“Get your things, sweetheart. The preacher’s waiting and I want to make you mine as soon as possible.”
God help me, I wanted that, too. I nodded and went to wake my sisters.
Chapter Six
Ford
As I escorted Lizzie down the boardwalk to the church, I was acutely aware of Logan keeping pace behind us with her two sisters. He was holding on by a thread, and that kiss in the hallway hadn’t helped matters.
I felt badly about it, for taunting my friend for all of a few seconds, but I’d needed to know she could handle us both. I needed to know whether or not she had any fire.
The truth was, she burned so hot I’d nearly lost control. I’d damn sure forgotten where I was, lost in the plush feel of her lips, the surprised innocence about it. About her. I’d forgotten everything, including the danger we would all face if we didn’t get Lizzie and her sisters out of town as quickly as possible.
As we passed the stables, I looked up to find Garrett and Thompson watching us with eyes like a hawk’s. Garrett’s gaze inspected their chosen bride, as Thompson nodded to me and pointed at the saloon.
So, the Jenkins boys were recovered and already drinking once again. That would make our escape easier.
Evan and Daniel stepped forward from the front of the mercantile as we passed and I introduced Lizzie and her sisters. While the men tipped their hats for all three, they only had eyes for the sister named Judith. Ford handed off the women’s bags before we walked on to the church.
Unable to resist touching her, I reached for her hand, pleased when she allowed my touch and did not attempt to pull away. I’d seen the darkness and doubt cloud her gaze when I’d called her wanton. I did not know what vile things had been spoken to her in the past, but once she was mine, she would not be allowed to think so poorly of herself or her passionate nature. As long as that heat was for me and Logan, there was nothing shameful. It was a gift we intended to take great pleasure in exploring.
I held open the door of the small chapel and allowed the women to walk in first. Logan nodded as he took the door from me and we both confirmed that Thompson and Garrett had moved their positions to guard us from across the street in case the real Samuel Jenkins got wind of Lizzie’s and her sisters’ presence in town. This wasn’t Mohamir and death wasn’t a possibility, but we weren’t risking anything with Lizzie’s fate in danger.
“Ah, Mr. Jenkins. Welcome back.” The preacher stepped forward and I shook his hand. When he did not step away, I remembered the ten dollars I’d promised and slid the money, discreetly, into his hand.
The ceremony was quick, just the way I wanted it. When the preacher asked Lizzie if she’d take ‘Mr. Jenkins’ to be her husband, I quickly corrected him and asked them both simply to call me Ford.
As the entire thing was a bit out of the preacher’s usual, he simply shrugged and Lizzie agreed to take me, Ford, as her husband, to love, honor and obey.
My cock grew hard as a rock as I watched her full lips mouth those three words and I had to force my mind to function as I took my own vows.
I kissed my new wife as I had in the hallway of the hotel, exploring her mouth as I intended to explore her pussy, deep and hard and surrounded by her wet heat.
Behind me, Logan prowled like a caged tiger, eager to mark her as well. But as fierce a soldier as Logan was, he knew when to wait. We had to get Lizzie away from this town before we could tell her the truth and introduce her to our ways. Soon enough she would understand that she didn’t belong to only me, but to Logan as well. Soon we would take her body between us and share her as we intended. Soon she would beg us to bring her pleasure over and over again.
“You’re mine now, Lizzie.”
“Yes.” Her eyes darkened at the heat in my voice and I wanted to rip her dress from her body and take her here, rut into her on the floor of this damn church like an animal.
I thanked the preacher who shook his head. “I understand now, the need for expediency.”
“What?” Lizzie turned to him, a confused expression on her face.
I scowled a warning at the preacher as I signed the church ledger. I made sure to sign my real name, and instructed Logan, as witness, to do the same.
Unless my new wife inspected my signature, she’d have no idea I wasn’t Mr. Jenkins until it was too late to annul the marriage. I would take her innocence within hours and nowhere near Hayes. I wanted to ensure there was no way Samuel Jenkins had a chance to steal what was now mine. Short of killing me and Logan, Lizzie would be safely out of his clutches forever.
And if he decided to kill me?
Well, the drunken sot was welcome to try.
“Come along, sweetheart. I’d like to get you home as quickly as possible.”
My near growl made her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink and I pretended not to notice Logan adjusting himself as he followed us outside to a waiting group of men.
Lizzie’s sisters halted dead in their tracks at the four large men waiting for them outside the church. Daniel, who had been carrying their bags, handed them off, Judith’s bag to Evan and Rebekah’s bag to Thompson.
I lifted my hand and made the introductions. “Ladie