A War Within (Epic WWI Love Story) Read online

  “Good morning,” Auguste whispered, stroking her sleepy face. She moaned, and he silenced it with a soft kiss on her lips.

  A sleepy smile greeted him and then she buried her face in his chest. “Is it already morning? I feel like I just fell asleep.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head, eliciting a deep, happy breath followed by a long sigh.

  “Sleep in longer, darling; I think we just went to sleep a few hours ago.”

  Since they’d spent the entire night awake talking and making love, it was no wonder she was still tired. His own body ached with exhaustion, but he also felt more relaxed than he had in years... maybe in his whole life. His stomach ached from laughing, her quick wit and sharp tongue surprising him on more than one occasion. He listened to her talk and tell stories most of the night, successfully dodging her questions about his past. Just like her father, it was easy to distract her by asking her about her horse. He knew he couldn’t distract her forever, but for now he’d been successful. After a long evening of talking, they’d made love once more before finally losing their battle against sleep. Together they’d faded off to their dreams while she lay wrapped up tight in his arms.

  Auguste slipped out of bed and poked his head outside. It was damp from last night’s unrelenting rain, but the birds were chirping, and the sky’s anger had faded. The stream outside sparkled in the warm sunlight.

  “I was hoping it would still be storming today,” she said from the bed. “Then we would be forced to stay here another night.”

  Auguste laughed as he walked into the kitchen, scooped a ladle full of water and poured it into a cup for her.

  “I was wishing the same thing,” he said as he crossed the room and handed her the little metal cup. “But Raulf must be worried sick and its likely he is gathering a search team as we speak.”

  “Oh, yeah. That.” She grimaced again and stuck out her lip in a pout.

  “When you feel like getting up you really should come look outside. It’s actually quite beautiful here when you can see more than three feet in front of you.”

  Isabelle took a sip of water and climbed out of bed. The sight of her naked body had him stirring again, but she pulled the quilt up around her shoulders and put an end to the show. She crossed the cabin and walked out onto the porch and he stepped up behind her, pulling her backward against his chest. Wrapping her in his arms, he let his chin settle on her head.

  “Wow. It really is beautiful here,” she said as she looked around. The cabin was situated in a wooded area, but right out front was lush green grass leading down to a soft-moving stream. White and purple wildflowers popped up through the grass and the yellow dandelions made a colorful carpet. Slipping from his grasp, she walked down toward the stream. His eyes remained fixated on her as she made her way down to the rocky ledge and dipped her toe in the water. Her casual beauty mesmerized him, and he watched in awe when she turned to face him, standing on the large rock atop the stream. Uncrossing her arms, she released the quilt and let it drop to her feet.

  Struggling to swallow, he stepped forward. With a heart pounding against his ribs, he made his way down to her, taking off his clothes as he approached, dropping them like a crumb trail along the way. Her coy smile encouraged him on and when he reached her, he was naked as well. Lustful eyes looked up at him, and she reached out and touched his stomach. His muscles quivered as her fingers traced their way down his abs, leaving a tingling sensation where they last had been. With a sensual touch, she circled around his groin, just passing his manhood. He groaned his frustration, wanting nothing more than to feel her hand wrap around him.

  Toying with him, she let her fingers drift away before bringing them back, each time retreating before giving him what he wanted. Just when he thought he would burst from anticipation, she took the tip of her finger and brushed the throbbing head. A guttural moan ripped out of him and he threw back his head. Finally, she took ahold of him and he nearly dropped to his knees.

  Auguste leaned forward. Those innocent eyes looked up at him, dripping with desire. Unable to wait any longer, he caught her in his arms and dipped her backward. Their naked bodies twisted together as he pulled her against his chest and carried her down into the water.

  The cold water shocked his system and was a stark contrast to the heat radiating from her body. Lifting her up high above him, he held her in the air while she looked down, her black hair draping around his face. He slid her down his body, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed himself against the heat at her opening, and when she pushed herself down he moaned into her neck. Desperate for more of her, he began lifting her up and down, sliding her on and off his shaft, her hard nipples pressing into his skin. The grip of her legs around him tightened, and she dug her nails into the skin of his back. When she threw her head back in pleasure, his mouth found her nipple and sucked it between his teeth.

  Quickening her pace, she rode him with frantic thrusts. The liquid rushed over him and the sensations of the running water, the tightness of her heat, and the screams when she reached her release sent him tumbling over the edge with her.

  Panting, he lifted her up and slid her off his throbbing manhood.

  “You are amazing, Isabelle,” he whispered, lifting her to his lips.

  Smiling, she kissed his nose, and he responded by twirling her around, dragging her legs through the water. Her playful squeals encouraged him on and with one powerful thrust he tossed her backward. She screamed as she landed with a splash in the cold water.

  “Auguste!” she scolded when she emerged spitting water and wiping it from her eyes. “You are such a rogue!” Laughing, she scraped her hand across the water and sent a spray back into his face.

  Auguste laughed and ran at her, and she shrieked while she tried to get away. But he was too fast, and he caught her with ease, lifting her back up into his arms. He held tight against her playful struggle to get free. “You’re mine now, Isabelle. And I have no intention of letting you go.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Auguste, than right here in your arms.” Ceasing her struggle, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

  “You have no idea how badly I have wanted to kiss these lips, Isabelle. Since the first time I saw you,” he said on a sigh.

  “I bet you didn’t know that the first time I saw you wasn’t the first time you saw me.”

  Auguste tipped his head in confusion.

  “I saw you several months before we met. You were sitting on a white bench in a garden directly across from my Aunt Brigitte’s townhouse. I saw you from the second story window. You were looking at what appeared to be a photograph?”

  Auguste stared bewildered at her. He remembered that bench in town. He had sat there staring at her picture that day. How was it possible she had been sitting just above him, watching him while he searched the country for her? He couldn’t help but think that fate was truly trying to push them together.

  “I remember sitting on that bench. I can’t believe you saw me... and that you even remembered me.”

  “How could I forget you, Auguste?”

  “I swear, Isabelle, I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

  “Neither do I,” she teased and pecked him with another kiss.

  “As much as I hate to say it, I should probably get you back to the farm. Raulf is certainly worried sick and if we don’t hurry, a search party might catch us here like this.”

  Isabelle frowned, and Auguste couldn’t help but chuckle at her pouty lips and furrowed brow.

  “I don’t want to go home, Auguste. I want to stay here. With you.”

  “There is nothing I want more, Isabelle, and perhaps we can sneak back here again. But I have to get you home before your father returns or he will have my head.”

  Ignoring her pouting, he carried her to the shore and set her down on the ground next to the quilt that still lay in a heap. She wrapped it around herself and he followed her back, dressing as he went. When he got inside, he
saw her standing in the corner holding her little green dress.

  “Hmmmm...” she said as she played with the place the buttons used to be. “Exactly what am I going to wear home, Auguste?”

  Sucking the air through his teeth, he struggled against laughter while she scolded him with a stare. “Sorry about that. Let me see what I can find.” He walked over to the bed and began opening the old dresser drawers. Inside he found a pair of men’s tan trousers and a stained, white button-down shirt.

  “It’s not a fancy gown, but it’s all we have. I’m sorry about that.” He held up the disheveled men’s clothes for her to examine, a sheepish grin stretching across his face.

  When she saw the outfit he held, her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m fine with naked if you’d prefer that, but I don’t think Raulf will be—”

  “Give me those!” she answered, struggling to conceal her own smile. Pursing her lips, she walked over, snatching the ragged outfit from him.

  “Do I have to turn around this time?” he joked as she began to unwrap the quilt from around her body.

  Succumbing to laughter, she dropped the quilt to the floor and did a tantalizing spin for him. It took everything he had not to grab her and pull her back into the bed, to pleasure her and taste her and kiss her for eternity. But, he knew if they didn’t get back soon, a search party was surely going to find them, and he would hate for them to be discovered in a compromising position.

  When she finished dressing, they locked eyes and after a few snickers, their laughter exploded, merging into one. Struggling to breathe, he pointed to the pants, four sizes too big, that she held up to her chest. Her own laughter deepened, and she let loose the trousers’ waistband and they dropped straight down to the floor, leaving her standing in the oversized shirt drooping down to her knees.

  Auguste rolled in laughter as she crossed her arms and scolded him with her eyes between spurts of laughter. “I loved that dress!”

  “I’m so sorry. Let me see what I can do,” he said, chuckling as he went outside.

  When he returned a minute later, he held a handful of old baling twine he had found outside by the shed. Isabelle remained standing in the pool of fabric at her feet, arms crossed and tapping her toes. When he got to her, he bent down to the floor, pulling up her pants while he stood.

  “Hold these,” he said, and she grabbed the giant waistband of the pants. Holding the extra twine between his teeth, he took a piece and tied it to the belt loop of her trousers. Repeating the process on the other side, he then flung the two pieces of twine over her shoulders. He moved around behind her and fastened each piece to the belt loops in the back, creating a pair of twine suspenders.

  “There!” He stepped back with a wide grin and admired his creativity.

  Turning around to face him, she looked down at the ridiculous outfit and then lifted her eyes, impaling him with a glare. “I could kill you.”

  Choking down his laughter, he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. “I’m very sorry, darling. I’ll try to remember next time to be gentler. However, if I recall you weren’t complaining about it last night.” When he waggled his eyebrows, she burst into laughter.

  “I’m going to be quite a sight riding home.”

  “That you will. Stay here. I’ll go get Beau tacked up. I’ll be right back.”

  Auguste went outside to find Beau had wandered out from his shelter when the rain stopped and was happily munching on the fresh green grass. When he whistled, Beau trotted over.

  “You ready to go home, buddy?” He patted his old friend on the neck. The horse followed him back to the shelter and stood still while he swung the saddle up onto his back and fastened the cinch. After slipping on the bridle, he led Beau over to the front porch and slung the reins up over his neck.

  “Stay put. I’ll be right back.” Leaving Beau snacking on grass, he went inside to find Isabelle straightening up and putting the cabin back together again.

  “Are you ready?” he asked as she placed the last cup back onto the shelf.

  With a nod she headed out the door to where Beau stood. Auguste came up behind her, grasping her around the waist and lifting her up onto the front of the saddle. A big swing had him landing behind her and he pulled her up into his lap.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he picked up the reins and clucked for Beau to get moving. Isabelle lay her head back on his chest and he kissed her on the forehead. As they rode away from the cabin, a sharp pain shot through his gut at the thought they were leaving their special spot and heading for home.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  ISABELLE SAW HER FAVORITE weeping willow tree appear. She usually loved seeing that tree and remembered all the joy she had found under it as a child, and then as an adult. This time sorrow overcame her as they closed in. It meant they were almost home. She would soon be back, but all she wanted to do was grab the reins from Auguste and turn Beau back toward the cabin in the woods.

  She felt him squeeze her tighter, almost instinctually knowing she was overwhelmed with sadness. Closing her eyes, she pressed her cheek into his chest. There was such a warmth beneath his exterior, and it seemed as if he reserved this special side of himself just for her.

  “Can’t we just go back, Auguste?” she asked one last time.

  “You know we can’t, Isabelle. I wish it as much as you do, but Raulf must be worried sick, and I’d like to get you home before your father returns.”

  A deep sigh lifted her shoulders as Beau ambled along.

  “Auguste!” She heard a voice calling in the distance. “Auguste! Is that you?”

  Isabelle sat up straight when she heard Raulf’s familiar voice cutting through the crisp air.

  “It’s me, Raulf! I found Isabelle!” he shouted back.

  Raulf came galloping up on one of her father’s bay mares.

  “Thank God! I have been out searching for you both all morning! I was just about to send for help!” he said, trying to catch his breath. “What happened? Isabelle, are you all right? Chantal came back alone last night, and I have been thinking the worst! I had to wait until the storm passed but I have been out searching since dawn.”

  “I’m fine, Raulf. Thank you. I had a spill off Chantal and got lost in the storm. Auguste found me and got me to shelter until the storm passed,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment that their private escape was now officially over.

  “Auguste, I can’t thank you enough. Henri would have killed me if something had happened to Isabelle. Isabelle, what were you thinking, running off so far with a storm approaching? You know better than that,” he scolded her.

  “I’m sorry to have worried you, Raulf. I’m all right, though. And if the both of you don’t mind I’d like to keep this little incident from my father?” she asked with pleading eyes.

  His furrowed brows softened, and he shook his head and smiled. “All right, Isabelle. But promise me you won’t run off like that again.”

  With a silent nod she agreed, and they came over the hill that allowed her to see her family farm up ahead. With Raulf’s watchful eyes on her, she fought the urge to press her head back into Auguste’s chest, instead straightening upright while trying to hide her unquenchable desire for him.

  When they arrived at the house, she slid off Beau as he came to a stop.

  “Thank you, Auguste. Thank you for everything,” she said, with a stare of longing. He smiled and tipped his head at her and followed Raulf back to the barn. Isabelle stood on the steps and watched him go, her heart aching as the distance grew between them.

  The next morning, Isabelle heard the familiar sound of her father’s carriage pulling up the drive and she bounced down the steps to greet him. When he came up the stairs, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on his rosy cheek. While she hugged him, she looked over his shoulder and caught a dark silhouette move across the light shining through the barn. Though she couldn’t see him clearly, she
knew it was Auguste. He stepped forward into the light and her stomach flipped at the sight of him. They locked eyes, a silent exchange passing between them until her father took her arm and led her back into the house.

  “How was your trip, Papa?” Isabelle asked as she glanced over her shoulder at Auguste one last time. How desperately she wanted to run out there and jump into his arms.

  “Wonderful, darling! We got that mare all sorted out and there is a beautiful new foal wobbling around the pasture. Albert was elated!”

  “So, you two did more than just drink wine and tell old stories? I’m impressed!”

  Henri laughed and shrugged. “I’m wiped, dear. I’m heading upstairs for a much-needed nap. Those bumpy roads sure do take a toll on this old man. Perhaps I need to reconsider buying one of those automobiles everyone is driving about. Then again, I can’t imagine not using the horses to get around, but if it’s smoother than that carriage perhaps these old bones may have to reconsider!”

  Isabelle laughed, knowing her father would never give in and purchase one. His motto was that if he got by without it before, he didn’t need it now. Isabelle headed up to her room and looked out her window at the barn. She wondered how she would be able to see Auguste without kissing him. It would be agony being near him when other people were around, being forced to act like nothing was happening between them. Eventually she would tell her father, but not yet. For now, she wanted things to be private... a secret to be shared by them and them alone. A car puttering down the drive pulled her attention from the barn. Alexis was home.

  Isabelle raced down the stairs and out onto the porch. The driver opened the car door and Theodore stepped out. He turned around and offered his hand to Alexis who reached out and took it. The smile that passed between them reminded her of the secret exchanges she had with Auguste. There was no denying their attraction and her sister radiated happiness. Her visit must have gone well. When Theodore pressed his lips to the back of her hand, Alexis turned red and her smile stretched almost to her ears.