Taming Tessa (Montana Maiden Series Book 2) (3 page)

He waited patiently. Oh, the man seemed to have the patience of a saint! I shifted in his lap, as if I were physically uncomfortable by the conversation, not just emotionally. "They assured me that you would beat me if I did not behave."

I felt the muscles in his thighs tense beneath me. "Do you think I'd do that?" he asked, his voice calm, but with a sharp edge to it.

I shrugged my shoulders. Would he hit me? He didn't seem the type, and I'd know as I'd watched him for years. I'd seen him with his brothers, with other townsfolk, with the horses. He appeared strict, yet kind. "I...I hope not."

"I will never hit you in anger. Spank you, perhaps. That depends upon you."

Spank?

"I'm a strict man, Tessa. I will make demands of you that you may question, that you may not like, but you will obey. I promise, I will always see to you, cherish you, give you pleasure. I will
never
hurt you."

I heard the vehemence of his words. I knew him to be honorable; he hadn't even kissed me until we were wed. Therefore, I was inclined to believe him. A worry I didn't even know I carried was alleviated.

Cole remained quiet for a moment. "You need not fear them any longer."

I questioned who he spoke of for a moment. "My parents?"

"Yes. You're stronger than they are, Tessa. They can't hurt you anymore."

The words soothed me in a way I'd never known before.

***

"You knew, the other night at dinner, that we were going to marry," I said to my husband when we entered his large house. It was set on a bluff, overlooking the vast land held by the Bridger family. Built from hewn logs, it was graced with a large front porch. For a bachelor, the home was excessive, but it was my home too, now. There was no question to Cole's virility so it would most likely be filled with children soon enough.

Cole placed his hat on the table where we'd eaten with my parents, Sam, Jake and Catherine and the foreman and his wife just the other night. "Yes. I decided then that it was time."

"Time?" I ran my hand over wildflowers that filled a vase near the window.

"Ever since you touched my hand at the church picnic, you were mine." Cole looked at me steadily, his dark gaze clear and calm.

My mouth fell open. “Since the ... that was years ago!"

My heart hammered in my chest. He'd wanted me all this time? Oh my.

He moved closer, bearing down on me and I wanted to retreat out of instinct, afraid he might hurt me, but refused to be cowed by reactions wrought by others' actions. His body was so close to mine, if I breathed deeply my breasts would bump his chest. I felt heat radiate from him, smelled his clean male scent - like woods and sky and dark, sinister acts rolled together.

"You've been mine since then, Tessa," Cole murmured, his voice husky. One big hand brushed over my hair, pushing it back from my face.

I swallowed down the lump of nervousness in my throat. "I...I had no idea."

His hand moved lower, over my cheek, down my neck and to the little buttons at the top of my blouse. "You did everything you could to gain my attention."

Licking my lips, I took a deep breath. I shivered at the brush of his knuckles against my skin. "I...I wanted you to notice me."

The corner of his mouth ticked up. "I noticed you, but it wasn't yet time. It is now."

My heartbeat quickened, my palms became damp and I felt my cheeks flush at his insinuation. "Now?"

This time I did retreat. Just because I'd done everything I could to get him to want me, I was still nervous, still unsure of what he had in mind. I had a general idea, but he was so big, so
present,
he made me very nervous. He had solely been part of my dreams before, but now...he was flesh and blood and he was looming over me. I only made it a step as his fingers latched onto the modest opening of my bodice and pulled me back. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Now I'm going to do all the things I've wanted to do since you began taunting me. Now I’m going to take what you've been offering me all these years." His breath was hot against my nape.

I heard a sound and realized I'd moaned.

"Now be a good girl and take off your clothes."

"My...my clothes? All of them?"

The hand that held onto my blouse gave a harsh tug. I heard the rend in the material before I understood what he was doing. Buttons flew and skittered across the hard wood floor and my blouse was off one shoulder and dangling about my wrist. I only had time to gasp as Cole swiftly, and none too gently, stripped me. I held up my hands to cover my corset; no man had seen me dressed so. This vanity allowed Cole to yank at my skirt, opening the waist and letting it fall to the floor. My drawers...oh! My drawers were still on the altar floor. My cheeks burned at the idea of Reverend Abernathy finding them.

"So beautiful, darlin'. I'm a generous man. Some even say I'm
nice
. Gentle, even. But my patience can only endure so much." He brushed my hands out of the way and worked the stays of my corset open until the last of my coverings fell to the floor. There I stood, naked, with a
thing
in my bottom. If I turned around, would he be able to see it?

His heated gaze raked over me, first meeting my eyes where I could see he meant what he said, then dropping lower, over my breasts, belly and to my womanly garden. There, he lingered and I tried not to squirm.

"We will begin this marriage as I plan to continue, just so you have no doubts. Your ass will be corked, your pussy will be bare and your breasts will be exposed at all times."

He turned then and left me. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't run with my clothes in tatters on the floor, nor did I really want to. His aggressive behavior was because he was impatient, eager to see my body? The thought of that, of his power was exhilarating. But what had he said? Corked at all times, shaved...there? Exposed breasts? I knew he'd put his
thing
in me at some point on my wedding night, but I had no idea to these others. Cole went to the kitchen but quickly returned with his shaving cup and a straight razor.

"Over to the dining table so I can shave you."

The dining table, where we'd eaten with our families?

"Now, Tessa."

I did as he bid, walking slowly, unused to having my bottom filled. Once I stood in front of the table, my fingers brushing against the cool wood, I waited for my next instruction.

"You've handled the cork well. I'm going to remove it, so bend over just like in church." He placed the items he carried on the table.

He was taking it out? I eagerly bent forward, yet embarrassment washed over me as I looked down and saw my breasts swaying beneath me. I wasn't small; I hadn't been since I was fifteen. At that time I learned I was larger than most girls, as the boys were apt to comment and laugh at me. Some even leered and whispered to each other about me, which made me uncomfortable with my body. Even my sister had commented about how
obscene
my breasts were. After bathing, I didn't linger unclothed, not wanting to look at what was considered laughable. Now, I had no choice but to gaze upon my generous endowments.

"Oh, Cole, not like this," I begged. "Please."

He knelt down and looked at me, his dark eyes concerned. "Why?"

I felt my cheeks heat and I couldn't look at him any longer. I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Tessa," he warned. "Why?"

I blinked and stared into his fathomless dark eyes. "Because...because my breasts are so large."

His eyes flared, then he grinned wickedly. "Yes, they are." Very gently, he cupped one in his large palm.

I gasped at the contact, then leaned forward, pushing my breast further into his touch.

"They're gorgeous. I've been waiting to see them, touch them, and I can't wait to have them exposed for me to see anytime I wish."

His thumb ran over my distended nipple as he spoke. I had no idea such feelings could be elicited from such a caress.

"Like that?" He was watching me closely for my reactions.

I bit my lip. "Oh, yes."

"Good girl. More of that later. Now, let's get the plug out." He removed his hand, stood, then moved behind me.

I couldn't help but squirm as Cole tugged and twisted the cork, slowly working it from me. I scrunched up my face at the discomfort, and couldn't help but sag in relief once it was removed. He dropped the cork on the table with a loud thunk. Surprisingly, I felt empty with it gone. I looked over my shoulder. Cole stood behind me, his large body all but dwarfing mine, his big hand holding up a white, round object. He saw me looking and held it down for me to see it closely. "This is your pill. It will go in your ass before each corking to keep you slick and to keep you from conceiving. I'm not ready to share your body yet with anyone, I'm actually quite greedy where you are concerned, not even a babe of my seed."

I frowned. How could something up there keep me from becoming with child? I doubted this, but was inclined to agree with Cole. I wanted children, but not immediately. The thought of growing fat was not the least bit appealing. Only time would tell if it would work. He'd also said it would keep me...slick.

"Slick? Slick for what?"

"For the cork, but also for ass fucking. I might want to fuck your ass and I want to make sure you're good and ready for me, even when there isn't a jar of ointment nearby."

"For...I mean," I gasped, then cleared my throat. I had no idea this was something a man did, or
wanted
to do. "Ass fucking?"

"That's where I take my cock and bury it deep in your ass. I'll fuck you there, Tessa, so it's important that you're very slick and ready."

The very idea had me clenching my bottom. Bent as I was, I could see the outline of his ... cock … through his pants. He was aroused and he was
not
small. I had no idea how he would fit in my woman's passage, let alone in my bottom.

"You...you want to do that to me?"

Cole dipped his fingers into a jar on the table, then moved them to my ass and rubbed cool ointment around my opening, similar to what he’d done at church. "Darlin', you have no idea."

I squeaked and clenched at his touch. He was aroused because he longed for...
that?
The concept of his desire did not appeal to me, but the knowledge that I aroused him certainly did. I felt the item he called a pill being pushed against me and I was brought out of my reverie. My body fought the foreign object, but to no avail; he easily inserted the round object past my entrance, with one finger nudging it into my depths. It wasn't pleasant, and I felt my hips shift to avoid his penetrating finger as sweat broke out upon my skin.

"Cole," I replied, panting and wincing at the intrusion. "It's...I don't...oh God, it's too much."

He stopped and I had a moment of relief that he'd heeded my words. "Easy, darlin'. You're almost done." I glanced to the side. He picked up the small wooden object again. Cole was most certainly not done. After the experience at church, this cork's insertion went fairly quickly, although it was almost impossible for me to relax to have it go in. I panted through his ministrations. Clearly Cole had no intention of being defeated, and continued circling and pushing forward until it spread me open. I hissed at the final stretching.

Grabbing a cloth, he wiped his hands. "Sit upon the table."

I stood and relaxed my tense shoulders, feeling the things in my bottom. My body burned at the constant stretch. It wasn't remotely enjoyable, in fact, quite uncomfortable. I turned to face Cole, whose head was lowered as he looked his fill at my body. In comparison to my small frame, he was large and rough around the edges, with tanned work worn hands, an early beard growing on his jaw, and tiny lines at the corner of his eyes. I should be afraid of him, but I wasn't. I longed for him. Even after the things he'd said, I desired him. I wasn't immune; I felt my nipples pebble.

"Sit? Here? Cole, this is where we eat our meals," I countered.

He grabbed my hips and unceremoniously sat me upon the hard surface. The coolness of it against my private places made me squeak and I shifted my hips as the cork pushed into me.

"Lean back on your elbows."

"Cole--" I whined.

He arched on brow. "Are you planning on questioning everything?"

I tilted my chin up. "When you have ridiculous notions, then yes."

I saw the corner of his mouth turn up as he pushed on my shoulders, making me fall back into the position he requested. My breath hissed out at the cool contact with my bare back. He took firm grip of both my ankles and lifted them up and wide, exposing me. With my bottom at the edge of the table, Cole could no doubt see...everything.

Without releasing my legs, he knelt on the floor so his face was lined up with....

"Cole!" I pushed up onto my hands in outrage. He couldn't look at me thusly! "You can't look at my woman's garden like that."

"Woman's garden?" He sounded baffled, then he chuckled. It was dark and deep like day old coffee. "That is your pussy and you will call it that. I never want to hear
woman's garden
ever again."