“Help,” he repeated, his fingers touching her shoulders, gripping them firmly and then kneading them for a moment.
Elizabeth’s legs went as limp as the water she was standing in. His fingers went to her braid, untwisting it, while she stood, like a ninny, staring up at him.
“I like it down,” Cutter revealed, his voice so warm and masculine that it sent shiver after shiver down her spine. Still, she couldn’t move. His eyes twinkled as he spread her hair about her shoulders, smoothing it with his fingers. His hand moved from her hair to her face, his fingers caressing at first and then cupping her face as though it were his greatest treasure. He made her feel so very beautiful, made her believe...
“Y-You do?” she whispered.
“I do,” he said with a nod, and then he slowly dipped his head to her mouth.
Elizabeth’s knees went weak as he descended. His lips touched her briefly, then withdrew, and reclaimed them in a soul-searing kiss. His mouth moved with slow finesse, coaxing a response from her. Instinctively Elizabeth opened for him, shivering when his tongue slid deep like velvet heat over hers.
“Cutter.”
“Yes?”
“The laundry...” Reaching out instinctively, Elizabeth threaded her fingers into the thick waves of his hair.
“It’ll wait.”
Elizabeth nodded in profound agreement, her mind becoming more hazed with every moment he held her. His arms swept about her waist, lifting her up against himself, until she could feel every wet, solid inch of him through her own clothing. He was aroused... she could feel him, and her breath quickened in awakened response. She threw her head back, offering him everything he would take of her... anything.
Like a man drunk with desire, Cutter allowed his lips to feast on the flesh of her neck. “I’ll even help when we’re through,” he promised huskily, his breath tickling the hollow of her throat.
But not his breath, Elizabeth realized suddenly... his beard. “You didn’t shave?” she asked dreamily.
“No, I didn’t,” Cutter agreed, trying not to chuckle at the airy quality of her voice. Her lids were falling, and he lifted her face, kissing them closed, reveling in her artless reaction to him. “Thought it might be best.”
“Mmmmmmhhh,” Elizabeth agreed, arching into him. He gave her lips small, cherishing pecks, and she sighed. “Best... for what?” she asked breathlessly.
Cutter winced and considered not answering her question—at least not until afterward—but it was what he’d come to the river for, he reminded himself. With a sigh of resignation, he forced himself to speak, knowing it would be too easy to refrain. “You’re not hiring on someone else,” he said, bracing himself for her anger. For the longest moment Elizabeth remained in her dreamy state, her eyes closed in pleasure, and then her eyes flew open.
Chapter Eighteen
“What do you mean, I’m not hiring on anybody else?”
Cutter released her suddenly. Elizabeth nearly fell backside-first into the river. She stumbled and then steadied herself, her hands going to her hips.
There was no yield in his expression, only a hard, cold-eyed determination. “Just what I said.”
“You know I can’t let you be my husband, Cutter!” Her voice was resolved, but he countered with a slow smile that left her grating her teeth.
“I wasn’t asking, Elizabeth. I’m telling you how it’s gonna be.”
Her full name on his lips gave her a start, and his implacable expression was unnerving, but left her no more disconcerted than did the fact that she was arguing with a naked man. “It’s just not possible!” Nor was it possible to make a reasonable case with his nudity staring her so insolently in the face!
She shook her head, trying desperately not to look at any one part of him for too long—most especially notthatpart! A moment ago she hadn’t felt so awkward, but a moment ago she’d been wrapped in his warmth, and hadn’t recalled his state of undress.
“Why?” he asked much too softly, daring Elizabeth to voice her objections.
“Don’t make me say it, Mr. McKenzie,” she pleaded, not wishing to offend him.
“Why, damn you?”
She flinched at his harsh tone, but eyed him wrathfully, infuriated that he would put her in such a position. “You know precisely why!” she shouted back.
A shudder went through him as he said quietly, “Take a good look at me, Liz—a real good look!”
Lord have mercy, but she was trying not to! Elizabeth shook her head adamantly.
