her stomach, and she felt the light embrace all the way through her body.
She grew dizzy with wanting, all shyness, all hesitance shoved from her mind by the taste of him.
When she thought she could stand no more of paradise, he gentled the kiss, bringing it back to soft and loving, almost pure, almost chaste. Only slim memory of its former fire, but the memory forever seared across her mind. Now, even his light touch stirred her blood.
With his lips whispering against hers, he began to move his hand across her flesh and this time there were no boundaries just below her throat or at her waist.
At first he circled her breasts, pushing lightly at the underside of each with his thumb-letting her know and long for what was to come.
The circles made her skin tingle with tiny points of joy, and her breasts ache with need. When he stretched his fingers over her fullness she was ready, arching toward him. This time, he let her move, filling his hand, pressing hard into his palm.
She felt his laughter against her lips as his hand took its time molding her softest flesh to his will. He knew he was pleasing her just as she knew her soft moans pleased him.
Without warning, he deepened the kiss once more. When she responded in kind, he tightened his grip over her, branding her forever with his “one touch.”
Chapter 12
They didn’t say a word when he finally pulled away with one last tender kiss on her cheek. She buttoned her shirt. He straightened flat on his back once more. Both knew the other was awake. Both were too lost in their own thoughts to talk.
She stared out the window. A sliver of a moon was slightly visible between two clouds. She could still taste his mouth on hers. She could still feel his hand over her breast. He’d kept his word. He’d kissed her good night and he’d touched her once. A kiss that had taken her to heaven. A touch that she felt all the way to her very soul.
How could the gentle, quiet man do such a thing? Why had he?
A smile slowly spread across her bruised lips. Because, she answered herself, I asked him to. She felt a power build inside her, a power she’d never known. She’d always been the little sister, the daughter who obeyed, who would have been the old maid taking care of her poppa in his aging years if he hadn’t found the widow to marry. No one had ever let her set the rules for anything in her life, and now this strong, powerful man did just that.
She couldn’t stop grinning. She might have set the rules, but he’d made full use of his one touch.
“Aggie,” he said low near her ear. “Are you asleep?”
“No, dear,” she answered, seeing no reason to pretend.
“Why me?”
“What?” She knew what he was asking, but she wanted to make sure.
“Why’d you marry me? There must have been men at every house you visited. Men with more money. Men better looking.”
“There were.” She wished she could tell him how many had made fools of themselves, promising her the moon and stars as if they could deliver. Promising her that life would be one endless party when all she wanted was a quiet place to be happy.
“Then what made you meet me at the train?”
“Because,” she whispered as she relaxed into sleep. “You saw me. The inside, not just the out. And you liked me-just me-even before we”-she yawned and mumbled the last few words-“stepped into the light.”
Hank heard her breathing slow and knew she was asleep. “You’re wrong,” he whispered. “I loved you-even before we stepped into the light.”
Chapter 13
Dawn slowly spread across the sky. Aggie shoved her hair out of her eyes and lifted her head.
Hank lay beside her, looking like he hadn’t moved all night. His jaw had darkened with whiskers and his hair covered his forehead.
She smiled, thinking that he was handsome in his own way. Her poppa used to say that most folks “ugly up” after you get to know them. But Hank hadn’t. In fact, the opposite had happened. The rest of the world might think him strong, and big and rough, but he’d been gentle with her from the first, and funny. Even when he tried to be stern, she could see through the act.
Laughing, she realized he was more afraid of her then she’d ever be of him. She’d known it even in the darkness when he’d jumped at the sound of her voice.
Without warming, he opened one eye. “Where’s breakfast?” he mumbled.
She shrugged and pulled the covers over her. “I think I’ll be one of those wives with the nature to sleep ’til noon.”
He pulled the blanket off her head. “I don’t think so. I’m starving. You agreed to cook breakfast.” He frowned, but she could see the cracks in his armor.
She climbed out and stretched, then laughed at the way he stared at her. She was learning to read this man, and if she was right, he’d just forgotten all about breakfast.
“On second thought…” He opened her side of the covers. “We could sleep a while longer.”
“Oh, no.” She laughed. “I’ll put on coffee and bring you hot water. Then I’ll cook breakfast while you shave.”
He groaned.
She grabbed her clothes and disappeared before he had time to argue. Ten minutes later, when she brought him a cup of coffee, he’d managed to sit up but he looked like he’d been thrown by a horse a few times.
“Do you need any help?” she asked.
“I’m fine.” He frowned. “Could I get you to bring the washstand over here?”
“Sure.” She leaned close and kissed his cheek. “Good morning, dear. Always wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
“Yep,” he answered. “It’s my nature.”
She moved the nightstand so that he could reach the pitcher and bowl without standing. “Where is your shaving cup and razor?”
“In the mudroom,” he answered.
When she returned, loaded down with everything that had been by the back sink, Aggie studied him. Hank was pale and the pain still reflected in his eyes, but he looked better than he had yesterday.
“How do you like your eggs?”
“Any way you make them,” he answered as he brushed hot water into the soap cup and began to circle. “Just make it an even dozen.”
She nodded and turned toward the door.
“Aggie?” He stopped her with one word.
“Yes.”
“Last night was really something.”
She grinned, not allowing his fancy words to sway her. “I agree,” she whispered, and vanished before he saw her blush.
Thoughts of how he’d touched her filled her mind as she made breakfast. Thanks to Lizzy and Blue, the milk and eggs were in the cold box along with butter. Bread and apples sat on the table. Aggie mixed up a fine breakfast.
Hank had dressed by the time she checked on him.
“Can you make it to the table or shall I bring it in here?”
“I can make it.” He stood, then swayed like a tall pine about to tumble.
