She almost cried out when his warmth left her as he rose to his knees to take off his shirt, but she was arrested by his new appearance, by how handsome he was. Good God, he was tantalizing, and all those muscles, flexed as he tossed the shirt away, flexed again as he removed his gun belt and then started on his belt. Her aunt had been so right when they’d had “that talk” and Elizabeth had warned, “Some men don’t want to be naked in bed, but some do. Hope for one that does.” She hadn’t really understood, but now she did—because this man was a feast for the eyes, Adonis in the flesh. Just looking at him set her pulse racing!
He’d already untied her chemise, those silk ties, a mere decoration, never used because it was easier to slip the garment over her head. It lay open now, both of her breasts exposed, so she didn’t even think of protesting when he removed her drawers, too, longer to watch him, longer to be fascinated by his own undressing.
She was fully embracing the unknown, but she still felt a moment of apprehension when he discarded his pants and she saw the size of his manhood. It might have been better to cut her curiosity short. She closed her eyes. She didn’t have to know everything. And yet the moment he slid up her body, his skin against hers, and kissed her deeply again, the thought was gone and she opened her eyes. Shedidwant to know everything, to feel everything sensual he could share with her.
Her arms were around him and she moved a hand into his hair, running her fingers through it. The black mane was still long, but not so shaggy now, even soft to the touch. But his beardless face still fascinated her, and she cupped one of his cheeks to feel stubble already returning. She smiled. She probably wouldn’t shave either if the results barely lasted a day.
He put his hand over hers, brought her fingertips to his lips and kissed the pulse under her wrist. He was staring at her now, those lovely powder-blue eyes, warm with passion and... concern?
“You’ve been through a lot today,” he said. “I didn’t mean for things to progress this quickly, but I want you so much. I don’t want to stop, but I will if you want to wait until you feel better?”
Stop? “No, I want this, want you. Please don’t stop.”
He groaned and kissed her deeply. Then she felt it, gone in a blink, her maidenhood. And him inside her, foreign but still, waiting. She’d closed her eyes with a gasp but opened them now to see his smile, then felt that amazing length sliding deeper. Divine. There was more to explore, more to feel as he moved steadily inside her, then faster, bringing forth multiple gasps from her. But she sensed something else approaching that widened her eyes, gathering momentum, elusive until she was overwhelmed by a sudden burst of pure, wondrous pleasure.
She cried out with it, held on to Morgan’s shoulders tightly, utterly incredulous that something like that even existed. And it left all sorts of unexpected feelings behind, tenderness, caring, gratitude, and an urge to hug him, to simply hug him.
Chapter Thirty
VIOLET RESISTED THE URGEto continue hugging the man on top of her, feeling a little shy now for having behaved so passionately with him. Morgan had felt the same amazing thing she did, had been quite loud about it, but he was still now. Nonetheless, she couldn’t resist lightly caressing his shoulder and muscular arm. His face was pressed between her shoulder and her neck, his breathing still labored, his arms keeping most of his weight from her chest. She wondered if they would sleep like that. She didn’t think she’d mind. But the bed was so narrow, would it even be possible for two people to sleep on it with any degree of comfort? And once he slept, his arms would relax and she’d end up crushed and have to wake him, and they might end up making love again....
She frowned. They probably shouldn’t do that again, no matter how nice—no, how amazing it had been. Being this close to Morgan, feeling surrounded by him, made her feel so safe, so comfortable. But she was hungry, very hungry, noisily so.
He chuckled when he heard her belly growl. “That stew I made for lunch should be hot by now.”
He kissed her neck, then her cheek, before he lifted himself off her and headed to the fireplace. Naked. A blush crept up her cheeks.
She got up quickly, grabbed her valise, and rushed outside to the porch to dress, yelling back, “Do put something on!”
“I’ve only been sleeping with my pants on for your sake, Violet. It’s not how I usually sleep.”
“Your thoughtfulness was and is appreciated!”
She hoped he got the point. Just because she’d lain naked with him didn’t mean she would eat or sleep all night that way.
Dressed, she tied her hair back, too hungry to braid it, and hurried back inside. He’d put his pants back on, even his shirt, though he hadn’t buttoned it. That’s not what caused her to blush again. She was feeling incredibly embarrassed over what they’d done in that very room.
He put the large bowl of stew in front of her, remarking, “Why’d you tie your hair back?”
“To keep it out of the way.”
“It’s never in my way. I like it better down.” She started to remind him about tangles, but he said, “We can argue about it later.” And he tossed her half of the bread loaf with a grin.
He sat down across from her. She wanted to look away but really couldn’t. He was too bloody handsome now, and maybe only a few years older than her.
“How old are you?” she asked.
“Twenty-three, second son of four. Hunter’s a year older and the charmer in the family. Our brother John is twenty-one and hot-tempered. The runt, Cole, is just nineteen and can’t make up his mind who he wants to take after.”
“How would you describe yourself?”
“You know me. What would you say?”
“You’re still a bear even if you don’t look like one now,” she replied. “But I suppose if I had to describe you in one word, I would say determined.”
He grinned. “Good choice.”
He shouldn’t do that. His smile almost transfixed her, making him even more handsome. Thank God she hadn’t been able to see that before. But how was she going to deal with it now when it was hard to tear her eyes away from him?
