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The explosion curled through her like a rippling tidal wave. Her own voice echoed throughout the room. “Garth! Oh, my! Garth, please!”
He licked her, soothed her, and when she floated downward, he kissed her. There. A sloppy, slurpy kiss, and then he looked up at her and smiled.
His chin and lips glistened with moisture. Slowly he inched forward, and his hardness brushed against her leg, her thigh, and nudged that glorious spot that now seemed even more sensitive.
With one smooth thrust, he pushed into her.
“Oh!” The word left her in a breathless gasp. A lance of pain shot into her. So big, so full. How would she ever get used to this?
But he whispered into her ear. Soothing words as his lips nibbled her lobe. “I’m sorry, honey. It won’t ever hurt again. Just hold still. It’ll pass.”
She held still. Relished his warm body against hers. Slowly, her own body stretched, welcomed him. And she was home.
He seemed to sense her relaxation, and he began to move within her. Slowly at first, and then gradually increasing the speed of his thrusts.
He filled her emptiness with his body, and with each plunge, she rose higher and higher, until again the sparks threaded through her and she flew.
Garth’s mouth clamped onto hers and he kissed her. More deeply than ever before as he continued to thrust. One arm curved under her thigh as he broke the kiss. “Your legs, honey. Wrap those long legs around me.”
She did so, and when her hips rose, he thrust deeper. Faster, harder, until with one final plunge he groaned into her mouth.
As she drifted back into her body once more, Garth inhaled a deep breath and turned onto his side, pulling her with him.
“You’re so beautiful.” He tunneled his fingers through her hair and brushed his lips against hers.
Ruth’s eyes misted, and a tear trickled down her cheek.
“Don’t cry.” He caught the drop on the tip of his finger. “Please. Did I hurt you?”
“Oh, no.” She sniffed and looked down at her lap. “It’s not that. It’s just…no one’s ever said I’m beautiful before. Except for my ma.”
Garth tilted her chin upward until she met his smoldering bronze gaze. “I can’t believe that.”
“It’s true. I… My sister was the beautiful one. I was the smart one. Men didn’t… Well, probably because of my height. And my intelligence.”
“I love your height. You’re perfect for me.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Well, you are a large man, Garth Mackenzie.”
“The first time I laid eyes on you, I imagined you as an Amazonian Princess. Then you opened your mouth and told me what you thought, and I nearly blew my top.” He chuckled. “No woman has ever stood up to me like that. I can’t say I liked it much, but damn, Ruthie, I liked you. Didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t get you out of my mind. You’re strong, brave, smart, and beautiful. Just like a warrior princess.”
He liked her. Her heart tapped at the sentiment. He didn’t speak of love, but at least he liked her, held her in his esteem.
It was a start.
Chapter Eleven
Matthew’s body was leaden. Nearly as large as Garth himself, Matthew was dead weight, even though he wasn’t yet dead.
Blood spurted from his stomach, already soaking the blue of his uniform. The Rebels had scattered. Injured Union soldiers lay every few feet. Every couple of steps, a hand grasped Garth’s ankle, a plea squeaked from a bloody mouth. “Help me. Please.”
Garth steeled himself. He couldn’t save them all. Could only save Matthew. Matthew—his closest friend, his confidante. His brother.
Garth dragged his friend clear of the injured. Behind a tree, he assessed the damage. It didn’t look good. Every drop of crimson blood knifed into Garth as though he were the one who had been shot.
The one dying.
“Leave me,” Matthew whispered.
