Rocky Mountain Romp (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 4) (4 page)

After a few more minutes, he took her hand and brought her back to the foot of the bed. Taking out his handkerchief, he dried her eyes, then caught her chin.

“Darling, is there something you want to tell me? You know whatever it is, you can speak the truth.”

She stayed silent, but the tears started anew. This time, he took her in his arms and let her face press into his chest, soaking his shirt.

At last, sniffling, she raised her head.

“You ready to tell me?”

She shook her head.

“But you know you can, at any moment.”

She nodded.

“Very well, Esther. We’ll finish your punishment, then we can talk.” He stepped back, feeling the mantle of disciplinarian settle on his shoulders. “Go get the cane.”

She paled, but did as he commanded. He took a few practice swings while she moved into position, enjoying the swishing sound.

“Ten. Count them.” The long wooden length sliced across her bottom, leaving two thin parallel stripes, and she immediately stiffened, a squeak escaping from her lips. He waited.

“One, sir.”

The next followed quickly, two more red lines appearing on her dusky cheeks, and when she hesitated, he let the cane swish through the air for her to hear.

“Two, sir!”

“That’s right, Esther. Be quick to the count, or receive another.”

At his stern words, he noted how her juices started to flow down her legs.

With a smile, he laid a few more on the backs of her thighs, and she kept the count perfectly. At the sixth, she came up on her toes, leaning over the bed as if to escape.

“We’ll take a break,” he said. “Wait here.”

Stepping out, he returned with a glass of water. Esther’s face was wet and red, but she thanked him and accepted his kiss on her cheek.

“You’re doing so well,” he said. “My brave, beautiful Esther.”

She almost smiled through her tears, and he knew they were reaching the end.

When he ordered her back into position, she went almost eagerly. The next few strikes, he didn’t hold back, and Esther cried out after each one. By nine, she was well and truly sobbing. He waited a few moments between each stroke, letting her cry it out.

“Ten,” she choked out at last, and he set the cane down. He left her for a brief moment, returning with a pitcher of water and drinking a glass before drawing her up and offering one to her. She sipped slowly while he brushed the sweaty strands of hair back from her face.

“I’m sorry,” she said and gulped.

“You’re forgiven.” For a while he just held her, head bowed over hers. She sniffled and sighed, cheek to his shirt. The wet fabric stuck to her skin when she raised his hand to her lips and kissed it. Slowly she started to sink to her knees before him.

“Dearest,” he murmured.

“Please, Johnathan.” She looked up at him, one hand on the front of his trousers, waiting until he nodded permission. She undid his buttons and drew him out, and he leaned back against the bed so her head could comfortably reach him.

As soon as she kissed him, his cock jumped against her lips, and he gripped the footboard. His fingers dug in as she nuzzled him, her tongue flicking out to taste him. Her hot breath teased him, and one hand shot out to fist in her hair.

“Esther,” he warned. Her mouth opened and accepted him. As she sucked, her eyes flickered up to his, and he nearly lost it. The sight of him sliding between her soft lips while she gazed up in submission was enough to send tingles through his entire body.

Then her tongue flattened along the base of his member, and she surged forward, taking him as far into her mouth as she could. His head fell back, and his grip tightened in her hair. He came crying out her name.

When it was done, she leaned back and licked her lips. With her hair spilling over her shoulders and green eyes flicking up to his with a dazed expression, she looked like a siren designed for his every pleasure. Her smile curved her mouth, and his cock started to stir again, as if the sight of her could turn back time and transform him into a lusty boy.

“Thank you,” she said, and he felt a surge of love and amazement at this woman whose submission was so deeply ingrained in her psyche.

He helped her up and kissed her, hands running down her naked body. Under his touch her whole body trembled.

“No, Esther. Naughty girls don’t get release.” He took her hand and led her to the bed, tucking in behind her. His hand cupped her breast, thumb brushing her nipple.

She shifted and moaned, and he felt himself harden further. His intent was to leave off lovemaking and let her stew all the night, so in the morning she’d be ready for all he had planned. He couldn’t help teasing her nipple further, pinching it a little between thumb and forefinger until it stiffened and she gasped.

“Do you desire me, wife?”

“Yes,” she said in a low, breathy voice.

“Good.” He took his hand away and pulled her closer, his arms tangling with hers to hold them in place. She wouldn’t dare rub her bottom, but her fingers might venture between her legs in sleep. “Sweet dreams, dearest,” he said, and at her desperate sigh, he smiled in her hair.

Waking in the middle of the night, he almost started the second stage of his strategy, but his wife was sleeping so soundly, the moonlight gilding her face and hair, that he lay back down, and made himself wait until dawn.

As soon as the first fingers of light stole over the horizon, he stroked her hair back until she was awake.

“Morning,” she whispered.

“Good morning, dearest. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.” She started to roll on her back, and stopped, wincing.

“Lie on your stomach, darling. I want to inspect you.”

A pause, then she obeyed. Johnathan often performed “inspections” of her body, which he claimed had a medical purpose, but in truth always ended in pleasure.

He had plans for his wife today.

Standing, he pulled away all the blankets, and looked down in satisfaction. His wife’s blonde hair spilled over the coverlet, her beautiful green eyes watching him in her pale, sleep-softened face. Her fine shoulders and back tapered to a tucked in waist, then flared out into her generous bottom.

His hand stroked down her beautiful form, admiring the pale skin of her back and hips, especially contrasted with her bright red buttocks. His fingers caressed a hip, and as they traced the cane marks, Esther shuddered.

“Shhh, darling, I’m not going to hurt you. Today is all about your pleasure.” He sat down to get closer to her, and gripped either hip, his thumbs stroking the hollow of her back. “Now, let’s see what we have here. Patient, twenty-eight years of age. Very lovely in face and form, and subject to recent discipline.” He massaged her back a little. “There seems to be no damage to the lower back or vertebrae, and her coccyx was unharmed. Very important in disciplinary practices, particularly when the subject is your beautiful, but disobedient wife.”

His hands went to the back of her thighs and caressed up and down her legs. “Note that a few of the punishing strokes fell on the legs, which is perfectly acceptable. The disciplinarian obviously had a careful and practiced hand.” He scooted forward, large hands framing her delectable bottom. “Now, these stripes here; I can tell from this that the patient was very, very naughty.” His hand ghosted over the marks on her fleshy lobes, and she shuddered. “I count enough stripes for ten strikes of a cane—a significant punishment. Let’s hope the subject learned her lesson.” He paused, admiring the shade of roasted red that still remained, then continued thoughtfully. “It’s easy to break the skin with such a harsh implement. In fact, in many cases, an errant wife can bear marks forever. While these stripes will stay for some time, whoever caned this young woman took care to punish without leaving scars. In fact, I would propose he loved this woman very much, to take such care to impart a lesson without permanent harm.”

Johnathan took a break in his playful narrative, unable to stop himself from planting a gentle kiss on the marked skin. Esther made a small sound, but didn’t move.

“So now,” he said briskly. “Let’s see how she responds.” He slid a hand between her legs and she stiffened, raising herself up a little as he caressed her slippery folds. “Ah, yes! The subject is reacting to her husband’s touch. In fact, with further stimulation…” Frowning in concentration, he leaned down between her legs and blew hot air onto her labia. “I should be able to bring her to climax.”

Esther seemed to quiver with anticipation.

“Part your legs, my dear. Wider.” He smiled as she whimpered in humiliation. Esther loved his dominance and discipline, but she hated being aware of how her body responded to his firm and gentle touches alike. “Ah, yes, here we are.” His fingers stroked between her legs. “No doubt the subject is aroused. Plenty of secretions, labia is plump and sensitive. There’s the clitoral hood… but we’ll come back to that later.” He left off teasing her to slip a finger inside her slick channel. “Her body is ready for her husband’s entrance.” He withdrew his fingers, noting her disappointed cry.

“Let’s take a closer inspection,” he said, and positioned his face right between her legs, parting her buttocks and spreading her before him. Her breath caught as his fingers dug into her reddened flesh, but he noticed she only grew wetter. “The subject requires more stimulation to induce orgasm.” He sat back up. “Let’s see if we can provide it.” His fingers stroked her little nub, teasing until Esther grew wild, writhing and thrusting her bottom back onto his hands. At her breathy moans, he thrust two fingers into her sodden entrance, pumping them in a steady rhythm.

“Johnathan,” she panted.

“Yes, dear?” he asked, then slid his fingers deeper, crooking his fingers into a “come hither” motion. Her entire body stiffened, and her words dissolved into moans.

“Subject seems unable to communicate,” he noted with a grin. His wife’s reddened bottom danced on his fingers as her orgasm crashed over her, but he continued his fingers’ relentless pumping, even adding a third.

His own body was hard with wanting, but Johnathan focused on Esther’s pleasure, furrowing his brow in concentration as he continued to stroke her. At last, he brought soaked fingers to his lips. “Very nice. Very sweet.” He bent over Esther, who still lay on her belly, lips curved and eyes at half-mast.

“You all right, dearest?”

“Yes, Johnathan,” she murmured dreamily.

“Good.” His hand lightly smacked the side of her hip, and she jumped. “Then up and stand in the middle of the rug.” He grinned at her widened eyes. “Your inspection’s not over.”

* * *

The rooster’s morning crowing mingled with Esther’s cries of pleasure.

Afterward they lay tangled on the bed, Johnathan had spent himself, but not before he’d caused his wife to climax over and over. She lay limp next to him, as if she didn’t have any bones.

“You’re a good wife, and a blessing.
I want you to be happy. Next time we’re about, we’ll find a tree sturdy enough for you to climb. I’ll even help you into it. I don’t want you to lose your skill.
Next summer we can go to Pike’s Peak and climb it—there’s a woman who’s done it. You’re perfection.”

She nodded, but seemed unhappy. He waited, trailing his fingers down her hair and back, admiring the pale curves and thick fall of gold in silence.

“Johnathan?”

“Yes, dearest?”

Esther raised herself up and swallowed hard. “Do you want children?”

“Yes, of course.”

She heaved a huge sigh. “If I can’t ever… if you wanted a child, and we never were able to… would you want to remarry?”

Leaning closer, he gripped her chin so she was looking straight at him when he said, “Never. I want you, Esther. A child would be a blessing, but if we never conceive, I swear I’ll not regret one moment I’ve spent with you.”

Tears filling her green eyes, his wife stared at him, her throat working with emotion. “I want a child. I had so many brothers and sisters.” Her sob broke from her then, and Johnathan wasted no time wrapping both arms around her and tucking her face to his chest. Her slender body shuddered against his, driving pain through his heart with her cries.

“Oh, Esther. Dear, dear Esther,” he murmured to her until her tears dried up, and she lay quiet in the shelter of his arms.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Sorry for grieving? Never apologize. You are not a burden to me, Esther. You are a joy.” His arms flexed around her. “Besides, I’m the one who must ask forgiveness.”

“For what?”

“You’ve been distressed, and at the back of my mind, I’ve known the cause of it.” His brow furrowed. “I had hoped your difficulty on the trail wouldn’t have permanent consequences. I knew it might, but I was just so grateful you’d survived. I was selfish.”

“Johnathan, no. You are never selfish. I should’ve confided in you.”

“Next time, speak to me, and I will listen. But know this: I would love a child, or ten, but I have you, and that’s enough.”

She sighed and rested her head on his chest. He savored the weight, and the scent of her hair, wondering how he’d been so blessed.

“My dear,” Johnathan said in his tenderest voice. “Whatever may come, know this: I’m living my best life with you.”

“I love you, Johnathan.”

“I love you, too. No matter what.” She snuggled closer, and he was content, until he had a thought.

“Of course,” he murmured against her hair, “you’re more than enough trouble on your own.”

* * *

Snow came to the mountains early that year, and the men finished the building just in time for snow to christen it. Built next to the Shepherds’ house, the large structure served as a makeshift hospital throughout the week, and a sanctuary on Sundays. With oil found in nearby Florence and Canon City, their little town had grown with miners and a few new families, and the Reverend served as minister and medic to anyone within ten miles. The “barn”, as Esther christened it, became one of the main hubs in town, rivaled only by Mr. Martin’s general store.

Christmas Eve the couples gathered together to sing carols and attend the holiday service. The Wilders and Donovans arrived early to help with food preparation, and as the afternoon wore on, the weather turned fierce enough to keep everyone else away.