“That’s a good point. But this . . . this matters, Callie,” he said seriously. “This is our future. A woman once told me that marriage is like taking hold of another person’s hand and jumping over a cliff together.”
Callie laughed. “So the question is, do we soar, or do we crash at the bottom of the cliff?”
“As long as we do it together,” he said softly as he peeled off her gown, leaving her in a translucent shift and a light set of stays. “Soar with me, Catkin!”
“Always.” As she unbuttoned the fall of his trousers, she realized that this was their true marriage, though they would make it official soon. These were their promises to each other, and they were about to make the ultimate physical commitment.
She tugged his shirt from his trousers and, in a fit of wickedness, ripped it down the front, revealing his broad chest. Well muscled, dusted with golden hair several shades darker than the sun-bleached hair on his head. She ran both hands over his bare skin, loving the warm pulse of muscled strength.
And scars. Several of them. “Did someone use you for shooting practice?” she asked as she touched a rough depression that looked like it had been made by a musket ball.
“The scars didn’t all come in a day,” he chuckled. “I have a carefully curated collection. I probably have scars I’ve forgotten about.”
Not letting herself think of his perilous past, she said firmly, “Well, it’s time to stop collecting them! That’s an order.” She pulled his shirt down over his shoulders and arms, wondering how many scars she’d find if she did a thorough inventory. She’d save that for another day.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with mock meekness. “Although if you want to add a bite mark . . .”
“That sounds like an idea worth exploring.” She tossed his shirt aside and nipped his shoulder. Warm, salty skin under her tongue, an essence of Richard-ness.
His eyes blazed like a lion’s in sunlight and he swiftly unlaced her stays, leaving her in only a thin shift. She shivered a little despite the heat in his eyes.
Feeling shy, she dragged his trousers down his legs, enjoying the strength and textures of thighs, knees, ankles. Then she knelt before him to hold the fabric of each leg so he could pull his foot out. He wore only his drawers now, and as she stood up she had a good view of his readiness to consummate their—betrothal.
Reading her mind, he asked gently, “Feeling a little shy?”
She blushed. “I was married for a dozen years and a widow for three, but no man has ever seen me unclothed.”
“I look forward to being the lucky first, but full revelation can wait.” He caught her hand and led her around the tobacco barrels to the nest that awaited them.
In the growing morning light, he was beautiful, fair skinned and golden haired. His mother had been Norwegian and he had that otherworldly Nordic beauty.
He flipped the top blanket aside. It was ragged around the edges. Sarah had bought the blankets used and cheap, then boiled them with lavender to make sure they were clean and sweet smelling. Not particularly soft since the fabric was coarse, but the roughness was erotic where it brushed bare skin. Callie suspected everything would feel erotic in her present state.
Richard pulled her down beside him so they lay face to face. Then he stroked her head and back while he kissed her with great tenderness. She could feel how he held himself back, not wanting to upset her. She felt like a nervous virgin, though she was no virgin. But nervous, yes. It had been a long time since she’d lain with a man, and that had been duty, not desire. She was entering unknown territory.
Her nerves faded as his caresses and kisses rekindled the desire that had set her aflame earlier. She buried her fingers in his hair. The pale strands fell silkily over her hand. “I hope you keep your hair rather longer than fashion dictates,” she murmured. “It’s so lovely.”
He chuckled. “I believe that’s what I’m supposed to say.” He brushed her hair out with his fingers so he could spread it across her shoulder. “My fire cat, red and gold and brimming with vitality.”
“I feel as if I’ve come to life after years of being a banked fire.” She cupped his cheek, feeling the prickle of whiskers since he hadn’t shaved this morning. They were almost invisible because of his fair coloring, but the feel was alluringly male. She ran her hand from his cheek to his jaw, his throat, continuing down his body in sheer delight.
Since she was the one who had needed to slow down, she must be the one to turn up the heat again. Her hand kept moving, lower and lower over smooth skin and taut muscles, fingertips brushing through coarser hair until she could clasp that tantalizing heat and hardness.
He sucked in his breath, becoming even harder. She loved that she could affect him like this.
Before she could test her power further, he said huskily, “It’s time for me to withdraw from the boiling point by concentrating on you.”
He rolled her onto her back and kissed her more deeply. She didn’t realize that he’d tugged her shift up to her shoulders until she felt his warm, bare hand on her breast. She gasped and gave a shimmy of pleasure.
Obligingly he bent his head and kissed her breast, teasing with his tongue and lightly nipping until she was ready to shriek from cascading sensations. He transferred his mouth to her other breast while sliding his palm lower over waist and belly until he reached the most sensitive places of all.
“Please don’t take too much time,” she whispered, and her hips churned around his questing fingers. “Please!”
“Your wish is my pleasure, milady,” he said in a gravelly voice. He moved between her legs, using his fingers to position himself. Braced above her, he was beautiful, a tawny, powerful lion who took her breath away.
Sweat glistened on his forehead as he entered slowly out of care for her long celibacy, but despite her tightness, her body welcomed him. Yearning for completion, she surged her hips upward until they were fully joined.
She caught her breath with amazement and delight. Matthew had been a thoughtful lover for an unenthusiastic bride, and she’d had no reason to complain of him, but it had never been like this.Never.
