She returned with a small metal bucket. Seated on her sofa, he stuck his hand into it and hissed as the cold settled into his skin. After a few moments he lifted the hand free. He repeated the process a few more times before flexing the hand and wincing a bit.
“How’s it feel?” she asked.
“It’s so cold it’s hard to tell, but I’m sure this is helping. I’ll know better in the morning.”
“I can make you some bark tea if you’d like.”
“Maybe later.”
An awkward silence rose. It was as if neither of them knew how or where to begin their night together, so he opted for small talk, hoping that might help. “Do you get your ice from an icehouse?”
“No. I have some stored underground inside one of my outbuildings.”
She must’ve seen his confusion. “Once the rivers freeze, we harvest it, so to speak, by chopping out big pieces and hauling them home. They’re put underground in a large hole and covered with straw. In a good winter we can store enough to last until mid-June, depending on how fast the temperatures rise in the spring.”
“That’s fascinating.”
“It’s pretty common here.”
He withdrew his hand from the ice one last time and dried it with the towel she’d given him earlier. He flexed his fingers again. “I think that’s enough for now.”
She took the bucket. “I’m going to set this outside. Depending on how cold it gets it might be still usable in the morning if you need it.”
When she returned the parlor was a bit warmer, thanks to the fire. She took him in, then looked away, saying, “I should get a fire started in my room. Come join me?”
He studied her silently in the wavering light of the flames. “You can still change your mind, Spring.”
“I know,” she said quietly, “but I won’t.”
“Okay, then.” He rose to his feet and followed her.
Spring lit the small lamp on the nightstand by her bed and turned it low. Shivering from the chill, she made a fire and watched while the flames grew. Across the room Garrett stood silently, framed by the doorway and the shadows. She drew in a deep breath to calm her uncharacteristic jitters. “Are you coming in or planning on standing over there all night?” she asked, attempting a light tone.
He closed the door, crossed the distance between them, and stopped behind her. Gently caging her with his arms, he nuzzled the edge of her hair. Her eyes closed as sensation flared. “Come sit with me while the room warms up,” he invited.
He placed one of her upholstered chairs close to the blazing fire then sat. Spring could count on two, maybe three fingers the number of times she’d sat on a man’s lap.
As she hesitated, he lightly took her hand and asked, “No?”
“Just unexpected.”
He asked softly, “Meaning?”
“Usually, this starts with me on my knees, then after a few pumps inside, it’s done and the man leaves.”
She thought he smiled, but because of the shadows couldn’t be sure.
“Let’s try something different.”
Although still hesitant, she sat. “Why can’t I just take off my clothes, you take off yours, and we move to the bed?”
He outlined her lips with an adoring feather-light finger, then kissed her. “This way is more fun . . .”
And truthfully, as the kiss deepened, she decided he was right. His slowly roaming hands coupled with his heated mouth and the whispered promises of the many wicked ways he planned to have her stoked the embers of her desire back to breathless life. Leaning up, she returned the kisses with the same languid intensity, savoring the taste of him and the potent slide of his tongue against her own. The shawl slipped free, exposing the bare crowns of her shoulders to fervent brushes of lips that then descended and lingered against the hollow of her throat. She moaned with pleasure.
He drew the tip of his finger over the exposed tops of her breasts above her heart-shaped bodice. “I’ve wanted you since our first breakfast together.”
Holding her eyes, his finger caressed the soft skin beneath her proud chin before moving down to lightly graze her already taut nipples. Her eyes slid closed. He kissed her and continued the slow, sweet teasing of her breasts until they pleaded silently. As if hearing the plea, he leaned in, freed a nipple, and sucked it wickedly. Heat flowed from his mouth to her core. His tongue circled lazily around the tightened peak. A