CHAPTER 14

?^?

" I 'm sorry, but I never interfere in Papa's business." How many miserable hours had she now spent staring out of her bedroom window? She hated living here, loathed it. The daily monotony and idleness were driving her mad.

"I'll ride into town tomorrow and speak to your father myself." Bending at the hearth, Wally banked the logs in her bedroom fireplace. "Trying to ruin Max is small-minded and serves no purpose. This has to stop."

Small-minded? She certainly hoped he displayed more tact when he spoke to her father.

"Did Max ask you to intercede on his behalf?" Ironically, if Max lost his ranch, he'd have to move into town as she had wanted him to do in the first place.

"No. Would you like to come to town with me?" Wally asked. He looked quite handsome today, dressed and groomed for Sunday dinner. If she had her way—and eventually she would—he'd never wear flannel and everyday denims again. "You said something about wanting to stop by Mrs. Dame's."

The at-home dresses and wrappers Mrs. Dame was sewing for her were shapeless sacklike things that she could not imagine wearing. On the other hand, her regular clothing was beginning to fit snugly at the waist. Every day she checked her stomach in the mirror, detesting the roundness she saw reflected.

Knowing it would get worse, knowing she would bloat up like a frog and lose her figure was a dismal fact she refused to contemplate.

"The garments Mrs. Dame is making don't require much fitting." Outside, a cold wind plucked at browning leaves then chased the leaves toward the barn. Philadelphia wished herself a thousand miles from this window.

"I know how bored you've been. I could drop you at Mrs. Dame's, then maybe you'd like to do some shopping at the Ladies' Emporium or visit friends. There's no hurry to get back."

She wasn't about to put herself through another trip to the emporium. Last week she had wheedled Wally into taking her to town and she'd received one nasty shock after another. Women she had known all of her life had cut her in the emporium. And when she called on ladies she considered friends, their doors had been closed to her. Even the Grayson sisters had instructed their housekeeper to say they were out, as if Philadelphia didn't know they received every Wednesday afternoon.

The injustice of it made her shrivel inside. Apparently the scandalmongers believed she had been seeing both the McCord brothers, playing them one against the other. This is what came of her father and Mrs.

McCord deciding on the story to be put about and not involving her in the process. They hadn't spared her from scandal; they had, in fact, made her a social persona non grata and had given her one more cross to bear. The same humiliation would have resulted if the full truth were known, but in that case at least a few of her friends and acquaintances would surely have pitied her and understood she was a victim, not a villainess.

"No," she decided, hating it that she was truly a prisoner here. "I'll stay at the ranch. I cannot endure it that I—I!—have been smeared in this affair." Angry tears welled in her eyes and she stamped her foot.

"It isn't fair!"

"No, it isn't." Wally came to her and clasped her hands in his, stroking her fingers. "It might take your mind off things and make time pass a little quicker if you gave Ma a hand in the kitchen…"

Cats would bark before she turned herself into a household drudge. "Did Livvy ask you to say that? Has she complained about me?"

"Not at all," Wally hastily assured her. "But Ma's doing all the cooking, cleaning, washing, and ironing."

"Are you implying that because your mother won't tolerate servants in her house, I should become a housemaid? I'm a guest here!" Offended, she tried to withdraw her hands, but he held on.

"I'm only suggesting that keeping busy might relieve the boredom for you, and Ma would undoubtedly appreciate the help." A certain timidity crept into his voice when he wanted her to do something that he sensed she didn't wish to do. The signal gave her a moment to prepare her response.

"Oh Wally. Is that the next humiliation, the next punishment? That I should sink to the level of a servant?"

Tears spilled beautifully over her lashes, and she accepted the handkerchief he pushed into her hand.

Blotting her cheeks, she prevented teardrops from spotting the bosom of her Sunday taffeta. "If you insist, I'll debase myself but… how much must I bear?"

"Of course I'm not insisting. I was merely offering a suggestion, that's all." Gently, he guided her into his arms and caressed her back. "My poor brave darling."

"It never ends," she whispered against his throat. Her breath on his freshly shaven skin caused his body to tighten. In a week or two she might allow him to kiss her cheek. She knew he wanted to. After the baby arrived, she would consider kissing him back as a reward if he did something to please her. "I suppose my eyes are red and I'm a mess now," she said, pulling away to dab her lashes.

"You're beautiful."

"Do you know ifshe's coming to dinner this week?"

Of course she was. Last Sunday Philadelphia had feigned illness and Wally had brought dinner to her room. She hadn't enjoyed a single bite knowing the creature was at the table with the rest of the family, undoubtedly gloating and telling herself that Philadelphia feared to face her. Which was a lie. No respectable woman had anything to fear from a fallen woman who knew nothing of decency.

"I'll stay by your side every moment," Wally promised gruffly. "In time, family gatherings will get easier.

Until they do, just ignore Louise."

He could count on that. As far as she was concerned, the creature did not exist.

Once they had their own house in town, she would begin to wean Wally away from the McCords and the intolerable family gatherings. Unfortunately, a house in town was not yet a real consideration, but it would be. Her father had grudgingly promised that the next time he spoke privately to Wally, he would discuss a position at the bank. Moving Wally away from ranching was the first step on the road to molding him into what she wanted. But nothing would happen until after the baby was born. Her ordeal would continue for months yet.

Taking Wally's arm, she collected herself and lifted her head. Together they descended the staircase.

At the bottom of the stairs, Gilly's daughter, Sunshine, ran out of the parlor—the girl never seemed to walk—and threw her arms around Philadelphia 's waist.

"You look so pretty, Aunt Philadelphia! Are you feeling better this week?"

Gently she removed the child's arms. "Darling, you mustn't embrace me like that; you'll crush my skirts."

The careless child was witless enough to look confused. "But Aunt Louise likes it when I hug her."

"As we can all observe, Low Down lacks beauty and style, and her skirts are as ugly as she is. No one would notice if the material was wrinkled, not even her. Women of Low Down's ilk don't care about appearances."

A man cleared his throat, and when she looked up, Max and Low Down were standing in the foyer watching. Max stared at her with a flat, unreadable gaze. An infuriating half-smile curved the creature's lips, but bright pink blazed on her cheeks. So what if the creature had overheard her comments, Philadelphia thought with satisfaction. She hadn't spoken a word that wasn't true.

As if to prove Philadelphia 's remarks, Low Down knelt with no thought for wrinkling her plain, unattractive skirt, then she opened her arms and smiled at Sunshine. "I do like hugs. And your aunt Philadelphia is correct that I don't care diddly how I look. Never have."

Sunshine danced across the foyer and wrapped her arms around Low Down's neck. "Oh, you smell good. Like apple cider."

The creature laughed, a husky sound that belonged in a smoky saloon. The vulgarity of it grated across Philadelphia 's nerve endings. "I used the last of the apples to make pies. I imagine that's what you're smelling." The creature glanced at Max and nodded at Wally standing silently at Philadelphia 's side before she took Sunshine's hand. "Let's go to the kitchen and see if your grandma needs any help."

Apple cider, indeed. Philadelphia moved forward and demurely lowered her eyelids as Wally shook hands with Max. But she stood close enough that Max couldn't help inhaling the fragrance of rosewater and the rose petal sachet tucked inside her corset.

"Hello, Philadelphia ."

"Good morning, Max."

Today they would begin to establish the habits that would govern their behavior toward each other for now and all time.

"Are you feeling well?" A lack of expression concealed the tumult of emotion he must be experiencing, exactly as she was.

"Yes, thank you," she murmured. Wally moved closer and placed a proprietary hand against the small of her back. "And you?"

"Quite well, thank you."

The banality of the exchange deadened her mind. Was this how it would be? Dull, meaningless politeness? Never before had they gazed at each other and found themselves at a loss for words. She let him see her despairing stare at his mouth, then she touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip. They had to pretend now, but she had forgotten nothing, nothing at all.

Still Max's expression didn't change, but his shoulders stiffened and he closed his hand into a fist around something in his pocket.

"I'm going to speak to Howard Houser tomorrow," Wally said, "and insist that lie lift the ridiculous ban on accepting your hands' money."

A flash of anger knit Max's eyebrows. "I appreciate your concern, but you're wasting your breath. Stay out of it, Wally."

" Philadelphia and I don't think this is fair treatment. We should put the past behind us."

Max gave her a narrowed look of speculation, and she felt her skin tingle and her stomach spun into a slow roll. His gaze dropped to her waist before sliding away.

She released a breath she'd unconsciously been holding. Next to Max, Wally was but a pallid shadow.

Where Max stood immovable as a rock, her husband was like a malleable child.

"Dave's out back, waiting to show you two his new saddle," Gilly called with a smile, walking toward them from the kitchen. "Hello, Philadelphia , you're looking well today."

To her dismay, the men moved toward the door. "How long before we eat?" Wally asked Gilly. Wally had promised to stay by Philadelphia 's side, but the frantic signals she sent him sailed past his thick head.

He would hear about this later.

"About twenty minutes." When the door closed behind the men, Gilly wiped her hands in the folds of her apron while Philadelphia tried to recall when last she had seen Gilly or Livvy without the ubiquitous apron. "Would you like to join us women in the kitchen?"

She didn't know the first thing about kitchens, nor did she have the slightest notion how to prepare a meal. This was no oversight; she didn't wish to know. Most particularly, she was unwilling to provide an opportunity for Livvy to make her feel inadequate or useless. Livvy McCord might believe a woman's place was in the kitchen, but true ladies decidedly did not. And finally, the creature was in the kitchen.

"I prefer to wait in the parlor," she said pleasantly. "Perhaps you'd care to join me?" A bit of company would be welcome.

"I'd enjoy that I'm sure, but I'm in the midst of filling the salt cellars." Gilly gave her a smile and a shrug, then returned down the hallway toward the kitchen.

Shocked by Gilly's casual dismissal, Philadelphia did not move for a long moment. She stood excluded and abandoned in the chilly foyer with teeth and hands clenched. Finally she spun in a furious swirl of taffeta and marched into the parlor, where she occupied the time until dinner by counting the days until she could escape from here.

Dinner, of course, was precisely the ordeal she had expected. First, in an aggravating breech of convention, Sunshine was permitted to dine with the adults. Worse, the child chattered incessantly and no one ordered her to be silent; it was enough to give one a headache. The men talked politics and cattle and the weather. Livvy and Gilly discussed the clothing they were sewing for the creature. The creature spoke only once. She answered yes when Gilly inquired if she still intended to drive to Gilly's home after dinner for a dress fitting.

As for herself, Philadelphia finally abandoned any effort to introduce refined topics and concentrated on setting a silent example of grace, delicacy, and good manners. Occasionally she lifted her lashes to peek down the table at Max, hoping that he noted the vast contrast between good breeding and Low Down's boorish manners. Twice she caught Max staring at her, and she smiled inside her mouth.

Although she never glanced at Low Down or acknowledged her presence, she was very aware of the creature. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a deferential expression when the creature gazed at her betters. Which was as it should be. It gave great satisfaction to know Low Down understood she didn't belong among superior decent company. She was a misfit, an abomination.

After dinner the men stepped outside to smoke their vile cigars, and Low Down immediately jumped up and collected several dessert plates before she left for the kitchen. The creature's transparent desire to flee was gratifying and raised a flush of righteous triumph to Philadelphia 's brow.

"I declare," Gilly commented, watching Sunshine skip toward the kitchen. "That child dotes on Louise."

She cast Philadelphia a guilty look and hastily added, "and you, too, of course. Sunshine says she wants to be as beautiful as her aunt Philadelphia when she grows up."

"I've always had a way with children," she admitted with a modest smile. In the past, this response had contained little real meaning, but now it did as she abruptly recalled her pregnancy and her smile faded.

"When I was as far along as you, I was already wearing loose clothing," Gilly commented. "Mama thought I was surely going to have twins," she added with a smile.

Livvy raised her coffee cup, and her eyes sharpened. "Did I overhear Wally say he intends to speak to your father about driving off Max's hands?"

She was not going to allow herself to be drawn into a discussion of Max's punishment. Instead she lowered her voice and leaned forward, imparting a confidence. "Wally doesn't know this, but I believe Daddy intends to extend a job offer tomorrow."

"Do you think Wally will accept the offer?" Livvy inquired.

"Of course he will."

Pushing up from the table, Livvy carried her coffee cup to the dining room window. In the ensuing silence, Philadelphia overheard Low Down and Sunshine laughing in the kitchen.

"In some ways, Wally will make a more successful banker than Max would have," Livvy said eventually.

She frowned at the men smoking outside, their backs to the wind. "Wally isn't as quick at ciphering, but he'll be more comfortable working for someone else. Max needs to be his own boss."

"Wally isn't as tied to the land as Max is," Gilly offered after a minute. "Since he hasn't built on his parcel, he wouldn't have to divide his time between ranching and banking. We could split his herd between our hands and the hands at the main ranch … "

"Was this your idea or is it your father's belief that he can turn anyone named McCord into a banker?"

Livvy put the question without turning around.

As usual, Livvy didn't display the deference she should have toward a Houser. Philadelphia 's grandfather had founded Fort Houser , her father was its most prominent citizen, and until Livvy McCord's son had betrayed her, Philadelphia Houser had served as society's reigning belle. Truly, her mother-in-law was an infuriating woman.

She forced herself to smile. "I can't deny that it would please me to see my husband move up in the world, but I assure you I do not dictate my father's decisions."

Gilly cast an uncomfortable glance toward her mother's rigid back, then politely shifted the focus of the conversation. "Will you accompany Wally into town?"

"I guess you didn't hear about my horrible experience last week." Blinking at brimming tears, she told Gilly about the cuts and snubs directed her way. Gilly murmured sympathetic sounds, but Livvy remained as unmoved as she had initially. Philadelphia dabbed her eyes with a scrap of lace. "It's unbelievable that this is happening to me! The scandal was supposed to be diverted; instead my good name is ruined!"

Now Livvy turned. "In view of the circumstances, your good name would have been ruined no matter how the situation was handled."

Shock widened her eyes. "You can't possibly be suggesting that I am in any way to blame!"

"Allowances can be made for the unfortunate fact that you had no mother to guide and advise you. But your father must also be aware that my son did not abuse you. Your predicament is the result of a consensual act, and, therefore, you do, of course, share responsibility for the loss of your good name, as you put it. Perhaps the scandal would be easier to bear if you acknowledged your part in causing it!"

"That is outrageous! That horrible Low Down person is to blame, not me!" Philadelphia came to her feet, her hands shaking. Heat flooded her face, and her lips trembled. "I don't know why you've turned against me. My only crime was loving Max McCord. I don't deserve any of the hideous things that happened to me, and I am in no way whatsoever at fault!" Tears swam in her eyes as she gathered her skirts and fled to her room.

She slammed the bedroom door then quietly opened it and tiptoed to the head of the stairs to eavesdrop.

"Weren't you a bit hard on her, Mama?"

"I suppose I'll have to apologize," Livvy admitted with a sigh. The aggrieved tone announced that any apology would not be sincere. "If you'd conceived before marriage—God forbid—I know you wouldn't have denied responsibility. You would have admitted to as much wrongdoing as Dave."

"You know she's spoiled. She's always been coddled and catered to, and I doubt she's ever had to face her mistakes. If she truly believes that she shares no blame, then it must hurt terribly to be treated as a pariah. And Mama, she'll never escape the taint of this scandal. Surely you can find it in your heart to pity her."

Spoiled! Coddled and catered to!

Well, so what if she was? She was a Houser, after all, not some nobody with no name or background.

Everyone knew she could have married far higher than a McCord. Who were they, after all?

"One thing is abundantly evident. Weekly gatherings are too great a strain on everyone. As much as I dislike the necessity, I think from now on we'll have a family dinner only once a month."

"She means well, Mama."

"Then why isn'tshe speaking to her father about Max? Houser would relent if Philadelphia asked him to end his vendetta."

The men returned then, and shortly afterward Gilly and Dave and Max and Low Down collected jackets, hats, and gloves, and said their good-byes. Lifting her skirts, Philadelphia moved silently to the hallway window that overlooked the front road.

After a minute the couples emerged, walking toward their respective wagons. She paid no attention to Gilly and Dave, but watched sharply as Max assisted Low Down up on the wagon seat.

And she gasped as Low Down said something, then placed her gloved palm against Max's cheek. They looked into each other's eyes, then Max laughed and tucked Low Down's skirts around her legs before he climbed into the driver's seat.

Oh, dear heaven. They were lovers.

Feeling sick inside, Philadelphia pressed a hand hard against her mouth. It had never occurred to her, not once, that Max would actually bed the creature. Naturally, she had assumed that he would remain faithful to her. Yes, he'd made that stupid promise to give Low Down a baby, but no one expected him to keep a commitment made under duress. As for her father driving off Max's hands, he had to know he deserved punishment, but surely he also understood that someday they would be together again. She had never intended to make him angry or drive him into the creature's arms. Never that.

Reeling with shock, she stumbled back to her room and fell across the bed in a storm of furious weeping. Damn him.

When Wally came upstairs, she threw herself into his arms and sobbed on his shoulder. After he had anxiously inquired over and over as to what had put her in such a state, she explained, "Your mother hates me! She said such mean things… I'm sure she didn't mean it but… Oh Wally." Easing back in his arms, she turned swimming eyes up to his face. "Will you do something for me?"

"Of course, dear. Anything!"

"Kiss me."

He blinked hard as if he'd been poleaxed. Then he looked delighted. He wet his lips and gently drew her forward as if she were made of thin glass that might shatter beneath his hands.

His kiss was soft and tender. Utterly boring. When it ended, Philadelphia pressed her head into his shoulder to smother her sigh and conceal her despair.

Since Max was not present to agonize over his brother kissing her, the kiss was wasted. She'd gained no advantage by granting it.

She wished to heaven that she had not seen Max tuck the creature's ugly skirts around her legs. Damn him, damn him.

*

"I loved listening to Dave strum his guitar. And Gilly plays the piano without even looking at the sheets of music!"

Max nodded and glanced at the main house as he drove past on the way home. The front of the house was dark. As the window of Wally and Philadelphia 's room opened to the back, he couldn't tell if their lamps were lit or if they were still awake.

"It was a fine evening," Louise added cheerfully, pressing her thigh and leg against his. The temperature hovered around freezing, so the sensible course was to share each other's warmth. Nevertheless, he was aware of her closeness and her scent. Sunshine had been right that she smelled like apple cider.

"You didn't speak three words until we reached Gilly and Dave's place." He guessed he knew why.

"I didn't have anything to say." She kept her gaze fixed on the inky road ahead.

By now he should have known she wouldn't complain, but he'd thought she might make a reference to Philadelphia 's appalling rudeness. But she hadn't, not during the drive to Gilly and Dave's, nor during the return trip. Now he understood that she wouldn't mention Philadelphia throughout the remaining three miles to their house.

All week he had dreaded seeing Philadelphia . He kept thinking if things had gone differently, they would have been in Denver now on their wedding trip. But any thoughts of what might have been had evaporated when he watched her protect her skirts by pushing Sunshine away. Never would he have guessed that she would value the drape of her skirts more than a child's embrace.

Moreover, he would have sworn Philadelphia incapable of delivering scathing remarks and then smiling when she discovered the object of her scorn, Louise, had overheard her comments. Worse, she had tossed him a quick triumphant glance as if they were conspirators and she expected him to applaud.

Granted, Philadelphia had no reason to exude warmth and kindness toward Louise. But Max would have wagered everything he owned that Philadelphia Houser would never ostracize a person seated at the same table. She wouldn't knowingly cause the rest of the dinner company a moment's discomfort. He had expected chilly politeness but certainly politeness. He had not expected pointed rudeness or the slashing remarks aimed at Louise. Definitely he had not anticipated that he would gaze down the dinner table at the woman he would have married and feel defensive and angry.

Thinking about it now, he experienced a stab of shame that, aside from one brief moment in the foyer, he had forgotten that she was pregnant. How in the hell could he have forgotten even for an instant? He'd worried all day yesterday that his feelings of tenderness toward the mother of his child would be uncomfortably evident to everyone at the table. And then he'd forgotten. Truly, he was a bastard, and she was better off without him.

"It's a beautiful night, ain't it?" Louise said at his side.

"Isn't—not ain't," he said automatically.

"Isn't it. The stars look close enough to grab."

Another thing that bothered him was wondering if Philadelphia had always been as self-absorbed as she had seemed today. Was this a recently acquired trait? Perhaps a symptom of her condition? Or had he been so blinded that he hadn't looked beyond flirting eyes and dimpled cheeks? Abruptly he recalled teasing her about doing and saying whatever she pleased and the devil take the consequences. Today he'd observed a manifestation of the same thoughtlessly selfish behavior, but this time he had judged it harshly.

"Now who's being quiet?" Louise asked, nudging him with her shoulder.

"Thank you for going with me to Ma's for dinner," he said after a minute. She must have dreaded today's dinner as much as he had.

"I wasn't sure if I'd like your family, but I do. There was one time when I looked around the table and I thought, son of a bitch, here I am… "She halted abruptly and drew a breath. "And I thought, my stars, here I am having dinner with a real family, and I have as much right to be here as… you know, anyone else." Ducking her head, she pushed at the fingers of her gloves. "Anyway. It was a good moment, as fine a moment as I can recall."

"You keep that in mind," he said firmly, peering ahead into the cold darkness. "You do have a right to be there." He understood Philadelphia wanting to punish him, but Louise had nothing to do with Philadelphia 's pregnancy or her marriage to Wally. It wasn't right to punish someone else for his faults.

"Did you know that Gilly wants another baby?"

"She hasn't said anything, but it doesn't surprise me."

"She and Dave have been hoping for three years, but it hasn't happened yet. It doesn't seem fair that some folks get pregnant just like that, and others have to wait for years."

Instantly he remembered the amazing night on the kitchen floor and felt his thighs tighten. As long as he lived, he would never forget the moment when her nightgown dropped to her waist and he realized what she intended. And then seeing her in the frosty moonlight that gave her body a shimmer of silver. She wasn't small or delicate, but she was perfectly and beautifully proportioned. Small waist, full breasts, long, strong legs. Her skin had been taut and hot, smooth and firm to the touch.

Muscles tight, he pulled the wagon around the house to the mudroom door. "I'll put the wagon away. Do you need assistance?"

She laughed and scooted across the seat. "I can climb down without your help."

Cold wind rushed to fill the vacancy against his thigh and leg, but he didn't release the brake. When she reached the stoop, he called into the darkness. "Louise?"

"Yes?"

"I've been thinking… this might be a good night for you not to wear that damned nightgown."

"Tonight?" Surprise lifted her voice.

"Unless you'd rather not."

"I sure didn't think… I mean with you seeing… Listen, are you just feeling sorry for me, or—"

"Louise? It's cold sitting here. Could you just say yes or no?"

"Yes!" Her laugh was throaty and floated on the frosty air with the warmth of a promise. "Yes, yes, yes!"

As he drove the wagon toward the shed, it occurred to him that he'd made love to her with reluctance, and he'd made love to her in anger. Tonight was the first time he would make love to her because he truly wanted to. And damned if he wasn't as surprised as she that it would happen tonight.

Anticipation made his fingers tremble as he unhitched the wagon and turned the horses into the corral.

He was so intent on the image of finding Louise naked in his bed that he didn't consider the significance of the snowflakes silently spinning out of the black sky. He didn't think of anything but her.

When he entered the bedroom, she was in bed, the covers pulled up under her chin, her brown hair loose on the pillow. Red tinted her cheeks, and her eyes were wide and round.

"You aren't hiding that wretched nightgown under those blankets, are you?" Smiling, he sat on the vanity bench and pulled off his boots and wiggled his toes with a sigh of pleasure.

"I'm naked as the day I was born," she whispered. The red in her cheeks turned fiery.

What an odd woman she was, he thought as he pulled off his trousers and unbuttoned his shirt. She dressed and undressed in the closet, didn't display an inch of flesh if she could cover it. She was not flirtatious or a tease. In fact, he would have said that modesty formed one of her defining traits. Yet, in his dark moment she had bared herself to him and given him the most erotic evening of his life. He would never forget that night on the kitchen floor He wanted to give her a night that she wouldn't forget.

Sliding beneath the blankets, he spooned his body around her to warm the chill on his skin. Instantly he felt himself respond to the firm heat of her nakedness.

"Louise?" he murmured against the nape of her neck after he pushed aside her hair. "There's going to be lots of dawdling tonight."

"What does that mean?" Suspicion placed a wobble in her voice, and he felt her stiffen.

"You'll have to wait and see." He let his breath flow across the tender skin beneath her ear, and he slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her closer into the hard curve of his body.

"You didn't blow out the lamp."

"No, I didn't." He ran his hand along the curve of her thigh, dipped to the hollow of her waist, then teased his fingers up her rib cage, moving his palm to her arm and up to her shoulder. A little puff of breath blew between her lips and he knew she had expected him to touch her breasts. And he would.

Eventually.

Nuzzling her, he moved his lips on the nape of her neck, traveling to her ear, then rising above her to follow the line of her jaw. She smelled like apple cider as she had earlier, but there was another scent, a deeper fragrance that was hers alone. It was a warm earthy scent that aroused him on a primitive level, the scent of woman. Turning her beneath his hands, he followed her jaw with his lips, kissing the corners of her lips, pulling slightly away when she would have returned his kiss.

Now, his mouth found her collarbone and traveled to the hollow of her throat. He pressed his tongue against the wild throbbing of her pulse.

"Oh my God." Her hands started to rise, but he gently pressed them back to her sides. "Am I supposed to do something?" she asked in a husky murmur.

"Just relax." Lifting away from her, he gazed down at her full, magnificent breasts. Then he stroked his thumbs across budding nipples and felt them harden like stones.

She made a choked sound. "How am I going to relax with you doing… what you're doing!" Her back arched, lifting her breasts to his hands, but he lowered his mouth instead. "What are you …? Oh Max!

Oh my!" Heat flooded her skin, and her hands made a helpless fluttering motion near her waist.

"Shhh," he said, smiling as he drew her nipple into his mouth and heard her gasp. Her fingers found his hair and dug into his scalp. As he stroked his tongue across and around the tip of her breast, he heard her breathing grow ragged, and she couldn't hold her body still. Her fingers flew around his head and shoulders; her hips rocked and tried to turn toward him.

When her skin felt hot enough to burst into flame, he ran his hand across her lower belly and teased his fingers through the soft brown curls between her legs.

"Oh!" She tried to sit up, but he pressed her back, and returned his hand to the hot, moist mystery. "Oh Max. Oh Max."

He caressed her, stroked her, teased, and tasted until her body trembled and her breath came in mindless gasps midway between a sob and a moan. She no longer tried to pull the blankets over them, no longer resisted his mouth and hands as he explored her.

There was joy in awakening her body, and in taking her mind to the edge of new and vivid, feverish sensations, then easing away and rising to kiss her lips and gaze into her stunned eyes. "I'm going to kiss every inch of you," he whispered against her lips.

Her eyes flared wide. "Every inch?" She wet her lips. "Every… no, no, don't do that."

But he did, taking his time, tasting deep of her, leading her along paths she had not traveled. And when he felt her shudder deeply and cry his name, he held her tightly in his arms until the shudders subsided and she lay limp against him, her eyes dark with amazement.

"My Lord," she whispered, staring in wonder. "If I'd had any idea that dawdling could be likethat, I never would have objected!"

Laughing, he kissed the sweet valley between her breasts. She was so responsive and uninhibited, so wonderfully willing and giving.

"Max?" she said after she'd caught her breath.

"Hmm?" He was almost asleep, enjoying her silky hair pressed to his cheek and the warm fullness of her body curved into him.

"Tonight was… it was just… well, I never imagined …"Her voice trailed, and he smiled against the top of her head. "What I'm trying to say is… I think I'd like to kiss you all over, too."

Instantly all thoughts of sleep vanished from his mind, and his body rose to full, rampant attention. Her fingers explored beneath the blankets and found him, and he heard her soft laugh.

"Seems like you wouldn't say no to a little dawdling yourself," she said, curving her fingers around him.

"You feel like velvet, did you know that?"

He made a strangled sound of pleasure. "You are amazing."

Later, before they fell asleep tangled in each other's arms, he chanced to glance at the window and noticed snow melting against the panes.

The smile vanished from his lips.