Once Upon a Mail Order Bride - Linda Broday Page 0,51

flutter. He teased and nibbled his way across the seam of her lips, and just when she thought she’d die from want, he pressed his mouth firmly to hers as though sealing them together with the strongest solder.

Emboldened, she slid an arm around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. Hunger for something more, something deeper, curled along her spine and up her back. Ridge, her heart silently cried out, teach me, give me what I’m begging for.

A strange sensation came over her, and she felt as though she were falling from a great height. She clutched his shirt, wondering at the wetness that formed at her center.

He suddenly released her and stepped back, his expression as dazed as she felt. “I should go check outside one more time. Good night, Addie.”

Her gaze followed his tall figure, aching for his arms around her. If she lived to be a hundred, she’d never forget this moment and how alive he made her feel.

She went to her space and got out her notebook and pencil.

I think I’m in love. If Ridge had undressed me down to the bare skin tonight, I wouldn’t have minded or said a word. In truth, I wanted him to. I wanted to feel his hands touching me. Everywhere. I wanted…him. All of him. I want to lie next to him and feel his strong body. I thought this space here under the stairs was what I wanted, but it isn’t. Not anymore. Only now I’ve created a situation by sleeping apart and can’t figure a way out. What can I do?

She wanted normal…

A life.

A love.

A real marriage.

Was it really as simple as being brave enough to take it?

Thirteen

After breakfast the next morning, Ridge saddled the horses and tied them outside the kitchen door, then waited for Addie to change into riding clothes. His mind wasn’t on shooting lessons. Not at all.

He sipped on a fresh cup of coffee, deep in thought about the kiss they’d shared the previous night. It had taken all his willpower not to carry her upstairs to bed, but that would’ve scared her out of six months of her life. She probably would’ve locked herself in her space beneath the stairs and never come out again.

Truth of the matter, the kiss had seared its way through him and rendered him unable to think clearly. And in a little while, he’d be inhaling the rose fragrance of her soap, touching her to adjust her aim, remembering the taste of her very kissable mouth.

“Patience, you fool,” he muttered into his cup. Luke and Clay had warned him to take it slow, not to let his own needs override his common sense, but dammit! He had no common sense when Addie was anywhere near. If he didn’t watch it at target practice, he’d probably shoot his damn foot off.

Light footsteps jarred him from his thoughts. He glanced up and swallowed a big gulp of hot coffee, scalding his mouth.

Every line, every curve of Addie’s body was in plain view, outlined by the trousers they’d bought at the mercantile and a shirt that hugged her breasts. To further complicate matters, her hair was loose. The golden curls fell about her shoulders and spilled down the front, calling even more attention to her luscious bosom. Good Lord! How was he supposed to keep from losing his ever-loving mind? And that wasn’t even considering the heat rushing to his core, a flare that had every nerve in his body standing at attention—especially the part that he didn’t want her to notice.

Ridge slipped into his frock coat and buttoned it as though preparing for a blizzard. He smiled. “Ready?”

She glanced at his coat and frowned before giving him a nod and moving out the door. King whinnied and pawed the ground, seemingly happy to see her. She rushed to hug him and ran her hands over his sleek neck, looking for all the world like she was saying good morning. Ridge cleared his throat, not regretting for a second that he’d given her the buckskin but envying the horse the feel of her touch.

He pulled himself away from the sight and turned to adjust Cob’s cinches.

Bodie hobbled from the barn, the kitten tumbling after him. “I’ll hold down the fort, Ridge, and get to work on those repairs.”

“We won’t be gone too long.” Ridge’s spurs clinked as he moved to help Addie. Though she was gamely trying to propel her short frame onto King, she just couldn’t make it