Chapter 13
Thirteen
Rebekah
I’m so warm. Too warm. And something heavy is holding me down. For a moment, I think it’s comforting and cozy, but then my mind goes one step further, and panic sets in.
My heart races as I open my eyes. I’m not in my own bed. I know this. It’s too soft. Smells too nice. And there’s bright light shining on my face. The sun doesn’t face the window in my room. It’s dim in the mornings.
“Sweetheart? Are you okay?” At the sound of Adam’s voice, my memory starts filling in all the holes. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds.
Me sneaking over to spy on my neighbors. Asher finding me and mistaking me for a snoop—which was also kind of true. Asher carrying me over his shoulder like I’m a common thief. Asher tying me to a chair in the Gallant kitchen.
And then Adam.
My heart lurches as it did yesterday morning when I saw him walk into the kitchen.
Adam. My husband. We’re married.
“It’s true…” I mutter.
He chuckles against my back as he kisses my neck.
“Yes, firecracker. It’s true. Assuming that you just remembered you married me yesterday.
” He sets his lips on my ear and adds in a whisper, “And then I filled your womb with my seed.” His hand eases down to my belly and cups it, even though it’s totally flat.
Butterflies erupt in my tummy as if they were awakened from a deep sleep and now need to take flight, but they’re trapped by my skin.
My breath hitches when his fingers reach between my legs. I’m naked because my new husband insisted we were not wearing anything to bed. Ever.
Last night, I balked at this plan. We even bickered about it, which made Adam laugh. He thought it was funny that we’d been married only a few hours and we were already having our first “fight.”
I pouted and told him it wasn’t a fight but that I’d never slept naked and wouldn’t be able to. Sleeping naked made me feel…naked.
My husband wrapped me in his arms, pulled my back against his chest, tugged the covers over us, and kissed my neck. “Sleep, firecracker.”
And that’s what I did. That’s the last thing I remember. Darn him.
Of course he brings this up again now. “How did you sleep, naked little wife?” he asks after slipping his pointer through my folds and scrambling my brain.
I sigh but don’t answer him. Darn him.
“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” I’m disappointed when he eases his fingers back up to my tummy.
Hungry? I just woke up. Judging by the amount of light in the room, I’d say we slept kind of late. “I’m fine. I don’t eat breakfast,” I tell him softly.
“Rebekah… Is it possible you haven’t been eating breakfast because there was never any food and it would have been too much work to go forage for something to eat in the woods first thing in the morning?”
I bite my lip as he rolls me onto my back.
His gaze is intense and concerned as he searches my face.
“There will always be food here, sweetheart. You will never be hungry again.” His hand comes to my stomach, his fingers spreading out.
“Besides, I want you eating healthy all the time. You never know when you might get pregnant. It wouldn’t be good for the baby for you to skip meals. ”
I think about his argument. He’s probably right. Though I know there are plenty of women living in these mountains who don’t have proper nutrition and deliver babies nearly every year. Somehow, they manage.
They don’t look very well, though, I remind myself.
They’re always tired. They have bad teeth.
Mama once told me that poor nutrition could lead to tooth decay.
I’ve been lucky that I’ve had no dental issues and my teeth came in straight.
If there had been a problem, I don’t think my father would have agreed to let my mother take me to the city to get dental treatment.
Or any other kind of medical attention. I’ve often wondered if Mama would still be alive today if she’d gone to a doctor sooner. By the time my father took her to a clinic, she was so sick that no medicine could cure her.
An ache forms in my chest. I’ll never know for sure, but I suspect lack of care killed my mother, and on top of that, I bet my father knows it.
It was his fault for not providing for her.
And now she’s gone. He probably blames himself and takes it out on me.
He buries himself in booze so he doesn’t have to think about his mistakes.
“Hey…”
I blink a few times and shake myself out of my sadness.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
I nod and swallow down my memories. “Yes.”
His brow furrows. “Does it scare you? The thought of getting pregnant?”
“No.” I shake my head. That’s not entirely true, though. It does frighten me. The thought of giving birth panics me. I won’t think about that part.
Adam smiles. “Rebekah, you’re a terrible liar. We can absolutely use condoms if you’re not ready to face pregnancy.”
“No, I’m fine. I want to have a baby with you.” That part is true.
“Are you worried about giving birth?”
I nod. It’s like he reads my mind. “Yes.”
“Have you ever seen a woman give birth, sweetheart?”
I cringe. “Yes.”
He winces. “A home birth?”
“Yes.” I frown. What other kinds are there? I guess people in the city might go to a clinic, but I don’t think anyone this far away ever does. They call a midwife, and other women who live nearby come to help.
“How old were you, Rebekah?” His voice is very gentle and kind.
“I’ve seen several. Maybe five or six. I was probably about four the first time. The last one I was seventeen. Old enough to be helpful.”
Adam inhales deeply. “I bet that was scary. Every time.”
I nod.
“Was your mother a midwife? Why did you see so many births?”
I shake my head. “No. Lots of women from all around help one another when it’s time. It’s so…loud.” That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of childbirth. That and the pain on the mother’s face.
The first several times I went along, I wasn’t in the room, but I could hear the woman screaming for hours.
It left an impression on me. It made me wonder why anyone would want to do that.
But then the baby would finally come, and everyone would be so happy, including the mother.
It seemed she instantly forgot all the suffering. But I didn’t.
Adam searches my face. “I’m not going to lie and tell you childbirth is no big deal.
You know it is. Nor will I pretend it doesn’t scare me, too.
I never want to see you hurting for any reason.
I want to protect you from pain. But I can assure you that you will have medical care.
You will see a doctor regularly for the entire nine months.
The doctor will monitor your progress, and when it’s time to give birth, we’ll go to the city. ”
“It’s too far away.”
“Not if we leave as soon as you go into labor. And if there’s even a hint of a problem, we’ll stay in the city at the end so we’ll always be close to the hospital.”
I gasp. “Hospital? That would be way too expensive.” Mama didn’t even go to a hospital when she was dying. My father insisted she would be more comfortable at home. He also insisted she would get better until the day she took her last breath.
Adam lifts one of my hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “Rebekah, you need to understand a few things. Remember, I told you I have plenty of money?”
I nod. “But not that much money. Not enough for hospitals. They cost a fortune.”
He smiles. “I have that much money, sweetheart. More than that. In addition, I have medical insurance. It’s something I pay for every month that makes going to the doctor or even the hospital inexpensive.
I’ll call my insurance agent this morning and add you to my policy.
You will never worry about medical care.
If you ever get injured or sick, we will go to the hospital. ”
That’s unimaginable to me, but I nod in acceptance.
“Now. New subject. I need to go to the main house for an hour or two to take care of some business. I promise not to take too long, but I didn’t know when I got up yesterday that I would end the day getting married.
” He grins. “Needless to say, I need to make some calls and touch base with my brothers.”
I nod again quickly. “Of course. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ll familiarize myself with your home and do some cleaning.”
He shakes his head. “It’s our home, firecracker, and you are not cleaning anything. Nor am I leaving you here alone. I want you with me at all times for now, sweetheart.”
“Why?” I frown.
He sighs. “I don’t trust your father, Rebekah. I want to be sure you’re safe.”
“You think he would come to your property and try to convince me to go with him?” I thought that after Adam and his brothers confronted my dad yesterday, it was over. After all, he knows I’m married now. There’s nothing to argue about. He can’t undo our vows. I’m safe from his wrath. Aren’t I?
“Rebekah, I think he would do more than that. I wouldn’t trust him not to kidnap you, sweetheart. He was madder than a hornet yesterday. He might seek revenge for what he sees as a personal affront—me marrying his daughter without his permission.”
I shudder.
Adam kisses me. “We could make breakfast here, but I suspect there’s a full spread of food at the main house. If we go there to eat, we can get back here that much sooner, and then we can spend the rest of the day in bed.”
I gasp. “In bed?”
He chuckles. “Yes, firecracker. I intend to ravage your body night and day for a long time. Think of it as a constant reminder that you’re mine. Eventually, you’ll know it and will no longer wake up in a panic, wondering where you are.”
At first, I think he’s teasing, but he’s not laughing at his declaration. He might be serious. My body comes fully awake at the thought of spending more time with him in his bed. Our bed. I like the things that happen when we’re in this bed.
“What do you say? Breakfast in the main house? You can get to know my brothers better, and I won’t worry about your safety while several of us are around you.”
“Okay.” I don’t know why he’s explaining himself to me. He doesn’t have to. He’s my husband. I’m expected to obey him at all times. He doesn’t owe me an explanation. I don’t know why he didn’t just order me to get dressed because we’re going to the main house.
“You look very confused, sweetheart. Ask me to clarify anytime you don’t understand.
I gave you the nickname of firecracker for a reason.
You were the feistiest kid I’d ever met.
I found that same strong-willed woman tied to a chair in the kitchen yesterday.
Our marriage is not going to be like most of the households you’ve seen in this area.
Yes, there will be times when I insist on you doing something, but only for one of two reasons.
One, if it involves your safety. Two, if we’re in a situation where it’s totally turning you on for me to be bossy. ” He lifts a brow.
I stare back at him, not following.
He smiles. “Safety is obvious. This morning is one of those times. You may not stay here alone because I would worry about you the entire time. My decision is final on that. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“As for the second reason, I’ll explain better later. But, sweetheart, you are not my slave. I do not expect you to obey me every minute of the day. In fact, I like it when we spar. I expect you to speak your mind and argue with me when you feel strongly about something.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “I argued with you about letting me wear something to bed last night, and you still said no.”
He laughs before kissing my forehead. “Sweetheart, what happened last night fell under reason number two. Insisting you sleep naked in our bed made you horny, and you can expect me to boss you around irrationally when you’re aroused.”
There is no way I can follow what he’s saying.
He kisses me once more. “Let’s get a move on. The sooner we get back here, the sooner I can strip off your clothes and worship your body again.”
Now, that idea, I like.