Sykes and a Snake Chapter 1 preview.
Full chapter on AO3 link.
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One time, she managed to dodge a slap from Mama Sykes after not doing some chores immediately, and Bridget struck her hard. The morning after that, Caleb asked her to marry her before he went on a long trip for a string of crimes with his father and brother. Not even a single day passed after he came back from seven months, they were married at a town hall. Now the newlyweds were in one of the northern towns to have some time to themselves. Bridget goes next door, inside the inn where they will be staying for a night. In the morning, they will camp at St. Mary Lake. Mostly, the rumors of precious metals were ground around there. However, she was more interested in a change of scenery. While Caleb may not understand her paganism, and some of the things she did made him question her sanity at times. He was just grateful she was not a sheepish Christian woman. Like the one Puritan sniveling in the dark corner of the entertainment area surrounded by multiple sins. Gluttony. Lust. Greed. The man with the biggest prideful ego just walked in.
She takes a seat at the bar and asks for water. While ignoring the old rancher eyeing her after hearing her accent. “Keep starin’ and youse eyes may fall out.” The bartender hands her a glass of water.
“C’mon now. Is it a crime to admire a pretty lady? Why you got such pretty eyes. How can a man resist?” The old man with crooked teeth smiles at her.
“Ye can shove that limp cock next door to the lady that pulls a French accent.” Bridget snaps.
“Oooooh, feisty one, aren’t you. Let me buy you a drink?”
“Not even if you were the last man alive.”
The man’s grimey hand, covered in horseshit, grips her arm tightly. He pulls her close. “Now, why don’t you just come up to my room and I show-” He did not even get the chance to finish his sentence when Caleb knocked the light out of him.
Shoving the unconscious fool to the ground before taking his seat. “Two bourbons and dinners.” Caleb’s gravely voice orders. Bridgit scoots her stool closer to her husband. The bartender hands the two bourbons to Caleb, who gave her one. Bridget grins in the glass.
“Ye took a while.”
“Maybe I was curious if you were going to stab the pig.”
“It was getting there.” She kisses his scruffy cheek, then drinks the bourbon. The liquid burns down her throat, but she finishes it. It was awful, but she refuses to waste alcohol. “Blegh, feckin’ hell luv, that’s awful.”
“It was either that or whiskey, doll. And my woman deserves a proper drink.” Icy blue hues glance down at her cleavage, where she hides her money. If he were to guess, there would be about a hundred dollars stuffed in there. “‘Sides, last time I gave you American whiskey, you’d say you curse me. I’m no man of faith and damned either way to hell, but I don’t need nother’ woman making my life a living hell.” Bridget remembers that well. She was cussing up a storm about how it was awful compared to Irish whiskey. Tasted like piss water to her. She did have a private stash back at Caleb’s cabin that she would drink on occasion. She had to hide it from Caleb, as he’d take some quick swigs of it before she hid under a floorboard. Finally, their meals of boiled salt pork with some cornbread came out. It smells as good as it tastes. The salt pork had some cabbage, carrots, onions, and turnips mixed in with spices. The cornbread had some sweet honey on it.
Once their food was settled after watching the gorgeous showgirls perform, the pair went up to their room. Their room was not a bad size, as it had a tub and a good-sized bed. Typically, it was reserved for soldiers and all those higher-ups. The innkeeper couldn’t refuse the money, and Caleb killed his competition last year. Never owe a Sykes money if you can’t pay it back. Your debt will be paid in blood. While Bridget fills the tub up with some water, buckets that were left in the room to fill the tub. It was way too hot in this summer heat for a warm bath. Caleb's fingers work on getting her corset off, and move her raven curls out of the way to kiss her collarbone. Right where he had left a visible mark from last night.
“How much did you get today? Feels like a lot in here, darlin’.” His palm kneads her left breast. Rubbing some of the cash along her tit under her dress. While his other hand grips her hip.
“$80 for my usual and $50 from some young bitch that refused to pay me.” She smirks, feeling a ‘third pistol’ behind her. He snorts in her neck in amusement.
He only saw a glimpse of her pressing her knife to the girl. It made it difficult to finish arranging some business with the sheriff. “That’s my girl.” He sneaks his hand down between her legs, but she closes her thighs tight. “Open them. Now.” His voice growls within that demand. Despite her thighs being close to what he wants, her ass moves against his crotch.
“If ye want my mouth on you later, youse gettin’ a bath first.”
“God damn it, I bathed yesterday, woman.”
“And ye still smell of a horse’s arse.”
He bites her hard. “And you’re my wife.”
She bites her bottom lip to stifle a groan. “My hand got the job done without you for months. I can last a while without sex. Can you?”
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