The children she’d tutored that day had been distracted, which made the lessons last much longer. She had forgotten to soak the beans the night before, so they couldn’t have the beans and ham hock she planned for supper, which was a blessing in this heat. Instead, her already unhappy brood had to make due with scrambled eggs and bread quickly purchased from the bakery.
“I hate eating breakfast for supper!” Luke whined when he came to the table.
“Never mind, young man, be thankful you have food for your belly,” Nate said as he strapped Julia-Rose in her chair.
Angel dished up the eggs and bread, and plopped in her seat. She reached over and spooned eggs and buttered bread for Julia-Rose. Putting the food in front of the baby, she sighed as she realized she forgot the coffee. She winced at her stiff muscles as she rose, then poured two cups for her and Nate.
“Honey, have I told you what a good job you’re doing?”
She stared at him with narrowing eyes.
“No, I mean it. The house isn’t perfect, laundry isn’t always on time, and there’s the occasional breakfast for supper.” Nate waved his hand around the table. “But we all appreciate what you’re doing, don’t we, boys?” His sons hadn’t picked up on his enthusiasm, and sat silently. “I think when supper’s over, we’ll clean up the kitchen so you can take a nice, cool bath.”
“Aw, Papa, that’s women’s work,” Matt groused.
“Work is work, and we all help each other as a family to get things done.” He regarded each boy in turn. “Let’s hear no more about it.”
Angel studied Nate, her heart filling. Here sat a man who took life’s rough spots with ease. He was a loving, fair father, and a courteous and caring husband. If she had to be forced into the role of a mail order bride, she couldn’t have found a better man. Her feelings for him became more engaged every day. That would be a good thing if he returned the sentiments, but as kind as he was, he’d never indicated anything stronger for her. Perhaps he wasn’t ready to let go of Amy’s memory.
True to his word, once they’d finished, Nate prompted the boys to clean the kitchen while he washed Julia-Rose, and put her nightgown on. Her fussiness had stopped, but she appeared as tired as Angel, her head on his chest, fingers crammed into her mouth, when he carried her upstairs to bed. As soon as the boys were done, he told them to wash up and go to bed. Angel had taken in and folded clean laundry from the yard, and then read to them while Nate prepared the water for her bath. She came down from the boys’ room as he finished.
He’d dragged the heavy tub into the parlor and placed it in front of the fireplace. Even though it had been a hot, sticky day, he made a small fire, and filled the tub with water.
She gazed longingly at the tub. “Oh, that looks wonderful. I’ll get my things and be right back.”
Shortly she returned with a towel, scented soap and a washcloth. Nate’s long legs ate up the distance between the fireplace and the doorway. He took the bath items from her hands. Slowly, he lowered his head, his lips meeting hers. When she softened in his arms, he grasped her bottom, and pulled her closer to his manhood, already hard.
“Considering how dangerous your bath was the night after you arrived, I think for safety, I should assist you,” he mumbled in her ear, his breath warm and sensuous. Angel’s knees grew weak.
He released her, and slowly unbuttoned her dress. His lips moved over her neck, as he slid the dress over her shoulders, trapping her arms. His blond head moved back and forth as he nibbled and licked at her collarbone, and up to the back of her ear. Angel angled her head back, and he continued to nip, lick and kiss her heated skin.
Nate pushed the dress to her feet, and Angel kicked it away. Nimble fingers lowered the straps of her chemise, revealing her full breasts, the nipples erect with anticipation.
His palms moved languidly over the turgid peaks. “I love how you respond to my touch.” He lowered the chemise, along with her drawers, and Angel stepped out of those as well.
The smell of her perfumed soap drifted on the air, mixed with the scent of Nate, spicy and male, as he drew her to him, and kissed her deeply, slanting her head for better access. They tangled with their tongues, and Angel moaned softly. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and splaying his hand over her bottom, edged her closer. With his other hand, he cupped her breast, rolling the taut nipple.
She loved the sensation of her naked body against his fully clothed one, and how wanton it made her seem. The scratchiness of his shirt and pants rubbed delightfully over her sensitive spots. Where in heaven’s name has my modesty gone?
His lips released her, and he gazed at her through heavy eyelids. “Later.” He lifted her and placed her gently in the tub.
Angel moaned with pleasure as the chilled water surrounded her body, relaxing tired muscles. She reclined against the tub and closed her eyes. Nate took the cloth and scented soap and washed her neck and shoulders, rubbing in slow circles. She leaned forward and he continued his ministrations on her back. He rinsed her skin by squeezing cool water over it, and then licked the wetness from her shoulders. Goose bumps arose on her flesh, and raced down her body, pooling in her center.
His large, but gentle hands washed her breasts, spending a lot of time on her nipples. Angel moved restlessly in the water, squeezing her thighs together.
“Does that feel good?” Nate murmured. His teeth tugged at her earlobe.
“Oh, yes.”
He splashed water on her breasts, his gaze traveling as the water slid down, and dropped off her nipple. Taking a full breast in his mouth, he suckled hard, moving his hand to the curls between her legs. She hugged his head closer, running her fingers through the silky strands of hair, while his busy fingers separated her folds and found the little nub, already stiff.
He flicked it with his finger, and then circled it with his thumb. He slid a finger into her opening, causing Angel to buck. She felt completely shameless, lying there with her legs spread while Nate worked his magic.
“Close your eyes, sweetheart, let me bring you pleasure.” His warm breath, like a familiar perfume, wafted over her face. Another finger joined the first, and with the rhythm of his fingers, combined with the circling of his thumb, Angel felt herself reaching for the explosion she knew would soon erupt.
Her muscles tensed, and he pressed his thumb hard. She jerked and cried out, reaching for him, her hands leaving a wet imprint on his sleeve. He silenced her cries with another deep kiss. Angel lay there panting as the ripples in her body came to an end.
She opened her eyes and looked at him, with a slow, lazy smile. He stood abruptly and hauled her out of the tub. He grabbed the towel and wiped her dry. Angel stood like a rag doll, letting Nate rub the cloth up and down her limp body.