Page 47 of The Enchanted Land

The tears began to run down her cheeks. “No!” she said aloud. “I won’t cry, because Seth will be back soon, and there’s absolutely no reason to cry.”

After a few moments she decided to explore the ruins, and thus fill up the long period of waiting for Seth. The back of the village seemed to have been a waste area, and she found many pieces of pottery and bones.

After two days she grew bored with the village and its great numbers of broken pots and scraps of ancient fabrics. Her clothes were dirty, and she had unwisely drunk nearly all of the water Seth had left her.

Cautiously she began to make her way down the worn stone steps to the bottom of the canyon. She made sure that she was always hidden under trees or brush and never exposed to the full view of anyone in the canyon or on the ridge above.

She followed along the stream and found a little pool surrounded by cattails and boulders. She removed her clothing and stepped into the clear, cold water. After bathing, she washed her cotton pants and shirt, and spread them on a rock to dry. She lay down on a rock and dozed in the fading sunlight. The sensual pleasure of the heated sandstone against her bare flesh made her remember Seth even more vividly.

Smack! The sharp pain on her bare buttocks made her eyes fly open. Quickly turning over, she saw Seth towering above her, his eyes blazing.

“I told you to stay out of sight! What are you doing down here stretched out for the world to see?”

She frowned, becoming angry herself, and opened her mouth to speak.

“I don’t want to hear one damn word from you. I heard you come down that path like a buffalo.”

His eyes were furious. “Anyone on that ridge could have seen you taking a bath. And now here you are stretched out, inviting trouble.”

The fury she had felt left her, and she barely suppressed a giggle.

“What the hell are you laughing at! I try to make sure you’re safe, while I risk my life to keep you that way, and you lie there and laugh!”

She smiled up at him, falsely innocent. “If you heard me coming down the path, why didn’t you come to me then? Why did you wait until I’d finished bathing?” She turned on her side, her nude body tantalizing him. “You said I was inviting trouble. What kind of trouble were you thinking of?”

The tension left his body, and he gathered her to him. “Damn you, Morgan! You shouldn’t have left the ruins. You weren’t safe coming down here.” He was serious.

“But what could happen to me now that you are here?”

He laughed. “I ought to spank you here and now, but I’m afraid you’d enjoy it.” His voice lowered, and he said flatly, “I worried about you a lot. Please don’t take chances like that again.”

She was sorry she had caused him worry. “No, I won’t again. Seth, is everything … finished?”

He stroked her hair, her head on his shoulders. “Yes. It’s done now, and we won’t speak of it again. I sent a message on to the ranch, to let them know we’re all right.” He drew her head back to look at her, his eyes teasing. “I met a woman in the saloon, and she was very friendly. I got the idea that if I ever wanted to go back, I’d be welcome.”

“What do you mean, go back? And who is this bitch anyway?”

“Bitch! My, my, you have certainly learned a lot in the last few months. I could almost think you’re jealous.”

She said coolly, “I don’t think she would be so interested in you if she knew your wife of four months was still a virgin.” She turned to look at the water, idly running her fingers through her damp hair. “Of course, we did have geldings back home. Maybe she’d understand.”

Seth’s quick intake of breath was audible. “Lord! You would think that at my age I’d learn not to try to tease a woman. Come here, viper.” He kissed her and ran his hand freely over her nude flesh. “Tonight you are my bride.”

“Seth…” she began.

“What’s this? Fear? From someone who has just called me a gelding?” He laughed and crushed her to the granite hardness of his chest. “Don’t worry, my little one,” he whispered. “I love you too much to hurt you.”

He held her silently for a moment. “That water looks inviting. Help me out of these clothes, wife!”

In an instant they both were nude: two golden bodies drenched in the dappled sunlight. One body was big, strength showing in every contour, the other was small and delicate. Morgan stretched out a tentative hand to touch the steely muscles of his chest. “I like you like this,” she whispered.

Seth smiled down at her, then quickly jumped in to bathe in the clear pool. This time Morgan watched him unabashedly, glorying in the way the water glistened on his magnificent back and arms. She sat on the edge of the pool and briefly wondered at the changes that had occurred in herself in the last few months. As Seth stood up, the water sliding over his glistening body, she thought, I’m in love now, and love changes everything! She stood up and ran to meet him, his arms enclosing her.

He led her to a grassy spot near the pool, sat down, and pulled Morgan beside him. At the nearness of her, and the sight of her perfect body, his manhood rose with an iron strength. He pulled her to him, and she felt his throbbing strength against her thigh. Her searching hand found him and held him in a firm grasp. Seth emitted the low moan that she had heard earlier. The size of him startled her, and she was afraid.

Seth sensed this. Gently, he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, teasing the pink tips with his tongue. His mouth traveled farther, while his hands stroked her inner thighs. Her legs separated of their own accord, as his tongue touched her most secret place.

His mouth found her lips again, and gently she felt him probing her. Slowly, he entered her, until she felt he filled her entirely. He lay still until the first, sharp pain faded and she began to move her hips. Following her lead, careful not to hurt her, Seth began to move with her, very slowly. Then, unable to contain himself, he moved more quickly until he lay quietly on top of her, supporting his weight on his elbows.

---