His hardened erection pressed against her body, and right now he wanted to unfasten his breeches, burying himself inside her warmth. He wanted her naked skin against his, her body at his beckoning. “This isn’t a game anymore.”

It was becoming physically painful to have her body so intimately pressed against his. Gingerly, he lifted her off him and stood. “Let’s go inside.” Or better yet, she could go inside, and he could go stand in a snowdrift to cool his ardor.

“Wait. I want to watch the snow for a moment.” A wistful smile curved at her lips. “I used to love seeing it fall against my window during the wintertime. I’ve always thought it was enchanting.”

To indulge her, Stephen stood while the snow swirled around them. Emily didn’t look at him, but her fingers brushed against his in silent invitation. He took her cold hand in his, trying to warm it.

The wild flakes blew wherever they wanted to, gracing tree branches and bushes with a rich icing of white. There was no pattern to it, nothing predictable. Only freedom in its purest form. And in that moment, he understood why she loved it so.

Though her teeth were chattering, he waited until Emily was ready to return. Her hair was dotted with white, for her hood had slipped off.

“That was foolish of me, I know,” she said, when they entered the house once more. “My clothes are soaked.”

He walked her to the stairs. “I’ll put some hot water on the stove for you. You can bathe and warm yourself.”

“But the wood—I need to make it last.”

“We’re going to use it all up tonight, Emily,” he informed her. “I’ll be sending you coal in the morning.”

She sobered, then gave a nod. “I suppose.” Even so, she appeared uneasy, almost afraid of him. It was his own fault for touching her.

“I’m not going to ask anything of you tonight,” he swore. “You’ll get warm and sleep in your own bed. I won’t come near you.”

Her brown eyes gazed into his, and with trembling hands, she reached out to him. He saw the same aching desire that he was feeling, mingled with her fears.

“What if I want you to?”

Chapter Four

Emily waited for nearly an hour before Stephen brought up the last of the hot water. He’d added it to the small hip bath, mixing it with snow to bring it to the right temperature. Heaven help her, she’d been fascinated by his muscles straining as he lifted the heavy pots, pouring the water into her bath.

He didn’t have to work this hard, nor had she expected him to assume the role of a servant. When the last of the water had been added, he turned to leave.