and Oliver leave at dawn, they still won’t arrive home until two or three in the afternoon. However, Charles likes to tarry over a good breakfast, particularly if someone else makes it for him. They won’t set out until half past eight at the earliest.” He gave her shoulders a squeeze.
“They’ll eat, and then Oliver will likely want to purchase some keepsake from the trading post.” Twining his fingers with hers, he brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “If we want, we can spend the entire morning naked.”
She snorted. “Do you want to spend the entire morning naked?”
“Perhaps.” He tipped his head to grin at her. “I’ve this fantasy, you see.”
“Oh?”
“Aye.”
“Go on,” she prodded.
“We’d both be naked, and you’d be stretched out across the kitchen table.” He ran his hand down her side to her hip and squeezed. “I’d sit before you, spread you wide and feast on you instead of eggs and biscuits.” His hand continued downward to her sex, arousing her with gentle touches and teasing strokes.
“First, I’ll caress, kiss, lick, and nip every inch of you until I bring you to a frenzy,” he told her, his voice a sexy rasp. “Then, I’ll settled between your lovely thighs to lick your sweet cunny until you come.” His sighed. “I love watching you come, and that’s a fact.”
Inordinately pleased that Daniel fantasized about her, Meredith’s pulse raced. After all, she fantasized about him in much the same manner. “Sounds good to me.”
“Aye, and just think what it’ll be like to share the secret of what we did on that table thereafter.”
“You’re a little bit twisted,” she said as she laughed.
“I’ll not deny the accusation.” He winked at her. “What about you, love? Do you have any fantasies you’d like us to act out?”
“This,” she said, nuzzling his neck. “Being with you while we’re both alive was my fantasy, and acting on my desire is the bravest most adventurous thing I have ever done.”
Daniel smoothed the hair back from her forehead and kissed her lightly. “Has it been worth the risk?”
She sensed his uncertainty—or perhaps it was insecurity? She heard the unasked question …am I worth the risk you took? Her heart turned over in her chest, and her eyes misted. “Yes, beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Daniel went quiet for a few moments, and he raised himself up to sitting. “Are you tired?”
“Not particularly.” She arched a brow. “Why?”
“I think we should begin the conversation we need to have.”
“Now?” Her heart wrenched. She didn’t want to tell him of her decision, and part of her hoped … Best not even think about what she hoped.
“Aye.” Daniel threw off the covers and got up. He crossed the room to the small writing desk in the corner and pulled out the single drawer. Taking out a stack of paper and two pencils, he continued, “Each of us will create a list of pros and cons for our own personal thoughts on the matter of where we’ll settle. So, you’ll make a list of the pros for staying with me in this time, and a column for the pros of our returning to your time—plus the cons for both. I’ll do the same. Then we’ll compare.”
Her curiosity piqued, Meredith couldn’t deny she wanted to see what he’d put to paper. “All right.” She rose from bed. “Let’s do this downstairs at the table.”
“Aye, but we’d best put on some clothing, else we’ll not get anything done.” He reached for his night shirt where it hung on a peg. “I’ll make tea.”
She snatched up her nightgown from the end of the bed. “I don’t suppose you have a bottle of wine stashed away.”
“Sorry.” He pulled the nightshirt over his head. “Charles and I enjoy a drink as much as the next man, but we’ve both seen the results of the poor judgment imbibing leads to. The consequences are far worse out here on the frontier. We agreed not to imbibe at all until our fortunes are secured and our business plans are well and truly underway. Same goes for gambling, though I’ve never been much inclined to do so anyway. I’ve worked too hard and suffered too much to fritter away my money over a game of chance.”
“Sounds reasonable.” She still longed for a glass or two of a nice red wine. However, it was unlikely anything resembling good red wine could be found in Garretsville. Daniel headed for the stairs, sheets of paper and two pencils in hand,