nothing more than to go back in the other room and kiss her again. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He couldn’t imagine just leaving it at that. The quick one on the stairs had been bad enough, but this was so much more.
If that was what she wanted, though, then he had no choice.
Except he knew that was not what she wanted. She had kissed him, leaned in to him. In fact, her profession was the only thing between them. That and the fact that they had only known each other a short time, but the latter could be easily remedied and didn’t matter all that much out here in the West. People got married despite hardly knowing the other’s name all the time, and they often were not even that attracted to one another. They were already a step closer to a successful marriage than that.
Thomas rubbed his face with his hands. He was astounded. Here he was, thinking about marriage to a woman he hardly knew. This was all far too absurd. The strangest aspect of it, though, was that when he thought about her smile, her sparkling eyes, and the words they had exchanged, the feeling that coursed through him when their lips met, it didn’t seem so absurd. It seemed like the most sensible thing in the world.
It was obvious she was a kind, giving person. She was independent and a little mischievous. Intelligent. And she set his body on fire like no one he had ever met; his entire being ached for her, and just knowing she was nearby, only one room away, was almost too difficult to handle. What more could he desire?
He was almost glad Alice had not followed him into the dining room. He had done a poor job of calming himself down, but at least the time alone had given him a chance to think, even if all he thought about was her and the only resolution he could come to was that he wanted to be around her more.
After several minutes, he had his body nearly relaxed enough to stand and attempt to walk back into the other room. Then she walked in, and all his efforts became immediately erased by her presence. Simply looking at her made his core pulse with heat, and he wanted nothing more than to walk over and pull her tightly against his body and press his mouth to hers.
Instead, he pressed his hands against the table, glad the large wooden slab was there to hide his body’s reaction as he took in the full length of her. Her lips were parted, as if she could not quite catch her breath, and her eyes sparkled with something other than happiness. He hoped it was barely-controlled desire, and the thought made it even harder to stay in his seat.
The bun and conservative dress aimed to conceal the fire in her, but he could see beyond it. That was not truly her, in all honesty, and it seemed so obvious to him. He wondered if anyone else could see through her proper-teacher façade. Her eyes were unable to hide the truth of her completely—they were too alive, too full of passion.
He waited for her to say something—do something—that would give him permission to go over and kiss her again. Instead, she said, “The rain seems to have stopped. We should leave quickly, before it starts up again. I cannot stay here all night.”
He could think of plenty they could do if she stayed all night, but he was not about to say it. He felt fairly certain she would be willing to walk home alone in the mud if she decided to leave and he was anything but cooperative. It was one of the things he liked about her.
At least he would be able to ride next to her if he obliged her wish. “I’ll prepare the buggy.”
He stood up and strode out of the room, passing close by her in the doorway and hoping she would not notice the bulge in his trousers, something he was unable to completely rid himself of. His arm brushed against hers as he walked by her, and his heart and lungs forgot their jobs for a moment, freezing as the sensation coursed through him before they returned to working double, triple-time. He made his way through the house and outside
If that was what she wanted, though, then he had no choice.
Except he knew that was not what she wanted. She had kissed him, leaned in to him. In fact, her profession was the only thing between them. That and the fact that they had only known each other a short time, but the latter could be easily remedied and didn’t matter all that much out here in the West. People got married despite hardly knowing the other’s name all the time, and they often were not even that attracted to one another. They were already a step closer to a successful marriage than that.
Thomas rubbed his face with his hands. He was astounded. Here he was, thinking about marriage to a woman he hardly knew. This was all far too absurd. The strangest aspect of it, though, was that when he thought about her smile, her sparkling eyes, and the words they had exchanged, the feeling that coursed through him when their lips met, it didn’t seem so absurd. It seemed like the most sensible thing in the world.
It was obvious she was a kind, giving person. She was independent and a little mischievous. Intelligent. And she set his body on fire like no one he had ever met; his entire being ached for her, and just knowing she was nearby, only one room away, was almost too difficult to handle. What more could he desire?
He was almost glad Alice had not followed him into the dining room. He had done a poor job of calming himself down, but at least the time alone had given him a chance to think, even if all he thought about was her and the only resolution he could come to was that he wanted to be around her more.
After several minutes, he had his body nearly relaxed enough to stand and attempt to walk back into the other room. Then she walked in, and all his efforts became immediately erased by her presence. Simply looking at her made his core pulse with heat, and he wanted nothing more than to walk over and pull her tightly against his body and press his mouth to hers.
Instead, he pressed his hands against the table, glad the large wooden slab was there to hide his body’s reaction as he took in the full length of her. Her lips were parted, as if she could not quite catch her breath, and her eyes sparkled with something other than happiness. He hoped it was barely-controlled desire, and the thought made it even harder to stay in his seat.
The bun and conservative dress aimed to conceal the fire in her, but he could see beyond it. That was not truly her, in all honesty, and it seemed so obvious to him. He wondered if anyone else could see through her proper-teacher façade. Her eyes were unable to hide the truth of her completely—they were too alive, too full of passion.
He waited for her to say something—do something—that would give him permission to go over and kiss her again. Instead, she said, “The rain seems to have stopped. We should leave quickly, before it starts up again. I cannot stay here all night.”
He could think of plenty they could do if she stayed all night, but he was not about to say it. He felt fairly certain she would be willing to walk home alone in the mud if she decided to leave and he was anything but cooperative. It was one of the things he liked about her.
At least he would be able to ride next to her if he obliged her wish. “I’ll prepare the buggy.”
He stood up and strode out of the room, passing close by her in the doorway and hoping she would not notice the bulge in his trousers, something he was unable to completely rid himself of. His arm brushed against hers as he walked by her, and his heart and lungs forgot their jobs for a moment, freezing as the sensation coursed through him before they returned to working double, triple-time. He made his way through the house and outside
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