Chapter Four

Not wanting to be seen Maddi and Meela stayed in the shadows as they ran through the courtyard, they hadn’t even reached the stables before seeing the boy’s waiting for them, Eli smiled as he held out his hand “Ready Meela?”

Meela smiled big as she took it, Logan and Maddi followed “When they reached the forest Maddi stopped Logan “Is it all right with you if I get naked in front of your brother?”

Logan gave her a surprised look “Why are you asking me?”

Maddi laughed “I don’t know really, never mind.”

When they reached the water Meela was already taking off her clothes, she smiled big when she saw Maddi “Come on Maddi hurry up.”

Maddi giggled and started to undress as she walked over to meet Meela by the water's edge. Logan and Eli watched in awe as both girls stripped and jumped in. The girls laughed when they noticed Logan and Eli standing there watching them fully dressed “Have you two changed your minds?”

Eli laughed as he started to undress “No just awestruck and thankful there’s a full moon tonight.”

Meela watched him as he got naked “Funny I was just thinking the same thing.”

Maddi watched Logan undress finding it hard to take her innocent eyes off him. Swimming to the edge Maddi and Meela opened the brandy and took a drink while they watched Logan and Eli shed the rest of their clothing. “Damn Meela you weren’t exaggerating.”

After Logan and Eli jumped in they joined the girls for a drink. Logan took a drink and handed the bottle to Eli “What are you two talking about over here?”

Meela being Meela told the truth causing Maddi to blush “I told Maddi if you look anything like Eli naked she would be pleasantly surprised, I sure was.”

Eli laughed “Thank you, honey, come on let’s go swim.”

After they had swum off Logan swam closer to Maddi “Well I’ll say one thing about Meela the girl is definitely direct.”

Maddi laughed then took another drink, “I’ve never met anyone like her, you never know what she might say.”

Maddi shrugged then swam toward the middle and Logan followed her “Why did you ask me for permission to get naked in front of Eli?”

Maddi dipped her head back in the cool water already feeling tipsy “Hell Logan I don’t know, it’s not like I have ever done this before. I guess it was kind of silly of me to think you would care.”

Ducking under the water she swam back surfacing at the water’s edge and took another drink before lifting herself out of the water and heading toward the high rocks to dive in, when she reached the top she walked to the edge and looked down, she could see Meela and Eli but she couldn’t find Logan, realizing how high she was she took a few steps back then jump when she felt Logan’s hands on her shoulders his naked flesh felt hot on her skin. Taking a deep breath she turned and looked up into Logan’s blue eyes, before she could speak, he pulled her in close and kissed her then moaned when she deepened the kiss moving even closer, trying to control his emotions and ever-growing desire Logan took a step back his bodies reaction to her was stronger than he thought it would be. Maddi could feel Logan’s obvious arousal making her feel giddy and hot all over. “I’m sorry I followed you up here, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable I just couldn’t help myself.”

Maddi laughed “Why do I seem uncomfortable to you?”

Logan gave her a sexy smile “So this isn’t the first time you have stood naked in a man’s arms?”

Maddi turned and walked back to the edge of the rock then turned and looked at him over her shoulder “I guess your father didn’t tell you.” Logan frowned “Tell me what?”

Maddi tried to look serious “Tell me what Paige?”

“How do you think I survived this whole last year in London without money” then she looked away and jumped in Logan didn’t know if he should laugh or be angry “Damn it, Paige.”

Jumping in after her he swam under her and pulled her legs making her laugh, when he surfaced he was smiling “Good I like my woman experienced and easy to woo.”

Maddi couldn’t help but laugh “I’ll stop teasing you if you’ll stop teasing me.”

Swimming in close he grabbed her by the waist pulling her in close he kissed her long and hard pulling away they both were out of breath. “I’ve only known you a week but I’ll bet my life that I’m the only man to ever let hold you in his arms naked and if I’m lucky I’ll be the last.”

Before he could say anything else Maddi kissed him then licked her lips “We would both be lucky.”

Meela and Eli were having their own fun on the other side of the pond, Maddi and Logan could hear them laughing only returning to get a drink every now and then. Later that night as they dressed Logan and Eli told the girls of Blake’s departure early the next morning. Neither couple wanting to part Logan and Eli walked them to their rooms all four of them a lot more than just smashed as they tried to quietly walk up the stairs. Eli smiled down at Meela as she stood in her doorway, lifting herself up onto her toes she kissed him, Eli hovered not wanting to leave “I guess this is goodnight.”

Meela laughed “Is it awful to only know a man for two days and not only get naked with him but to also enjoy his kisses and embrace?”

Eli leaned in and kissed her again “I don’t know what this is all I know is this has been one of the greatest nights of my life not to be dramatic it’s just I’ve never felt the way I feel when I’m with you, two days or two hundred it wouldn’t matter, now kiss me one last time before I have to go to bed alone.”

After one last kiss, Meela shut her door and leaned against it closing her eyes before running to bed and screaming into her pillow with excitement. Logan didn’t want the night to end and hated to walk away, Maddi’s sweet kisses had him in a daze “Goodnight Logan thanks you for a great night.”

Logan still held her hand “Goodnight Paige I hate to go but damn it, I have to.”

Maddi watched as Logan walked away, after shutting her door she danced around her room before falling down onto her bed, still dizzy from Logan’s intoxicating kisses and a whole lot of brandy.

For their first dinner alone without Blake, Logan and Eli planned a picnic with the cook’s help of course; Maddi and Meela were both looking forward to spending a day on an outing in the woods. Wanting to have their picnic in the nearby woods they headed out early wanting plenty of time to get there and to have plenty of time before nightfall. After their meal Meela brought out the brandy and poured everyone a glass.

“My father used to say everyone has favorite smells and that no matter where you go or what you’re doing if you smell it, it will excite you or turn you on even take you back in time and always gives you an emotion it could be bad or good.”

Meela smiled at Maddi as she took a drink “You first Maddi what are your smells?” Maddi laughed “Hell Meela you start I need time to think.”

Meela smiled “Mine is the smell of the first rain and the smell of my hair after I’ve been swimming in the ocean and the masculine scent that clings to a man after a long day at work.”

Maddi giggled “Raw leather, freshly cut grass, and puppy dog’s breath. How about you Logan what are yours?”

Logan chuckled as he said his “Lavender from the garden, freshly cut timber and the way my clothes smell after I’ve been holding Paige in my arms’ it like vanilla and rose scented soap.”

Meela smiled at Eli “And you?”

Eli looked at her and winked “Hot bread out of the oven and when water hits’ rocks on a hot day and whatever it is Meela sticks in her bath water it’s sweet and spicy and it seems to drift throughout the whole house.”

Eli laughed “I’ve never thought about that before any more questions?” Maddi nodded “I have one if you could change anything about yourself what would it be?”

Eli laughed “That’s easy my lips.” Logan shrugged “My hair I guess.”

Maddi smiled “My voice.” Meela laughed “My height being five-one is a pain in the ass.”

All at once they all started disagreeing with each other Logan put up his hand “I have a question, what hidden talent do you have that no one knows about?”

Maddi laughed “I can play a song on the piano with toes.” Everyone laughed “My mother would have killed me if she had found me.”

Logan shrugged “I can stand up on the back of my horse.”

Meela smiled “I can pick a man’s pocket without him even noticing.”

Eli laughed “I can pick a lock with no problem at all.”

Eli stood up “We still have a few more hours until dark do you want to go on a walk Meela?”

Meela took his hand with a smile “Sounds good to me.”

Maddi watched as Eli and Meela walked away “Don’t you think Eli and Meela look good together.”

Logan laughed “Yes they do, but I’m more concerned with you and me.” Maddi laughed “Concerned?”

Logan shook his head “Interested may be a better word for it, I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since the moment I met you, it’s like I go to bed with you on my mind and wake up the same, does that make me sound desperate?”

Maddi smiled as she looked down at the ground “No not at all I think about you all the time too, I’m just happy to hear I’m not the only one feeling this way.”

Reaching up Maddi ran her fingers through his hair then leaned up and kissed him “I like your hair.”

Logan lifted her up and took her mouth in a passionate kiss. Eli and Meela didn’t get far before Meela pulled him behind a tree and kissed him. “Damn you’re hot.”

Eli laughed as he picked her up and sat her on a low hung branch and looked into her eye’s “And you Meela Baby are a sexy vixen in a small package and I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

Rubbing his hands up her thighs Eli moved in close as he buried his face in her fragrant hair leaving hot kisses up and down the column of her neck. Leaning her head back to give him better access Meela moaned as she gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist the feel of his erection pressed against her was enough to drive her mad as he rubbed his body against her. Reaching down between them Meela stroked him through his britches causing him to moan. Pulling away Eli held up his hand still trying to catch his breath “Damn it Meela you make me crazy, and if we don’t stop now I don’t know if I’ll be able to.”

Meela grabbed his shirt pulling him in close “Then don’t stop, I want this as much as you.”

Eli laughed as he straightened her skirts and stepped away “You sure know how to tempt a man, hell I can hardly hold myself back.”

Lifting her down off the branch he kissed her one last time before they walked back to meet up with Logan and Maddi. “We should do this again.”

Logan gave Eli a weird look “You all right Eli you’re looking a little frustrated?”

Eli laughed shaking his head “A little-frustrated hell Logan I’m about ready to pull out my hair or maybe even scream.”

Meela couldn’t help but laugh at his expense “It seems being a gentleman isn’t always the easiest thing, especially when tempted.”

Eli laughed “And I have definitely been tempted, all right enough of that let’s head back before we become wolf food.”

It had been two days’ since Blake had left for his trip to London and Logan and Eli had kept the girl’s busy spending every waking hour with them doing their best to keep them entertained. After a long day of horseback riding on the forest trails, Meela and Maddi retired early, by midnight Meela found herself wide awake and bored. It was a warm night and a cool breeze seeped in the through the open window, the faint smell of lavender seeped in from the garden below. A little hesitant Meela slipped on her robe and quietly made her way down the long shadowed hallway that led to Eli and Logan’s rooms hoping to find Eli awake.

When she reached Eli’s room she paused trying to decide if she should knock first of just let herself in. Feeling rather bold she slowly opened the door and peeked inside, Eli’s room was dark with only the moonlight to light her way, his intoxicating scent of leather and vanilla brought a smile to her face as she sat down in the leather chair that sat next to his bed listening to the sound of him breathing as she stared out the open window. After about ten minutes she stood and removed her robe before slipping into bed next to him, cuddling up to his side she laid her head on his chest. When Eli woke up he was a bit stunned having never lied in his bed with a woman especially one like Meela, she could give a priest a heart attack with some of the sassy and shocking comments that left her mouth. She felt so small and delicate in his arms his whole body tensed as she cuddled up next to him moving against him turning him on.

“I hope you don’t mind me sneaking in, I just couldn’t sleep and had you on my mind so I figured why the hell not, I hope you don’t think me a tease.”

Eli laughed “I have never had a woman sneak into my bed before, I could definitely get used to having you in my bed.”

Meela smiled as she moved in even closer kissing his neck, Eli caressed her face as he took her mouth in a kiss while rubbing his large hands over her shoulders and down her arms, her full and firm breasts pressed against him. Her soft moans and sexy pleading driving him on as he unbuttoned her nightgown. Both out of breath and panting Eli stopped and put some distance between them. “We have to stop honey.”

Meela shook her head “Why I want this, don’t you?”

Eli laughed “I want this too, Meela, believe me, I really, really want this it’s just that my father will kill me if he finds out, there is nothing gentlemanly about taking a woman’s innocent’s especially without even an engagement ring.”

Meela laughed “I don’t want to be courted Eli, and my innocents was taken away from me a long time ago can’t we just enjoy each other.”

Eli sat up in bed and faced her “Meela I’ve known you less than a week and I can honestly say I want you to be mine forever but I will not go about this the wrong way.”

Meela sat up and started to button up her nightgown. “So I guess this means you want me to leave right?”

Eli reached out and touched her hair as he kissed her softly “No Meela it just means we can’t make love, I really don’t want to you to go, my father is gone and we and Logan and Maddi have this house all to ourselves and there is no way in hell I’m going to let you out of my bed and definitely not out of my arms.”

Meela smiled as she leaned in and kissed him taking her place back in his arms. The next day they woke to thunder and lightning the dark clouds had moved in, the rain fell hard, Blake wasn’t due back until the next day but looking at the weather they figured he would be delayed. Staying in all four took some time to be alone, Maddi and Eli had both buried their faces in a book, the house was quiet, the fireplace aglow with a roaring fire. Logan was spending his day out in the stables with Thomas their longtime stable hand helping to repair its leaking roof. Meela had stayed in her room alone watching the dreary day unfold and wondering how her family and friends on the Rose were doing.

Dawned in her britches and one of Eli’s white buttoned down shirts she opened her bedroom door and headed out through the kitchens, when she reached the gardens she watched and listened as lighting and thunder filled the sky. Without a second thought she set out on her own adventure. The forest that loomed behind the Mansfield house looked dark and foreboding and Meela was looking forward to going on a walk and letting Mother Nature show her power.

It only took a minute for her to be soaked through and through but she continued up the winding trail taking her time as she looked around, the ice cold rain seemed to attack her with a vengeance and Meela was loving every minute of it. Seeing a cluster of large rocks ahead Meela climbed them and sat down, looking around her she smiled, her new life at the Mansfield house had brought her many new and exciting things. Eli the man she couldn’t help but love and Maddi her first and only female friend not to mention Blake and Logan, if it wasn’t for her father dying she would still be on the Rose, same old Honey Baby. Even the thought of her father made her heart ache but the thought of not having the Mansfield’s and Maddi in her life was just about as painful as having to tell her father goodbye.

The night of her father’s death she had sat by his side holding his hand as death neared, his last words to her were something she would never forget, he had given a weak smile as he caressed her cheek. “See the world for all its possibilities, take life by the balls Honey Baby and make your own destiny, the Rose and your family will always be here when you need them. You are and have always been your own person stay true to yourself. I love you Honey Baby.” Then his hand fell and the life left his eyes.

Eli had finished the book he was reading and decided to head up to Meela’s room, when he reached her room he knocked when there was no answer, he let himself in to find it empty. Starting to get a bit concerned after searching the house he walked around the outside of the house, knowing she was not inside he decided to walk up the forest trail hoping she had gone on a walk. After about ten minutes he saw her sitting up on the rocks looking to be deep in thought. As the rain let up and the clouds parted a stream of golden sunlight seemed to fall down on her alone like the Gods were shining down their favors upon her. The smile she gave was of pure delight. Hearing Eli climbing the rocks she turned and smiled, when he reached her the clouds returned and the rain returned heavy and cold. “What are you doing out here Meela?”

Meela shrugged “Just letting Mother Nature amaze me.”

Standing up she started to climb down the rocks with Eli close behind her “You’re soaked.” Meela laughed “So are you.”

Eli laughed “I thought you and I might play a game by the fire, maybe open up a bottle of wine.”

Eli held out his hand and Meela took it “And just what kind of a game did you have in mind?” Eli laughed “I don’t know cards or dice.”

Meela laughed “Oh, like usual my mind went straight to the gutter, but a game sounds like fun and I’m always up for some wine, shall we invite Maddi and Logan?”

Eli smiled as they reached the kitchen door and he opened it for her “Sounds good to me, I’ll go invite them while you go change into some dry clothes and meet us in the library.”

Before Meela knew it Eli picked her up and sat her down on the table making her giggle as he moved the wet hair from her face and kissed her passionately. “I love seeing you in one of my shirts especially when you’re wet and it’s clinging to your body.”

Before walking away he kissed her again then threw her a dry towel. “I’ll see you in the library.”

After playing games all night and getting more than a little drunk Eli and Logan walked the girls to their rooms and said goodnight. Meela and Maddi got ready for bed, a few minutes later Meela showed up at Maddi’s door wanting to talk. “Hope you’re not wanting any privacy.”

Maddi shook her head as she showed Meela in “No this is all right, what’s on your mind?”

Meela laughed “When was the first time you kissed a man?”

Maddi laughed as she laid down onto her bed “I was thirteen and his name was Sylvester but was more than insistent that I call him Sly, he was nowhere near as attractive as Logan and Eli but he sure did know how to talk to a lady.”

Meela jumped up and got comfortable on the bed next to her “How old was he and what did he look like?”

Maddi smiled big as she thought back “He was probably seventeen and had golden blonde hair that he wore casually slicked back behind his ear, his eyes were a simple brown color yet they seemed to hold a warmth in them.”

Meela nodded “I must have been around thirteen for my first kiss also.” Maddi laughed “Well, let’s hear all the details.”

Meela chuckled “His name was Joe and I met him in a tavern called Ginni’s, I was there with my crew members and I had been drinking when I went out for some fresh air, he followed me and asked me to go on a walk with him, he was eighteen and had short cropped brown hair and light blue eyes’, we walked to the docks and talked, when we reached the Rose it was deserted so I invited him on board and took him into my father’s cabin. He kissed me passionately then lifted me up into his arms and walked me to the bed and laid me down, then lied down next to me as he undressed me and we kissed and as he rubbed his hands over my body.”

Maddi’s eyes got big “Did you make love?”

Meela laughed “No we were half naked when my father found us. I don’t think I’d ever seen my father as pissed off as he was, he ripped Joe off me and punched him in the stomach then drug him up on the deck and threw him into the water.”

Maddi laughed “What did your father do next?”

Meela shrugged “He kicked my ass then had Tiny come and talked to me about men and sex.” Maddi grinned “Tiny.”

Meela smiled “He’s a giant and one of the best’s friends I have ever had he was like a father to me.”

Meela was all smiles as she got up and walked to the door “Thanks for the talk; I’ll see you in the morning.”

Blake had been gone for four days and Eli and Meela had shared each and every one of them together, and unknown to Maddi and Logan they had also been sleeping in the same bed. Logan saw no harm in barging into Eli bedroom and finding them asleep then startled at Logan’s booming voice “Looks like you two have gotten rather comfortable together, let’s hope dad doesn’t find out, servants talk you know.”

Meela laughed as she jumped out of bed “Let them we haven’t done anything wrong we haven’t had sex so how much trouble can we really get into.”

”Your only sleeping together, really I imagine that would be torture.” Both Eli and Meela answered at the same time “It is.”

Eli washed and dried his face “It definitely is, but hell it’s better than nothing maybe you and Maddi should try it.”

Later that night Maddi lied in bed awake she was tired after a long day but was unable to stop thinking about Logan and all his sweet words and even sweeter kisses. Meanwhile Logan paced in front of his door trying to figure out if he was going to Maddi’s room. “Damn it I’m going, I’ll just stay a little while, no sex, yet I can do that.”

When Maddi heard a knock, she jumped up and straightened her bed clothes as she rushed to the door. Logan stood nervously waiting in the hall then smiled when Maddi answered. “Did I wake you?”

Maddi fused with her hair as she showed him in “I couldn’t sleep either.”

Logan looked around Maddi’s room while she walked back and sat on her bed “Are you planning on sitting by me or just walking around my room?”

Logan laughed as he walked toward her “I’m a little worried I won’t be able to control myself with you.”

Maddi giggled as she patted on the bed next to her “Oh really lose control huh sounds rather good to me.”

Logan sat down next to her, leaning in slowly as he took her mouth in a kiss “I want you so bad I can’t stand it.”

Maddi used the back of her hand and touched his cheek “I feel the same way, how long will we have to wait before we can truly be together?”

Logan smiled as he moved in closer holding Maddi in his arms “I don’t know but I do know that I’m not leaving you tonight, we may not be able to make love but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s embrace.”

Maddi stood up and blushed as she removed her robe and laid down “Does that mean you want to cuddle?”

Logan smiled as he removed his boots and took off his shirt “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Maddi snuggled in closer “Might as well enjoy it while we can, your father would skin us both alive if he knew.”

Logan laughed “Good thing he’s not here to find out.”