Outlaw Hearts(155)
Once that happened, there would be no reason why they couldn’t marry. He would be just as worthy as any of the sons of her father’s fancy friends. Her father liked Lloyd a lot, but sometimes he urged her to consider seeing boys who came from prominent families in Denver. But that’s just what they were—boys, and pampered ones at that. They couldn’t hold a candle to Lloyd, in looks or skill or brawn.
He came closer, smiled when he saw her. Oh, how was she going to stand being without him? It was already July. One more month, and they would have to go their separate ways. She was so glad she had decided to give herself to him. He had been so gentle that first time. They had both discovered something wonderful, had shared bodies in a deep love she knew she could never feel for any other man; but then Lloyd had to leave the next day when her father asked him to accompany some of the other men to Colorado Springs to buy horses.
Their separation had lasted three weeks when she was compelled to go to Denver shortly thereafter, three precious weeks lost out of the short summer they would have together. Every summer her maternal aunt in Denver insisted she visit. The woman had stayed with her and been like a mother to her for several weeks following her mother’s death, and had continued to insist she visit every summer so that she would continue to have a “woman’s influence,” as her aunt called it, in her life.
Beth had never minded the visits before, but this summer she had hated every minute of it, in spite of how good her Aunt Trudy was to her. She supposed other girls would think it was wonderful attending balls and operas and plays, being measured and outfitted with a whole new wardrobe for the coming trip east to her finishing school. But she would much rather have been here on the ranch where she loved it best, wearing her riding skirt and spending her time with Lloyd. She had longed to talk to her aunt about her new sexual awakening, but she knew she dared not. Aunt Trudy would never understand. No one could know. It was her and Lloyd’s secret.
He rode closer, smiling that handsome smile that made her shiver. He dismounted, and in the next moment he was sweeping her into his arms. “Beth! God, I missed you!”
This was the first chance they had had to be alone again after that one glorious day of passion when he had made a woman of her. He had come to the house first thing this morning to call on her, where they had made whispered plans to meet again here at Fisher’s Creek. It had been so hard not to touch him or let him hold her when he was at the house, but her father and servants had been around. Now they were alone again at last!
“I missed you too, Lloyd. I hated every minute I was in Denver. I couldn’t wait to get back.”
She offered her mouth to his, whimpered when his full lips parted her own, his tongue exploring, teasing. The very moment he wrapped his arms around her she felt fire in her blood, passion exploding inside of her at the feel of his arousal pressed against her belly. It seemed she had wanted him this way since she was very small; she had simply been too young to realize how love could be expressed in body as well as word. She had loved Lloyd Hayes since her first memories, and there would never be another for her, no matter how long they had to be apart, no matter what her father thought.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the blanket she had already spread out on soft sand along the creek. She rested her head on his shoulder and kissed at his neck. “I hope we can meet like this every day while you’re home again.”
“I’ll try to get away.” He knelt to the blanket and laid her back. “I have to be gone a few more days after today. Your father asked me to take that prize stud palomino of his to Pueblo to service some guy’s mare. I can’t turn him down or ignore my work, or he’ll get suspicious. We have to be careful.” He kissed her eyes. “It’s not that I think what we’re doing is wrong, but I’d never want your father to get angry and try to keep us apart.”
“Maybe we should just get married before we go away to school.”
He removed his hat and vest, sat down and removed his boots. “When I marry you, I want to be a man graduated from college making good money. I want it all to be done right, Beth—a big, grand wedding for you, a home that’s just ours.” He turned and moved on top of her. “It’s all going to happen, Beth, you’ll see. We’ll show all of them we can do it.” He moved a hand over her breast. “And they’ll never know you already belonged to me, and me to you, for a long time before that.”
He met her mouth again in a wild, hot kiss that told her there would be time later for talking. For now they were both eager to enjoy the exquisite pleasures they had discovered could be had from making love. It seemed like he got her clothes off as if by magic, and moments later he lay naked on top of her. It was all so natural and right, and she wanted desperately to please him.