Tags:
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Historical,
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Western,
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Inspirational,
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Marriage of Convenience,
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Wyoming,
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victorian era,
Forever Love,
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Deceased,
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Factory Burned,
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Forty-Four In Series,
Casper,
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Town Blacksmith,
Little Child,
Prayers,
Plot Twist
made her wish for more. Never having been kissed before, Judith wasn’t at all sure how to respond.
What came naturally was to place her hands on his shoulders. Judith closed her eyes and allowed the sensation of closeness to envelope them.
Encouraged by her, Sean deepened the kiss, his mouth moved across hers in a disconcerting manner. She opened her mouth to breath and his tongue pushed past her lips. Sensations like she’d never felt flittered across her skin and then seeped in until every nerve came to life.
Sean pulled away, his wide chest expanding and retracting with each breath and she stared at it, certain she’d never breathe normally again.
“I need to fetch Bethany. Would you like to walk with me?” Sean asked, his eyes taking her in.
She fought the urge to grin like a loon. If the kiss was any indication of what intimacy would be like with him, the next few days would drag by.
Once she donned her shawl, he held the door open, allowing Judith to exit the house first. When her shoulder brushed his chest, Judith shivered in awareness. She pressed her lips together to keep from saying anything when he chuckled. Her future husband affected her too much. Whether good or bad, she preferred not to ponder on it at the moment.
Just as she stepped onto the porch, Sean took her arm and guided her beside the door. His eyes searched hers, the silence stretching into an uncomfortable length.
“Is something wrong, Sean?” Judith couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
“I sometimes wonder why things happen as they do. It’s still hard for me to believe my good fortune at finding a wife. A woman like you is more than I could have ever asked for. I wanted you to know how glad I am.”
She couldn’t stop the smile forming, while at the same time her eyes teared up and she tried unsuccessfully to blink the tears away. “I, too, am grateful that coming into such a dreadful situation, things turned out as they did. If not for you and Bethany, I have no idea what I would have done. So far from home and anyone I know, I would have been lost.”
It was natural and so perfect when, once again, he pulled her against him. Judith relished the hardness and expanse of his chest, loving how protected she felt when leaning against the strong man. She lifted her face hoping he’d kiss her and to her delight, Sean covered her mouth with his. This time with urgency and possession so demanding she clung to him not wanting for it to end.
More in control than her, Sean lifted his lips from hers and pressed a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “I don’t know how I will keep from touching you before we marry. I hope you don’t mind me being forward by saying this, but you tempt me Judith.”
As he’d echoed the thoughts she was having at the moment, Judith could only sigh and lay her head against his shoulder. “I will do my best to keep you from temptation, Mr. Montgomery.”
His chuckle delighted her as she floated down the steps and to the twilight over the road as they made their way to Eloise’s house.
“There you two are, just in time to sit down for dessert. I wondered what was keeping you.” Eloise studied their faces, her gaze lingering on Judith’s heated face and she gave her a knowing smile. “Well, no matter. Let’s eat.”
The family surrounded the long, dining room table. Judith and Sean sat at one end with Bethany in a cradle between them. The baby was propped up and she cooed happily making everyone laugh with her antics.
Judith’s heart threatened to burst from her chest in that moment. Looking around the room filled with the buzz of conversation and children’s giggles, she took in every single second never wanting to forget the first time she felt part of a family. The warmth of love filled the room and she sniffed, only to garner concerned looks from everyone.
“I’m sorry,” she said waving her hands. “It’s just tonight is wonderful. I am so happy.” Judith wiped at her eyes and
Learning to Kill: Stories