want to make love,” Mary Ann said. She watched his face turn the same shade of red as his eyes, but there was no backing down. “I mean it, Sam. I want you to make love to me.”
Itsá smothered his laughter into the palm of his hand, but Gabriel shamelessly chortled until Beth covered his mouth.
Jesse and Wesley cleared their throats, looking away awkwardly.
Sam jumped to his feet, biting back a smile, and led her upstairs to their room.
“Do you really love me, Samuel?” she shouted. Sam chuckled, and those tempting dimples appeared on his perfect face. His laugh was like warm honey and bourbon. It stole the air from her lungs and rendered her speechless. Mary Ann bit her bottom lip to keep from kissing him...and failed miserably. She pressed up on her toes and kissed him with all the hunger she felt in her body. He laughed into the kiss, causing vibrations to tickle her lips, and soon, she followed in his lead. She was still laughing when he pulled away.
“I still ain’t makin’ love to you, Mary,” he said with a shake of his head. “You had a baby less than a month ago. I want to make sure that you’re all right—
“But I’m fine! Charlotte, Itsá, and Abigail all agreed.”
“But I thought…”
Mary Ann dropped her robe to the floor and stood before him with a scarlet flush on her cheeks. She wanted to know that Sam still found her desirable after having a baby. “Please, Sam...I need it. Not just to feel pleasure, but to feel beautiful.”
“Mary Ann, you’re my wife. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he confessed. “I love Savannah, and she was a beautiful, wonderful woman. But I know the difference between lovin’ a woman and lovin’ my mate.”
“Then make love to me, Samuel. I need you.”
She saw the moment he succumbed to their bond.
Sam stole a quick kiss. “Meet me in the stables. We’ve got a date in the grazin’ pastures.”
“Grazin’ pastures?” she chuckled.
“Soft grass, shade, warm breeze, and a blanket to—”
Mary Ann ran over to the wardrobe to get changed before he finished.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Colorado Territory
Sam and Mary Ann rode to the grazing pastures to get away from the house. They were used to having their own space, and Sam didn’t like the idea of making love to his wife while other males could scent her or hear her moans. He jumped from the saddle and helped her down. The slide of her breasts against his chest made him shiver. Mary Ann licked her lips and stepped out of his arms. She grabbed the rolled-up blanket and placed it beneath the lone tree in the pasture.
The cattle roamed the open field below.
Sam tied up the horse beside the lake and walked back to his beautiful wife. The hill allowed them to watch the land in all directions while they enjoyed one another’s company without being seen. Mary Ann sat upon the blanket and beckoned him closer with a crook of her finger. The dress she wore was light and colored with hues of lilac. Sam dropped to his knees and unbuttoned his shirt slowly. He watched her expression, wondering if she was going to change her mind about doing something so daring.
Mary Ann was no coward. Her eyes snapped with excitement, trailing her gaze along his muscled chest and abdomen. Sam dropped his shirt to the blanket and reached for his belt. Mary Ann swatted his hands away. "Let me," she whispered. Sam felt the tickle of her fingertips grazing his shaft as she unbuttoned his trousers. His breath was punched out of his lungs when she wrapped her fingers around his member and held it in her warm hand.
"Mary…"
"For once, you're the breathless one," she said with a smirk of her own. Mary Ann licked her lips and lowered her head. Sam placed his palm flat against the tree and held on for dear life. His other hand tilted her chin up a bit so that he could look into her eyes. In her gaze, he saw love and acceptance, peace and unfettered joy. Mary Ann’s desire to please him was so genuine that Sam didn’t know what else to do but bask in the pleasure she offered.
“Beautiful. So beautiful, Mary.”
Her efforts increased. The sound of her mouth sucking and moaning caused a crackle of lightning to race down his spine. Sam pulled her away before he lost control. He kissed Mary Ann and lowered her to the blanket,