Mail Order Meddler by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

on her side facing away from the center of the bed just as she had the night before.  He’d had the courtesy to wear a nightshirt the previous night, but he wasn’t going to do that again.  He preferred to sleep in nothing, and his little bride could just get used to that fact.  Texas summers were too hot for nightshirts.
    He slid between the sheets, debating whether or not he should touch her.  He wanted to.  He wanted to pull her into his arms and make sweet love to her, making her forget that she wanted to be anywhere in the world other than in his arms. 
    Instead, Andy shifted to the center of the bed, and put his arms around her, drawing her back against him.  He didn’t try to kiss her again, but he could feel by the rigidness of her body that she expected him to.  He wrapped his left arm around her waist, not touching her anywhere that she would deem inappropriate and closed his eyes, hoping he’d be able to get at least a little sleep.
    Tracy couldn’t figure out what it was that Andy wanted.  Was he going to try to make love to her?  When he did nothing but hold her in the darkness, she slowly relaxed and let herself enjoy the feeling of being held.  No one had ever touched her in a way that made her feel like she was special.  She’d never really meant anything to anyone.  That’s why his rejection had hurt so badly. 
    Finally, she relaxed enough to sleep, his arm still around her.
    Andy lay awake long after Tracy fell asleep.  He had to find a way to convince her that she’d done the right thing marrying him.  It wasn’t only his siblings who needed her now.  It was him.  He had to get her to stay.  He wanted to kick himself for his rude words of the previous night.
     
    *****
     
    Tracy awoke the next morning to the feeling of a bug against her cheek.  She reached up to swat it away, but instead encountered fingers there.  Her eyes opened wide with surprise.  Andy was waking her.  “Is it time to get up?” she asked, yawning, and hoping he’d let her go. 
    Her nightgown had ridden up during the night, and she could feel the front of his thighs against the back of hers.  Her bottom was barely covered, and she felt something poking her.  She didn’t ask what it was.  She was afraid to. 
    “Not quite time to get up,” he whispered.  “I thought it would be nice to start our day alone together.”  He pulled back a little and turned her onto her back.  “You’re beautiful.”  He hadn’t been able to help noticing how beautiful she was even when she’d gotten off the train dirty and tired.  Now though?  She made his heart beat faster.  She was perfect in his eyes.
    The moon was full and streaming in through the window.  The sun hadn’t come up yet, but she knew that it would shortly.  “I don’t think this is a good idea, Andy.”   She wanted to tell him to kiss her.  She wanted to spend time holding him and stroking him.  It wasn’t a good idea, though, because he didn’t really want her.  He only wanted the food she made.
    “What’s not a good idea?” he asked as his fingers trailed along her cheek.  He leaned down and very lightly brushed his lips against hers.  “This?”  His hand found her breast through her nightgown.  “Or this?”
    Tracy moaned her lips clinging to his.  She knew she should just jump out of bed and run to the kitchen, but he felt so good against her.  How could she leave him?
    She turned to him more fully instead, putting one hand at the back of his neck as he kissed her.  She wanted to stay here with him all day.
    Andy’s hand gently squeezed her breast, his thumb toying with her nipple through the fabric of her nightgown.  She splayed her hands across his back.  Would staying be so bad?  She liked it here.  She liked him when he wasn’t telling her he didn’t want her there. 
    From outside the door, she heard a loud whisper.  “Tracy, it’s time to start breakfast.  I’ll collect the eggs.”