On the Mountain (40 page)

Anna’s eyes flew open, apprehension taking hold of her briefly until she felt his lips as they kissed and fondled her in an area she never imagined a man’s mouth should ever be.  She gasped as her heart stopped for a full heartbeat before erupting from the depths of her womanhood in a sensation she had never felt the likes of before.  So alarmed by this new feeling, she gasped his name, “Wade?”

He raised his head and placed a tender kiss on her belly once more.  “It’s all right, Anna.”

She could offer no more for his mouth branded her skin along a path he claimed between her belly and her breasts.  Her heart was beating so fast she literally feared it would stop beating altogether.  As he lavished her body with blatant desire, she responded in a manner Anna would never have thought capable.  She arched up to him and released a deep unbridled sigh, loving his every touch and every kiss.

“Anna?”  He half pleaded and half asked.  Without another word, she knew exactly what he was requesting permission for, and her heart filled even more.  No other man ever made her feel more woman.

“Yes, Wade, yes.”

He groaned against her stomach and sucked in the small amount of flesh above her belly, before sitting up suddenly and ripping off the night shirt covering his body.  Staring up at him, even in the darkness, Anna was impressed with his huge and muscular form.  A fleeting feeling of fear crossed her mind.  But he eased her worries once more by lifting her hips gently off the bed and laying his naked member against her now moist womanhood.

He stayed like that for several moments, all the while driving Anna’s body crazy with his mouth.  Desire spewed from her lips, while her body pressed wantonly against him.  He pushed back with a corresponding response.  Her back arched as he drew her breast into his mouth once more, than grabbing her hips he slowly entered her.  At first, she felt pain, but the kisses he engraved on her body soon eased her first initiation into womanhood.  When he was fully entered, he caressed her gently.  Anna’s heart rate pumped harder and the blood in her veins skyrocketed to alarming heights.

Moaning, she reached out and grasped his body wanting to feel him close against her.  She could hear him breathing hard as he held her tight, then in one final thrust he pinned her to the bed with his large frame.  He felt so wonderful being that close and having their bodies meshed together, she wrapped her arms around him and clung.  She heard him grunting then collapse on top of her with a loud moan at the same moment Anna felt her body racked with a feeling similar to the one he had created with his mouth but much grander in proportions.

He laid there for several minutes breathing heavily on top of her body and Anna thought she would never reach this level of happiness in life again.  He went to lift himself and she instinctively wrapped her legs tight around him.

Wade chuckled in her ear.  “Anna, I’m too heavy.”

But she didn’t care.  “Not yet,” she whispered.

He lifted his chin to look down at her and their eyes locked with unexpressed emotions.  Anna could feel his breath on her face and his pulse on her breasts as his chest rose and fell in rhythmic breathing against her.  Unconsciously, her eyes instinctively dropped to that wonderful mouth of his so close and yet so untouchable, and felt the tiniest bout of heartbreak.

Then, with a start, she realized his head was slowly beginning to descend.  She went utterly still in fear that he may realize what he was doing, and pull away.  But his mouth continued, until very gently at first, he laid it softly on Anna’s lips.

She couldn’t help herself, she sucked in her breath.  He must have been holding his own as well, for she felt him release it against her mouth before slowly moving his lips against hers.

Since she had never kissed a man before, she had no idea how to respond, but decided it was best to let instinct take over.  As Wade had once told her, trust instinct when common sense failed.  Very softly, she returned him kiss for kiss.  He only paused once, lifting his head to look deep into her eyes.  Then when he returned, his kisses became intense and more sensual.  Anna raised her arms and drew him closer.

Wade caught her small body against his and rolled over onto his back, dragging Anna with him.  Her body came to rest on top of his and when their lips eventually drew apart, it was there that she remained.  She rested her head on his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart, smiling to herself at the realization that like hers, it had just come down from an unbelievable high.  Her heart and soul had never before felt so fulfilled.  Closing her eyes, she sighed with contentment and felt him pull her closer in response.  A glow filled her heart and it was with happiness and love that she fell asleep in the arms of the man she loved.

* * *

Anna woke from one of the best sleeps she could ever recall.  Stretching her arms, she felt the soft mattress of Wade’s bed beneath her, then realized with a start that he was not in it.  She opened her eyes and sat up, looking about the empty room.  A feeling of disappointment toyed with her happiness.  But only slightly.

Seeing his night shirt was still lying across the bed where he had tossed it the night before, she reached over and slipped it over her head before getting out of bed.  Wade may feel comfortable in his own nakedness, but Anna wasn’t quite at that level.  Leaving his room, she went quietly down the back stairs and into the kitchen with a smile playing about her lips.  In the entrance, she stopped dead in her tracks, her smile wiped away at the sight of Wade sitting fully dressed at the kitchen table with Prescott.

Both men looked up and Anna felt herself go completely red from embarrassment.  Instinctively, she crossed her arms in front her bosom as if to conceal herself.  A wide grin spread across Prescott’s mouth.  “Good morning Anna.”

“Good morning.”  Her eyes darted toward Wade, but he had returned his attention to the coffee mug in front of him.  “I thought you were in Lantern?”

“I returned early this morning to help Wade with the new heifers.”

Anna nodded, then took a few steps back.  “I’ll just get dressed and have breakfast ready shortly.”

“No need,” Prescott told her.  “We had Kim prepare us something earlier.”

“All right.”  Her eyes immediately shot in Wade’s direction, but he still did not return her look.  She quietly excused herself before turning to hurry back up stairs.  Inside Wade’s room, she shut the door firmly and raised a hand to touch the skin over her cheeks.  They even felt hot to touch, she could only imagine how they looked. 

Reaching for her dress she got dressed quickly and tried not to allow Wade’s silent behavior to worry her.  No matter if he had regrets or not, Anna knew they had shared something special.  Even the thought of Marion no longer left a stinging in her heart.  What she witnessed and what she shared with Wade last night, couldn’t have been further apart.  Smiling she went downstairs and got herself breakfast and coffee before heading outside to the barns for her daily chores.

She knew she ought to change into her barn clothing, but that morning Anna wanted to feel like the woman she was.  The men were all gathered in the corrals along with a good hundred or so heifers, and Anna spotted Wade instantly.  She had always sought him out first anyway, but that day her eyes were drawn to him like a magnet.  All morning she had trouble keeping her focus on her chores.  Whenever he was within view, her eyes would wander lovingly over to him.  Of course, he was far too busy to notice Anna.  Except when she tripped over a water trough she did not see and scraped her knee.

“You all right?”  He looked down at her from his position at the top of the corral fence, his face shadowed by his hat.

Anna had nodded, then quickly ran into the barn to hide her embarrassment.  To make matters worse, she walked straight into a barn door when she discovered Wade and Joe inside the stable going over some business dealings.  When Wade heard the bang he spun around alarmed and looked at Anna concerned.  “What happened?”

She shook her head and tried to brush the incident off, but she couldn’t stop her hand from rising to the bruise she was sure to receive beneath the hair sweeping across her forehead.

“Are you okay?”  Wade watched her closely while she quickly replaced the feed bucket.  Joe snickered beside him and Anna refused to look at either of them and hurried out of the stables, but not before she heard Joe tell Wade something about her being smitten.

Anna nearly ran all the way back to the house and didn’t go anywhere near Wade for the remainder of the day.  He and Prescott came in for lunch, but left before any words could be exchanged as it was apparent the heifers were keeping them busy.  Anna was glad, she would be horribly embarrassed if Wade mentioned her accidents in front of Prescott.  Truth was, Joe was right.   Anna was acting like a young school girl with a huge crush.  She had to get control of herself.

Both men came into dinner, clean and dressed properly.  Anna felt slightly stupid for having done her chores in her only proper dress.  When she sat down at the dinner table, Prescott noticed the soil on the hem of her skirt, but as a true gentleman, made no comment.  Instead he ruled the conversation at the dinner time as usual, however, this time Anna was truly excited to hear his good news.

“Has Wade told you that I am an engaged man?”

“I haven’t had the opportunity,” Wade stated before placing a fork full of food into his mouth.

“How wonderful.  I’m so happy for you and Elizabeth.”  She smiled with genuineness.

“I proposed last night and she accepted.  We decided an August wedding would be lovely.  When Kathleen comes to visit next month, she’ll finally have that celebration she has been wanting.”  He beamed and Anna realized with a start that the evening before hadn’t been special just for her.  “Now you and Wade may have this home all to yourself.”

Her smile wavered, but she planted it firmly back on her face before turning her attention to her meal.  Wade had barely exchanged any words with her all day, she was beginning to think the night had not been nearly as special for him as it was for her.

“What do you mean?  Are you and Elizabeth not planning on taking residence here?”

“Heavens no,” he laughed and shot Wade a look, before returning her attention.  “Newlyweds such as yourselves need your privacy.”

Anna blushed and quickly dropped her chin against her chest.

“Besides, I have already decided to purchase the McMillan house at the west end of town.  The restaurant and inn might be suitable for a widow such as Elizabeth, but are not proper living quarters for a family.”

“I see,” she stated, knowing which home he referred to.  It was the biggest house in Lantern.  The McMillan’s had been the wealthiest family in Lantern, up until Anna learned of Wade’s family history.  Admittedly, Anna was going to miss Prescott.  Though she dearly loved the times she had alone with Wade, Prescott brought an element to the relationship the trio shared.

The men retired to the great room where they had drinks and smoked cigars in lieu of Prescott’s announcement.  Anna watched Wade closely when she knew he wouldn’t notice and thought she detected a slight look of sadness in his eyes when Prescott spoke of leaving.  After all, they had lived together for so many years, it was no wonder he would miss his brother’s company.

It was getting late and since Anna felt sure her presence was not warranted, she stood up and excused herself to bed.  She felt Wade’s eyes on her as she went into the kitchen.  All day she had worried where their relationship would go from this point forward.  Wade’s silence had told her all she needed to know.

She went into the cook’s room and took off her dress, slipped her nightgown on and then crawled into bed.  After dousing the light she stared into the darkness and immediately saw images of Wade and herself making love in his bed.  She squeezed her lids tight and tried unsuccessfully to erase them.

Tossing and turning for a long time after, she eventually gave up and lay flat on her back staring up at the ceiling.  Somewhere up there, Wade was sleeping in the bed they had shared the night before.

She was startled out of her daydreams when the door to her room suddenly swung open.  “Anna?  What are you doing?”

Staring up at Wade, she pulled herself into a sitting position.  “What do you mean?”

“I mean what are you doing back in the cook’s room?”  He sounded annoyed.

Anna blinked and tried to make sense of his question.  “Where else am I to sleep?”

He cursed and reached for her legs, throwing them over the side of her bed.  “In my bed.”

Anna’s heart began beating fast.  “You didn’t ask me.”

Wade paused, frowning down hard at her.  “I didn’t think I had to.  Besides, you’re my wife.  You’re supposed to be in my bed.”

“I didn’t know if you still wanted me, after last night.”  She told him in a whisper, her voice slightly cracking.  It had been so wonderful for Anna, but for Wade she had almost forgotten it was nothing new to him.

He went still, simply stood there and stared down at Anna.  She kept her gaze fixed to the floor.  Then she heard him release a heavy sigh and move toward her.  Dropping down on the floor in front of her he reached out and took her hands in his.  “It shocks me to hear you even ask that
, because
of last night.”

She looked up, hope slowly rising.