Cautious Lover Read Free Page B

She could feel him relaxing.
    "Honey, you don't know how good this is," he murmured. "All week I look forward to getting back here and unwinding with you."
    "I'm glad."
    "So tell me what you've been doing this past week," Jess invited lazily.
    "Not much. Just the usual." Elly tried to nestle closer. It seemed to her that Jess's arm tightened fractionally but not much. He seemed content to sit like this for the rest of the evening. "We lead a very quiet life around here during the winter, Jess." She took a breath. "Are you sure it's not going to be too quiet for you ? '
    "I know what I'm doing, Elly . I usually do."
    She inclined her head, staring into the flames. "I believe you. I just wish I knew what I was doing."
    "Stop worrying and leave everything to me." He lifted his hand to toy with her braids.
    Elly waited hopefully, but his touch was clearly just another absent caress, not the prelude to taking down her hair. She sighed inwardly, knowing that if she didn't take the initiative, they would sit here all evening like this. Deliberately Elly put her fingertips on Jess's thigh. Jess didn't seem to notice. Elly took another swallow of brandy to fortify herself .
    "You were right about the fog," she said, a little startled that the words sounded so husky in her throat. "It's very heavy tonight.''
    "Umm." Jess leaned his head back against the cushions, his eyes closing in obvious contentment.
    "It makes things cozy, don't you think?" Good grief. If he fell asleep on her she would know for certain there was no hope of any passion in the forthcoming marriage. Nervously Elly began drawing tiny patterns on Jess's thigh. Through the fabric of his well-tailored slacks she could feel the heat of his body.
    "Cozy? I hadn't thought of it that way, but I suppose it does. During the winter months we'll have to promote the inn as a quiet, cozy retreat. A place far away from the hustle of the city."
    "Romantic," Elly suggested tentatively. "You could promote it as a romantic hideaway on a windswept coast. Doesn't that sound appropriate?"
    "Maybe I should let you handle the advertising," he said with a trace of humor.
    "Maybe you should." She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around her glass. Then she let her hand slide down along the inside of his leg. Simultaneously she turned her face into his chest. It was obvious she was going to have to be more aggressive. "You smell good."
    "Not likely. I haven't showered since this morning." Jess still sounded incredibly unconcerned.
    He stirred faintly, though, just enough to let Elly know that he wasn't completely unaware of her physically. Encouraged, she put her glass down on the table at the end of the sofa, leaning intimately across Jess as she did so. When she finished the small task, she took advantage of her position to increase the closeness between them. She put her hand on the first button of his shirt.
    "No, really, you do smell good," she insisted, resting her cheek on his shoulder as she fiddled with the button. " Warm and sexy.''
    "I had no idea what a lack of a shower could do for a man," Jess said dryly. He shifted a little. She couldn't tell if he was trying to put more distance between them or if he was just restless. "Easy honey. I don't want to spill this good brandy."
    "There's plenty more where that came from." She succeeded in undoing the button at last. Her fingers strayed inside the opening of his white shirt. Elly caught her breath as she felt the crisp, curly hair. Impulsively she turned her head and put her lips to the base of his throat.
    " Elly , honey—"
    "I've missed you this week, Jess." She kissed him again, this time on his jaw. Her fingers slipped around his neck.
    "I missed you, too," he whispered.
    Elly thought she heard him sigh softly into her hair. Emboldened, she leaned more heavily into him, letting him feel the shape of her soft, unconfined breasts on his hard chest. His fingers tightened on her shoulder, and now she was sure he was no longer