Susan Mallery - Wild Hearts

“Why? Shouldn’t you enjoy where you live?”

She leaned toward him. “It is more than that. There is so much potential here. So many possibilities. I’ve made friends here that I never expected to have. And they value my opinions. It’s…inspiring to be around children and adults who seem to enjoy learning.”

“I’m not sure we need more educated members of your sex.”

“Are you afraid of the challenge?” she asked with a smile.

“Me and every other man.”

“I won’t even pretend surprise.”

He captured her hand in his, noticing how easily her fingers slid between his.

“I’m thinking of building a house,” he said abruptly, not sure where the words had come from.

She studied him with interest. “For yourself?”

He nodded. “A big house with a wide porch and cattle.”

“I’m not sure cattle in a house are a good idea.”

He grinned. “They’ll be outside.”

“Are you sure? Because that’s not what you said. You said you wanted a wide porch and cattle. I must say, Mr. Titan, you should speak more clearly.”

Her green eyes danced with amusement.

“Are you laughing at me?” he demanded.

“No. Why would you ask such a question? A mere woman finding humor in a man such as yourself? So powerful and well traveled? I find myself trembling in your presence.”

Now she was laughing. He turned quickly, reaching for her. She tried to scramble away, but he was too quick. He caught her around the waist and pulled her against him. Then he was above her, staring into her wide eyes, knowing this was the best view in the world.

“Alethea,” he murmured right before he kissed her.

Alethea didn’t even pretend to resist. She gave herself over to the feel of Zeke’s mouth on her own. His lips were firm yet gentle, moving slowly as if giving her time to get used to his attentions. She raised her arms to wrap them around his neck, then let her eyes sink closed.

He kissed her deliberately, as if they had all the time in the world. When his tongue touched her lower lip, she parted for him. Perhaps she should have resisted, but she longed to feel the heat filling her body, the ache that she remembered from her time in the marriage bed. Even telling herself that Zeke was doing his best to seduce her didn’t make her want to turn away.

He swept into her mouth, claiming her. She lay on the blanket, the ground hard beneath her, yet she didn’t want to move. Not when his tongue moved against hers so deliciously.

He put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him. Her hips were against his belly and that part lower. She longed to know if he was aroused, but couldn’t tell through the layers of her skirt and petticoats.

He moved his hand from her waist to her rib cage, then higher still. The path was deliberate and she found herself catching her breath in anticipation.

He settled on her breast, his palm a light weight, his fingers moving back and forth, teasing her nipple into a tight knot. With each stroke, she felt a distinct tug between her legs, a powerful need that made her squirm to get closer.

She told herself to stop, that he was doing this on purpose. That if she let him continue he would win and she would be forced to leave town. But she couldn’t seem to resist, not even when he moved his hand back down her body, toward her most secret place.

He continued to kiss her, as if distracting her, but she was aware of him pulling up her skirts. He slipped his hand under the yards of fabric and settled it on her thigh. There was only the thinnest layer of delicate cotton between his skin and hers. Between his fingers and her very center.

She had to know. That was her weakness, the need to discover if what had happened that single night so long ago had been real or merely a trick of her imagination. Was her body truly capable of the erotic pleasure that had made her scream into her pillow? If anyone could help her find the answer, it was Zeke.

His fingers drifted across her thigh, then slowly, oh, so slowly, moved between her legs. Still kissing her, he dipped in deeper, as if searching for something. As if-

He brushed against a place that sent fire burning all through her. Her breath caught as he rubbed that spot again, then circled it.

Wanting poured through her. Her clothes were too tight and there were too many of them. She longed to rip herself free and be bare before him. To feel more, to spread her legs wide.

Instead, she kept her eyes closed and continued to kiss him as if he wasn’t really touching her there and pushing her closer and closer toward a place she didn’t understand.

Zeke touched her with a sureness that allowed her to relax into all he was doing. He moved faster, taking control of her until she had to drop her head back and concentrate only on what he was doing.

Around and around until she was flung off the edge of the earth and falling into a surging, wonderful world of sensation. She clung to him, not sure exactly what was happening but never wanting it to stop.

And then everything righted itself. She was back on the blanket, in Zeke’s arms, his hand smoothing down her skirts. Blushing, she forced herself to open her eyes.

She’d thought he would be smiling or giving her that look of male superiority that she found so annoying. Instead, his expression was serious and maybe a little tender.

“My Alethea,” he whispered.

She swallowed. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then we will be quiet together.”

“But we…you…”

“Shh.” He brushed her hair off her forehead. “Nothing happened. You are as you were.”

She supposed that was true. They hadn’t lain together as married people did. But what’d he’d done to her had been so intimate. So perfect.

Why had he done it? Because he had wanted to? Could she trust him?

Did it matter? If she’d already given her heart to him, then it was a little late to be worried about something like trust.

Alethea spent the rest of the weekend wanting to see Zeke, but he was nowhere to be found. She kept peeking behind her at church, then hoped to see him in the dining room Sunday evening. But she did not.

On Monday after school, one of her students yelled that someone was coming up the slight rise toward the schoolhouse. A man. Her heart jumped in her chest, then returned to normal when Timmy said it was the mayor.

Was Zeke avoiding her? she wondered as she smoothed down the front of her skirt, then went to greet her visitor. Did he regret what had happened? Was he ashamed of her?

She supposed she should be feeling a little shame herself. To allow a man who wasn’t her husband to touch her like that. But she couldn’t summon the emotion. Being with him felt too right. In his arms, she was completely herself. There was nothing to hide. She loved him. The true question was how did he feel about her? There was no way for her to know if he’d acted as he had because he cared about her or because of the bet with his friends.

Something to think about later, she told herself as the mayor entered the schoolhouse and greeted her.

After they’d politely inquired about each other’s health, he said, “Mrs. Harbaugh, we’re all very pleased with your performance here in Titanville. Not only have you done an excellent job teaching our children, you’ve made a place for yourself in the community.”

The mayor, an older man with a graying mustache, smiled. “There are those who complain about your society, but I think it’s for the best. A town isn’t going to grow until the women take charge and civilize things. You’ve taken the first important step in that happening.”

Alethea glowed with pleasure. “Thank you, sir. I enjoy the people of Titanville and hope I can make my home here for many years to come.”

“That’s what we want, as well.” He placed several drawings on her desk. “Your contract states that should you elect to stay after your first year of teaching, a house will be provided for you. The building will be yours to do with as you wish. Although the school year has several more weeks, we have decided to go ahead with building your house. Assuming you won’t be leaving.”

Alethea stared at him. A house? They were asking her to stay and offering a house? She’d known about that part of her contract, but hadn’t really considered what would happen after this year. At first she’d been so busy getting to know everyone, teaching and starting the society that there hadn’t been time. Recently she’d been determined to make sure Zeke didn’t run her off. Apparently he hadn’t. Did this offer mean he’d conceded defeat?

“Of course I want to stay,” she said. “This is my home.”

“Excellent. Then I’ll leave these plans with you. Look them over and decide on the one that suits you best. This one here is for a two-story structure divided into two residences. You could keep one for yourself and rent out the other. An additional source of income.”

“That’s very generous of you.”

“You’re important to us, Mrs. Harbaugh. We want you to be happy.”

After he’d left, Alethea studied the plans for the proposed houses. There were two one-story houses, then the two-story house with the rooms to be let. Last was a list of potential sites.

Still excited, she gathered her reticule and hurried to see her friend Daisy.

As she walked down the swept sidewalks of town, she passed several men. While they nodded politely, there was something odd about the way they looked at her. Almost with defeat and resignation. When she reached the mercantile, the blacksmith was coming out. He looked at her, then sighed heavily, before holding open the door for her.

Alethea thanked him, then walked into the large open store.

Daisy stood behind the counter, finishing with a customer. She waved when she saw Alethea.