"I – I don't know what you're talking about."

"Who. Put. Those. Scars. On. Your. Back?" Without waiting for her answer he turned her around and snatched up the hem of her gown that concealed her body from him so he could get a better look. He was going to kill the son of a bitch, as soon as she told him who it was; although he was fairly certain it was her sorry excuse of a father. The thought of someone whipping her to the point of leaving scars made him want to vomit.

Slowly his calloused fingers began to trace the lines, some more faint than others. Chill bumps rose up at his tender caresses. Somehow his mouth was on her skin, kissing each mark. Her gown ended up on the floor as his hands slid down her bare sides to her hips then around to her stomach and up to cup her breasts.

Embarrassment fled as his mouth and hands caressed her body. Moaning softly, her eyes slid closed and her head tilted back letting her hair cascade down her back in an ebony water fall of curls. Desperate to feel her satiny skin against his own, Levi ripped his shirt off popping buttons in the process. He turned her around to face him then wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly reveling in the feel of her body pressed against his. Taking her mouth in a deeply passionate kiss, he laid her back on the bed they'd shared for a little over a week.

His lips left hers, immediately she felt bereft but not for long as he nipped his way down to her breasts. Slowly Levi swirled his tongue around first one nipple then the other causing her to arch her back. She gasped at the strange and exciting new feelings rushing through her body. Hope's fingers found their way to his into his hair as she instinctively clasped him closer to her body.

Levi's hand moved down her stomach untying her pantaloons as he went. Unconsciously Hope pulled his mouth back to hers for another passionate kiss. Her fingers craved the feel of him as she explored the firm muscles of his back. As their passion grew her nails dug into shoulders causing a pleasurable pain for him.

Tearing his mouth from hers, Levi rose up slightly and looked down into her deep violet eyes, losing himself momentarily. "I want you Hope. Do you understand what I'm asking? I want to make love to you." All she could do was nod. "Are you sure?" He asked as his heart began to pound. Her answer was to pull his mouth back to hers.

Hope was afraid to speak, so all she did was nod and bring his mouth back to hers. She couldn't think. All she could do was feel. Heat swirled through her body as Levi kissed, nipped, and licked every inch of body. Tension began to build in her as his warm tongue dipped into her navel then continued on to her pelvic bones. Her closed eyes snapped open when she felt his warm breath at her center.

She gasped when his tongue touched her in such an intimate way. Hope tried to say something but the only sound that was able to escape her throat was a moan as her eyelids slid closed once again. A moment later the room shattered as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over her body.

She was riding the last waves of pleasure as Levi moved over her once again. Instinctively her arms wound themselves around his neck "I'm so sorry." He whispered in her ear kissing her tenderly. She heard his words but could not comprehend their meaning until a sharp pain ripped through her bringing her crashing back to reality. Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked at the man who only moments ago, had given her such immense pleasure. Pleasure that she had no idea could even possibly exist. His face clearly reflected the pain that she felt almost as if it were him hurting instead of her.

Levi cursed as tears swam in her beautiful violet eyes. Lowering his head, he kissed away her tears, murmuring soothing words of comfort. It was killing him to be still and give her body time to acclimate to him but he didn't want to cause her anymore pain than he already had. "I'll never hurt you again, I promise. It's only the first time." She looked deeply into his slate blue eyes full of passion and tenderness and knew that he spoke the truth.

"Does it hurt you too?" She asked innocently.

"It's painful for me but not in the way you think." He smiled then took her mouth in a deep soul searing kiss. Tentatively she moved her hips against his, smiling when he groaned and hissed through his teeth. "God, you're killing me Hope. You've got to be still, I don't want to hurt you."

"Is this all there is to making love then? She asked as an acute feeling of disappointment began to settle in the pit of her stomach.

"God no woman." Levi groaned. "It's just the beginning." He said gritting his teeth as she moved her hips against his.

"You won't hurt me. It's ok, really. The pain is gone." She whispered huskily.

Slowly he withdrew then slid his full length back into her velvety sheath keeping a slow and easy rhythm to maximize her pleasure and minimize any pain he might cause. He watched as her violet eyes darkened then glazed over with passion. Their bodies glistened with sweat as Hope dug her fingernails into his shoulders. Unconsciously her body longed for something completely unknown and foreign to her.

Levi could feel the tension beginning to build within her. Thank God! He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out. A moment later her world shattered again as Levi covered her mouth with his, swallowing her cries, then poured himself into her, finding his own explosive release. He had his fair share of women; granted, it had been a LONG time, but never, ever had he experienced anything like what he'd just shared with Hope. Amazing couldn't even come close to what he felt. Propped up on his elbows, Levi leaned his forehead against hers lightly kissing her lips. "Are you ok?"

She nodded and smiled shyly. "Is, is it always like that?"

"No. It's not." He said as he rolled over on to his side taking her with him, then chuckled at her reaction to his answer.

"It's not?" A feeling of dread began to seep into the pit of her stomach. Had making love to her been that much of a disappointment to him? Her face burned as shame filled her. Hope was trying desperately to maintain her composure, she thought what they'd shared was the most beautiful thing she'd ever experienced and it hurt to know that it had been nothing special for him. "I – I'm sorry I was such a disappointment." She whispered as she tried to disentangle herself from him and roll over.

Levi tightened his arms to keep her in his embrace. "Hope. Hope." He said again when she ignored him. "Hope." This time he used his thumb and forefinger to gently turn her chin to face him. The look on her face and in her eyes tugged at his heart. "You misunderstood, Sweetheart. It's never been like that. I've never felt that way before! It was the most, the most extraordinary thing. I can only hope that making love to you is like this every time."

"Really? You're not just saying that?"

Swallowing hard, Levi took a deep breath. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. "Hope, I know that I had said I only wanted a marriage in name only. Obviously that's changed." He said as he kissed her soft lips. "I got married again because of Ellie but God knew what he was doing when he sent you to us. I'm not usually a man that shares his feelings so freely but I need to tell you this."

"The first time I saw you, when you stepped off that train, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I was so disappointed because I knew that there was no way a woman like you could ever answer an ad for a mail order bride. So imagine my surprise when I found out that you were going to be my wife. I was scared to death that you would decide to go back home before I could get you to the church and put a ring on your finger."

"Then I saw you with Ellie, and when she made that mess in the kitchen with the flour, you put her behind you to protect her from me. You took my breath away when you stepped off the train, but you stole my heart when you treated my daughter as your own. Each and every day you steal a little bit more of it. I wake up thinking about you then try to find ways to stay near you during the day. I go to bed thinking about you and then I dream about you.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"What I'm saying is. Hope Matthews, I love you. I know you don't feel the same way about me, I can only hope that one day you will." He finished quietly. His wife stared wide eyed at him for what seemed like forever before saying anything.

"I – I, Levi, I love you too! You don't know how many nights I went to bed feeling so alone wishing there was some way that I could make you fall in love with me; to want to be with me as a husband and wife are meant to be. I knew how you felt, or at least I thought I did, and I knew that you had not wanted to marry anyone but you did for Ellie. I told myself daily that I would be happy and content with what you had given me. And I do love Ellie as if she were my own even though I have longed to have a child with you."

"Hope, we can't do anything about the two months that have gone by but I don't ever want to spend another night with you not beside me." He pulled her body closer to his and kissed her passionately. Groaning he pulled back. "I want you again but we can't." He whispered against her mouth.

"Why not?" She asked innocently.

"I don't want to hurt you. As it is you will probably be a little sore tomorrow."

Hope reached out and cupped the side of his face with her palm. "I'm fine and I want you to make love to me again. Please." She didn't have to ask again. Levi made love to her again until both of them were breathless and their bodies were slick with sweat. Sometime later they lay tangled together sleeping peacefully. In fact, Levi wasn't sure if he'd ever felt so content and satisfied.

He still couldn't believe that she loved him and maybe before long he could give her the child she wanted so badly but didn't think she would ever have. Hell, he'd give her as many as she wanted. They certainly seemed to enjoy trying. She looked like an angel laying in his arms with her long ebony hair fanned out behind her. She was an angel, his angel.

Levi began to run his fingers over the silky soft skin of her back. The tips of his fingers traced over several of the scars on her back. Anger began to course through his veins at the thought of someone hurting her badly enough to mark her for life. He would definitely have to talk to her about it. But for now he was simply going to enjoy laying here with the woman he loved.

l/MK