The Treasure Page 14

  She had been so happy and now the day sat like ashes in her mouth. Why did that woman have to come? Why did she have to be such an awful, vicious person?

  Melody’s sobs turned into sniffles and she was finally quiet. Lily realized she had fallen asleep, her little face wet and reddened from her tears. Lily had to fight back her own. She laid Melody down and tucked a quilt around her, then kissed her sweaty forehead.

  “Sweet, sweet Melody,” she whispered.

  Lily didn’t want to go back out there and face that woman, but she was Ray’s wife now and had to stand beside him, for better or for worse.

  She squared her shoulders and went back into the living room with her heart pounding and her cowardice scratching at her back.

  Regina sat on the chair, watching the front door. One wisp of blonde hair landed on her cheek. Her perfection was marred by the twisted snarl on her face. She turned her sharp blue eyes on Lily. A shiver made its way up from her toes at the coldness in that gaze.

  “So you married him, hm? Pity you.”

  “No, you’ve got that backwards. I pity you. You had him, and you threw him away.”

  Regina laughed roughly. “You pity me? I’m not the one wearing a poorly made rag, married to an ox of a man, with a bastard daughter in the middle of nowhere. And who’s been using you as a punching bag, sweetheart? I probably know the answer to that one already.”

  Lily walked a little further in the room, pressing her trembling hands into her dress.

  “I am wearing a handmade gift made by a wonderful lady, married to a good man with a beautiful daughter, in a house that is as sturdy and strong as its owner.”

  “You’re blind.”

  Lily shrugged. “You see only the ugliness in the world. I see the beauty.”

  “You certainly are a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” she sneered.

  Lily couldn’t help but smile at that. She was Ray’s sunshine.

  “I like to think so.”

  “And apparently consider it a compliment.”

  The door swung open abruptly and Lily nearly jumped out of her shoes. Ray appeared in the doorway like an avenging angel. Trevor was behind him with an expression she’d never seen him wear. One of anger and malice, directed solely at the former Regina Malloy.

  “Your carriage is outside. Get out. Now,” Ray snarled.

  Regina stood and opened her mouth to say something, but instead her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the floor.

  “That’s not gonna work, Reggie. Get up.”

  Lily ran to Regina’s side and checked her over.

  “She’s unconscious, Ray. Her pulse is fluttery, she’s clammy and her skin tone isn’t good.”

  “Well, shit. Some wedding night this is gonna be.”

  The door slammed behind him and a puff of frigid air gusted past her. Lily gazed down at the woman who had shaped Ray’s life. How could one person have so much power?

  “Trevor, please help me move her.”

  “I don’t really want to touch her, Lily.”

  Lily looked up sharply at her new brother-in-law. “I don’t give a damn. Pick her up and bring her to the guest room. We are still Christians and will give charity where and when it’s needed.”

  Trevor stared down at Regina with a scowl. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “I don’t know, but leaving her on the cold floor is certainly not going to get her better any faster, now is it?” Lily snapped.

  With a thunderous scowl that reminded her of Ray, Trevor picked her up and walked toward the bedrooms.

  “She’s light as a bird. I can actually feel her bones. Maybe she’s not eaten in a while.”

  Lily knew what was wrong with Regina, but wasn’t ready to share the information yet. Trevor laid her on the bed and stepped back. Lily shooed him out of the way.

  “Go check on Melody, then see if Ray needs help.”

  Trevor cocked one eyebrow at her. “When did you get so bossy?”

  Lily sighed. “Please.”

  “Give a yell if she wakes up and starts clawing you.”

  Lily shook her head to dispel that particular image, then went to work. Unbuttoning Regina’s dress a bit, Lily took a cold cloth and wiped Regina’s face and neck. After ten minutes of Lily’s ministrations, Regina started to come around.

  “Billy?” she mumbled.

  “No,” Lily replied. She sat on the edge of the bed and watched while Regina slowly regained consciousness.

  “Where am I?”

  “You’re in the guest room on the Double R Ranch.”

  She shifted her gaze to Lily. In the depths of those cold blue eyes, Lily saw a frightening monster that lived inside. She forced herself to sit still when all she wanted to do was run. She knew that monster. Had lived with that monster. Hated that monster.

  “How long have you been using opium?” she asked.

  Regina looked startled, but recovered quickly. Her mask of cold indifference slipped over her face.

  “What makes you think I use opium?”

  Lily shrugged. “I’m not sure if you drink it or smoke it, but you are definitely a slave to it.”

  Regina’s gaze raked her up and down. “What would a little church mouse like you know about opium?”

  Her temper tried to break free, but Lily held it back. “I know a lot about opium. More than I ever wanted to know. I will feed you, allow you to stay here until the morning, but after that, you will leave this ranch forever.” Lily stood, shaking with rage. “You’ve caused enough pain in this family to last a lifetime and I won’t allow you to crawl back here and cause more.”

  Lily left the room with her head held high, proud that she hadn’t slapped and screamed at Regina.

  ———

  Ray was currying his horse when Trevor came into the stall. For the first time in a long time, there wasn’t a smile on his face.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Ray sighed. “Damned if I know.”

  “Drive her into town and dump her at the doc’s. He’ll take care of her.”

  Ray shook his head. “Lily probably won’t let me. She’s too nice.”

  Trevor sat on an overturned bucket. “That she is, and you’d better make damn sure you keep her. There aren’t many like that running free, big brother.”

  A surge of jealousy tasted bitter in his mouth. “You wanted her?”

  Trevor rolled his eyes and picked up a piece of straw, spinning it between his thumb and forefinger. “Oh, for God’s sake, Ray. She’s beautiful, smart and the best cook in Wyoming next to Mama.”

  “She’s mine.”

  Trevor chuckled roughly. “Don’t I know it. For some unknown reason, she’s in love with you. I reckon I’ll never understand that.”

  Ray didn’t respond. Lily had told him she loved him, but he still kept part of himself locked away from her. And now this auspicious beginning to his marriage. Jesus please us, it couldn’t get any worse.

  “Lily made me put her in the guest room.”

  Well, he was dead wrong. It just got worse.

  “Son of a bitch! Why the hell did she do that?”

  Trevor shrugged. “I didn’t want to, but for a little woman she sure can bark out orders when she wants to. I expect that bitch will be there until she’s well enough to travel.”

  “Not a chance.”

  Ray tossed the curry brush at his brother and stormed out of the stall. It was time he and his bride had a chat. He took long ground-eating strides toward the house, the snow squeaking beneath his boots. He walked into the house ready to bodily throw Regina out into the snow if necessary.

  He found Lily standing in the kitchen staring out the window into the orange and pink rays of the sunset.

  “Before you say a word, I’ve told her she’s leaving in the morning. What she has is only going to get worse, but I can’t in good conscience send her out in the cold night air especially after her fainting spell.”

  That took the wind rig
ht out of his sails. He let out a breath and walked up behind her. A whiff of lavender tickled his nose as the scent of Lily washed over him. His body immediately tightened like a bowstring.

  The baby soft hairs on the nape of her neck waved in the wind of his hot breath. His cock woke up and began slamming against his trousers, hungry for his woman. Hungry for Lily. The heat from her body mixed with his and the temperature rose steadily as his passion ignited.

  He bent down and kissed the back of her neck softly. She started slightly, but then leaned into him, inviting him.

  My woman.

  Goose bumps danced down her skin as he trailed kisses along her neck to her ear, where he nibbled and licked until he heard a soft moan from her throat. The sound went straight to his groin. His hands slid from her shoulders to her waist and he pulled her flush against him. She hissed with pleasure and rocked slightly. The cleft of her perfect ass nestled him like she was made to be there.

  As he switched sides and began kissing the left side of her neck, her head lolled back against him. His hands, eager to join in, crept up to her breasts. The beautiful, bountiful breasts that were now his. Every day and every night. Wishing it was his mouth, he tweaked the rising nipples between his fingers, rolling them back and forth. Her arousal scented the air, pulling him deeper into the passion around them.

  “I need you, Lily.”

  “Yessss.”

  She turned in his arms and wound her arms around his neck. Her lips sought his blindly and his body screamed in response. Their mouths met hard and hot. Tongues tangled and bodies rubbed.

  Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms and strode from the kitchen. Their lips never lost contact as he navigated down the hallway to her bedroom…their bedroom.

  He was completely out of control. His body had taken over and his mind was boiling in a pot of sexual heat so hot he felt scorched.

  Ray kicked the door shut behind him and made a beeline for the bed. He laid her down gently, mindful of her bruises, and started working on the buttons on the dress. The damn things were too small for his big fingers, so he fumbled and grew frustrated. God, he needed to feel skin. When he grabbed the lapel, she tsked against his lips. “Don’t you dare rip this dress. Rebecca made it for me.”

  “Help me, then. I don’t have the patience for it,” he growled.

  Within moments she nimbly unbuttoned it, then looked up at him with her eyes darkened with passion.

  “I love you, Ray.”

  He slid her dress down her body, slowly peeling her clothing away layer by layer until she was deliciously nude. The pale skin contrasted with his dark hands as the calluses contrasted with the softness they touched. Her pale pink nipples were tight and begging for attention. The shadows in the room spread around her, as if waiting for his exploring hands and mouth to find her. He lay between her legs and ran his hands across her moist skin.

  Ray kissed her belly while his hands took possession of her breasts. As he kissed his way along the downy skin, he nipped and licked, tasting and teasing her arousal. Small goose bumps broke out across her legs the closer he got to her pussy.

  “Ray, I’m not sure…”

  He didn’t respond. Her scent and his own excitement was enough to make him as hard as steel. The need to taste her, to touch her, to bring her pleasure pulsed through him. He kissed all around the purple bruises on her thigh and hip, sorry she had to endure such pain.

  When he finally reached her heated core, he spread the lips with his thumbs. Beautiful, pink and glistening with arousal, he ran his thumb lightly across her sensitive nub. She shivered and a small kittenish mewl erupted from her throat.

  Ray ran his tongue around her clit, then suckled it hard, and she nearly took his head off with her leg.

  “Easy, Lily.”

  She made some kind of strangling sound of agreement and he went back to work.

  He alternately laved, suckled and nibbled her while his thumb slid in and out. Lily tasted of heat, sex and woman. Her legs trembled while her body grew hotter with each stroke. As she neared her peak, he switched his thumb for two fingers.

  Sweet God, but she was tight. So tight.

  Ray suckled and licked her until she came like a glorious rainstorm, bucking and twisting against him. Her juices flowed as her hands clenched on the bedcovers. She moaned his name and shuddered over and over.

  His own arousal was hard enough to split wood. He needed her. Now. With a haste he hadn’t known since his youth, he tore off his clothes and was back on the bed with her in a blur of motion.

  Lily was so warm and soft, he just about melted right into her. Instead, he drove his hard cock into her moist heat, then paused, buried to the core, and rested his forehead on hers. Embarrassed by his haste, even now holding back his orgasm by sheer force of will. His blood flowed like a river of fire, pushing him to move, to thrust, to fuck.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She ran her hands along his back, squeezing his ass lightly.

  “Nothing to be sorry about. Only if you plan on stopping. Please, Ray, love me.”

  It was all he needed to hear. With a shiver of pleasure that snaked up his spine, he began to move within her. Sliding in and out, nearly completely, before plunging back in. Each time he entered her, she closed around him and a bolt of pleasure thundered through him.

  Lily drew her knees up and opened herself wider. He returned the favor by going deeper.

  My woman.

  She tightened around him like a fist, driving him to the edge of insanity. He knew she was close, but he couldn’t hold back much longer.

  “Lily, I’m so close, tell me…”

  A keening cry of pleasure echoed around them as she clenched over and over, sending him plummeting into the abyss of an orgasm so intense, he stopped breathing. Time slowed down. Every pulse, every throb, every shudder ricocheted through him a thousandfold.

  When he was finally able to take a breath, the rush of blood to his head was enough to make him dizzy all over again. He rolled off her and pulled her against his body, snagging the quilt from the bottom of the bed to cover them up.

  Within moments, he fell asleep with his new wife wrapped in his arms.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The light scratching on the window roused Regina from a slumber. Need clawed at her belly and she desperately tried to will it away. She rolled to the edge of the bed and sat up. After the urge to vomit passed, she stood and walked to the window.

  She opened it and peered out into the moonlit night.

  “Billy?”

  She could barely see, but it looked like him. A few inches taller than her, Billy was built like a bull, with a face to match. But he was smart and clever—two things that drew her to him like a moth to a flame.

  “Yeah, baby, it’s me. Did you find the cash?”

  The frigid night air woke her in a hurry. Her hunger became a screaming beast that needed to be fed.

  “Not yet. Do you still have some left? In the pipe?”

  “Only a little. It ain’t enough though. In a week, it’s gone, do ya hear me? We need that money.”

  Billy was her companion and lover. Well, for a year at least, maybe. Time tended to blur a bit when you were an opium eater. Regina had found herself wrapped in the sticky tendrils of the drug after she broke her arm shortly after arriving in San Francisco. Within six months, she was moving from laudanum to the opium dens in Chinatown. There were a lot of things she had done for the beast living inside her.

  One of them was being a companion to Billy. He was a hard, dangerous man who did whatever he needed to, whenever he needed to. This crazy idea was his. Get her ex-husband’s stash of cash he kept from the sale of horses to the Army. When she’d left, it had been enough to keep them in opium for almost a year. Since Ray didn’t believe in banks, it was probably ten times that now. Billy wheedled her into coming back although he knew she swore she’d never step foot in Wyoming again.

  “What time is it?”


  “I don’t fucking know what time it is,” he whispered harshly. “Just find the goddamn money and get your lazy ass out of there. I’m tired of talking with those small town idiots.”

  Regina rubbed her temples with her hands. “Don’t yell, Billy. You’ll wake up those fools out in the bunkhouse.”

  He grabbed her wrists in a painful grip and yanked her forward. She stared into his dark eyes, feeling the anger and hate coming off him in waves. For a moment, she thought he was going to reach up and snap her neck. Instead, he kissed her hard, enough to draw blood. She moaned against him as her body combated another hunger.

  “Give me some, Billy. Please,” she begged against his mouth. “I can taste it on you. You had some already. It’s been nearly a day for me.”

  He shoved her back until she fell on her behind on the hard wooden floor.

  “You’re not getting any until you get that money, bitch.”

  “Fine,” she mumbled, climbing back to her feet. “Raymond is a creature of habit. He kept his money in a jar in the pantry. I was about to go look there when they showed up.”

  “That’s my girl,” he crooned. “Now who’s the lovely little girl in the room next to you? She’d fetch a mighty fine price from Mr. Shen.”

  Regina felt a twinge of concern but it passed quickly. Her priorities had to be straight, and getting that money was first on the list. Besides, Billy was right. She would fetch a good price since Mr. Shen liked his girls very young.

  “She’s my daughter.”

  Billy’s eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline. “I didn’t know you were a mother.”

  “I’m not.”

  His smile glinted in the moonlight. “Excellent. You get the cash and meet me out here in ten minutes. I’ll make sure sleeping beauty is out and take her for a ride with us. You can be a pretend mommy for a week.”

  Regina shuddered at the thought. “Fine, but you will share with me what you’ve got. I need some, Billy. I…I’m starting to see things that aren’t there and I fainted earlier.”

  “You’ll get what you deserve, after you get the cash, got that, Queenie?”

  Another nickname she loathed, but she accepted it from Billy. After all, she was a queen. It was time to seize control of the peasant’s funds like any good monarch.