Tempest (Old West, #3)

by Beverly Jenkins

“I’m not sure we’ll mesh,” he finally said. “Neither am I. A grown man should be able to acknowledge a sincerely offered apology and converse in sentences consisting of more than five words. Good day, Dr. Lee.”

“If she was so unhappy why’d she stay?” “Because she’s in love with my brother.”

“A man prefers his wife to be virgin.” “I know that but men can visit women like my mother, and have mistresses with no repercussions from society. I’m not a whore, Dr. Lee. I don’t plan to have relations outside my marriage, and I don’t expect my husband to seek solace with someone else either.”

“So, you’ll accept my needs in the marriage bed without complaint?” “As long as you extend me the same courtesy.” “Good women don’t have needs.” She scoffed, “And you call yourself a doctor.

But the most life-changing

changing event took place in his anatomy class. It was taught by Dr. Alexander T. Augusta, the first Colored man to be commissioned a major in the Union Army and the first man of the race to teach at a U.S. medical school. The first day of class, Colt was so busy staring with awe and pride, he forgot to take notes. He’d known men like him existed but he’d never seen a doctor of color before. Learning from him, being encouraged by him, and later training under him at Washington’s Freedmen’s Hospital reaffirmed his belief that medicine was indeed his calling.

Colt was a follower of British surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister who touted the benefits of cleanliness and the use of carbolic acid in stopping the spread of infections and disease.

Colt turned to see his

daughter solemnly walking towards him holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. In her red dress, and her hair threaded through with ribbons, she was so beautiful his chest hurt. He’d never seen the dress before and wondered where she’d gotten it, but further contemplation was cut short by the appearance of his sister. The dark burgundy off-shoulder gown with its fashionable overskirts transformed Spring from a rancher to a woman who’d just stepped out of a back East drawing room. Her raven black hair was pinned up, offering an unhindered view of her stunning face. The fiddlers paused. The locals hooted and hollered. The smiling Spring paused, did a slow turn so everyone could get a good look, and continued her walk to Anna’s side. A hush fell, and as the fiddlers began again, there was Regan Carmichael walking to the bower like a queen to her coronation. Colt stopped breathing. “My God,” Whit whispered. “Would you look at that woman!” Colt could do

nothing but look—at her gown, her hair, her dark beauty, the confidence with which she moved. Her eyes were locked on his and the little smile she shot him ...

Blessedly, the ceremony was short. She spoke her responses with clarity and ease. He on the other hand, stumbled, causing someone to yell out, “We understand, Doc! Take a deep breath!” Which of course made everyone laugh.

“In addition to feeding our young male fantasies with his salacious details, he also reminded us that a wife would never be as uninhibited as the women he visited.” Colt sat on the edge of the bed. “And I believed that . . . until you.” Surrendering to the urge to touch her, he used the tip of his finger to slowly trace the swells of her breasts above the corset. When her breath caught, he leaned over and placed a fleeting kiss first against her lips and then base of her throat. Inhaling the faint remnants of her perfume, he husked out, “You’re a scandalous wife, Regan Carmichael Lee.”

Surrendering to the urge to touch her, he used the tip of his finger to slowly trace the swells of her breasts above the corset. When her breath caught, he leaned over and placed a fleeting kiss first against her lips and then base of her throat. Inhaling the faint remnants of her perfume, he husked out, “You’re a scandalous wife, Regan Carmichael Lee.”

“I know,” she whispered with a smile. Unable to manage his need to touch her, he traced her sassy lips and kissed her again. “Do you wish to have a scandalous husband?” “Yes.”

Unable to manage

his need to touch her, he traced her sassy lips and kissed her again. “Do you wish to have a ...

Regan no longer cared

that her marriage wouldn’t be a love match if he planned to treat her to this kind of bed play. His mouth, touch, and voice were turning her into a human bonfire. The slide of his hands, the tiny nip he placed on her collarbone, the way he watched her react as his palm traveled up her thigh only added more fuel. His finger circled her nipple, before he bit it gently. “Am I seeing to your needs, Regan Lee?” His use of her married name was as seductive as his touch. “You have to say yes, or no. I don’t want to be neglectful.” But before she could respond, he slid two fingers wickedly into her heat through the slit in her drawers and her hips rose in response to his beguiling rhythm. “Yes? No?” “Yes,” she choked out. The heat intensified. “You’re very wet,” he whispered. “Another sign of a scandalous

w...

He kissed her, seeking her tongue while his fingers continued their play. Her legs parted wider of their own accord and he deepened the kiss, searing her, sliding his tongue over the fullness of her bottom lip. Her gasps of pleasure rose in the silence. He played, plied, and touched until she found herself on her back, twisting and moaning in shameless uninhibited delight. “I’m going to shatter.” “Are you sure?” She whimpered. “Then let’s make it memorable.” While his fingers continued to drive her mad, his thumb began dallying with the throbbing little kernel at the center of her thighs and her hips...

He pl...

plied, and touched until she found herself on her back, twisting and moaning in shameless uninhibited delight. “I’m going to shatter.” “Are you sure?” She whimpered. “Then let’s make it memorable.” While his fingers continued to drive her mad, his thumb began dallying with the throbbing little kernel at the center of her thighs and her hips rose for more. Granting her unspoken wish, he leaned...

Wanting to give him a taste of his own medicine, she wrapped her hand around the hardness protruding from within his trousers and implemented some plying of her own. He hissed, closed his eyes, and she savored the reaction. She boldly undid the placket and once he was bared to her touch, she savored his warmth and hardness as well.

She was such a sensual delight, it came to him that he could have relations with her every day for the rest of his life and he’d still want more of her kisses, her scented skin, the feel of her nipples in his mouth, and the damp heat between her parted thighs. Unable to exist a second longer without having her, he eased himself into her flesh. She was so tight, he almost broke there and then. He lifted her hips to increase their pleasure. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder he began to move. Yesterday he’d been appalled to learn she wasn’t a virgin. Now, as she met him measure for measure, he was glad she wasn’t. Her inner muscles tightened deliciously, and he knew he’d died and gone to heaven.

“You ever going to stop surprising me?” he asked. “I hope not.” For a moment, he studied her silently. “Beautiful women aren’t supposed to be as intelligent as you seem to be.” “And handsome doctors aren’t supposed to be as plumb dumb about women as you seem to be.”

After her departure, a brooding Colton stared out into the darkness and was again left wanting more of Regan Carmichael Lee. She was everything a man could want in a woman: fearless, intelligent, sensual, beautiful, and his plans to keep her at arm’s length were not working out very well at all.

Regan never knew a woman could straddle a seated man. As she slowly lowered herself, every hard inch of him radiated heat that spread like liquid flame, and the glory closed her eyes. “Do you like this?”

The position let her set the pace, and she enjoyed the way he watched her and the hard slide of him in her flesh. He moved her shift over her breasts, languidly teasing her nipples until they pleaded. When he bit each gently, she arched, crooning. His touch, so delicious, their joined bodies moving in tandem so decadent, desire blurred both time and place. Her greedy rise and fall became her world.

She was so tight, her silken hips in his hands so enticing, he wanted to spill himself there and then, but he didn’t want this to end. Ever. The tastes and feel of her, the scented hollow of her throat, the way she met his strokes, all fed a brewing storm that played havoc with his desire to take her slowly. But she was too hot, too sweet, and the leisurely pace he wanted to maintain failed. Her moans became more vocal, his grip roughened lustily. Needing more room than the chair allowed, he stood. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, held his shoulders for balance, and he growled with each deep stroke. Watching her feed on the pleasure sent his desire soaring and when she exploded, calling his name, his own completion flung him to the stars with a roar.

While listening, Regan imagined how she might subject Levi to a slow and painful death. He’d taken advantage of her in ways that made her feel young and foolish. She’d trusted him with her heart and her feelings, only to realize she’d been used. She knew she could be naïve but she’d always prided herself on being a good judge of character. Apparently, she’d been naïve to believe that as well.

and her feelings, only to realize she’d

“They’re two different people, Colt. You keep forgetting that. Adele always aimed to please you, no matter what. Regan doesn’t impress me as being here solely to make your head larger. She’s a woman who walks beside a man, not behind.” She paused as if to let the words sink in before continuing, “I’m still trying to understand why you chose to come to me about this?”

I like that you’re

kissing.” He took in Regan’s amused face. Anna added, “It means you’re happy again. Livy says when her mama and papa are happy she hears them jumping on the bed at night. Are you going to jump on the bed?” Regan placed her forehead on his chest and her shoulders shook with silent laughter. Colt was so caught off guard, he was speechless. Regan backed out of his arms, wiped at her tears of mirth, and said, “Look what came today, Anna.”

While he was gone, she wrapped her arms around Colt’s waist, raised herself on her toes, and gave him a kiss. “Thank you. I feel like it’s my birthday, or Christmas.” “As long as you don’t ride back to Arizona.” “Not a chance.” “Good. Not sure what I’d do if you did.” His serious tone made her go still. Was he saying what she thought he was? He whispered, “I think I’ve stumbled into a love match, Mrs. Lee.” She placed her cheek against his chest and held him as tightly as he held her. Happiness filled her heart. All she felt for him was now free to savor, enjoy, and grow.

Is there anything special you’d like?” He mounted his horse. “Besides you?” She laughed. “Didn’t you get enough last night?” “No and neither did you.” He was right of course. He could make love to her until the cows came home next May and she’d still want more. “We really need to use a bed.”

“I have an idea. How about I come to your office every day, slip beneath your desk, and make you run amok.” He laughed. “No.” “No one will know. They may wonder why you’re having trouble breathing and why your eyes have rolled back into your head, but I’ll be very quiet. Promise. Let me show you.” She slid to her knees and as she demonstrated, he had lots of trouble breathing. His eyes rolled so far back into his head it was a wonder they didn’t jump free and spin around in the darkness of the porch floor, but she kept her promise. She was very quiet.