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Maddie was immediately swept into the throes of a promising journey. The hours of waiting for him, and her greed, played against her. His expertise brought her to the brink swiftly, and a matter of moments later she reached her breaking point. As the eruption sent her reeling over the edge, she bit her lips together to keep from shouting his name.
She was still in her downward spiral when Lucky eased on top of her. His entrance was divine, and she wrapped her arms around him. Every act of loving him thrilled her, but this was the most wonderful of all: when they became one. Pure, undiluted ecstasy. Two souls spiraling upward as a single unit.
This was what she wished would last forever. It confirmed she wasn’t alone. That was what worried her like it never had before, and she wasn’t sure why, expect for the fact Lucky had never promised he’d stay at her side. That they’d be together beyond Alaska.
A sense of despair gripped her, and Maddie wrapped her legs around Lucky’s, rising faster and harder against each of his thrusts. Their union grew more frantic, a pairing of wills as well as bodies, and it went on for a long time, reaching pinnacles and plateaus that sent her as close to delirium as anything ever could.
She fought her surrender, holding on until it was no longer possible. Her jubilation, coupled with wave after wave of fulfillment rushing over her body, was so stunning tears once more stung her eyes.
Lucky let out a low and lusty groan as their bodies swiftly separated, and Maddie held on to him with all the strength she could muster as his body shuddered a final time.
Shortly afterward, when he attempted to roll off her, she squeezed him again.
“Don’t,” she pleaded. “Please don’t move.”
“I’m too heavy,” he answered. “I’ll crush you.”
“No, you won’t.”
He tucked his hands beneath her and held her tight. “Are you still mad I bought a stove?” he asked a few quiet moments later.
“Yes,” she answered truthfully. “We don’t need a stove.”
His gruff laugh filled the air, and grew louder when she squealed at the way he rolled off her, pulling her with him until he was on his back and she was lying atop him. “Next month,” he said, “you’ll thank me for that stove.”
* * *
Weeks later, long after the stove had been installed and used several times, Maddie was still mad, and Cole was wrought with frustration. He’d never let a woman put him in such a state before, and wasn’t pleased it was happening this time. It was all a bittersweet situation. Maddie’s anger seemed to increase her passion. Their almost nightly union s were heated and phenomenal, which left Cole as dangerous as a forest of dry timber. A mere spark, like a twinkle in her eyes or a playful giggle, ignited a wildfire of need to have her, possess her.
There was more, though. He couldn’t help but admit he had it all—a beautiful, wonderful woman everyone thought was his. But she wasn’t. Not really. And there wasn’t much he could do about that.
He wasn’t the only one fixated on Maddie. Every man for miles around smashed their fingers on purpose, just to have the chance for her to examine their injury. The older ones looked upon her like a long-lost daughter, doting on her endlessly, and the younger ones wanted to be him. They watched closely, hoping he’d make a blunder so they could step in. With the way they hovered, he couldn’t let it slip they weren’t married.
Cole was kicking himself for how he’d insisted Maddie be neighborly with the other miners. She’d taken it to heart, was now interacting with the others regularly, and with charm. He, too, acted hospitably, but mainly because it was the best way to keep an eye on the others, especially those who thought they might have a chance to gain her trust, or more—his place in her bed.
He should have asked her to marry him when he’d had the chance, but she didn’t want that. All of her talk of life after Alaska, the big house she spoke of, complete with servants, never included him. He’d never wanted that in the past, and still didn’t, but he did want Maddie. However, other worries were setting in.
Gold mining wasn’t working out so well. They’d found a good amount, but when divided, his portion would barely put a dent in rebuilding DuMont Shipping, and his reserves were running thin. The amount of money he continuously spent in Bittersweet was part of what kept men trekking up the river, thinking he must be hitting it big. He hadn’t, and going home broke was not an option. Never in his life had he worried about running out of money, but he’d put all his reserves in this investment. In making Maddie comfortable while finding a way to help his family.
