When she heard the door close quietly behind them, she turned to question him.
She hadn't had a chance to say a word.
Cleav's arms came around her. His mouth found hers in a kiss that was hot, passionate, hungry.
Fire leapt in Esme's veins, and she eagerly returned the kiss. Allowing her fingers to weave through his hair, she moaned in delight and pressed against him.
Cleav couldn't seem to get close enough. "Sweet Hillbaby, my Hillbaby," he groaned against her. "I want you too much," he said.
Their kisses were as sweet and tender as they were urgent and passionate. Both speaking their feelings so clearly and neither hearing the other.
Cleav eagerly undid the buttons at her back, and Esme, her hands free, quickly lowered her bodice as a temptation for his lips.
"You're so beautiful, Hillbaby," he had told her roughly. "And you're mine, Esme, forever mine. ..."
Tonight, as Esme stared blankly at her image in the mirror, she still shuddered in remembered pleasure. This afternoon had been heaven. But all of marriage was not spent in bed.
Cleav teased and pleased and satisfied her. But the closeness of their first days together eluded them. He no longer spoke of his days and his dreams. Somehow, she had pushed him away. All her life she had managed to provide for the needs of the people she loved, but she wasn't sure she knew what Cleav needed.
A throaty giggle outside the window captured Esme's attention. Although she couldn't hear what was said, she recognized the voices of her sister and Armon.
It had been Agrippa's night to walk out with him, and she and Adelaide had worked furiously that afternoon to finish her new blue percale.
Her sister had looked positively charming when she'd come downstairs. Esme hoped that a rakish, overbearing clod like Armon could appreciate all their work.
The sounds from the yard ceased. But Esme didn't hear the door open. Curiously she made her way to the window.
Looking down, she saw Armon and Agrippa locked in a passionate embrace on the front path. He was holding her far too closely for a couple who were not engaged, and her sister was not complaining.
Disapproving, Esme was just about to call out a sisterly rebuke when the kiss ended and Armon set her at arm's length. Although their conversation was spoken too softly for Esme to hear, apparently Armon bade her good night with one last longing look, Agrippa hurried to the door.
"For heaven's sake," Esme muttered to herself. "That was entirely too close."
She would definitely have to speak to Agrippa about her behavior. Certainly, this time Armon had acted like a gentleman, but Esme was pretty sure that he could not be counted on for continual chivalrous behavior. She was just about to move away from the window when a movement behind the chestnut tree caught her eye.
"What are you up to?" She heard Armon's voice clearly "Spying?"
With a naughty giggle Adelaide emerged from behind the tree. Esme couldn't hear her sister's reply but watched in horror as the other threw herself into Hightower's arms.
Adelaide's kiss was much like Agrippa's. Too close, too intimate, too long, and far too dangerous.
"Save to graces!" Esme exclaimed to herself. This had to stop. If someone didn't do something soon, those two would be planning a double wedding before she knew it, and with only one groom!
She was so stunned, Esme didn't hear Cleav come up behind her until he touched her on the shoulder.
"What are you looking at?" he asked.
When she didn't answer, Cleav leaned forward out the window.
"Hmm ..." She heard him spot the object of her interest. "Good night, Hightower," he called out calmly.
The couple in the darkness of the chestnut tree jumped apart guiltily.
"Come on in the house, Agrippa."
As Adelaide rushed down the path and into the front door
Esme almost corrected him. Cleav still could not tell the twins apart then she saw the very cold glare that Cleav was offering Armon. He'd stated more than once that he didn't approve of the twin spark.
