Page 105 of Texas Honor

“Go and take the frog back,” Madeline told her husband.

“I can’t! It would be cruel,” John muttered. “Look, she’s kissing it.”

“Animal,” Madeline accused, hitting at him.

“Wait, now,” Gabe said, holding Madeline back as she started past him. “Wait a minute.”

“Why?” she asked.

“I want to see if he changes into something better-looking.”

Maggie gave him a hard look and moved past them to her daughter.

“Isn’t he sweet?” Becky sighed. “Mr. Durango gave him to me. Do you suppose Cuddles will like him?”

“Your puppy will like him very much, especially with catsup,” Maggie replied, smiling. “He’ll eat the frog.”

“He won’t,” Becky argued, glaring.

Gabe solved the problem. “I’ve got some flies for him,” he said, reaching down to take the frog from his new daughter. “You can visit him later.”

“Am I really going to stay with Grannie while you and my mama go on a honeymoon?” Becky asked Gabe.

He sighed. “Sweetheart, it won’t be much of a honeymoon. Just overnight, in fact, but I think Grandma’s got a special cartoon movie just for you to watch on the VCR.”

“For me? What is it?”

“Go ask her,” he said gently.

She jumped up, forgetting the frog. Gabe studied it and Maggie, then grinned as he offered it to her.

“I already have one handsome prince,” she whispered, reaching up to kiss his chin. “But thanks, anyway.”

He smiled at her gently and went off with the frog.

That night, after Madeline and John and all the guests had gone, they drove to Abilene and checked into a luxury hotel, where Gabe had reserved the bridal suite. He carried her across the threshold and stared wickedly at the huge king-size bed.

“That’s sure as hell going to beat the sofa in the parlor,” he told Maggie with a grin. “My back still hurts from it.”

“Maybe there’s a vibrator built into this one,” she suggested, although she felt a little shy about saying it.

He put her down and went to check. “So there is,” he chuckled, and glanced at her with raised eyebrows. “Want to try it?”

She stood in the middle of the room in her demure off-white shirtwaist dress and tried to affect a sophistication she didn’t feel. “If you like,” she said weakly.

He turned, frowning. In his gray vested suit, Maggie couldn’t help admiring him. He looked marvelously handsome. “What’s wrong?” he asked, coming over to her. “You aren’t afraid of me, surely?”

“No,” she replied quickly. She stared at his vest. “We haven’t spent a lot of time alone, that’s all. It’s a little strange, now.”

He sighed, taking her by the arms. “I should have thought of that. But I was too afraid of losing my head with you. I guess I went overboard the other way.”

“It will all work out, won’t it?” she asked, really worried, her eyes wide and soft as they looked up into his.

He searched them, feeling wild shivers of pleasure all over. “Sure it will,” he murmured. He drew her closer, loving the exquisite sensation it gave him when he felt her tremble. “I’m going to take a long time with you tonight,” he whispered at her lips. “It may not be our first time, but I’ll make you think it is.”

She reached up to his mouth, felt it move slowly over hers, minty and smoky and softly penetrating. And she trembled because this slow ardor was so much more shattering than violence. Drawing closer, she moved her body against his in a gentle rhythm.

His tall, lean body vibrated at the contact. His breath quickened, and he bent, lifting her, his pale eyes darkening as they searched hers. He carried her to the bed, laid her down and stretched out beside her.