Page 98 of The Prospector's Only Prospect
“You’ll be happier if she’s close by, won’t you? I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” Such a jubilant feeling was dawning through her she could hardly contain it. She was in love with a good, caring man who loved her back. It was truly the most wonderous moment in her life because it was real. This time it was real. She slid possessive arms up around his neck and leaned her body into his in a most unseemly way, considering they were in public.
He still didn’t seem to mind. He kept one arm around her back while his other hand cupped the side of her neck. He looked on her with eyes that were polished silver, glittering with humor and something bright and admiring and hot. It filled her with confidence and worth and such optimism her heart was liable to burst.
“Let’s go find Woodrow and make this official.” His thumb caressed her throat. “We’ll spend the night at the hotel, then I need to scare up tack for the mules before we can leave for home. I rode in bareback for you, you know.”
“Here I thought you shouting at everyone that you loved me was the most romantic thing you’d done for me today,” she teased and pulled away to gather her things. When she picked up the gnarled nugget and tried to hand it to him, he shook his head.
“I want you to keep it.”
“No,” she protested. “It’s your lucky nugget. You always keep it with you.” She wouldn’t mess with his superstition.
“Exactly. You keep it, and I’ll keep you. I’ll still have all the luck it’s brought to me.”
“Virgil.” She couldn’t help but fold her fist around it and hold it against her heart. He really was a romantic.
“Ma’am? Are you ready to write my letter now?” a young man approached to ask.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Come work at Quail’s Creek, and I’ll pay Marigold myself to write your damned letters. Man can’t even get a minute of peace on his wedding day.” Virgil started to put on his wet hat, then gave his hair a smooth. “Think I need a haircut first?”
Marigold bit back a smile.
“What’s that face for?”
“Nothing.” He was such an adorable grump. “Shall I trim it?”
“No.” He scowled, then said more gently, “I like the cutting, I don’t like the cut. Is this all you have?” He went back to frowning as he took her bag. “We’ll have to stop at the trading post before we leave. See if we can find you something warm so I don’t lose you at the first frost. Buffalo-skin bloomers, maybe.”
“Hold up there, Virgil!” Mr. Dudley called as they started through the doors.
“Come on, Cecil,” Virgil groused. “I’ll settle up after we marry. You know I’m good for it.”
“I only wanted to say…” He lifted his full glass and nodded at everyone to do the same. “Best wishes to you. May your love be true.”
The men cheered and shot and tapped their empty glasses.
“Thank you.” Virgil nodded and touched his hat, then looked at Marigold with all his love for her reflected in his expression, there for everyone to see, especially her. “It is true,” he assured her.
And she believed him.
Epilogue
Two weeks later…
Marigold woke to the press of her husband’s firm erection against her bottom. His palm cupped her breast. She stretched, enjoying the caress of his warm strength against her back and legs.
He stretched at the same time. “I thought you’d never wake up,” he whispered very softly against her ear. “Do you want—”
“Yes,” she breathed, rolling onto her back while he shifted over her.
They both moved as quietly as possible, conscious of the children above and her sister in the next room.
As he pulled her nightdress up, Virgil slid beneath the covers. She had taken him in her mouth a few times, but he nearly always “wanted a taste” before he pressed into her.
She bit her lip as his tongue parted her folds, and he rocked his mouth against her sleepy lips. A shiver of arousal swept over her skin. She spread her legs for more, gasping as quietly as she could when she wanted to groan lustily.
Her excitement pooled as liquid heat, and she was soon pushing against his mouth in encouragement. He climbed to kiss her stomach, pushing her nightdress up and up, causing another flood of heat into her loins when he sucked on her nipples.
