Page 15 of In Just a Year
“So you’ll be gone for half a year?”
“One way, four to six months.”
“No!”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I won’t let you go away for a whole year!”
A grin crept up his face and turned into a toothy smile. “You won’t?”
Esther crossed her arms and pouted. “Absolutely not!”
Ben came closer; his heat emanated through her entire being. “And why, may I ask, do I not have your permission to be away for a year?” His voice sounded like the mischievous growl he’d used when they’d played wolves and bears as children.
But Esther had no words. She gazed into his bright green eyes and searched for the right thoughts. The right feelings. “Because you just came back from Edinburgh. And then from France.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “And you just came to me!”
His eyes were fixed on hers, and the silence unfolded like a big book containing all the declarations of love without words.
“What happened today, Ben?”
He was close and smelled fantastic, like a freshly picked orange. She licked her lips, and his gaze fell to her mouth.
“What didn’t happen today?” He gave a typical Yiddish response, answering a question with a question, which only increased the tension between them.
This was now known territory. Comfortable, yet exciting. Esther waited and was rewarded as he stepped closer and put both hands on her arms, which she uncrossed.
He caught both of her hands in his. “Esther, may I kiss you?”
“You already kissed me today.”
“Not like this.”
CHAPTER8
She wore only a thin nightshift and her loosely fitting robe hung open as she wrapped her hands around his. He hadn’t consciously planned this tonight but now that it was happening, it was clear what he’d come for. She was the one he’d always wanted to climb mountains for—or brick walls. No cusp was too high to reach her sweetness.
This time, he approached her slowly. Even the sliver of air between them was ablaze in anticipation of their contact. She wanted it as much as he did, and Ben reveled in the knowledge that she wasthe one.
“B-Ben,” she whispered into his mouth.
The slight movement of her lips invited him in, so he tenderly pressed his lips onto hers. As soon as he did, he wanted more. All of her, preferably, even though it was absolutely not allowed. Thus, he left it to her to take this moment as far as she wanted. He wouldn’t pressure her, but he sure was enjoying it; the more he could taste and feel of Esther, the better.
He parted his lips just enough to drink in her sweetness and she responded with a light suction. Bit by bit, she was learning to follow the heady sensation of the kiss. He paused and let the tingles of the moist lips send sparks throughout his body.
When she tilted her head, he gave her lips a tiny lick, and he felt her gasp. Ben couldn’t help but smile, yet he didn’t wish to break the contact. Then she figured out what she hadn’t quite realized in the hall before Gideon caught them. Her tongue darted hesitantly toward his.
Ben’s heart skipped a beat. A cold shiver went down his back, but he welcomed it. He’d longed to kiss her and had imagined it a thousand times. Now it was happening; he was nervous and excited. It was so much better than he’d ever thought.
Expecting the invasion of his mouth, he opened up and invited her to explore. She was learning the art of the French kiss, and Ben couldn’t imagine a better moment. It had been worth the wait.
As they deepened their embrace, Esther’s hands came to his cheeks, then his neck, and she eventually ventured further, raking her delicate fingers through his hair. The playful touching from their child play over the years, playing catch, rubbing shoulders during the Purim plays, or accidentally brushing their fingers in speedy card games was naught next to this eager exploration of how far they could go, how much they could touch one another. They seemed to agree and failed to stop. She was so warm, as if the sun were rising and warming him from the inside. His heart had always belonged to her, but now every fiber of his being was becoming hers. The more her hands caressed his head, neck, and chest, the closer he pushed his middle against hers. Though shielded by the fabric, Ben didn’t hold anything back.
He tilted his head and met her exploration. She welcomed him, lips parted, mouth hot and sweet.
Wrapping his arms around her, Ben shuddered with pleasure. How long had he waited—imagined—what it would be like to hold the beautiful Esther in his arms? Her nightshift was more lace than fabric, and the silky robe barely covered her. A negligible amount of silk shrouded the perfect silhouette of her taut body. He’d seen her naked feet and legs up to her knees. Even though he tried not to dwell on her gorgeous body, the glimpse he’d stolen was etched into his mind—one of the most beautiful and alluring sights he’d ever had the pleasure to collect into his memories.
“Esther, you’re so sweet.”
