Circle Eight: Vaughn (4 page)

“It’s for selfish reasons. I told you that you stink.” She was only being honest. Her brothers would expect no less.

He chuckled. “You might be right.”

“There is no maybe about it.”

He held the sock and shoe out to her. She set the bucket down and took it. His thumbs grazed her palm. She didn’t know whether it was deliberate or not. Regardless, his touch sent sparks up her arm.

“Will you help me?” His soft question almost knocked her off her feet.

The moment had arrived when she would have to decide. To explore it felt like to be within the circle of his arms or walk away and spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been.

She finally raised her head and met his gaze. His handsome face was a foot away. She saw the small scar by the corner of his mouth, the slight bend in the middle of his nose, the three-day growth of whiskers and, more than anything, the desire in his dark eyes.

Desire for her. Elizabeth Graham, the too tall spinster with a permanent crease between her eyes from frowning. The serious sister who spent her days taking care of the books and running the business of a ranch.

Impossible.

“I don’t understand,” she blurted.

He cupped her cheek. “You are by far the most genuine person I’ve ever met.”

Frustrated, she pulled away from his touch. “What does that mean? I am who I am, does that make me desirable?”

He took her face in his hands, the long-fingered hands with calluses. His thumbs caressed her cheeks. “It means I don’t think I’ve met a woman who was who she was. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

“I’m not.” She protested even as she leaned toward him, eager for more, her body fairly vibrating with need for him.

“You are.” He leaned in and kissed her. His lips were softer than she expected and so very warm. “Now please help me with the bath.”

She should say no, walk away and leave him to his bath. She knew before she opened her mouth that she would not.

Instead, she reached for the buttons on the threadbare shirt. He dropped his arms and watched her. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen his body. She had taken care of him for two days, wiping him down, stitching him up, taking care of his personal needs. This was different, more intimate.

His skin was smooth, with various scars marking him on his arms and chest. She wondered how he’d gotten wounded—or perhaps she shouldn’t know. He was a mystery to her and that’s how it should be. This was an interlude in her life that wouldn’t be repeated.

She slid the shirt down his arms and let it fall to the floor. When she reached for the buttons on the trousers, she noted the evidence of his arousal. His cock strained against the fabric, waiting to be released, to greet her. Elizabeth should be afraid, but she was excited, not scared.

She had spent twenty-one years being the middle daughter, the smart, studious one who never had fun. In this surreal moment, she would discover what she’d been missing.

“Are you sure about this, Ellie?” The shortened version of her name sounded perfect coming from his mouth.

“Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sure of anything in my life.”

“Then let me take these off while you go fetch soap and a rag, maybe a towel.”

Her hands shook as she pulled back from touching him. He was right. She needed to get soap and she also needed to check on Martha.

“I’ll be right back.” She left the room, her heart pounding hard and her breath ragged. The soap and rags were in the kitchen. She took what she needed, then walked to Granny’s room. Elizabeth pressed her ear to the door and heard nothing from within.

She knocked with the barest touch of her knuckles and waited. If she opened the door, she could wake the older woman. On the other hand, if something was wrong, she would never forgive herself for not checking.

Satisfied the best thing was to peek in the room, she slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open an inch. She peered in and saw Martha asleep on her pillow, her chest rising and falling with even breaths. Elizabeth eased the door shut and gave thanks.

She returned to the room where Vaughn waited. This time her hands were steady when she opened the door. He was in the tub, his arms propped on the sides, a smile on his face.

She closed the door behind her and took a deep breath. Butterflies had taken up residence in her belly as she stepped into the room. She knelt beside the tub without looking into the water. His knees stuck up above the surface, which wasn’t surprising. He was quite tall and the tub wasn’t that large.

He held out his hand and she shook her head. “I thought you wanted help.”

“I do. I don’t suppose you will wash my back?” All playfulness faded from his expression to be replaced by that desire she’d seen. Sweet heat blasted through her. She had nothing to go on except instincts and they were telling her to touch him.

She dipped the rag and soap in the water, then knelt beside the tub. Her hands trembled as she ran the soap on the cloth and set the bar on the floor. The expanse of male skin should have frightened her but it didn’t. She’d spent two days taking care of him before she knew his name. He had become a familiar stranger.

Vaughn closed his eyes, a sign of trust. She began on his hands and worked her way up his arms. The clean scent of the soap filled the air, the sound of the cloth gliding over his skin, the occasional drip of water and breaths the only sounds in the room. Elizabeth reached his shoulder and shifted her position so she sat behind him.

He leaned forward, exposing his wide back. She took her time washing all that maleness, fascinated by the way his muscles defined the structure. By the time she reached his right arm, she was perspiring. Her body had heated and it wasn’t due to the hot water. She was educated enough by her sister and sisters-in-law to know she was aroused. For the first time in her life.

She washed his other arm and belatedly realized she had no clean water to rinse him. Her mind was stuck somewhere in the regions of her inner thighs, instead of working as it should. Anyone who knew her would have been surprised to see how she was acting. Even more so by what she was doing.

“Back in medieval times, the lady of the castle would be expected to bathe noblemen who visited.” Vaughn sounded relaxed and well read.

“I remember reading about that. I can’t imagine bathing all those naked old men.” She started on his chest, her heart picking up speed.

“Some of them weren’t old.” His eyes open and she was caught in his dark gaze. Instead of pure color, shades of smoke, twilight and shadows swirled together. She was caught. “I think there were probably some naked young men too.”

Elizabeth had lost the ability to speak. The washrag sat useless in her hand. He reached up with one wet palm and touched her cheek. She leaned into his touch as time slowed to a crawl. All she heard was the whoosh of the blood through her veins and the thump of her heart.

He was going to kiss her.

Vaughn moved toward her slowly as though he waited for her to pull back. She wasn’t about to move an inch away from him. His lips came closer and she closed her eyes. Soft as a satin ribbon, his mouth covered hers. A small sigh escaped as his lips moved across hers.

Incredible.

Amazing.

His whiskers lightly scraped against her skin as he kissed her. She’d never understood the appeal of lips until his touched hers. Sweet heavenly saints. It was nothing like she expected. It was everything she wanted.

Sweet liquid heat spread through her bones, turning her into a human puddle of tingles. Elizabeth trembled with sensations she’d never experienced before. This explained so much about why her siblings were enamored of being married. If she had this every day, she would love to be married.

His tongue swept through her mouth, pulling hers into a dance of wet heat. A moan crawled up her throat. She needed more. He kissed his way down her jaw to her ear. When his tongue lapped at her ear, his breath caressed her sensitized skin.

“You smell of roses.” He sucked at her earlobe then gently bit it. A shiver wound down her spine.

“It’s the soap. Eva mixes rose petals in when she makes it.” Elizabeth knew the information was useless and silly, but she didn’t know how to behave or what to say.

“Eva sounds like a wonder.” He didn’t mention wanting to meet her. That was okay because she knew as well as he did that Vaughn would leave as soon as he was able. Tomorrow perhaps.

Tonight, however, was theirs.

“What happens now?” She lifted her chin and his mouth found her neck. Sweet kisses landed on her skin and she sighed with pleasure.

“This is your first time?” He moved to the other side of her neck.

“Yes.” There was no need to prevaricate. It wasn’t in her bones to do so.

“Then you will tell me what you want, what you like and what you don’t want. We will only do what you feel comfortable with.” He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Ellie of the sea-storm eyes. You have such passion in you.”

She didn’t necessarily agree with him but she wouldn’t disagree. Right about then, she was overcome with passion, swimming in it.

“I like kissing.”

He chuckled and kissed her. “Me too. How about I get out of this water before it gets cold?”

Elizabeth shook with the force of her body’s reaction. Vaughn had given her the power to stop what they were doing. She should walk away and cease this madness. Yet she didn’t. Perhaps she couldn’t. She definitely didn’t want to.

She held his hands while he got to his feet, her gaze straying to his hard cock. He was beautifully made and she’d seen him flaccid multiple times. Fully aroused, he was magnificent, a man sculpted like a statue of marble. She used the towel to dry him and then helped him out of the tub.

“Will you lie with me, Ellie?” His playfulness had faded, replaced by a sensuality she could almost feel in the air.

Her heart hammered hard enough to make her ears hurt. She’d never been more scared or more excited in her life.

“Yes, I reckon I want to.” Shy and uncertain, she waited for him to guide her.

He lay on the bed and she couldn’t look away from the sight. Like a buffet of the most decadent desserts, he was hers for the taking.

“Take off your clothes, Ellie.”

That would make sense since she figured folks didn’t mate with them on. If they did, they were missing out on the fun. She unbuttoned her dress and slipped it off, followed by her boots and socks. The last garment was her cotton chemise. He raised one brow and waited, patient and aroused.

Elizabeth managed to pull off the chemise without too much hesitation. His gaze swept her body and she wanted to cover herself again. When her hands crept toward her breasts, he made a noise.

“Please don’t. You’re so very lovely, perfectly made.”

Her nipples popped at his husky compliment. She had never considered herself beautiful. At that moment, she felt beautiful.

“Now please come here and straddle me. We will go as slow as you like.”

Elizabeth didn’t quite understand how the mating would work if he was on the bottom, but she assumed his cock would fit into her pussy no matter the angle. She shuffled to the bed and knelt on the edge, swinging her leg over his hips. Her own heat was dangerously close to his staff, which twitched and appeared to reach toward her.

“I can smell you.” He touched her thigh, running it higher, close to her pulsing core. “You’re aroused, which is amazing. You’re so full of passion.”

She wanted him to touch her, ached for him to touch her. He obliged, his callused fingers running through her dewy folds. She sighed and he rubbed the nubbin she had discovered when she was a young teenager. However, her own hand never brought her the level of pleasure his did.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and let him explore. She pressed her hands against his chest and leaned forward. When his mouth closed around her nipple, she gasped, her body clenched.

“I didn’t know that was allowed.”

He chuckled against her skin. “Anything you want is allowed.”

“That’s good to know.” She leaned into his touch, eager to experience all he taught. He sucked, nibbled and licked her nipple, then the other. All the while his hand continued to bring sweet heat to her pussy.

Her body wound up tight, impossibly tight. One more stroke, two more, three more. Her release exploded through her, setting her body on fire. She clenched around his hand while he drew her closer, nudging her entrance. When he slid inside her, her climax continued, pulling him in deeper with ease.

“Oh God, you’re so tight, so wet.” His tone was one of wonder. “Ellie, you’re perfect.”

He put his hands on her hips and guided her up and down. She was full, impossibly full with his cock. She’d never felt or imagined anything like it. It was exquisite pain mixed with the utmost pleasure. His pace was unhurried, slow and steady. There didn’t appear to be a barrier for him to break, perhaps because she’d spent her entire life riding horses.

Now she rode a stallion, a man, a stranger. It was unlike her in so many respects. Perhaps there had been a different Elizabeth lurking beneath her staid exterior.

“Is there more?” She didn’t recognize her voice, one unstrained and full of passion.