Promises Linger (Promise Series) (17 page)

She took a steadying breath. His scent filled her nostrils. She braced herself for the repugnance she usually felt at the way a man smelled. It didn’t come. Asa smelled of horses, leather and the outdoors, but he also smelled pleasantly of something else. Something elementally him. Something she liked. “You didn’t tell me not to wear a corset. You asked me not to wear one.”

He sidestepped them around a manure pile. “You don’t feel that’s a bit of hair splitting?”

“No.” She glanced up in time to see a smile flirt with his lips. The man was an enigma, taking offense at the slightest things, and at others, having the patience of a saint.

“You want me to order you not to wear it?”

“Not hardly.”

“Why not? The thing seems darned uncomfortable.”

“It is.”

“Then why wear it?” He stepped aside to let her through the barn door first.

“No proper lady would be without one.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What does that mean?” The warm scent of the barn enclosed her in a welcoming hug.

“That’s polite for ‘I’ve never heard such bull in my life’.”

“It’s true. Being seen without a corset would be scandalous.”

“My reputation could probably survive the scandal.”

“Mine wouldn’t.”

He tied Shameless to the hitching post and made short work of the cinch. He had nice hands, Elizabeth decided. Long-fingered, broad across the back, and very agile.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but, now that we’re married, isn’t your reputation mine?” He swung the heavy saddle clear of the gelding’s back.

“Sort of.” It was a blatant stall. His teeth flashed white in the sun-dappled interior, letting her know he was aware of it.

“Well…” He tossed the saddle onto the wooden support leaning against the wall. “Seeing as how my reputation doesn’t give two hoots about anyone else’s opinions, I guess you could chuck that contraption into the old well tonight.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” He picked up a rag and started to wipe down Shameless.

“Because none of my dresses would fit.” She grabbed a curry comb and moved in beside him, currying where he’d finished wiping. Beyond a quick glance in her direction, he didn’t say anything.

“Hadn’t thought of that.” He moved to the other side of the horse and repeated the process. “Might be time for you to get a new wardrobe.”

“You truly don’t mind if I don’t wear one and everyone notices?”

He folded his arms along the horse’s back and regarded her across the breadth. “Let me put it this way; if you needed to move in a hurry, could you get the job done with that thing on?”

“Not hardly.” She was lucky to manage bending over to get biscuits out of the oven.

“Then I don’t mind a bit.” He flicked his finger at her nose, and went back to wiping down the horse.

It took her a minute to put it together, it was such a novel concept. “You’re concerned about my safety.”

“It’s a husband’s job to take care of his wife.”

As he was wiping the sweat from Shameless’ underbelly, she couldn’t see his expression, but that was just as well since he couldn’t see hers. The man didn’t give two hoots about convention if it meant her safety. She was flabbergasted and, well…warmed.

She bit her lip, weighing the pluses of never again having to have those bone stays cut into her flesh against her moral obligation to protect her husband’s reputation. “People would talk.”

“I’d survive.” He tossed the rag into the corner. He grabbed a water bucket, and slapped Shameless’ shoulder. “Bet you’d like some water, big fella.”

He headed to the pump just outside the barn door. Elizabeth watched him go, words hovering on her tongue. She moved around the other side of the horse and started currying. Shameless let out a huge sigh. She patted his neck. “Feels good, huh?”

In response, he nibbled at the sheaf of hay on the floor. Over his neck, she watched Asa pump the handle that would bring up the water. It took a fair amount of effort. Through his shirt, she imagined she could see the play of muscles. Her husband was a strong man. The thought didn’t dismay her the way it had yesterday. As a matter of fact, it was kind of intriguing, watching the way his shirt stretched and clung to the muscles bunching beneath. The sight caused a funny sensation in her belly. He turned to bring the bucket back in, and she hastily dropped her gaze, which was silly as he couldn’t see into the cool interior from the bright sunshine. He set the water in front of Shameless who promptly blew suspiciously across its surface before drinking.

“I have a compromise to suggest,” she said.

“I’m listening.” He picked up the bristle brush and smoothed the hair on the opposite side of the horse.

She stopped currying, bit her lip, then took the plunge. “I’ll only wear the corset when we go into town.”

He glanced at her. “You sure?”

“As long as you make me a promise.”

“Thought there might be a catch.”

“If it ever starts to bother you, I’d like you to let me know before you make any decisions.”

“Decisions?”

“Yes. I’d like the opportunity to rectify the problem before you draw the obvious conclusions.”

He straightened from checking Shameless’ hoofs. “Conclusions?”

She felt the heat creeping into her face, but she held her ground. “Yes, before you decide my lack of corset indicates a lack of moral character, I’d like the opportunity to commence wearing it again.”

He laughed. “Darlin’, if finding you entertaining good-looking men in my kitchen in the middle of the day doesn’t get me thinking along those lines, I doubt your not strapping yourself into that contraption is going to get me doubting your ‘moral character’.”

“Aaron just stopped by to make sure I was all right.”

He came around to her side of the horse. He picked up Shameless’ front hoof and set to work with the pick. “He heard the rumors you married up again.”

“Yes.” She wished she could see his face. “He was concerned.”

“He was jealous.”

She laughed. That would be the day! “Aaron and I are just friends. He has a wife and a two-year-old son.”

He shot her a knowing glance over his shoulder. “Those things have nothing to do with his wanting you.”

“You misread the situation.”

She stepped back as he slid his hand down his horse’s side to get to the rear hoof. “I’ll allow one of us has a hold of the wrong end of the stick.”

It was clear from his tone that he thought it was her. “Does this mean you’re going to forbid me to continue our friendship?”

He dropped Shameless’ foot back to the ground and stood to his full height. “Everybody’s got to make those kinds of decisions for themselves.”

He put the pick back in the tack box behind her. She turned with him, wanting this settled. “What exactly does that mean?”

“It means,” he said, reaching out to tuck a strand behind her ear, “that time has a way of making clear who your friends are.” He took a step toward her. Suddenly, he was too close. She took a step back and came up against the warm barrier of Shameless’ side.

“You’re going to smell all horsey after this,” he informed her.

After what? she thought desperately while saying aloud, “I like horses.”

“I can see that.”

His hand cupped the back of her head. His fingers were doing something to her nape that sent chills down her spine. She couldn’t tell from his expression whether he was angry or amused. All she could tell was that he was very intent.

“You burrowing into Shameless’ side because you’re afraid?” he asked.

“I don’t understand you!” she burst out.

He smiled a slow smile that captured her attention, it was so lazy and full of promise. “You’ll figure me out eventually.”

She’d prefer now. He stepped forward, until the toes of his boots touched the toes of her shoes. Her heartbeat throbbed in her throat. Was he trying to get even with her for Aaron’s arrogance? “I’m sorry Aaron said what he did.”

He stroked his finger around her ear. She couldn’t hide the shudder that went down her spine.

His smile broadened. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you apologizing for Aaron? He’s a grown man.”

“He’s a little protective.”

“I have a good idea who Aaron is and what he’s up to.”

She swallowed as he shifted forward a bit more. “I don’t think you understand the situation.”

“As I said before, time has a way of clearing up these matters.”

His breath whispered across her brow. It suddenly dawned on her that he was planning seduction, not retaliation. “You’re going to kiss me!”

She wished the words back as soon as they popped out of her mouth.

His lazy smile spread to a full-fledged grin. “Like I told your neighbor, you keep a man on his toes.”

She wasn’t sure if she wanted his mouth or not. She expected him to pull her away from the horse. That’s why she wasn’t prepared for his kiss when it came, because, instead of pulling her into his arms, he slid up against her, easing her into an embrace. His mouth brushed hers as his chest settled onto her breasts. Her gasp puffed against his lips. His chuckle vibrated against her chest.

“You got any objections?” he asked as his mouth slid across her cheek.

“Yes. No.” Was he actually nibbling on her neck? Goosebumps chased down her arms. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and confessed on a high squeak, “I don’t know.”

She felt him pull aside the collar of her shirt. “That’s what I figured.”

He kissed the spot where her collarbone met her neck. She never knew anything could feel so good. She felt his whole body shift as he draped his arms over Shameless’ back. The move brought his entire body the length of hers. The sensation was so sublime as to be sinful. “Are you sure we should be doing this?”

“Absolutely.”

“I meant here.”

“This barn’s off limits for a couple of hours.”

“A couple of hours!” What in the world did the man intend to do? Last night hadn’t taken more than a couple of minutes!

“Yup.” He shifted his torso from right to left and then back again. “A newly married man gets to make all sorts of requests.”

She opened her eyes to find his face eye-blurringly close. “You knew I’d come down to the barn with you?”

“Gotta admit you made that part real easy.”

“Why the barn? Why not the house?”

His features blurred to nothing as he kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re such a practical thing.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

His shrug did strange things to her equilibrium. “Always wanted to spark a girl in a barn.” His mouth brushed hers again in one of those teasing touches. “You ever been sparked?”

“No.” It was a humiliating confession to be making at her age.

He leaned back. “Now, that’s a darned shame. How old did you say you were?”

“I was twenty-two last April.”

His fingers brushed her temple as he clicked his tongue. “Just a baby.”

“A lot of women have four or five kids at my age!”

“I’ll get to work on that right away if you’re set on competing.”

He tilted his head and pressed a gentle, yet strangely intense kiss on the side of her neck. “I was just making a point,” she gasped.

His lips parted. She felt the touch of his tongue before he sucked softly, and her knees turned to jelly. “Oh my God!”

“Easy, darlin’. I’ve got you.”

His “got you” was the insertion of his knee between her thighs. With a hitch, he lifted her until she was suspended there, straddling his hard thigh, the horse at her back, Asa’s mouth on her neck. It was the most astounding moment of her life.

“You like that?” he asked. His breath on her neck sent a new spray of goose bumps down her arms.

She bit her lip and nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She couldn’t begrudge the smile she heard in his voice. Her neck felt bereft when he left it to place his mouth on hers.

“Open your mouth, darlin’.”

She didn’t hesitate.

“That’s good.” The words breathed into her mouth didn’t prepare her for the sheer pleasure of his kiss. “Put your arms around my neck.”

She dragged her arms up from her sides. She felt so lethargic it was hard to do, but she found it much more satisfying when she did. It gave her the leverage she needed to prolong his kiss when he would have pulled away. When he paused for a moment, she tipped her head back, hoping he’d resume his attention to her neck. His response was a chuckle and a total commitment to the task. A restless feeling filled her. Her stomach pulled taut and the area between her thighs felt equally tight and aching. She shifted, trying to ease the sensation. Or increase it. She was no longer sure.

His big hands splayed over her hips. “Like this,” he whispered in her ear.

He arched her back, pressing her hips into his thigh while her head rested against Shameless’ side. The sensation as she slid down his leg was breath-stealing. Though his hand in the small of her back kept her as he wanted, his lips on her neck were a far better anchor.