Noah.
She dreamed of him every night before he came to escort her to Silver Meadows. The dreams always included amorous congress in many different ways and places. While very pleasurable, they left her frustrated when she woke, no doubt because they would never be fulfilled. What would he think if he knew she had such dreams of him even before she’d met him?
Ignoring the useless question, she rose from the small dressing table and descended the stairs. She would focus on only the day, something her great-aunt said was the best way to be happy.
Chapter Four
Afew dayslater, a darkening sky in the late afternoon portended a harsh storm, which was why Noah fetched Juliet early from Silver Meadows. He kept his horse behind hers as they raced back to Brambling Cottage.
The wind had blown Juliet’s bonnet from her head, hanging on by its lavender ribbons as her long hair whipped behind her, the pins she’d used to hold it up lost to nature’s forces. But as thunder rumbled, the first large drops hit his bare head, and he wished they’d left sooner.
They galloped around the last bend and up to the cottage’s stable. Jumping from his mount, he ran to Juliet and pulled her from hers as thunder sounded close. “Go inside. I’ll take care of the horses!”
A crack of lightning made her jump before she ran for the cottage door. The boom of thunder that followed spooked her horse, and he held onto the reins to keep it from bolting. Quickly, he led the animals into the little stable and brushed them down before giving them food. Despite his speed, by the time he finished, the rain came down so hard he could barely see the front of the cottage. Without hesitation, he ran out, glad he knew the way so well, since the outdoor temperatures had plummeted with the clouds and wind, and the rain felt like icy darts hitting his skin.
He opened the door without knocking and entered the warm, dry parlor. As he slammed it shut against the wind and water that came in with him, Juliet entered from the kitchen. Her laughter froze him to the spot as it flowed over his body, warming him from the inside out.
“Aren’t we a pair?” She lifted her disheveled hair with one hand. “I look like the hounds of hell were upon my heels, and you look like a nearly drowned sailor.”
He grinned as he wiped water from his face with his wet sleeve. “I feel like one.” A shiver ran through him, his soaked clothing quickly chilling him.
Her face sobered and her brow knit. “You need to get dry. I’ll find you a towel.” She left the room, running upstairs.
The last thing he wished for was an early death, so he reached behind his head and pulled up his soaked shirt, letting it slip from his cold fingers to plop on the floor. Pulling his boots off while wet was difficult, but he managed to do so without sitting on the settee and soaking it through. He gathered his hair together and wrung out what he could, careful to keep the drops from touching his bare skin.
Juliet’s steps as she raced down the stairs had him looking up as she strode in.
“I brought a towel and a—” Her eyes widened as she stumbled to a halt. Her gaze was riveted on his wet chest and his body heated at her focused look. When she lifted her gaze, her eyes appeared a deeper blue, all trace of green having vanished.
His pulse thudded hard as desire burned low in his abdomen.
She stepped forward and wordlessly held out the towel.
He took it and dried his torso despite her avid attention. As he brought it to his face, her scent filled his nostrils. Unable to remain so far from her, he held out the white cotton cloth. “Could you dry my back?”
Her teeth worried her bottom lip for a moment, drawing his attention to her mouth, but she moved forward and took the towel.
He turned around, facing the door. Moments went by and he wondered if she would do as he asked. Then he felt the cloth touch his back. She stroked it over him as if she were touching him, not drying him, making his desire for her grow. It was pure torture to resist until he finally didn’t want to resist anymore.
He turned about, his intent to take her in his arms, but his hands filled with the towel.
She scurried to the fireplace, bent over, and dropped another log in. “You need to warm yourself or you might take a chill.”
He dropped the towel on the back of a chair as he walked toward her, enjoying the view of her backside. All he needed was her.
She straightened and faced him. “Oh. Of course, you need to get close to the fire.” Stepping aside, she moved toward the kitchen.
He followed. “Juliet.” He took her hands and placed them on his chest then dropped his own. “Do you want me?”
Her eyes widened at the question, even as her fingers moved on his flesh. “I…” Her hands caressed him and she stepped closer to press a hesitant kiss upon his chest.
He loosely wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to leave if she wished, but hoping she wouldn’t.
She lifted her hands upward and looped them around his neck. Finally, she lifted her gaze to his. “Kiss me, Noah.”
Relief, excitement, and triumph filled him as he lowered his lips to hers and gently coaxed her to open for him. As soon as she opened her mouth, she surprised him by slipping her tongue between his lips to meet his own. He tightened his hold on her, deepening the kiss, tasting her sweetness, and reveling in hersmall breasts pressing against him. She was so delicate, but filled with fire.
He loved her. He had since the day they met, though perhaps before that. He needed to show her, even if she wasn’t ready to know. He broke away from her lips and trailed kisses down her neck.
