredients.
By the time Leslie returned home, her spirits and her confidence had been restored. It was midafternoon, and she had a plan for making a simple but delicious meal for Gabe.
Leslie had changed back into her britches prior to riding home. She decided to wear them while she cooked, so she wouldn’t get any stains on her new dresses. She carefully packed the new clothes into the wardrobe and dresser in the bedroom and then started cooking.
Following her mother’s instructions and recipe, Leslie carefully worked on preparing a pot of stew. She cut some dried beef into chunks and browned them evenly. Then, she added the potatoes, carrots and onions that she had carefully peeled and chopped. After simmering the stew for a while, she added fresh peas and corn, along with a few dried herbs. She was especially careful when she added the salt, wanting it to be perfectly seasoned.
While the stew bubbled gently on the stove, she once again gathered the ingredients for cornbread. She was determined to get it right this time. She painstakingly added the various ingredients, and the batter was just the right consistency when she poured it into the pan. She slid it into the oven, checked the stew, and hurried to change her clothes.
As she freshened up and changed, she prayed that the meal would impress Gabe. She wanted to please him more than anything.
Gabe arrived home, and he sighed as he settled the animals and finished his evening chores. When he arrived at the orchard to fix the fence, he had found several limbs broken off some of the fruit trees. He’d found that odd, since he hadn’t noticed them the day before. Luckily, most of the damaged trees were older ones that he had planned to replace in the next year or two, anyway. Still, it meant that this year’s crop would be slightly reduced, and he’d been working hard to increase his profits. This was a definite set back.
On top of everything else, he was exhausted. He’d barely slept the night before because of his worry for Leslie. He hoped that she was in a better mood after seeing her family. He didn’t know whether he could face another stressful evening like the last one.
Leslie had been on his mind the entire day. He kept remembering how sad she had been. He wished he had more time to help her adjust to married life, but he had his hands full running the farm. Summer was the busiest time of year. He couldn’t afford to tutor his wife in the basics of housekeeping. Gabe had hoped that a wife would ease his burdens, not add to them. But he and Leslie had gotten off to a pretty rocky start. He didn’t foresee things getting easier any time soon.
After washing up at the pump, he headed for the cabin. He just wanted a decent meal, a soft bed, and a willing woman. He hoped that wasn’t asking too much.
When Gabe entered the cabin, he stopped dead in his tracks. He blinked several times, trying to make sure that the vision before him was really his wife and not some hallucination. Leslie had never looked more beautiful. She was dressed in a green dress that picked up the green flecks in her eyes. She had used matching ribbons to tie up her glossy blonde curls.
Gabe’s eyes made a slow sweep of her figure from head to toe and back again. Hot blood flooded into his cock as he admired her lush curves. His hands fairly itched to circle her waist and cup her charmingly displayed breasts. When he finally dragged his eyes up to meet hers, she gave him a brilliant smile.
“Hi,” she said simply.
“Hi, kitten,” he huskily replied.
Gabe approached her slowly, halfway convinced that she was a mirage who would disappear if he touched her. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a puzzled frown. “Where’d you get this pretty dress?”
“My mother made it for me. Do you like it?”
She stepped back and made a slow turn, holding her skirt out to one side. Gabe nodded and grinned.
“I love it. You look beautiful, kitten.”
“Thank you,” she said with a little laugh. “I’ll be sure to tell Ma that you approve.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. When he finally raised his head, he grinned at her, flashing his sexy dimples. “Oh, I definitely approve. This dress makes me want to see what you’re wearing underneath it.”
As he said the last, he hooked a finger into the neckline of her bodice and pulled it outward so he could peek at her breasts.
“Gabe,” she cried, batting his hand away. “None of that right now. Supper is ready, and you must be starved.”
He waggled his brows at her playfully. “Can’t I just eat you for supper? You look mighty appetizing in that dress.”
Leslie giggled but shook her head. “No. I made a special supper for you, so please sit down.”
For the first time since he entered, he noticed something besides her. He took a deep sniff and sighed. He sat down and watched as Leslie carefully ladled stew onto two plates and brought them to the table.
“Smells good,” he said, hoping against hope that this meal wouldn’t be ruined. “Is that stew I see?”
“Stew and cornbread,” she said proudly. “And this time, I know it tastes good, because I already had a bite.”
Gabe breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want a repeat of the previous night. He waited until Leslie was seated before digging in. When he took the first tentative bite, his eyes widened. He quickly took another bite and grinned at her.
“Kitten, this is delicious. I think this is the best stew I’ve ever eaten.”
Leslie’s face glowed with pride. “Try the cornbread, too,” she urged him.
Gabe broke the corn stick in half and bit off a piece. “This is as good as your mother’s,” he mumbled around the mouthful.
Leslie laughed delightedly. “That’s because it’s Ma’s recipe. She showed me how to make it today.”
“You might have to visit your ma more often,” he quipped.
They enjoyed the remainder of the meal, chatting and laughing easily. As they ate, Gabe felt a huge sense of relief. Maybe there was hope for them, after all.
After supper, Leslie insisted that he relax in the living room while she cleaned up the kitchen. He couldn’t get over how pretty she looked in that dress. His eyes never strayed from her, and several times she blushed when she caught him staring at her.
As soon as she was finished, he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her. Without releasing her lips, he slowly walked her backward down the short hallway. By the time they reached their bedroom, they were both panting with desire.
Gabe trailed hot kisses down her neck and over her breasts as he hastily unbuttoned her dress and let it drop to the floor. Her chemise and drawers soon followed. He laid her in the middle of the bed and rolled her stockings off, one by one. He greedily scanned her naked form.
“For someone so insistent on me wearing dresses, you sure didn’t let me wear one for very long,” Leslie teased.
Gabe chuckled, gripping her thighs and spreading them wide open. His eyes gleamed as he stared down at her body. “Believe me, kitten, it was worth it. My cock’s been as hard as a rock ever since I laid eyes on you tonight.”
Leslie giggled and watched avidly while he quickly stripped off his clothes. He climbed on the bed and lay on his stomach between her legs. She started to sit up, but he placed a large hand in the middle of her stomach and pushed her back down.
“No, stay just like you are.”
“Gabe? What are you doing?” she asked nervously.
“I’m claiming what’s mine,” he growled.
Without further explanation, he licked her slit from bottom to top with a pleased hum. Leslie cried out and jerked her hips. His hot tongue sent delicious quivers through her sex. He curled his hands around her thighs to hold her in place and gave her another thorough lick. What he was doing felt wonderful, but Leslie was shocked. She had never dreamed that he would have his face there, and she tried to pull back and close her thighs. Sensing her continued se
lf-consciousness, he paused and pinned her with a frown.
“You’re not allowed to be shy or to hide your body from me. You’re mine, kitten. Every inch of your body belongs to me. It’s time that you learn how to properly present your body to me to serve my pleasure. Now, open your legs and show me your pussy.” He watched as she complied hesitantly. “That’s good. Now, bend your knees and grab hold of your thighs. Pull them as wide open as possible so that I can get to every bit of this luscious pink flesh that belongs to me. Good girl. Arch your hips and offer your pussy up to me to show that you know it’s mine. Your posture should invite me to do whatever I wish with you.”
His deep voiced command, full of arrogance and possessiveness, aroused her beyond reason. Leslie felt a gush of fluid trickle from her opening in response to his demand. She moaned softly as she followed his orders, tilting her hips upward in humble supplication. Her pulse was pounding with excitement. The lewd position that he had demanded from her underscored his dominance, and she waited breathlessly for his approval.
Her musky sweet fragrance filled his head. Gabe took several long moments just to enjoy the view. He ran his palms up and down her quivering inner thighs while he appreciated the sight of her sweetly submissive pose. She was wide eyed and panting with anticipation as she waited for him to claim her most vulnerable flesh. He purposely kept her waiting, wanting her to feel just how much she was under his control. When he saw another telltale trickle of fluid, he met her eye with a smug grin.
“That’s my sweet kitten. From now on, whenever I tell you to present your body to me, this is what I expect. No matter where we are or what you are doing at the time, when I command you to present your body to me, you will assume the best position possible that exposes every part of your body and invites me to do as I wish with it. You are never to hide your body from me, because it is mine to enjoy. Do you understand?”
Leslie blushed, but she nodded. Gabe shocked her by giving her three harsh slaps directly over her clit. She jerked and squealed, but she remained in the position he had directed her to assume. Her clit throbbed painfully, and the skin around it stung like fire. She felt another gush of fluid trickle from her slit, and her wide eyes met his piercing gaze.
His Sweet Kitten (Return To The McKenzies Book 1) Page 13