CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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Well. That certainly put a funny look on his face. Sara barely stopped the nervous giggle from escaping and she clutched her dress to her chest more closely.
It was a startling revelation to know that there were some moments when she didn’t recognize herself. How did she ever come to say such things?
Her mother would insist on lengthy, penitent prayer. For the first time since her mother’s death, Sara was glad the older woman was not here to dictate to her.
Especially as the look on Nathan’s face was so amusing that it was endearing. And she wanted to see it on him again.
“Release your dress.”
And just like that, his low, hoarse voice had her retreating again. “I—I—”
“I’ve already seen your undergarments, Sara. There is little reason to hide now.”
He was right. And the way he was looking at her, those blue eyes of his burning as hot springs, told her that he had liked what he had seen. Her dress fell to her ankles in a whisper of fabric.
The hot springs flared and roamed over her body, heating her as though she were submerged in the water. They settled on her chest and he spoke to them, rather than look at her face. “Get into bed.”
Her mouth went dry. Stepping out of her fallen dress, she crouched again to pick up the garment.
“Leave it.”
“But I need—”
“Mrs. Taggert will take care of it in the morning.”
Sara hesitated. It was one of only three dresses she had brought with her. If she left it on the floor overnight, it would be hopelessly wrinkled and would require a good washing and pressing before it could be worn again. Glancing at Nathan, who was watching her so intently, she draped it over the back of her chair rather than leave in a crumpled pile. She then turned and moved toward the four-poster bed, her eyes not quite seeing the gold bedspread and pillows. When she was standing next to it, she bent over and took off her shoes.
A strangled sound came from behind her and she glanced around her legs to see Nathan’s eyes riveted on her bottom, her shift rising to reveal her back legs and giving a hint of more. Embarrassed by the age of her garment, she quickly took off her stockings and folded them neatly over her shoes. Without looking at him, she pulled back the bedspread and climbed in, lying on her back and hiding her outdated shift underneath the covers.
Sara heard him move, his uneven gait now familiar to her, and the room slowly lost its light until the only illumination was the fire shining through the grate. She fought the temptation to watch him as he walked about the room.
He approached the side of the bed, staring at her for several heartbeats. Sara thought he would say something or perhaps even kiss her now, but instead he closed the bed curtains, blocking him from her view until he moved to the end and did the same there.
Soon Sara was completely closed in the bed herself, only small fingers of the firelight managing to infiltrate the crack in the curtains. From behind them on the other side, she heard the familiar sound of clothing being removed. For an absurd moment, she realized she had never considered how gentlemen’s clothing would sound the same as a lady’s. Another nervous giggle bubbled up inside of her. She clamped her mouth shut to keep it in, but it came out of her nose as snort instead.
The rustling on the other side of the curtains paused. “Is something the matter?” Nathan asked. “Are you choking again?”
“No,” she squeaked. “I am fine. It—uh—it was just a sneeze.”
The rustling resumed, and it wasn’t long before the curtains parted and he slipped in, climbing underneath the covers and closing the curtains. She could barely see but felt the mattress dip as he moved toward her, and Sara felt her breathing quicken. He neared her, his weight causing her to roll toward him. Sara gripped the side of the mattress to keep from doing so.
She inhaled sharply as his hot skin melded to her side and her body shuddered as a distinct hardness pressed against her bottom. She felt his fingers brush her cheek as they cupped her head, threading through her hair. It felt as though every part of her was being touched by him.
“What a pair we are, Sara Collins.” Goodness, he was so close!