She blew out a relieved breath and smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overreact."
"It's perfectly fine, sweetheart. This is a new town, new people. New way of life. Lots for you to get used to."
That was for sure. But for now, all she wanted was to be back in her husband's arms.
Matt had the same thought because he strolled toward her with a determined look in his eyes. One that sent a shiver of anticipation through her and caused her to lick her lips in preparation for more of his decadent kisses.
Slipping his arms around her waist this time, he lowered his head and pulled her close but as he did so, a stab of pain shot through her and she cried out. He dropped his arms and jumped back as though she was a hot stove.
"My side," she explained, touching the affected area. "I'm sorry. But it hurt when you touched me like that." Embarrassed that her injury was interfering with their day again, she worried that Matt might hold it against her. She certainly held it against herself, though it was not at all her fault.
"Oh, sweetheart," Matt said, cupping her face again, "I'm so sorry. I completely forgot. I guess I was distracted by your kisses. I promised to take care of you and instead I'm causing you pain." He reached into his pocket and retrieved the liniment from the doctor. "We ought to put this on you and get you feeling better."
We ought to put this on you.
As in, he was going to touch her skin? See her without her clothes on? Lizzie's heart fluttered and she wondered if she might faint at the mere thought of Matt's work roughened hands skimming over her naked flesh. Her body heated.
She flushed and looked away. He took hold of her chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned her to face him. "We're married now. I know this is all strange and new, but you're with me, remember? We're meant to be together. We both know it." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll tell you what, how about if I get you a nice bath ready? I bet after being on the train you'd like a long soak in the tub. And when you’re done, I'll put the liniment on you. Won't that make you feel better?"
"Your kisses were making me feel pretty good," she said with a giggle. A daring statement for her, but when Matt grinned in response, she felt like she was floating on air.
"You're a sassy one, Lizzie girl. Just because you're having a bath or getting liniment rubbed on you doesn't mean there won't be more kisses." He demonstrated by gently touching his mouth to hers again. This time, she had a better idea of what to expect and she responded immediately, putting her lips to his and moving with them. Longing curled through her body and she slid her hands around his neck, her breasts pressed to his hard chest.
Finally, Matt pulled away, his heated gaze boring into hers, he unclasped her hands from behind his neck. She stared at him, mystified.
"Have I done something wrong?" she gasped once she managed to catch her breath. Oh, what had she messed up now?
"Oh no, sweetheart, you've done nothing but right. It's just that, if we don't stop now, you'll never get that bath I promised and we really must follow the doctor's instructions and apply this liniment." He gave her a quick hard kiss. "We have a big night ahead of us."
The warm tingles in her body burst into flame. "Ma-maybe the bath can wait?"
She'd certainly become forward, though she'd never been a shrinking violet in the first place. But, her experience with men was limited, at best. In the past few minutes she'd gone from having her first kiss to basically begging for him to have his way with her.
That was the effect Matt Foreman, her handsome cowboy husband, had on her.
She was almost feverish after a few kisses and promises of more. What did the rest of the evening, in fact her whole life, have in store for her? She trembled in anticipation.
He gave her bottom a small pat with his broad palm. "No, you'll have a bath and liniment." His stern tone sent a pulse of womanly awareness to the private place between her thighs and she nodded her agreement, not trusting her voice to come out without a quaver to it.
A few minutes later she waited in the bedroom which she and Matt would share. It was on the second floor. While she was alone, she took a minute to inspect the space. It was smaller than the foyer of her old home in St. Louis, which she noted with a bit of surprise. Or chagrin. She really had lived an exalted life and hadn't even realized that many people, in fact most people, did not live that way. How foolish she'd been. Not to make the trip to Juniper Junction, no she had zero regrets about that, but that she had never paid more attention to life beyond the walls of her own home or neighborhood.
The house was clean, if a bit worn. The bed drew her attention and she imagined herself curled up next to Matt. Reaching down, she touched the coverlet and sheets. This would be a bit of an adjustment over the fine linens of Pendleton House.
Yes, many adjustments for Elizabeth. But, she reminded herself, she was Lizzie now. And Lizzie was happy and carefree and adventuresome.
The door opened and she jumped back from the bed and put a smile on her face. Matt entered with a tub and some towels. "I've got some water on so it should be ready soon." He set the tub on the floor and placed the towels on a chair near it. "This is probably a treat for you, having someone else get your bath instead of you doing it
