Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 (9 page)

The confession tasted like ash in his mouth. He looked at the river that flowed next to them, the mist cool in the dawn air. All his life he’d loved the water—the power and beauty of it, how it ran the mill and provided the strength to grind the wheat. It reminded him of his father in that sense. The mill was nothing without him.

“I need to get things back to running. For Pa.” He turned back to his uncles. “I’ve got to start by fixing any paddles on the wheel that got damaged by the critters gnawing on them, and more when the grindstones jammed yesterday.”

Lee held up a hammer. He wore a contraption on his left arm his wife, Ginny, had made for him. She’d improved the design over the years and he now had the leather strapped tightly to his shoulder and what remained of his arm. The sharpened hook allowed him to pick up and carry anything he needed to. He even had a few different attachments than the hook. “Let’s get busy, boy.”

Adam nodded. “I already stacked the wood and nails.”

“I’ll get the ladder.” Gideon headed for the basement of the mill where all the extra tools and such were kept.

Zeke stepped up close to Adam while Lee got to work examining the wheel. “Everything good with your missus?” He crossed his arms. “Your wedding day didn’t end well. Or did it?”

Adam told himself not to be angry. His uncle meant well. “My wedding night is none of your business.” He walked toward the mill and then looked back. “Thanks for coming. I, uh, well…just thanks.”

Zeke followed, then clapped him on the back. “Family is everything, Adam.”

The five of them spent the entire morning repairing the wheel, cleaning the grindstones and making the mill operational. When dinnertime rolled around, Adam was more than ready to stop. Sweat rolled down his arms and chest.

He stared at the river and then glanced at his uncles and cousins. The water raged a few feet away, but the wider part of the river had shallower edges that were ideal for washing up.

“Swim before food so we don’t offend the ladies?” He pulled off his shirt and boots then waded into the water up to his knees. The other four followed in quick order. Usually there was general foolishness, splashing and shenanigans. Not today, though. Adam could barely find a smile in the depths of his heart. Not until his pa was safe from death, safe from the loss of his arm, alive and well. He promised himself he would go swimming with his father before the summer was over.

He used the sand at the bottom to scrub off the dirt and sweat, then squatted down to rinse off. As he shook the water off his face, he heard the others talking and then a feminine response.

Adam wiped the water from his eyes and found his wife standing with his uncles and cousins. She was short but blessed with amazing curves, which were shown off in any clothes she wore. Her long hair was in a braid that sat on her shoulder, but a few strands had escaped confinement and danced in the wind.

She stole his breath and his words. Eve was stunning. An exquisite creature. And she was his
wife
.

“Eve says dinner is waiting on us. You gonna swim all day or join us to eat?” Gideon raised one brown brow.

“I’m coming.” Adam stepped from the water. Her gaze traveled down his freckled form and back to his face. He’d always disliked his coloring, enduring the teasing by everyone for having carrot hair and “stains” on his skin. Why he was the only redhead in the family aside from Pa, he never knew, but he sure as hell didn’t like it.

“I brought you a clean shirt.” She handed him the garment. “I thought you might need a fresh one.”

Adam found a smile for her. “Thank you, Eve.” He slipped on the shirt as she watched.

Spencer cleared his throat. “Ah, do you want to be alone?”

Adam scowled at his cousin. “Shut up.”

A burst of laughter lightened the mood on such a somber day. Adam tried to punch all of them, but they ran for the house. Except Eve. She watched with an expression of amusement.

He stepped closer to her, that spicy scent she wore surrounding him. Adam couldn’t stop from kissing her, although he knew it wasn’t the right time or place. When he pulled her close, her large breasts pushed into his chest, her small body conforming to his as if she belonged.

Perhaps she did.

She closed her eyes as he kissed her just once, but it was enough. Her dark-blue eyes fluttered back open. That affection he’d felt the night before made his heart thump against his ribs.

He could love this woman if he let himself.

* * * * *

Adam once again sat on the front porch, this time with a half-dozen rocks in his hand. Eve slipped into the chair next to his and breathed in the flower-scented night air. She was used to living either in a city with stenches she didn’t care to remember or in the outdoors where survival might depend on how smart you were.

She’d never lived in such a place as Tanger. The town itself was not remarkable, but the people who lived here were nothing short of that. She wanted so much to embrace the marriage she never knew she wanted.

Eve was playing a dangerous game. She normally kept to a polite distance, but now all she wanted to do was sit on the porch with the red giant she married and watch the stars. He held up a small rock for her to see.

“This is topaz. It’s a gemstone like the onyx.” The lamplight from the window made the rock appear translucent yellow. It was beautiful. He placed it in her palm. “I’d like you to have this.”

She tried to hand it back. “You already gave me two of your rocks. You should keep your treasures.”

He smiled, a white slash in the semidarkness. “I’ve got a treasure. I want to share special things with her.”

Her heart did a silly flip.

Adam was trying to be sweet, but it wasn’t necessary. Eve didn’t know how to tell him she was unaffected by gifts, which was a lie of course. She took the stone and it joined the onyx and the blue stone tucked into her pocket.

Foolish. She didn’t need to become attached to him or his rocks. Now she was walking around with her pockets laden with them. It was a secret she didn’t tell him or anyone. They didn’t need to know she’d been charmed by rocks.

“Do you know where you’re from?”

His question yanked her from her traitorous thoughts. Thank God. “Texas. That’s about all I remember. I’ve moved around a lot.” Understatement.

“I’ve lived in Tanger all my life. I thought I hated it.” He leaned back against the rocking chair and pushed it into motion. “It seems that in the last three days I’ve opened my eyes to what I do have and not what I don’t. I have you to thank for that.”

She managed not to make an ass of herself by throwing herself at him. “You’re the master of your own ship, Adam. Not me.”

“I reckon that’s true, but if I hadn’t come upon a woman walking in the middle of the road, I’d still be moping around without taking my head out of the sand.” He made a circular gesture with his hand. “The world righted itself when I met you.”

Eve would not let herself succumb to his charms. She couldn’t. Adam didn’t seem like the type of man to charm his way into ladies’ drawers. Hell, they’d been married for two days and he hadn’t gotten into hers. No, this was genuineness and that was dangerous.

“Life takes us down a path and sometimes there’s a fork in the road. You chose to take that fork, not me.” She had to escape from the cozy chat with Adam, for now. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be climbing his legs in a moment and professing her undying love. Heaven forefend.

When she got to her feet, so did he. The gentlemanly gesture forced a smile from her whether she wanted to let it out or not.

“I’m going to go to bed. It’s been an exhausting day.” She stepped around him, unwilling to kiss him lest she lose what control she’d managed to hang on to. With both hands. He’d given her two days before they would share a marriage bed, but she wanted it now. She held back, not willing to change his opinion of her.

“Good night, Eve.”

She heard the longing and need in his voice. It echoed through her bones, calling her back to seduce him, to fall into the marriage bed and scratch the itch. She didn’t let the impulse control her. No, she had to make the seduction last as long as possible.

Eve stumbled past him into the house and hurried up the stairs. Next thing she knew, she would fall in love with him.

That would be a disaster. Worse than anything she could do. Becoming emotionally attached to a mark was akin to admitting she was a confidence man. Or woman, in this case. She’d learned the rules early and this one she’d never broken. She couldn’t start with Adam Sheridan.

C
hapter Eight

Several days after the accident, Eve still tried her best to fit in, which was necessary to her plan to become part of the town and blend in. She helped her mother-in-law change Jake’s bandages, guided the girls in their chores and ate breakfast with Adam. It left her feeling strangely content, an emotion she had no experience with.

As she folded the clothes from the line, she watched Adam walk to the mill. He was such a handsome man, his body as beautiful as any she’d ever seen. When he’d been wet from the river, she had to control herself from touching him, but oh how she wanted to.

Eve was no sweet miss. She knew about men of all shapes and sizes. Her husband’s physique was perfectly formed. Muscles and sinew wrapped around bone, all came together as if God himself had designed the ideal man. She wanted to do more than kiss him. A lot more. She’d resisted because it wasn’t the right time.

Watching the Sheridans had become her pastime. They loved each other more than she’d ever seen. It was uncommon in the world and a mystery to her. How could they feel such deep emotion for so many people?

It also pinched her with envy. She had always existed on the other side of the window from real people. Looking in and watching, sneaking in when she could. Now this family had invited her in. No need to sneak, at least not too much. They had no idea who she was or what they’d let into their home.

She wasn’t about to enlighten them.

Eve set the last of the clean laundry in the basket and moved it to the porch. Her feet took her to the mill, almost against her will. There was no thought as to why. She simply went; her heart and body led her forward.

The sound of the machinery in the mill was quite different than the night she’d been in here to help Mr. Sheridan. The vibration rumbled through her bones, but it was a good feeling. A familiar one, strange as that was. The corners were dusty with flour and chaff. Shadows danced across the floor from the two windows on either side.

She avoided looking at the grindstone in the center. She didn’t want the memory of those dark moments to halt her progress.

She found Adam downstairs, checking the weight of the flour he’d ground that day. The large sacks were obviously heavy. His muscles strained beneath his shirt as he hung each bag on the scale that was mounted on a beam.

Her nipples hardened beneath her blouse and a low throb began low in her belly. She waited until he set the sack down and then pressed her hand to his back.

He didn’t seem surprised. “Eve.” His voice was low, a deep rumbling that made the hairs on her neck stand up.

“I couldn’t stay away.” This was the first fully truthful statement she’d made to him.

He didn’t turn around, but his shoulders stiffened. The lantern was behind him, shrouding him. She moved closer, to within a few inches of him, the heat from his body surrounding her.

When she put both hands on his back, he let out a breath of air in a gust. Eve had fully expected to be the one to take the initiative with Adam. However, when she kissed a shoulder, he whirled around and pulled her into his arms.

His mouth came down on hers, their mouths fusing into one. His tongue found hers, dancing and parrying. The machinery above them disguised any noises they made, like a cocoon of sound.

He picked her up, cradling her against him. She spread her legs and wrapped them around his waist. His clearly hard cock fit snugly with her throbbing core. She groaned into his mouth as he thrust forward, hitting her pleasure spot. Eve was no virgin, nor was she someone who enjoyed sex, but Adam made her feel new again and yet pulsing with genuine passion.

He pulled his mouth away. “I don’t want to give you a wedding night in a dusty basement.”

“It doesn’t matter where it is as long as it’s you and me.” She tugged at his soft red hair. “I want you. Here. Now.”

His nostrils flared and a growl rumbled in his throat. He backed her toward the table against the wall, which held a stack of empty flour sacks, twine and other items. He set her on the sacks and held her on the edge.

She shook with anticipation, her pussy wet and eager. He cupped her face and kissed her, his soft lips like an addiction she craved more of with each touch of his mouth. Eve leaned against him, her breasts pushing against his muscled chest.

She pulled at his shirt, wanting to touch the skin she’d only seen but not been able to examine. He let her pull at the fabric until he raised his arms, and suddenly that chest was there, its ginger-colored hair asking for her attention. Who was she to refuse?

The crisp mat of hair tickled her hands as she explored the exquisitely sculpted man in front of her. He gripped her waist as she felt her away around the top half of her husband. His hands tightened as she grew closer to his waist. The hair grew darker, leading down into the waistband of his trousers.

“You’re playing with fire, honey.”

She smiled and kissed his nipple. He hissed and she did the same to the other side. Eve didn’t stop to consider if he would wonder how experienced she was. Her own needs pushed aside the common sense she usually let control her.

“Well then, tit for tat.” He pulled her blouse up and off before she could blink. When he cupped her breasts, she watched his tanned hands on the pale skin. His thumbs brushed her already hard nipples. It was her turn to hiss.

He leaned down and pulled a nipple into his mouth; she closed her eyes and just let herself feel. His tongue was rough against the tender skin. He nibbled, sucked and laved until she whimpered with need.

Then he moved to the other side.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders and squirmed, needing more. He reached for the buttons on her skirt and slid his hand down inside. When his calloused fingers found her nubbin, she let out a sound from deep within.

“God, you’re so wet.”

“I need you, Adam.” She sounded breathy. “Please.”

He managed to take off his trousers, then helped her slide off the rest of her clothes. Naked, he was magnificent. His cock sat nestled in dark-red hair, jutting up toward her. She wanted to grab him, feel the velvet-encased steel, but she hesitated. Eve didn’t want him to think her too eager.

“This may hurt.” Adam was such a gentleman as he pulled her to the edge of the table again. “I’ll try to be easy.”

She shook her head. “Make me yours, Adam.” She waited, none too patiently, as he positioned his cock at her entrance.

He pressed into her, stretching her, filling her. She held her breath until he was seated fully. He let out a shuddering breath and pressed his forehead to hers. She knew he was waiting for her to adjust to his size.

Eve didn’t need any time. She wanted him to move. Now.

“Don’t stop.” She flexed her interior muscles around him. “Please.”

He didn’t need any more encouragement. When he slid out, then back in, tingles spread through her body. A slow pace, much too slow. She began to move with him, the sacks beneath her behind rough on her skin, but she didn’t care.

He picked up speed, thrusting into her, hitting her nubbin with each pass. Pleasure coiled within her, pulling her closer and closer to release. He pulled her knees up, opening her up.

Deeper, deeper, deeper.

The explosion of ecstasy hit her hard and fast. She screamed and scratched at his shoulders. He was not far behind, his hoarse shout of release mingling with the aftershocks of her own.

Eve had never known such exquisiteness. Tears stung her eyes and she wrapped her arms around him.

She had a husband in truth now. He would never know what that meant to her, or how much she was falling for her red giant.

He pressed his forehead into her shoulder while his breath gusted onto her overheated skin. The sound of the machinery upstairs was a hum in the walls around them. Her heart pounding like a drum was the only other sound.

“Adam.”

He straightened up, his gaze both wary and confused. “Did we just do that in the basement of the mill?”

She cupped his cheek. “We’re married.”

“I didn’t mean to lose control.” He pulled away, leaving her cool and what she decided was bereft. “I shouldn’t have taken you on a table.”

Eve closed her legs and tucked her skirt down. “I enjoyed it.”

He searched her gaze, his blue eyes darkened in the lamplight. “Me too.”

He put a handkerchief in her hand with a shaky smile. While she cleaned herself, he used a rag to clean himself, then rearranged his clothing and soon they were both back to rights.

Not truly, though. Something had changed between them. They had tasted the body’s passion together. She had crossed a line so far she wasn’t sure she could ever go back.

* * * * *

Adam’s knees were still shaking two hours after he’d made love to Eve. The experience had drained him, in more ways than one. He could still smell her scent on his body. It might have been his imagination, but he didn’t care. His life had changed again, this time for the better.

Eve was passionate, more than he’d expected. His experience with women had been limited to two, one paid and one a widow. He’d learned quite a bit from the woman he paid. She told him she wanted to “give him a lesson in pleasing a woman”. Judging by Eve’s reaction, he’d done just that.

Their wedding night had taken place in the basement of the mill in the middle of the afternoon. Not the most romantic location, but he couldn’t regret it. The pleasure he’d found in her arms was beyond anything he’d known existed. He wasn’t completely sure, but he suspected Eve wasn’t a virgin. There had been no blood when he’d washed up.

It didn’t bother him, though. They were both reborn when he’d crashed the wagon. The flour had been a baptism of sorts for them. She’d found him and he’d found her. Now they had started their lives together, in truth. They had many years ahead, an open road of experiences to share.

Adam was still finding his way in this new world where he was responsible for his family, a wife and the mill. Thinking about what he’d be doing in a year was ridiculous. He had trouble thinking about what he’d be doing in a week.

He shut down the wheel and finished loading the flour into the bins upstairs. Tomorrow he’d deliver them, this time without an accident. Uncle Lee and Clint had helped retrieve the broken pieces and taken them into town for repair then lent Adam a wagon to transport the flour until they could fix the old one.

Adam didn’t know how people survived without families to support them. He sure as hell wouldn’t have anything without them. As he left the mill, he saw Rose come tearing out of the house toward him. His heart slammed into gear and he moved toward her.

“Rose!”

“It’s Pa!” She reached him in moments, her chest heaving from running. “H-he’s awake!”

Adam blinked and pulled his sister into a hug. “Thank God.” He took her hand and they returned to the house side by side. He didn’t want to ask how Pa was. The truth might be too hard to accept. He’d rather hope for the best than know the worst.

Voices echoed down the stairs as he took them two at a time, Rose hot on his heels. He found Bella outside the room, tears rolling down her face. She shook her head and leaned against the wall, seemingly overcome.

Adam entered the bedroom with his heart somewhere near his throat. Mama sat on the edge of the bed while Eve stood on the other side. Pa lay partially sitting up, a few pillows behind his head. His head and shoulders were still swathed in bandages, but his eyes were open.

Adam’s own stung with emotion. “Pa.”

“It’s a miracle.” Mama held her husband’s hand. “I can’t tell you how worried we were.”

Adam looked at Eve, who smiled at him softly. He managed not to yank her into his arms and kiss her senseless. She’d saved his father long enough for Elias to complete the doctoring. He could never repay her. Since she was now his, there was a lifetime to show her gratitude.

He walked toward the bed and met his father’s gaze. Pa was pale, the freckles standing out like dark spots on his skin. The skin around the bandage was raw, showing only a small amount of the damage the grindstones did.

“Pa.” Adam cleared his throat. “We were worried.” The words didn’t begin to convey the enormous emotions banging around in his soul. His heart hurt from relief mixed with worry. Until his father tried to move his arm and shoulder, there was the very real possibility that he was crippled. Permanently.

“A lot of fuss for me.” His father’s voice was as rough as the stones that tried to kill him. “Sounds like Elias did a good job stitching me up. Bandages are tight enough I can’t hardly move.”

Mama’s gaze flicked to Adam’s for a moment before she looked down at her hand tucked inside her husband’s. She wasn’t going to tell him.

That meant Adam had to.

“You remember the accident?”

His pa’s brows came together. “I remember it hurt.” It was just like him to understate what was probably the most horrific pain he’d ever endured. “It hurts now too.”

“Rose, go fetch Elias.” Mama’s worry was apparent in her tight expression.

“Yes, Mama.” The youngest Sheridan ran through the house, her footsteps echoing like a drum as she raced out.

“I don’t need a doctor,” Pa complained, but then he attempted to move and a moan of pain burst from his mouth. Everyone lurched forward to assist him, but he stopped them with one “Halt! I’ll concede I need a doctor”. A sheen of sweat appeared on his skin from the effort to move. “I’m powerful thirsty.”

Eve and Mama got to their feet, retrieving the water and fussing over him. Adam approached the bed and sat on the unharmed side of his father. He’d never seen the man look so weak, and it bothered him. More than he would admit out loud.

“The Devils helped me get the mill fixed up. It’s running on full speed. Got a delivery in the morning.” Adam didn’t know how to speak to his father, a revelation that shot an arrow through his heart. “I-I’m sorry I pushed you with the wedding and all.”

Pa blinked. “Nothing to be sorry about. I did something stupid and that’s that.” He managed a lopsided smile. “From what I hear, your wife has healing skills. Your mother tells me she saved my life.”