A Husband for Margaret(21)

She released his other hand so she could explore his chest, tracking more differences between them. She couldn’t bring herself to study all of him. Not yet. She was doing good to touch his bare skin. These things didn’t have to be rushed. They had plenty of time to learn each other. She was content with what she was learning for now.

His mouth left hers, and she let out a contented sigh as he kissed her neck. She waited in expectation for him to kiss her breasts and moaned when he did. She sensed his excitement and squeezed his shoulders to let him know she felt it too. These sensations may not have been new to him but they were to her, and she found it hard to focus on anything but what her body wanted to happen. It seemed that her flesh knew what to do, and she parted her legs for him before he caressed the area with his hand.

His mouth returned to hers as he slid a finger into her. She gasped in surprise but pulled him closer for the kiss. The last of her anxiety departed. She moved her hips to encourage him to tease her with his finger. He continued to caress her, and she moaned and wiggled against him, savoring the moment. Even as she wished it would go on forever, she needed to find completion in what he was doing. When she came near her peak, she let out a soft cry and gave into the waves of pleasure that engulfed her.

Before she had time to reason what was happening, he shifted so he could enter her. The suddenness of the movement might have startled her had she not been otherwise distracted. She noted the slight sting and discomfort as he began moving inside her, but he kissed her again and the flicker of tension subsided. In short time, the discomfort gave way to a pleasurable sensation.

He traced her lips with his tongue, murmured her name, and then buried his face in the nape of her neck as he continued moving inside of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and shifted against him so that he could go deeper into her. She knew it was over as soon as he stilled and grew taut. The moment seemed to be suspended in time—as sweet as it was gratifying. And when he relaxed, she held him to her, aware of how fast his heart was beating.

She closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his. So this was what she feared. She smiled at the silliness of it all. At least now she knew, and next time she could truly look forward to it. And she knew he was right. This was going to be one of the better parts of their marriage.





Chapter Eight





The next morning, Margaret peered out the parlor window of her new home. Just as she remembered from childhood, the view of the park was lovely. She recalled coming to this house twice with her mother. The elderly couple who owned this place was nice folk, the kind who set out cookies and let a child enjoy the swing on the front porch. She frowned. The swing was no longer there, probably due to years of wear. She wondered if Joseph would put another one up. The front yard was just the right size for little boys to run and play, and if they ventured to the park, she could still keep an eye on them.

Summer was fast approaching. That meant lazy days and lots of outdoor time for rambunctious children. The ideal time to install that swing would be now. She glanced at the boys who already seemed restless inside the place. Joseph had been busy getting the house ready for her, but their furnishings were still few at the moment. The only two items in the parlor were a couch and a small table. Beds, a couple of dressers, a kitchen table and chairs were about it for the rest of the house, but it would suit for now. She and Joseph had the rest of their lives to fill the place. Thankfully, she knew a few people in town who didn’t need their old furniture anymore. Perhaps taking used furniture wasn’t something every new bride dreamed of, but as she watched the youngest boy jumping on the couch, she decided used furniture was good for children.

“That’s enough, Ben,” she said and pulled the energetic toddler off the sofa. She set him on the floor. “Let’s not destroy things until we’ve had them for awhile.” Then she paused. Just how long was “awhile” to a child? And just how much would a two year old understand if she explained it anyway? Finally, she said, “Jump outside instead.”

She urged the boy toward the kitchen where Bob and Doug had set out the utensils and dishes. They were currently sitting around the table and openly drooling at the pancakes, eggs, and hash browns on it.

“Can we eat now?” Bob asked, grabbing his stomach. “I’m starving.”

“Me too,” Doug agreed.

“No,” she said and set Ben into the highchair. “You have to wait for your pa and Charles.” She picked up the wooden tray and turned it over. “How does this thing work anyway?”

Ben giggled and tried to hop back onto the floor, but she stopped him.