The Enchanted Land Read Online Free PDF Page A

wedding night apart, do you?” He moved close to Morgan so that their thighs touched. Louder he said, “Come in, Bessie.”
    A very large woman entered the room carrying a trayof coffee. As she saw Morgan in the enormous bed sitting beside Seth, she stopped and stared. Seth moved even closer to Morgan and put his arm around her shoulders. “Bessie, I’d like you to meet my wife, Morgan.”
    It didn’t take Bessie long to recover her voice. “I declare, Mr. Seth, you didn’t give nobody word that you were bringing a bride. I bet even your mama don’t know.”
    Seth grinned and hugged Morgan closer, idly taking a curl in one hand and rubbing it between his fingers. “No, Mother doesn’t know, but then it was a rather hurried marriage. Morgan and I just met the night before last.”
    “An elopement! Your sisters are just going to love that.” Bessie had a twinkle in her eye. “Well, I must mind my manners. It’s nice to meet you,” she said to the still-silent bride.
    Morgan managed to murmur, “Thank you.”
    Bessie smiled broadly and said, “Well, Mr. Seth, I’ll just leave you two. You come down whenever you’re ready.” The twinkle deepened and she winked at Seth. He returned the wink. Morgan looked down at her hands and blushed.
    Bessie put the tray on the bedside table and turned to leave. As she did so, she stopped for a second and looked at the couch with the rumpled quilt and pillow, still dented where Seth’s head had been. She frowned for a second, then left, closing the door behind her.
    The room seemed too quiet, and Morgan was acutely aware that Seth was making no attempt to leave her side or even to take his arm from around her shoulders. She continued to study her hands.
    Seth put his other hand beneath her chin and turned her head. Without a word, he tipped her head back and gently touched his lips to hers. Morgan felt she hadnever experienced anything so sweet and gentle as his lips.
    Seth withdrew his lips and looked down at her. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, capturing the brilliance of her long, golden hair. He decided he’d like very much to find out what lay under that billowing nightgown. He smiled at the thought and Morgan opened her eyes to find him smiling.
    “Do you always find me amusing?” she asked in a cold voice. Her body stiffened under his arm.
    Seth removed the arm. “Quite often. But I also find it astonishing that you can hide all that hair away in such a tight little knot.” He lifted his hand to play with a fat curl.
    Morgan’s voice was cold. “May I remind you, Mr. Colter, that our arrangement is a business one. The way I arrange my hair is of no concern to you.”
    Morgan saw his jaw muscles flex as he ground his teeth together. “You are right, madam. Your looks, or lack of them, is of no concern to me.” Morgan winced. Why did people always have to remind her of her plainness?
    “Now if you do not want to be shocked, you had better look the other way.”
    Morgan did not understand his meaning until he threw back the covers. She turned her head, but could not keep her eyes averted. She looked up to see a broad back with a deeply grooved backbone, leading to roundly curving buttocks and firm thighs. The thighs were covered with golden hair. At the sound of Seth’s laughter, she looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror over the dressing table.
    “So! My shy little bride is not so shy when my back is turned.”
    Morgan kept her eyes on his. In what she hoped was a cool voice, she said, “Only curious.”
    Seth roared. He continued laughing as he began to dress. Morgan carefully kept her eyes averted.
    He left, telling Morgan to come down when she was ready, that his family would be anxious to meet her.
    As Morgan dressed, she had time to think. She did not like the way things were going. Already she and Seth had had one quarrel, and they had been married just a few hours. If they were to live together for a full year, they must come to terms.