Chapter 13

T he inn room welcomed them with a warm embrace, the air thick with the sweet scent of burning tallow. Joy crossed the threshold, her body thrumming with the ministrations of Moses' recent affections. The kisses, stolen within the confines of the jostling carriage, had lit a fire in her veins that now spread across her cheeks and settled deep within her core.

Moses followed close behind, his tall frame filling the doorway before he pressed the door shut with a soft click. The key in the lock turned with purpose under his strong hand, a sound that resonated with finality. In that small gesture, Joy felt a thrill twist through her. They were finally alone, and the room was not rocking like the carriage.

Her gaze swept over the room bathed in the mellow glow of candlelight. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows upon the walls, as if they too were celebrating the clandestine union. The light played upon Moses' features, softening the rough lines of his face and transforming him into a handsome model, chiseled from shadow and flame.

"Do you want to have some nourishment before bed?" Joy teased, hoping the humor would calm her nerves.

Moses answered not with speech but with a glance that spoke volumes. His eyes held a depth that drew her in.

As Joy stood there, she could almost forget the widow's weeds that clung to her like a somber shadow, could almost believe that adventure and passion were not solely the domain of whispered rumors and dog-eared romance leaflets. Here with Moses, with his calloused hands capable of both gentleness and strength, she could dare to be the heroine of her own story.

He set aside her bag and stepped closer to her, and a shiver of anticipation danced down Joy's spine. His hands reached out to frame her face. The warmth from his palms seeped into her skin and she looked up into his eyes, alight with a fervent hunger that matched the pounding of her heart.

He leaned in, and the world distilled to the space where their breaths mingled before their lips met. The kiss was not the tentative exploration of earlier encounters but a fiery embrace that spoke of unleashed yearnings. Joy's mind spun with the intensity of it, her thoughts scattering, leaving behind only the blooming heat of desire.

As they parted, breathless, Moses began his tender yet determined undressing of her. His fingers worked with surprising delicacy on the ribbon gathering her bodice. Her gown yielded to his patient ministrations, slipping from her shoulders to pool at her feet in a whisper of fabric. Revealed now, the skin of her décolletage glowed with the flush of arousal, a rosy hue that no artful rouging could ever hope to mimic. She felt the cool air of the room kiss her bare arms, sending ripples of pleasure through her.

Moses' lips left a scorching path from the hollow of Joy's throat down to the gentle slope of her collarbone, each kiss a brand that seared through to her very soul. He bunched the cotton shift that stood as the last bastion of her modesty and lifted the garment upwards, coaxing it over her head in a slow undulation of fabric against skin. The shift joined the gown on the floor, and Joy felt a rush of exhilaration at the vulnerability of standing before him clad only in her delicate stockings.

Moses sank to his knees before her, his eyes never leaving hers. They were the turbulent sea, deep and fathomless, and she found herself adrift in their intensity. He reached for the soft leather of her boots, his fingers deftly unfastening them. As he peeled away the first boot, a thrill shot through Joy—the sensation of being slowly, deliciously unwrapped by this man whose hunger was evident in his gaze.

With her second boot removed, Joy felt the cool air of the room play upon her ankles, a stark contrast to the warmth of Moses' breath as he traced a path downward with his kisses following his hands as he gently rolled down her stockings. Each revealed inch of skin was honored by his lips, pressing fervent oaths of admiration along the tender flesh of her thighs.

Joy's breath hitched in her throat as need pooled inside her. As much as this slow undressing increased her desire, she longed to feel all of him pressed against all of her, rolling and kissing and touching and sighing.

Then Moses stood and began to divest himself of his clothing, agonizingly slowly as he'd done hers. His coat fell first, followed by the soft rustle of his cravat as it joined the growing pile.

Joy watched, her breath caught, as the white linen of his shirt parted from his body. The garment slid away, revealing a landscape of sinew and strength that beckoned her fingers to explore. The flickering light played over the contours of his muscles, casting shadows that danced upon his chest.

After kicking off his boots, he proceeded to unfasten his breeches with steady hands that belied the fervent desire in his gaze. As the last vestige of cloth fell away, so too did the final barrier between them, leaving him as vulnerable before her as she stood before him.

Tentatively, Joy extended her hand, her fingers dancing across his chest like a feather, teasing his hardened nipples into peaks. His skin was a furnace, burning her with a desire she had never felt before. She bit her lower lip as her fingers trailed lower, skirting the firm planes of his abdomen and tracing the line of hair that led to his groin.

Moses let out a low growl as her fingers brushed against the tip of his erection. "Mercy, Joy," he breathed. "Your hands are driving me wild."

The corners of her mouth trembled as she gave way to the adventurous spirit that now took flight within her. "And they have much more to say," she replied, a playful lilt to her words as she explored the thatch of curls.

With every caress, she learned his form, her fingers exploring the firm muscles of his thighs and hips. She could feel his desire pressed against her stomach, hot and heavy, and it sent a thrill coursing through her body. Moses groaned as she traced her fingers along the length of his erection, licking her lips as she looked down.

Suddenly his hands were everywhere, exploring her body with a desperate hunger. He cupped her breasts, teasing her hardened nipples until she let out a gasp.

Her breath hitched as his fingers slipped lower, teasing her wet folds. She was soaked with desire, her body aching for his touch. Moses let out a low growl as he slipped a finger inside her, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body.

She moaned as he worked his fingers in and out of her, his thumb circling her clit. She could feel herself building toward release, the pleasure almost too much to bear. He must have sensed it too, because he crossed to the bed and pulled her onto his lap, grinding his erection against her as he continued to tease her with his fingers.

"I want you, Joy," Moses whispered, his voice husky with desire. "I want to feel you come apart in my arms."

She let out a breathless moan as he slipped another finger inside her, his thumb pressing firmly against her clit. She could feel herself teetering on the edge of release, her body trembling with anticipation. And then, with a final flick of his thumb, she was falling mindlessly, her body convulsing with pleasure as she cried out his name.

Carrying her to the bed, he lay her on the sheets, spreading her legs to lie beneath them. He found her opening and thrust slowly inside, smothering her sharp cry with a kiss as he filled her completely. Her body stretched to accommodate him and she rocked her hips. He let out a low groan as he began to thrust, his movements slow and deliberate.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her body moving in time with his. She could feel every inch of him inside her, the strokes sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. He let out a low grunt as he picked up the pace, his movements becoming more urgent.

Her body was on fire, her desire building again with every thrust. She was climbing toward release, her body trembling with anticipation. And then, with a final thrust, she shattered, her body convulsing with pleasure as she cried out Moses' name.

He moaned as her body clenched around him, his own release following closely behind. He collapsed and rolled onto the mattress, her body still trembling in his arms. They lay there, panting and spent, their bodies entwined as they basked in the afterglow of their shared pleasure.

As the echoes of their union faded, Joy lay wrapped in his embrace. The warmth of his muscular arms provided a cocoon of shelter, a comfort to the adventurous spirit that had led Joy down this path of delicious discovery. Her head rested against his chest, listening to the steady drumming of his heart, its tempo slowing steadily.

"Never thought I'd find this," Moses said softly.

"Nor I. But here we are, defying the very stars with our audacity."

"Aye, the stars," he chuckled softly, his breath stirring the hairs at her temple. "They're rather dull compared to your eyes in the throes of ecstasy."

"Flattery from Mr. Russell? The world must be tipping on its axis," Joy teased back.

"Perhaps, but only because you've tilted my world on its side, Mrs. Sinclair."

She sighed. "I never thought you'd come for me."

He grunted, and for a moment she thought that was all he would say. Then he spoke. "You had your situation settled. A fine home to live in, employment you seemed to be looking forward to."

"I was, and if you hadn't come, I would have learned to be satisfied with what I had."

"I hope you don't come to regret coming home with me."

She didn't say it, but she was certain she wouldn't have any regrets. Even if Moses never offered anything more than his body and his home, it was more than she'd had before.

It would be enough.