There All Along Read online

  “Mmm, you’re so wet.”

  She would have been embarrassed perhaps if it was another man saying so. But his words weren’t meant to shame. They were meant to incite. As he was incited by her.

  The power of that built in her belly and she let herself be eased by it.

  She began to move down on him. The head of him was thick and fat and she breathed, letting it feel good, letting the worry fall away because he wanted her. She didn’t know what would happen in three days when he left, but she knew without a doubt that he wanted what was happening between them right then, and it was enough.

  He stretched her slowly as she kept taking him inside. The burn at first would dissolve away into pleasure. James had never allowed for that. Had never let any of the pain dissolve and all it was was a burn.

  This was what she’d dreamed of with her hand in her drawers late at night in the dark as she lay alone in bed. This is what it could be and she would enjoy it without shame.

  • • •

  He clenched his jaw, sweat on his brow, ordering himself to let her set the pace. Trying to ignore the screaming in his head that told him to take her. To slam his cock balls deep into her cunt and then let her adjust.

  Instead, he looked at her features as she slid down. Watched the tension slide away as the pleasure took over. Never in all his days had he seen anything even approaching this sort of beauty.

  The pleasure he felt was edged with near pain. She was so tight. The hot, wet embrace of her inner walls tortured him as she fluttered all around.

  “Okay?”

  Her eyelids came up and her gaze cleared. “Yes,” she exhaled on a gasp.

  And then she began to move. Slow, up and down. And he forced himself to let her do it. To find her pace, to see what she liked.

  “There are other ways you can move as well,” he said, his lips against the skin of her shoulder.

  “How?”

  He took her hips and helped her circle, wide and then tight. He showed her a back and forth slide that she seemed to really like given the warm rush of her as she moved.

  “Like that.”

  Her head fell back as she slid herself back and forth, back and forth on him. She ground her clit against him, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

  “Yes, like that indeed.”

  He moved one hand between them, letting his fingers brush against her clit with each movement she made. She gasped, her eyes opening again.

  “Embrace it. Let it come and let it feel good.”

  She nodded, catching her lip between her teeth as she did.

  He let it go as long as he could before he began to move as well, pushing up as she moved back and forth. Her lips opened and he swallowed the exhalation as he kissed her hard.

  “Yes. Do whatever, take it from me. Just . . .”

  He did. Took over the pace, using his hand at her hip to continue to help her slide back and forth and he fucked up into her body over and over and over. She ground herself against his fingers, her cunt tightening around him as she turned superheated, as the hot rush of her sweet juices flowed and she exploded, sending him right over in her wake.

  She sighed, sated, as he shifted to lay her at his side.

  “I can’t believe you made me wait years for that, lawman,” she mumbled as he pulled her close.

  He snorted a laugh.

  “Me either, widow.”

  6

  She was pulled from sleep by the repeated beep of the blip receiver.

  She sat up, pushing her hair from her face. She smelled like him. On her hands, on her skin, between her thighs. She smiled as she got from bed as easily as she could, not wanting to wake him.

  His eyes snapped open though, as her feet hit the floor.

  “What is it?” Totally alert.

  “How do you do that?” She pulled her clothes on quickly.

  He shrugged, his gaze on her as she moved.

  “Something important is coming over the blip. I’ll be back. I need to go attend to it.”

  “I’ll come with you. You don’t need to be out so late, not all alone.”

  “How do you think I do it when you’re not here?” She headed from the room, slipping her feet into her house shoes and grabbing a robe for the warmth.

  “Ah, but I am here.”

  She didn’t fail to notice the way he grabbed his weapon, sliding it into the belt he strapped on after he got his pants up. Dangerous.

  She hustled down the stairs and out into the cool stillness of the pre-dawn hours outside. She unlocked the door to the mail office quickly, heading back, knowing the way, even through the darkness.

  Three blips? She picked up the two that had fallen from the collection arm to the floor, handing them to him. Anything being sent at this time using the emergency channel would be something he’d need to see.

  He turned on the light and read them quickly, his mouth drawing into a tight, disapproving line. “I need to go to the garrison office with these.” He took the one that had just come in when she handed it over. “This one too. You go right back upstairs. If you hear the alarm I want you to go into lockdown, do you understand me?”

  “What’s happening?”

  “Brigands hit Northern Tip. They’ve been seen just a bit up the road. They attacked an official transport as well.”

  She shivered. That was all so very close to Silver Cliffs. “All right.” She handed him her keys. “You know which one unlocks everything. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  He watched her carefully for long moments, before his gaze went back to the blip receiver.

  “I’ll run over to the garrison if any more come. Go.”

  He moved to the door with her but just before she opened up, he pulled her close, his mouth coming down on hers hard and fast. She pushed herself to his body, already getting used to it. Knowing she shouldn’t and choosing to ignore that voice.

  “I’ll be back when I can.”

  She headed back upstairs, straight for her gun closet. Best to be prepared if things went the direction she feared they might.

  • • •

  He pounded on the door of the garrison and it opened up rather quickly, the gun pointed at his face lowered once he was recognized.

  “Blips.” He stalked through the door. “Jackson here?”

  “He’s a’home.”

  Loyal gave the man a look. “Well go on then and get him. I’m going to rouse my people and we’ll all meet back here as soon as possible.”

  The guard scampered off as Loyal headed down the hill to get the rest of his crew together.

  Haldeman took the blips from Loyal’s hand, reading them quickly. Loyal gave him credit for the way he simply took it in and formatted a plan.

  “We need scouts down by the Highway.”

  Loyal looked to Trinity where she stood at the ready, near the door. “You go with one of Haldeman’s people. Get down there and let me know what you see.” He turned back to Jackson. “None better than Trinity.”

  Jackson nodded. “Good to know. Harmon, you go with Trinity. Take the trails. Stay off the road.”

  Trinity and Harmon disappeared out the door after Marcus squeezed her hand quickly. The two had been a couple since before they came onto Loyal’s team. Some commanders didn’t approve of partners on the same road crew. Loyal didn’t care one way or the other as long as no personal shit spilled into official business. And it hadn’t, so he had no call going and having feelings one way or the other about it.

  “At this stage, we don’t know enough to get everyone worked up.” Loyal eased back, leaning against the corner of a desk.

  “Verity knows about this?” Jackson held up the papers.

  “Aye.”

  But he didn’t need to defend her, Jackson merely nodded. “She’ll keep it to herself. She tak
es that seriously. I’m going to raise the watch level in town. We don’t need to call a full alert, but people need to be sure they’ve got plenty of ammunition and some stores set by in case we get ourselves under siege.”

  Loyal nodded. “We’ll postpone the leaving until we know for sure you’re safe.”

  “Glad to have you in town should this happen.”

  He thought of Verity. He was too.

  They stayed, going over the garrison’s basic emergency plan, Loyal approving most of it, making suggestions where he saw they might be needed. Jackson Haldeman was a smart man. He’d have made a good lawman if he’d wanted to be.

  “You know where I am when you hear back from the scouts. I’m going to send a few blips back to Shelter City.”

  “I’ll be up in a bit.”

  He headed back up to Verity’s place. Noting the lights burned in her windows. He went around back and into the blip office, sending back his official response, filling them in with what he knew for sure. Which at that point wasn’t a whole lot.

  When he’d gotten back upstairs, she’d made a big breakfast.

  “I figured you might be hungry. I’m baking too. May as well lay in some supplies just in case.”

  He noted she’d lined rifles up at the various windows.

  “The shutters are in good shape.” Verity waved a hand toward the windows, meaning the siege shutters they’d draw should the garrison be overrun. They had slots for a rifle cut into them. “I just had them checked last harvest. Jackson had the whole garrison do a drill.”

  “Haldeman is setting the garrison on alert.” He poured himself some black tea and she shooed him to the table, filling a plate for him and setting it in front of him.

  “He’ll be up soon I wager. To check the blips and give me the broadsheets to post.”

  Her store would be the nerve center for the town’s citizens. The garrison was the law enforcement hub, but he knew the townsfolk would come to the mercantile for the news before they’d gather at the garrison offices. She’d post the broadsheets with the instructions for everyone to follow on the boards out front.

  “You ever gone through this before?”

  “An attack?”

  He nodded.

  “Once when I was eight or nine we were overrun. It was back before they built the wall to reach the mountains behind us. My parents hid us in the root cellar. They got pretty far into Silver Cliffs. Set fire to buildings near the gates. We’ve had alerts here and there since.”

  He stood and went to her, brushing the backs of his fingers against her cheek. “I’m going to protect you.”

  She nodded. “I know.” Utter faith in him shone through her gaze.

  “Come sit and eat with me. I’m sure it’s going to be a busy day for everyone. You’ll need to eat too.”

  She did, but before he could talk with her about what had happened between them the night before, Jackson came in and sat with them, eating as he and Loyal went over next steps.

  By the time they’d finished, she’d gone down to post the broadsheets and open the mercantile for business.

  And then Trinity had come back with news that sent everyone scrambling.

  Brigands had been seen gathering on the Highway near the turnoff for Silver Cliffs.

  • • •

  Verity continued to work, trying to think on this as just another drill. Trying not to be afraid or to panic. There was no reason to jump into being afraid just yet. They were fairly well prepared. And they had something a lot of garrisons didn’t when they were attacked, five lawmen working with the garrison defense.

  Her sister came into the mercantile. “We want you to come stay with us until this is over.”

  Verity shook her head. “I need to be here to monitor the blips and to keep people informed. Do you have enough food and ammunition? Enough fuel?”

  They were all advised to keep at least a moon’s worth of supplies in case of a prolonged siege but people oftentimes put such things off.

  “Jackson can put someone here to monitor the blips after you close. This is silliness. You’re not a man. You’re not a soldier. You should be protected.”

  “I’m also not helpless. I’m a better shot than many men in Silver Cliffs. My home is well fortified. I’ve got a lawman staying in my spare room. I’ll be fine. I appreciate the concern, but I’m all right.”

  “He’s not moving to the garrison barracks?” One of Constance’s brows slid up and Verity braced herself for the lecture she feared would come.

  “They’ve all decided to keep the lawmen scattered through town as they are now. They have personal communicators so they know if there’s a problem. He can run and be down at the barracks in a flash. They all can. No use sleeping on a cot when he can stay here.” She shrugged.

  “You have anything you want to tell me?”

  It wasn’t a crime, or even a sin for her to take solace in Loyal’s arms if she wanted to. As a widow, she had more freedom than she would have if she’d never married. But some people, maybe even her sister, might look askance.

  She had no intention of confessing to her sister as if it was something to be ashamed of.

  “Jackson is sweet on you. Is he all right with the lawman staying at your house?”

  “I’ve been owned by a man. Owing him news and explanations of every moment of my day, aye? I will not, ever, owe that to another human being again. Jackson can feel however he wants about where Loyal is staying and it means no nevermind to me, understand?”

  Constance sighed, nodding. “They’re not all like James. Jackson would be good for you. I’m just saying maybe take how he feels into account.”

  “I know what you’re saying.” Verity closed the discussion firmly.

  “All right then. Please come to our house if things get scary. I’ll feel much better if you do.”

  “Thank you. I will.”

  “And Tobin says you’ve given him the week off until this blows over?”

  “Yes. He should be home where he can protect you and the house.”

  Her sister rolled her eyes. “I want him here in the daytime. He gets under my feet at home. He’s disagreeable because he’d rather be here where he can see everything. I know you’ll send him home if things change.”

  “You sure?”

  Her sister nodded.

  “All right then. The windows need a good cleaning. I’ll put him on that so at least he’ll be too tired to argue with his daddy when he gets home at night.”

  Constance laughed. “Thank you.” She hugged Verity, kissing her cheek. “You think on what I said.” And left before Verity could argue.

  7

  People had taken to congregating there on her large porch, watching the street leading down the hill. Watching the gates and whatever they could beyond them.

  She’d done a brisk business over the last two days. A few enterprising souls showed up several times a day with baskets of sandwiches and wrapped bundles of meat and rice or grains, selling them for snacks and luncheon. People found a way, she thought with a smile. Even in the darkest of times, people found a way.

  There was a curfew in effect at sunset. She sent people home as she and Tobin pulled the shutters over the windows on the first floor, locking them into place.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow. Go on home and take that bundle to your mother. I made her some of the tea she likes. It’ll settle her system.”

  Her sister tended to be violently ill in the early months of her pregnancies. Luckily, the combination of herbs and flowers Verity dried for her tea seemed to aid and ease her sister’s discomfort. It was nice to be needed. Nice to be able to help.

  Tobin nodded, kissing her cheek and running off home, the bundle under his arm.

  Loyal hadn’t been around the night before as he’d done whatever they did down the garrison
offices. But he came in as she stood in her kitchen wondering if she should take some dinner down to them all.

  He held up a basket. “Went fishing today since we were out scouting anyway. I even cleaned them for you.”

  “This is a division of labor I’m quite happy with.” She smiled with a wink, taking the basket.

  “Have I actually found something you aren’t good at?”

  “Gutting fish and scraping off the skin and scales?” She wrinkled her nose. “One does what one must. But if I can avoid such tasks, I’m pleased to do so.”

  He shrugged, a smile on his lips. “What’ll you give me then if I do all the fish gutting and scaling?”

  She put the basket on the counter and moved to him. “Whatever you want.”

  He licked his lips and she let the power roll through her. The ability to turn his head and keep his attention. The ability to make his cock swell and his mouth turn up into a rather wicked grin.

  “Why don’t you get on your knees. To get started.”

  She did, obeying immediately, looking up his body into his face.

  “Let me check the door.”

  She grabbed the waist of his trousers, opening them quickly, pulling his cock out, hot and hard in her grip. She licked over the head, tasting the spice of his seed.

  “You worried someone might come up and see me here, on my knees, your cock in my mouth?”

  She had no idea where the words had come from. She’d thought such filthy things before, but never had she said them aloud.

  He shivered, rooted to the spot. “Go on then.” He rolled his hips as she put her mouth around the head, pressing in deeper and pulling back.

  He undid her hair, his fingers sifting through it over and over as she fell under that rhythmic touch. Until he wrapped it around his fist and held her exactly where he wanted her.

  At first he’d tried to tell himself he wouldn’t do this again. But he’d been a liar because he’d been dreaming of this since he’d pulled out of her cunt the night before last.

  The reality of this woman on her knees before him, that sweet mouth wrapped around his cock, her hair around his fist as he fucked her face was better than anything he’d ever dreamed.