Melissa And The Cowboy (Western Night Series 1) by Rosie Harper Page A

bright. Mariette had even white-washed the walls. Smart tables and fancy chairs stood in their perfect place, and there were even comfortable couches around the fireplace in the main room. It was cosy and welcoming. He went upstairs to find three rooms perfectly furnished with half-testered beds, vast armoires, and even Ottoman trunks full of clean linens at the end of each bed. This was definitely a home he would be proud to bring his bride home to tomorrow night.
    Saturday dawned bright and crisp, and Caleb went out into the yard where he proceeded to pour four buckets of cold water over himself from the well. He lathered himself up with soap, and carefully shaved, then dowsed himself off with a final cold water hit. He felt so full of energy, and could hardly wait to get to town. He took out his Sunday best suit, and even put on a tie before he headed into town in the wagon.
    He stood in the church, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his bride to be, with Mariette by his side laughing at his nervous fidgeting. But, just one glimpse of her as she walked towards him, her face alight with happiness and he felt all his worries melt into nothingness. He made his pledges, and was honoured by the emotion in her voice as she made hers to him. He kissed her possessively. Finally, they were man and wife. As they walked down the aisle Melissa beckoned at him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear, “How long do you think it will take you to get us home?” she asked with a lascivious look in her eyes.
    “About ten minutes if we really push it,” he said as he curved his arm around her waist to lift her up into the wagon before jumping up to beside her.
    “Well, I’d better not disturb you. I’ll just sit her like a good wife, and let you get us home as fast as you can,” she said matter of factly. Caleb couldn’t help but laugh at the contradiction between her words, and the look in her eye and the demure posture she had assumed, her hands clasped piously in her lap.
    Caleb had never driven so fast in his life, and they made the short journey up the hill and to the newly decorated ranch house. He took a quick glimpse at her face as they rounded the corner and she saw her new home. Her mouth opened in a perfect ‘O’ of surprise and pleasure. “Welcome home my darling,” he said happily. He pulled the wagon to a halt, and picked her up. He carried her swiftly to the door, and pushed it open awkwardly. “Would you mind terribly if we explored it later on?” he asked, pretty certain that he knew her answer. 
    “I think I can wait, but I really must see my bedroom. I cannot possibly know if I will stay if I don’t,” she said cheekily. He kissed her hard.
    “I think I can manage that,” he said as he almost ran up the stairs with her still in his arms. He laid her down on the bed tenderly then lay beside her. She rolled over onto her side and kissed him. The kiss was deep, and full of passion. Caleb felt every part of him begin to react to her warm, moist little mouth. He caressed her tenderly, smoothing his fingers along the soft skin of her arms, moving to the tiny buttons at the back of her powder blue dress. He fumbled impatiently with the fiddly little hooks, but finally he was able to peel off the bodice, and helped her to untie and remove the full skirt and petticoats. “You are so beautiful,” he cried, as he buried his head between her breasts, kissing at the tender orbs of exposed flesh, and gently cupping what was still a mystery, clad in layers of cotton and lace.
    “This all seems inherently unfair,” she said, looking at him sternly. “You are wearing far too many clothes my darling.”
    “Well that is easy to address!” He scrambled out of his suit, and lay beside her completely naked. She gazed at him hungrily, began to trace her fingers over his chest and down his belly, staring in wonder as his manhood reared up towards her. She touched it tentatively, then more confidently as he sighed