Jewel (18 page)

“That’s up to you, sir. I won’t influence your decision either way.” But he did think it was a good idea because he was interested in knowing as much as he could, not for his sake but for Jewel’s. He didn’t want her to be hurt in any way. He’d kill Cecile himself if she was back to stir up trouble.

“Maybe it won’t provide any answers at all, but I plan to mull it over for a while, anyway. I hate to be made a fool of.” He stood. “Thanks for your time, Eli, I’m going to look at some property with Miss Edna. Still considering living here.”

“Hope you find something to your liking.”

He departed, leaving Eli alone with his thoughts. How does a man forget the first real woman he ever coupled with, he wondered. As
if it were yesterday, he had no trouble recalling how it felt to be in Cecile’s bed—the texture of her lips, the softness of her skin—but the desire he’d had for her in his youth was now as cold as the winter winds of January. The man he’d grown up to be was about as interested in starting up with her again as he was in making love to the Widow Moss. Would G.W. really contact the Pinkertons? Eli had to admit that it would be one way to get a definitive answer. If Cecile were up to no good, the detective agency would know; and if she had indeed changed her life, it wouldn’t matter. He’d still want her on the first train out of town.

A
fter completing the town business for the day, Eli left the office, locked the door, and headed up the street to the Lending Library. Maddie usually opened the place around ten, and since it was half past that now, he assumed she’d be there.

And she was. When he walked inside the small converted store front with its wall-to-wall books, small polished tables, and comfortable, old, upholstered sofas, she was dressed in her buckskins and sweeping the wooden floor.

“Morning, Maddie.”

“Eli. Anybody find Cecile dead yet?”

He grinned. “Not that I know of. Are you ready to confess?”

“Maybe.” She stopped in midstroke and asked bluntly, “What in the hell is she doing back here?”

“Wish I knew. Thought about killing her myself, I have to admit.”

“If Nate comes back and finds her here, he’s going to save everybody the trouble.”

Eli hadn’t received a letter from his cousin in over a week. He hoped Nate and the doc weren’t on their way home. Nate didn’t need to be reminded of the sins committed against him, or the pain.

Maddie was sweeping and muttering, “Talking all mealy-mouthed about how much she’s changed. It’s a wonder lightning didn’t strike her for lying.”

“Suppose she has changed?”

“If she’s changed, I’m a virgin.”

He laughed. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“You Grayson men are always professing to love me, but when it comes to proposing you find somebody else.” Maddie had been sweet on Nate since they were all youngsters. She’d finally given up hope after he was bowled over by his love for Viveca. The two feisty women were now best friends. “I came to extend a dinner invitation.”

“Where and when.”

“Tomorrow at our place. I’m having G.W. over, too. Just so you know.”

“Just so you’re not playing matchmaker.”

“Me? I know better.”

“Okay. What time?”

He told her five, hoping Jewel didn’t have other plans because he hadn’t talked to her about any of this yet.

“Five’s fine. Should I bring anything?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. Thanks for the invite.”

“You’re welcome.”

He made his departure and wondered how the dinner would turn out. He couldn’t see Maddie and G.W. making sparks, but he hadn’t seen Jewel in his future, either. Thinking about her made him realize they hadn’t made love in nearly a week out of respect for her monthly, but he was pretty sure that had passed. Smiling, he walked down to his wagon and set off for home, wondering if he might interest her in a nice hot helping of his always fulfilling Jewel’s Delight.

Jewel had spent the morning cleaning out Eli’s barn. There were old saddles, boxes of dried inkpots, clothing mice had nibbled on, and various pieces of rusted machinery she guessed were parts of discarded printing presses. There was barely room to turn around in the small barn, let alone space for all the piled-high junk. Although she didn’t think any of the items or clothing were useable, she stuck to her promise of not tossing anything away until he’d gone through it all.

As she dragged out a rotted barrel of weather-ruined newsprint, she thought about Cecile. No matter how much she tried not to, her mind kept filling up with thoughts of his former love. He certainly hadn’t acted overjoyed about seeing her again, but Jewel wondered if the flame would be rekindled? Nate’s former wife was very beautiful. Her clear dark skin and well-formed figure would have little trouble ensnaring any man, but the only man that concerned
Jewel was Eli. Parts of herself knew she had nothing to fear. Hadn’t he plainly stated that that part of his life had ended under Nate’s thundering fists. And didn’t he still carry the shame inside of what he’d done? In truth, he’d given her no reason whatsoever to be concerned, but Cecile represented all of the worldly sophisticated women he’d spent his bachelor days chasing after, and Jewel didn’t fit the mold at all. Deciding she was going to make herself insane if she didn’t stop obsessing over a problem that wasn’t there, she turned her mind back to sorting through Eli’s junk.

When she was done for the day, she was covered with dust, cobwebs, dirt, and splotches of ink that had been leaking from one of the pots. Her first thought was to jump on her horse and ride to her brothers’ home and take a real shower; she was still wary of Eli’s rigged-up barrel contraption, but truthfully, she was too tired to ride all that way, so she opted to use the facilities where she was.

As always, she washed and rinsed herself at lightning speed, grateful the water didn’t run out, and that the barrel didn’t tip over on her head. In the house, dressed in an old but clean skirt and blouse, she looked around the small front room glad to be able to see the furniture and the rugs. Speaking of which, she thought the rugs should probably be taken outside and beaten, since they hadn’t been done in over a week, but decided she wanted lunch first.

She’d just taken out the bread and some of the turkey they’d had for dinner yesterday and transferred the items to the table when Eli entered the kitchen.

“Hello, Mrs. Grayson.”

“Hello, yourself. Did you get everything done at Nate’s office?”

“Yep. Had a talk with G.W. about the presses, too. He wants me to compose an editorial to run in his papers on the violence down south.”

“That’s quite a coup, congratulations. I’m making a sandwich. Would you like one?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

But there was something he wanted more, so he moved up behind her while she was slicing the bread and slipped his arms around her waist. “I’ve missed hearing you scream the last few nights.”

She chuckled. “And I’ve missed screaming.”

He placed his lips against her neck, and Jewel’s mind began to melt. “I’m supposed to be making sandwiches.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

What he was doing, however, was undoing the buttons on her blouse. “You smell like roses and your neck’s damp. Did you just shower?”

Her blouse was open, and after tugging down her camisole, he filled his hands with her soft silky flesh.

“Yes,” she finally whispered. Turning her to face him, he leaned down and took a pleading nipple into his mouth, and after a dazzling few
moments transferred his wanton attention to the other. Jewel could barely stand and had to brace herself against the table’s edge.

He husked out, “I think I’m going to come home this time of day more often.”

Jewel was soaring, and when his hands worked her skirt up her legs she rippled everywhere. His hot touches found her already ripe and open. Her stance widened, her head dropped back, and were it not for the table behind her she would have been unable to remain upright. He took her drawers from her without a word and returned to his play. Employing dallying caresses that coaxed and seduced, he soon had her running with love.

Eli, his manhood hard as it always was when he was around her, planned to take her on the tabletop, but she looked so fetching half dressed and with her beautiful brown legs parted so provocatively, he lowered himself to his knees and flicked his tongue against her. She gasped, tightened, and tried to back away.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked hotly with a half-smile, his fingers plying her boldly. He leaned in and put his mouth to her again, teasing her with well-placed licks.

Jewel could not believe this was happening. Scandalized, breathless, and not wanting him to stop, she grabbed the table and held on for dear life. She groaned, “Eli.”

“Can’t talk now sweetheart. I’m busy.”

And he was, busy making her lush, mindless,
and his. He’d never loved her this way before. Even though she’d seen the drawings in Maddie’s book, Jewel hadn’t believed they were real, but they were—so real that after only a few moments of his breathtaking devotions the orgasm ripped through her with such force, she couldn’t have stopped the scream if her life had been in the balance. Wave after wave of powerful sensations buckled her, shook her, and tore through her so deliciously she wanted it to last forever.

“Much better than a sandwich,” he echoed, smiling and watching her dance the little death.

When it was finally over, Jewel was so overcome, all she could do was slide to the floor. Her very pleased husband stood above her to undo his belt and remove his trousers. Then he was beside her and she was astride him in the middle of the kitchen floor. Her initial thought—once she was able to think again—after his slow, carnal slide into her body was how glad she was that she’d mopped and waxed the floor last night, but as he began to thrust and she began to ride him, all thoughts fled.

They’d made love in this position before and she found it much to her liking. Not only could she take in as much of his magnificence as she wanted, her being on top gave him sweet access to all that made her woman—her breasts, her lips, her core. And he took full ardent advantage; suckling, touching, making her moan.

Moving blissfully in tandem, their bodies sparking against each other like lightning, she
leaned down to feast lovingly on his neck while he mapped the delicate curve of her undulating hips and spine. She licked him; he groaned. He moved a hand over her torso to capture a swaying breast and she rose up, his hand still holding her, and she arched like the front of a native bow as he squeezed the point possessively. Feeling himself throb as he stroked her, Eli knew that this was all he wished to do for the rest of his life. The heat of her skin drew him, the firmness of her hot little body bewitched him. The friction of their joining as they rose and fell coupled with the tightness of her flesh surrounding him made him stoke harder, faster, and then faster still. Spurred by his own orgasm rising, he clamped onto her hips to make her match his fierce pace, and when she screamed out her second release he orgasmed right behind her. Yelling his pleasure and filled with the insanity of a man making love to his wife, he kept thrusting until he thought he’d never stop.

He did finally, and when it was over, an exhausted Jewel collapsed on his chest and he dragged his arms around her to hold her close. For a moment the only sound in the kitchen was their ragged breathing, then she whispered, “Good, lord, Eli.”

He smiled, tightened his hold, and kissed her hair. “You’re welcome.”

A few quiet seconds passed and he told her tiredly, “The floor is getting hard, Jewel. Can you let me up?”

“Sorry, but I can’t move. It’s what you get for choosing the kitchen floor.”

Their bodies were still joined so he gave her a sultry stroke with his reawakening manhood and her eyes popped open with pleasant surprise.

The reaction charmed him. “You have two choices, Mrs. Grayson, either let me rise, or….”

As their bodies began to move again, Jewel couldn’t believe how greedy she’d become for his loving, so she leaned down, gently bit his ear, and husked out, “Mrs. Grayson will take the
or
.”

They eventually did get to eat the sandwiches, after washing up and changing into fresh clothes, then set out for the construction site to help with the house. As they drove within view, she was pleased with the progress her brothers and the other volunteers were making but at the same time she was impatient for them to be done. She was ready to move in, with Eli. It had come to her while she was lying spent on his kitchen floor that in spite of all her protestations at the beginning of their marriage, she was in love with him. How could she not be after all the tender care he’d shown her? He was funny, smart, kind, and true. She didn’t want a divorce; she wanted to live with him in their house for the rest of her life. “I think I’m going to enjoy being here.”

“I think we both will.”

She wanted to tell him of her decision not to seek a divorce, but the moment didn’t seem right
so it remained unsaid. Looking over at him seated on the buggy bench beside her, she said, “We should probably get out before Pa starts to yell.”

They could see Adam walking the construction site like a general commanding his troops. He was shouting directions to the roofers in a voice that could be heard clearly over the hammering.

“You’re right.” Eli’s vision lingered on the woman slowly becoming his world. “Thanks for the stimulating repast.”

His words instantaneously transported Jewel back to the kitchen. “Anytime.”

The work on the house lasted until early evening and when her father finally dismissed everyone for the day, Jewel and Eli dragged themselves back to the buggy for the ride home.

As they lay in bed that night, Eli said, “Forgot to tell you I invited Maddie for dinner tomorrow.”

“That’s fine.”

“I invited G.W, also. He’s sweet on her.”

Jewel flashed around and stared at his shadowy face. “What?”

“I was sort of amazed, too. Says he’s more attracted than he’s ever been in his life.”

“To Maddie?”

“Interesting, don’t you think?”

Jewel fell back onto her back and for a moment silently thought about the implications. “If she finds out we’re matchmaking she’ll kill us all. Including Hicks.”

“Which is why I made a point of not saying anything to her about his feelings.”

“Good idea. Hicks and Maddie,” she said in a speculative voice. “Wouldn’t that be something? She may eat him alive, but it could work.”

Eli turned over on his stomach and contemplated her in the dark. “What happened to all the nightgowns you purchased in Niles, Mrs. Grayson.”

Jewel had yet to wear any of the garments. She gave him a hastily mustered defense. “I’m saving them for a special occasion.”

Eli responded by circling a finger around her breast. “Every time we’re in bed together is a special occasion to me, Jewel.”

How could I not love this man
, she asked herself, and because she did, she felt she owed him the real reason for not wearing the sensual attire. “Truth is, I’m too prudish to try them.”

His smile caressed her in the shadows. “This from a woman who let her husband make love to her in the middle of the kitchen floor?”

“That’s different,” she explained in a humor-filled voice. “You caught me with my guard down, and once we got started, I couldn’t help myself.”

“So it’s all my fault?”