preacher stared at him with wide, owl-like eyes.
Kathleen's smile wavered as if she were about to burst into giggles.
Graham felt his own grin spread over his face. Again, he experienced that burst of joy at not only having the ability to smile but having something to smile about. Despite his haunting memories, happiness was inches away.
He fished into his trouser pocket and located the thin gold band he'd purchased earlier that day. It wasn't the quality he would have liked to have given her, but it would have to do. This small town had just sprung up as a result of the new railroad, and the trading post didn't exactly carry a wide selection of women's trinkets.
Kathleen extended her delicate, white hand. It pulsed up and down in the air, trembling with nervousness. He searched her gaze for reservations. They knew little about each other, but hell, his parents had fallen in love at first sight and been married within hours. For the past forty years, they'd been happy with their decision.
A soft sigh left Kathleen as Graham slipped the warm band over her finger. It was slightly big, and she folded her fingers into a fist to keep it from falling off. The elation on her face made his heart quicken.
His mind continued to reel, and he heard only half of what the preacher had to say. In the end, the words, “man and wife” broke through his haze.
"Thank you, darlin',” he whispered to his new wife. Gathering her to his chest, he slipped a hand beneath her hat and flipped it off.
"Graham!"
He hushed her by covering her mouth with his. The hunger rose in him instantly. His cock grew harder. He wanted to kiss her like a proper husband—all over her silken little body. But he was sensible of the preacher's presence, so he settled for a swift, chaste kiss.
It was over too quickly, and when he pulled back, Kathleen's expression reflected her displeasure. Her restlessness.
Don't worry, baby. I plan to love you thoroughly.
Swiftly, he turned to the preacher and shook hands, aware of the man's strong grip. A good, honest man. In this part of the country, Graham tended to size men up this way. Kathleen's father had a good grip too. However, the hired man working for the Allens showed not only weakness but something slimy too.
Shaking off the feeling, he scooped Kathleen up and sped her out into the night. When he towed her past his horse, she faltered.
"Aren't we taking your horse?"
"Not this time. I have a surprise for you.” Again, that smile etched across his face. Yes, he could learn to like this. A lot.
On the narrow main street running through the fledgling town and rutted by wagon wheels and horse hooves, he slowed his pace so Kathleen could keep up with him on her shorter legs and high-heeled boots. The ache to toss her over his shoulder and rush to the rented room claimed him.
Slow.
They passed the wooden structures—bathhouses, trading post, and hotel. She looked up at the hotel sign as they passed. “Where are we going?"
"Shh. Trust me, darlin'. I'll always take care of you."
He led her around the back of the hotel and to a narrow door. Letting them in without a word, he pulled her up a flight of stairs toward the lantern glimmering at the top. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw her eyes wide and glittering.
At the top of the stairs, he paused, feeling along the wall for the door latch. It clicked open, and he pushed the door inward.
Candles glowed around the space, and the big, inviting bed beckoned to them. Lying at the foot of the bed was the bouquet he'd spent an hour picking for her in the meadow that afternoon. The hotel owner had agreed to light the candles right before they came up.
Kathleen gasped. Her white fingers fluttered to her mouth, and she pressed her plump lips. Over her fingertips, her eyes filled with tears. “Graham..."
"I wanted something special for my bride."
A soft noise escaped her at that. He couldn't wait a moment longer. He had to put his hands on her.
Spinning
Kathleen's smile wavered as if she were about to burst into giggles.
Graham felt his own grin spread over his face. Again, he experienced that burst of joy at not only having the ability to smile but having something to smile about. Despite his haunting memories, happiness was inches away.
He fished into his trouser pocket and located the thin gold band he'd purchased earlier that day. It wasn't the quality he would have liked to have given her, but it would have to do. This small town had just sprung up as a result of the new railroad, and the trading post didn't exactly carry a wide selection of women's trinkets.
Kathleen extended her delicate, white hand. It pulsed up and down in the air, trembling with nervousness. He searched her gaze for reservations. They knew little about each other, but hell, his parents had fallen in love at first sight and been married within hours. For the past forty years, they'd been happy with their decision.
A soft sigh left Kathleen as Graham slipped the warm band over her finger. It was slightly big, and she folded her fingers into a fist to keep it from falling off. The elation on her face made his heart quicken.
His mind continued to reel, and he heard only half of what the preacher had to say. In the end, the words, “man and wife” broke through his haze.
"Thank you, darlin',” he whispered to his new wife. Gathering her to his chest, he slipped a hand beneath her hat and flipped it off.
"Graham!"
He hushed her by covering her mouth with his. The hunger rose in him instantly. His cock grew harder. He wanted to kiss her like a proper husband—all over her silken little body. But he was sensible of the preacher's presence, so he settled for a swift, chaste kiss.
It was over too quickly, and when he pulled back, Kathleen's expression reflected her displeasure. Her restlessness.
Don't worry, baby. I plan to love you thoroughly.
Swiftly, he turned to the preacher and shook hands, aware of the man's strong grip. A good, honest man. In this part of the country, Graham tended to size men up this way. Kathleen's father had a good grip too. However, the hired man working for the Allens showed not only weakness but something slimy too.
Shaking off the feeling, he scooped Kathleen up and sped her out into the night. When he towed her past his horse, she faltered.
"Aren't we taking your horse?"
"Not this time. I have a surprise for you.” Again, that smile etched across his face. Yes, he could learn to like this. A lot.
On the narrow main street running through the fledgling town and rutted by wagon wheels and horse hooves, he slowed his pace so Kathleen could keep up with him on her shorter legs and high-heeled boots. The ache to toss her over his shoulder and rush to the rented room claimed him.
Slow.
They passed the wooden structures—bathhouses, trading post, and hotel. She looked up at the hotel sign as they passed. “Where are we going?"
"Shh. Trust me, darlin'. I'll always take care of you."
He led her around the back of the hotel and to a narrow door. Letting them in without a word, he pulled her up a flight of stairs toward the lantern glimmering at the top. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw her eyes wide and glittering.
At the top of the stairs, he paused, feeling along the wall for the door latch. It clicked open, and he pushed the door inward.
Candles glowed around the space, and the big, inviting bed beckoned to them. Lying at the foot of the bed was the bouquet he'd spent an hour picking for her in the meadow that afternoon. The hotel owner had agreed to light the candles right before they came up.
Kathleen gasped. Her white fingers fluttered to her mouth, and she pressed her plump lips. Over her fingertips, her eyes filled with tears. “Graham..."
"I wanted something special for my bride."
A soft noise escaped her at that. He couldn't wait a moment longer. He had to put his hands on her.
Spinning
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