Harvest Moon (Borrowed Brides 2)

“I want to touch you,” David answered. “I want to undress you and spend the morning kissing you all over. Your lips, your eyes, your breasts.” His dark brown eyes found each part of her as he listed his desires.

Tessa’s eyes widened with each husky word, then darkened to a deeper blue as his meaning became clearer. Feeling the hot flush of color staining her face, Tessa pressed her forehead against his neck. She moaned a little and wiggled against his hand, urging him to greater liberties.

He touched her hipbone, fingers teasing the sensitive flesh.

“David!”

“Yes, Tessa.” He bent closer and kissed her mouth, hard.

She kissed him back, now familiar with the texture of his lips and the hot taste of his mouth.

“Some people worship God in churches,” David said, his warm breath fanning her face as he nibbled at her lower lip. “And some worship in other ways. I think this is why God created Sundays.”

“Sunday,” Tessa repeated, stiffening in his arms, as awareness of their situation drifted back to her.

David silently cursed his wayward tongue for reminding her of the day.

Flushing, she pushed at his chest. “It’s the in-between Sunday. If you don’t hurry, we’ll miss the train for Cheyenne.”

He eased his weight off her. She sat up, then scrambled off the bed. She stood beside his dresser and glanced in the mirror. The bodice of her dress was wet from his chest, her skirt creased.

“I’m not going to church in Cheyenne,” David said. “You go.”

“I can’t,” Tessa informed him. “Not without you.”

“Why not?” David pushed himself up and leaned against the headboard. He stretched, then rubbed his chest.

“Because…” Watching him, Tessa stuttered, losing her train of thought. “Because you made me promise not to go near the depot or the stage office. I can’t leave Peaceable without you.”

“Go to church in town instead. I’ll give you permission.”

“It’s the in-between Sunday,” Tessa repeated. “The priest only comes to town two Sundays a month. On the other Sundays we have to go to Cheyenne or one of the other towns along the railroad. But Cheyenne’s closest.”

“Does church mean that much to you?” David swung his legs over the side of the bed. They were bare, as was the rest of him. He kept a grip on the covers, anchoring them across his lap. From the look on her face and the throbbing in his groin, David decided he wasn’t going to get any more sleep.

“I never miss church.”

David gave in. “I’ll be ready in half an hour.” He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to ask God for help on Tessa’s behalf.

“But we’ll miss the train! We’ll be late.”

“I know what time church starts in Cheyenne,” he informed her. “We’re not going there.” He was willing to take Tessa to church if that’s what she wanted, but not in Cheyenne.

“But…” The Catholic church in Cheyenne was the largest in the area and the loveliest.

David held up his hand to halt her arguments. “We’ll go west. Surely there’s a church in one of the other towns along the line.” He reached for the robe lying across the foot of the bed. “Tessa,” he said when she made no move toward the door, “I’m as bare as a newborn baby beneath these covers. I can’t get up until you leave.”

“Oh!”

He smiled. “Yes, ‘oh.’” His dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners. “Why don’t you check on Coalie’s progress?”

“Coalie’s dressed already,” Tessa replied. “He’s gone to get our breakfast from the hotel.” Still she continued to stand where she was, fascinated by the sight of him.

“A cup of coffee would be nice,” David suggested. “And some water. Hot, this time. For shaving.”

“All right.” She backed toward the door.

“And, Tessa.” His voice was husky, deep with meaning. “Much obliged for the morning kiss.”