Turning, he gave Evelyn a reassuring smile, which she hesitantly returned. "Let's get on inside then and I'll show you around."
Chapter 4
The house was gorgeous, much larger and more spacious than she could have imagined, much less expected. Evelyn hadn't realized exactly how much space there was out West, even after seeing all the fields and plains on the train for hours, it didn't seem quite real, especially once she got inside the house. Twenty people could have easily lived in it and still had more space than she had in the city!
The decor was certainly more what she'd expected; lots of large sturdy furniture with few (if any) softer touches. Everything was kept quite orderly and clean, testament to the housekeeper's proficiency, but it was really quite stark. She followed the cheerful Mr. Tillman—Jake, she really should start thinking of her husbands by their first names—up to the second floor. They passed several doors before he put down her bags outside the door at the end of the hall.
"This is our bedroom," he said cheerfully, sending a shiver up her spine.
Tremulously, she stepped past him as he held open the door and entered the room.
It was large, larger than any bedroom she'd ever seen, and it also had the largest bed she'd ever seen. The broad expanse was easily three or four times the width of the narrow cot she'd slept in for as long as she could remember. Still, it was a shock to see, as she immediately pictured herself in the center of the huge piece of furniture, a man on either side of her. The scandalous bent of her imagination nearly took her breath away.
"The wardrobe is only half full," Jake said, coming in behind her with her bags. "And there are several free drawers in the dresser you can use. Just let us know any other furniture you might need and we can get it."
Goodness, compared to her living circumstances before, this place made her feel like a princess. Well, as long as she didn't think too much about what would be happening on that very large bed with her very large husbands. Kissing. The way they'd kissed her at the church. Those kisses had surprised and shocked her, making her feel quite weak in the knees at the time. Her body tingled in a way she'd never felt before. She felt strangely short of breath, her lower body clenching in an unfamiliar manner. Perhaps it was just nerves. She was quite anxious.
"Are you hungry?"
"Oh, yes," she said without thinking, then blushed at having so uncouthly admitted to it. Jake just grinned and held out his arm for her to take, escorting her down the stairs, pointing out the other rooms and explaining to her for what they were currently being used. Although a couple were bedrooms, he admitted several of the upstairs rooms were just storage at the moment, and one was full of the old saddles and reins that Wilson liked to repair in his free time.
As they came downstairs, Wilson was just coming in the front door, pulling off his hat to hang on a peg by the door.
"How's the stable?" Jake asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"All's well," Wilson said cheerfully. "Missy's looking like she might foal soon, so Jeb's watching over her."
The men started discussing the pregnant horse, with Evelyn listening intently and even daring to ask a few questions as they headed into the kitchen. The housekeeper had left a meal out for them on the stove, covered, and still warm enough to eat, chicken and vegetables in a savory broth, covered with a biscuit topping, flavored with herbs Evelyn was unfamiliar with. It was absolutely delicious. She promptly resolved to ask Mrs. Vincent for the recipe. Even though it had been waiting out for them, it tasted fresher and more flavorful than anything else she'd ever had. Jake told her that was just the fresh ingredients and country air, and she wasn't sure if he was teasing her.
As the meal went on, she became more and more aware of the men's heavy gazes trained on her, their eyes alight with expectation, and her nerves wound tighter and tighter. She couldn't get the huge bed waiting upstairs for them out of her mind. She was quickly realizing that while ranching might be hard work, they were probably very intent on having their marital rights tonight. That was reasonable, as it was their wedding night.
Part of her wanted to immediately admit her duplicity, that she'd lied about not being a virgin. After all, they were expecting an experienced woman, and she wasn't one. Then again, she hadn't told them how experienced she was. Just knowing what to do might be enough to fool them and they need never know she lied in order to become their bride. Desperation had driven her, but she wasn't sure exactly how understanding they'd be, especially when she was becoming aware of the tension in the room and instinctively understood it had to do with their carnal expectations.
From what the other women had said, she shouldn't need to more than lie on her back and spread her legs, then let them dothe rest. Some of the women who had said it was fun also seemed to indicate there could be more to it, but they had never gone into specifics, so she would just have to rely on the knowledge she did have.
"All finished?" Wilson asked, his voice eager.
Evelyn wished she wasn't, but she couldn't possibly eat another bite. She'd already had more than she normally did for a meal, and her stomach was so knotted with tension she was afraid of making herself sick.
If she made herself sick that might earn her a reprieve, or perhaps a trip back on the train to the East. Would they be angry? Upset? Enough to decide they didn't want a wife who became sick on her first night with them? She couldn't risk it.
She just nodded, unable to find her voice.
"We'll clean up," Jake said, sounding just as eager as Wilson, standing quickly and picking up the empty plate in front of her. "You just take some time to relax."
If she wasn't so nervous, Evelyn would have laughed at how the two big men hustled to clean up the table and kitchen.
Chapter 5
Reminding himself to be patient, because their little bride was obviously feeling rather anxious over the prospect of pleasing two husbands, Wilson very gently lowered his mouth to hers. She was practically quivering with nerves in his arms, and he could feel Jake's hands moving soothingly over her back.
It occurred to him that they hadn't asked her how experienced she was in the few letters they'd written back and forth, just admitting that they wanted a woman who wasn't a virgin had been almost too uncouth, so they hadn't asked for details or anything. Evelyn seemed like she didn't have much experience at all, or maybe the nerves were just the natural reaction of any woman when faced with two men rather than one? She did seem like a prim and proper type.
As if of one mind, the two men set about easing her tension and stoking her arousal.
Wilson kissed her breathless, keeping her distracted, as both men moved their hands up and down her body, familiarizing themselves with her curves and her sensitive spots. They were both eager to sink inside of her, but they wanted to make thisgood for her too. Neither of them wanted a bride who was less eager for their touch after her wedding night.
"My turn," Jake said huskily, and Wilson broke off the kiss, turning her toward Jake, just as he had in the church, only this time, he didn't have to stop touching her as he watched his friend devour her mouth.
