Naomi knelt in the soft mud and splashed her face with the crisp, clear water. She was burning inside, on fire, and she needed something, anything, to cool her off. Her heart pounded against her sternum, her skin rippled with heated chills, and the flutter between her legs had become unbearable in its intensity.
How had she let this happen? She knew better. She’d been raised better. What would Ma and Pa think of her brazen actions? She’d already succumbed to gluttony. And now lust?
More water. She splashed herself again and took a long drink. The liquid soothed her, but heat still flashed through her body. Every sense inside her screamed to run back into Bobby’s arms. The sweet pressure of his hard body against hers. The spicy male aroma of his neck. The sleek texture of his beautiful brown hair. The rough stubble of his cheek against hers as he nibbled at her lips, her neck, her earlobe. The softness of his lips. She’d never imagined a man’s lips could be so soft.
And his tongue. Smooth and delicious inside her mouth. Such an amazing sensation. More. She wanted more. So much more. His moist tongue trailing wetness across her neck, her shoulders, over the buds of her nipples which were tight and painful against her bodice.
Naomi forced the images from her mind. What she desired would be sinful with a fine upstanding man.
And she wanted it with an outlaw.
She splashed her face once again, the fire still burning deep within her.
“Angel?” Bobby’s voice had deepened.
Tingles raced across the back of Naomi’s neck. Slick perspiration beaded on her forehead despite the coolness of the water. Her pulse raced.
“Angel,” he said again, “are you all right?”
All right? She choked back a laugh that had seemingly come from nowhere. She doubted she’d ever be all right again. Heat scalded her face, and she couldn’t turn to look at him. She was afraid of what she’d see in his eyes.
Of what he’d see in hers.
Within a few seconds he was next to her, his canvas-clad knees indenting the soft mud. He reached tentatively toward her and stroked her cheek. Such a tiny touch, barely palpable, yet it scorched a path of fire in its wake. What was wrong with her?
She brushed his hand away and reached for more water.
“It won’t help,” he said.
“Wh-What?”
“Trying to cool off.” He chuckled and reached toward her again. She backed away.
“I know how you’re feelin’, darlin’. I’m feelin’ the same. And I can guarantee you an ice bath wouldn’t help me right now.”
Naomi shivered at the thought of an ice bath, but then heated again as she gazed into his darkened amber eyes. She had to say something. But what? She’d never felt anything like this.
“I...”
“Don’t worry, angel. I understand.” He cupped his hands and took a long slow drink from the creek. Then he took her arm and helped her up. “We’ve made a mess of ourselves.”
Naomi glanced at the muddy knees of his duckins and looked down at her brown work dress streaked with the same wet clay. Now what? They had nothing else to wear.
“Mr. Morgan—”
“Back to Mr. Morgan now, are we?”
“Well, I...I think it’s only appropriate.”
“Angel, my tongue was just in your mouth. I think we know each other well enough to be on a first name basis.”
His bold words, though highly personal and improper, flashed across her hot body and landed between her legs. He caught her before she could drop down to the water again.
“We need to sleep now, darlin’. I want to get an early start tomorrow. By noon we’ll hit the railroad camp, and you can be on your way home.”
Home. Thank goodness. Home was where she could get back to her life. Back to life before Bobby Morgan. Had it only been a few hours ago? It seemed she’d spent a lifetime with this man. Wanted to spend another.
“I...Mr. Morgan, I’m so very sorry for...” For what? For letting him kiss her? The good Lord knew that was a lie. That kiss had been the most powerful experience of her life.
He smiled, and that adorable dimple twinkled at her. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I promised I wouldn’t harm you, and I’ll keep that promise. I’ve learned how to control my actions. Trust in that, if nothing else.”
Harm her? Is that what he thought he’d done? Her mouth dropped open but she shut it quickly. He was thinking about what came next between a man and a woman. After a kiss. Her married friends had told her how difficult, even painful, it could be for a man to stop. Had she caused him pain? The thought saddened her. She shouldn’t have let the kiss happen. It definitely couldn’t happen again.
“I don’t think we need to find the cavern,” he said. “It’s a beautiful night. We can sleep under the stars. The ground’s pretty flat over by those boulders.” He pointed. “God knows I’ve slept on a lot worse, though I reckon this’ll be pretty uncomfortable for a lady like you.”
“I’m certain I’ll be fine.” Naomi stalked past him to the area he’d gestured to and lay down in her soiled dress.
Bobby lay down a good ten feet away from her, no doubt keeping his distance on purpose, for which she was grateful.
Her body ached from the time spent bareback, and she tossed around. She could handle the lumps on the ground, if only she had a soft place to rest her weary head.
In the darkness, the scent of spicy male assailed her. Ten feet away, and she was still hyper aware of him.
“Come here, angel.” His voice traveled across the thickness of the humid air. “You can rest your head on my shoulder.”
“I’m perfectly fine, thank you.”
Bobby’s chuckle rang out. “You’re not used to this, and I’m not gonna get any shuteye with you thrashin’ around like a bear in a beehive. Let me offer you a resting place. I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“I said no thank you, Mr. Morgan.” She turned away and burrowed her head into her upper arm. He kept his word and didn’t touch her. Soon his breathing turned shallow and regular, and she knew he’d fallen asleep.
She struggled to get comfortable and said her prayers, begging for forgiveness for her wantonness in allowing that kiss. But the prayers gave way to images of Bobby caressing her, undressing her, loving her with that beautiful and sinful mouth of his. Flutters coursed through her belly as she recalled the sensual scraping of his chestnut stubble against her cheeks. He badly needed a shave. He did have that razor, perhaps she could...
Her body jerked. Where had such a sinful thought come from? And about her kidnapper, no less? Shaving a man was more intimate than a stolen kiss. It was a wifely duty.
A strange, yet not unpleasant, sensation spasmed in her belly at the thought of brushing lather onto his chiseled face and drawing the straight blade up against the hair growth.
He’d smile at her, those amber eyes twinkling, and she’d murmur something coquettish and then back away, embarrassed by her boldness.
Fire consumed her body. Again.
Truth be told, she was sorry he’d kept his promise not to touch her.
She clasped her hands together and prayed to be free from lustful thoughts.