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Authors: Cindy Spencer Pape
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get even better acquainted, but we really ought to be going.”
“I know.” The events of the last few days slammed into her like a runaway horse. She shivered and rolled to bury her face in his chest, feeling the crisp curling hairs against her cheek. The scent of him aroused her all over again, but this time she didn’t give in. After a moment to compose herself, she pulled away to sit up, the covers clutched up above her breasts.
“Feeling better?” He sat as well and studied her face. “You look rested, at least.”
She nodded. “I am. Thank you.”
He lifted one eyebrow and that youthful grin quirked his lips. “Oh, you’re more than welcome. Are you sore?”
Belinda felt her skin flush. “A little.” It had been a long time since her body had gotten that sort of exercise.
Connor kissed her deeply enough to make her bones melt all over again. Then, with a groan, he climbed out of bed. Utterly unconcerned about his nakedness, he strode over to the lavatory screen. “I’ll wash up first, then go make a phone call while you have a quick bath. All right?”
“Fine.” She leaned against the headboard and let her eyes close for a few moments while she waited.
It seemed only a moment later when Connor stood over her with a towel wrapped around his narrow hips, gently shaking her shoulder. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Belinda jolted upright. “Beauty? Ha. Right now I probably look more like the evil crone.”
“Bull.” Connor yanked the covers away and ran an appreciative gaze over her too-full curves as she bolted for the bath. “You look good enough to eat.” He imbued the sensual words with the heat and intensity of a promise.
Barely an hour later, after a hurried breakfast, they were back on the road. It had stopped raining and the countryside was shining and bright. Neither had spoken a word about what had happened the night before, and it wasn’t something Belinda wanted to bellow about over the engine noise.
I’m sorry , Micah . She searched her heart for remorse as she took the controls. Not only had she betrayed her husband’s memory, but she’d been the aggressor. Connor was enough of a gentleman that he would have never initiated their lovemaking. She ought to feel immoral, but the sense of rightness remained. She had relished every second and couldn’t truly regret it.
Her response to Connor had astounded her. Although she’d enjoyed the marriage bed, she’d never missed it to the point of taking a lover. Relations with Micah had been sweet, loving and gentle. Connor’s lovemaking had been none of those. And if she was being honest with herself, nothing had ever felt so good.
It’s all right , Linnie . You’re a young woman yet , and I wasn’t all that young or randy , even when we were wed . You deserve a little fun — and a good man to keep you warm at night .
Micah ? She still wasn’t sure he wasn’t a figment of her overactive imagination.
Aye , lassie . ’Tis I . You’ll be getting no scolding from me . You should have moved on with your life years ago . ’Tis more than time .
But I love you . It wasn’t past tense. She still loved Micah—just—perhaps not in the same way she had, or thought she had. He’d been twenty years her senior, always her teacher, her caretaker, never her partner or equal.
Aye , there you have it . You’re your own woman now and you need a man who can stand beside you , not before you . She could all but feel Micah’s big, work-roughened hand on her hair. Stop worrying about me . It’s time for me to move on .
Move on ? She wanted to ask him more about this afterlife, but that seemed selfish and unimportant compared to just talking to him.
Aye , pass to the other side . My Emily is waiting and our little Julia .
Weeks ago, she’d have felt a pang about Micah wanting to go to his first wife and the daughter they’d shared. Now she thought perhaps it was right. She’d had him for long enough—he’d helped her grow from
“I know.” The events of the last few days slammed into her like a runaway horse. She shivered and rolled to bury her face in his chest, feeling the crisp curling hairs against her cheek. The scent of him aroused her all over again, but this time she didn’t give in. After a moment to compose herself, she pulled away to sit up, the covers clutched up above her breasts.
“Feeling better?” He sat as well and studied her face. “You look rested, at least.”
She nodded. “I am. Thank you.”
He lifted one eyebrow and that youthful grin quirked his lips. “Oh, you’re more than welcome. Are you sore?”
Belinda felt her skin flush. “A little.” It had been a long time since her body had gotten that sort of exercise.
Connor kissed her deeply enough to make her bones melt all over again. Then, with a groan, he climbed out of bed. Utterly unconcerned about his nakedness, he strode over to the lavatory screen. “I’ll wash up first, then go make a phone call while you have a quick bath. All right?”
“Fine.” She leaned against the headboard and let her eyes close for a few moments while she waited.
It seemed only a moment later when Connor stood over her with a towel wrapped around his narrow hips, gently shaking her shoulder. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Belinda jolted upright. “Beauty? Ha. Right now I probably look more like the evil crone.”
“Bull.” Connor yanked the covers away and ran an appreciative gaze over her too-full curves as she bolted for the bath. “You look good enough to eat.” He imbued the sensual words with the heat and intensity of a promise.
Barely an hour later, after a hurried breakfast, they were back on the road. It had stopped raining and the countryside was shining and bright. Neither had spoken a word about what had happened the night before, and it wasn’t something Belinda wanted to bellow about over the engine noise.
I’m sorry , Micah . She searched her heart for remorse as she took the controls. Not only had she betrayed her husband’s memory, but she’d been the aggressor. Connor was enough of a gentleman that he would have never initiated their lovemaking. She ought to feel immoral, but the sense of rightness remained. She had relished every second and couldn’t truly regret it.
Her response to Connor had astounded her. Although she’d enjoyed the marriage bed, she’d never missed it to the point of taking a lover. Relations with Micah had been sweet, loving and gentle. Connor’s lovemaking had been none of those. And if she was being honest with herself, nothing had ever felt so good.
It’s all right , Linnie . You’re a young woman yet , and I wasn’t all that young or randy , even when we were wed . You deserve a little fun — and a good man to keep you warm at night .
Micah ? She still wasn’t sure he wasn’t a figment of her overactive imagination.
Aye , lassie . ’Tis I . You’ll be getting no scolding from me . You should have moved on with your life years ago . ’Tis more than time .
But I love you . It wasn’t past tense. She still loved Micah—just—perhaps not in the same way she had, or thought she had. He’d been twenty years her senior, always her teacher, her caretaker, never her partner or equal.
Aye , there you have it . You’re your own woman now and you need a man who can stand beside you , not before you . She could all but feel Micah’s big, work-roughened hand on her hair. Stop worrying about me . It’s time for me to move on .
Move on ? She wanted to ask him more about this afterlife, but that seemed selfish and unimportant compared to just talking to him.
Aye , pass to the other side . My Emily is waiting and our little Julia .
Weeks ago, she’d have felt a pang about Micah wanting to go to his first wife and the daughter they’d shared. Now she thought perhaps it was right. She’d had him for long enough—he’d helped her grow from