Page 104 of The Texan Duke
She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t as cold as she had been before, or as frightened, but words didn’t seem right for this time or place.
He released her hand, pushed the two wing chairs out of the way along with the table sitting between them. The oil lamp sitting there rocked a little and she was afraid it was going to fall and shatter. He grabbed it before it fell, then grinned at her, obviously proud of himself.
He held out his hand to her and, bemused, she followed him down to the richly patterned carpet.
The door was locked. They were alone. When he reached over and began to slowly unbutton the bodice of her dress, she didn’t stop him. All she did was watch his smile, captivated by the determined look in his eyes.
She wanted to explain to him that the traveling outfit was more complicated than her normal housekeeping dress, but instead of saying anything, she merely added her hands to his, the object to divest her of all her clothes, to render her naked in the bright sun of day.
She should have been embarrassed. At the very least she should have been modest. She should have blushed or even winced inwardly at the thought of being so exposed. She did none of those things. Instead, her nature—restrained and proper until this moment—laughed aloud, gave her wordless encouragement for this shocking behavior.
It took her much longer to be undressed than it did him. Removing his clothing was so much easier that it was as if nature realized he should truly not be covered. Instead, the world should look its fill on Connor McCraight, naked.
She knelt before him, not caring that she was naked, too.
“You’ve taken off your boots again,” she said with a smile.
He didn’t smile in return. Instead, he reached out his hand and cupped her cheek, his thumb resting on the corner of her mouth.
He finally smiled, a gentle expression that was matched in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile as well, especially as he withdrew her hairpins, one by one.
From the beginning, he’d worshipped her with his words and his admiration. He’d called her beautiful in such a way that she couldn’t help but believe that’s what he thought. Now, with the sun creating bars of light on the floor, she felt even more cherished.
He didn’t speak, and the silence in the room became oddly reverential. Here in the library, in this place of learning and wisdom, she was being educated as well.
There was such a thing as wonderment. She could feel her heart open, expanding to reach out and enfold him. She was almost brought to tears at the gentleness of his fingertip as it trailed along her jaw. He pushed her hair back, his hand trailing down her throat.
“Elsbeth.”
Just that. Just her name and no more. He didn’t offer her blandishments or compliments. Nor did he ask her if she was sure she wanted this to happen. Couldn’t he tell by the speed with which she had removed her clothes?
He was so beautiful, if the word could be used to describe a man.Magnificent, perhaps, was a better term. He would have two scars on his right shoulder now. One was a badge of courage. The other a mark of someone’s cowardice.
He was the one who should protect himself. He was not a man who shielded himself from danger. Instead, Connor headed directly for it.
Who would care for him on the long voyage back to Texas? Who would ensure that he was safe? If someone truly wished him dead, then the location didn’t matter. They could easily waylay him somewhere.
How was she going to endure losing him? How was she possibly going to live through the coming days in her new home? Especially after he’d left for Texas?
This moment, then, must suffice for all those coming nights of loneliness. She must measure and record and keep safe these memories to extract at a later time.
She would always recall reaching out and placing her hand on his left shoulder, then allowing her fingers to dance down to his chest where she placed her palm against the soft hair, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat. She rose up on her knees and placed her arms around his neck.
“I’d like a kiss, please,” she said.
“How very proper you sound.”
“I was reared to be proper.”
He grinned at her. “You’re naked.”
She grinned back at him. “So are you. That makes us both improper.”
“I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be improper with, Elsbeth Carew.”
He would, though. In the future he’d marry. He’d find a proper Texan woman to take back to his ranch. Would he ever think of the Scottish lass he introduced to lovemaking?
“What is it, Elsbeth? You look like you’re going to cry.”
