“I try, but am not always successful.” She realized he was leading her upstairs but said nothing. “Fortunately, so far, just as I was about to give my opinion, something interrupted me. Quite often, it was the husband. I think some of them can just tell when their wives have pushed someone too far. Where are we going?”
“Your room. Or we could slip into mine.”
“Being a little presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I dinnae ken. Am I?” He turned into her room and nudged her up against the edge of the bed.
“I will have to think about it,” she said as she fell back onto the bed.
He settled himself over her and grinned back at her. “Think hard.”
“I think we need to get our shoes off before we soil the bedspread.”
He laughed, then sat up and took off her shoes before taking his own off. Slowly, he crawled back onto the bed and began to undo her gown. Belle felt drugged by his kisses and the stroke of his hands as he undressed her. She briefly thought that she ought to stop him, but she could not really convince herself to do it. A voice in her head told her she was getting in too deep, but she decided she did not need to think about that right now.
Geordie kissed her as he finished easing off her clothes. He sat back on his heels as he stripped off his shirt. There was the soft touch of a blush on her skin as he studied her. Turning a little, he yanked the rest of his clothes off, tossing them to the floor. Then, slowly, he settled his body over hers, savoring the soft, trembling gasp she made when their skin touched.
Belle smoothed her hands over his back as he kissed her. She really liked the feel of his skin, taut and warm as it stretched over firm muscle. The crisp hair on his legs rubbed against her in a way that stirred her blood. He slowly kissed his way down her body, teasing her stomach with kisses and light nips that made her shiver.
The heat and need building inside of her waned just a little as he slid down her body even further. Startled, she was about to say something when he spread her legs then lifted them onto his shoulders and kissed her there. Belle clutched his head, threading her fingers through his hair.
She loosened her grip on his hair as he teased and tormented her with kisses, the play of his tongue on the sensitive skin, and the gentle caress of his hands on her legs. Then something inside her began to wind itself tighter and tighter. Belle was both fascinated by it and a little afraid. She shifted a little in an attempt to move away from what he was making her feel but he just moved his tormenting mouth to her inner thighs.
Geordie began to slowly kiss his way back up her body. Belle wrapped her arms around him, stroking his back as he kissed and suckled her breast. Then he kissed her, a hungry, demanding kiss that clouded her mind. He softened the kiss even as he joined their bodies.
Belle clung to him tightly with her arms and legs. The tightness returned and, again, grew tighter and tighter. It had just grown rather uncomfortable and she was about to push him away when it snapped and a feeling she could only call delicious flooded her body. She tried to stay still and just savor it, but her body refused to be still.
Then Geordie thrust hard inside of her and stilled. She could feel tension in his muscles and he held himself still, then lowered his head enough to give her a slow, heated kiss. His body jerked a little a few times before he slumped down on top of her. Before she could complain about his weight, he rolled onto his side and pulled her close to him.
She thought about making a comment on how he was going to sleep, but she yawned. Biting down a laugh, she snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. They were going to have to talk about what was happening between them. She had avoided such a talk, for she did not want to hear him say there was nothing between them save passion.
Yet, there was a part of her that believed they should stop being lovers if that was all he wanted. She admitted she wanted something more from him, yet if there was more, there would then be a lot of things that would need sorting out for it to be worth anything. Belle was reluctant to admit it, even to herself, but she was becoming certain she was falling in love with the man. She feared she was going to find herself alone and deeply hurt when this affair ended.
Chapter Fourteen
Walking into the kitchen, Geordie was surprised to find Mehitabel standing by the stove and staring at the coffeepot. “Um, Belle? I think ye need to turn the flame on under the pot before it will make the coffee. I wouldnae mind a cup myself.”
After watching her fumble to light it, he nudged her aside. “I will do it, lass. I am thinking ye need to get more sleep.”
“Have to dig clams this morning,” she said. “Tide is out, so I have to get out there.”
He looked at her and shook his head. “Ye will just end up facedown in the mud.”
“Got orders to fill.”
“I will get her to the table,” Abel said as he walked into the kitchen and looked at his sister before grabbing her by the arm. “A couple of cups of her morning potion, which is what Auntie calls it, and she will wake up.” He led her to a seat at the table. “She can be like this when the tide is out too early,” he said as he turned and came back to the stove.
Geordie watched as Belle placed her arms on the table and put her head down on them. He shook his head, not sure coffee was going to help her this time. He would not even be up if he had not found her gone from the bed when he had reached for her.
“Oh, no,” Abel said and started back to the table.
Catching the boy by the back of his shirt, Geordie stopped him. “Nay, lad. I will dig the clams for her this morning if we put the coffee in front of her and it doesnae make her stir.”
“Do you know how?”
“Weel, I have watched her do it.”
“Do you know which beds to dig in?”
