He pulled her close and kissed her forehead, then looked at the sleeping girls. “I’m going to miss them,” he whispered.

“Me too,” she answered.

As the last light faded and the inside of the wagon was black as a mine, she touched his chin and turned his face toward her. This time she kissed him slowly and tenderly for a long while.

He didn’t feel the cold or worry about the darkness. He was floating in heaven. He encircled her waist and pulled Em on his knee so he could feel her heart beating against his. As they kissed, he untied the shawl and pushed it back so he could feel the soft cotton of her nightgown.

She shifted so his blanket covered them from the shoulders down.

He spread his hand over her ribs and felt her breath quicken. When the kiss deepened, he knew she loved his touch as much as he loved the feel of what he’d once seen on a rainy night.

His hand moved up until his fingers passed over her breast and he caught a tiny cry of joy before it could escape.

He moved close to her ear and whispered, “You all right with this?”

She nodded, then turned to whisper back, “I’m loving it. I’ve never felt anything like this.”

He wanted to tell her how soft she was, how perfect, but words would be dangerous. If one of the girls woke, what they were doing would be a lot harder to explain than the pee gun.

He moved to the buttons of her gown and slowly worked one at a time. Then he slid his hand beneath the cotton and felt her skin on skin. His hand was rough on the softest thing he’d ever felt. Her nipple peeked and he laughed in surprise.

They’d had no time to say the words of how they felt about each other. No mention of love or forever but he hoped she felt it in his touch.

Maybe neither believed in forever. But at this one moment in time, he wished he did. He had nothing to give her. She’d lost one man. What if she wasn’t willing to lose another?

What if this one touch was all they’d ever have? It wasn’t enough. He had a feeling that a lifetime wouldn’t be enough.

He kissed her one more time and brushed her breast once more as he tried to memorize the feel. Holding her so close he felt like they were one person with two hearts.

Then, he relaxed. She rested her head on his chest and slowed her breathing.

He held her against him all night. It might be the only night they had. Tomorrow he might have to fight. He swore he’d die before he’d let anyone take Emery or the girls from him.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10