Page 26 of The Gold Rush Bride

Barnaby turned and pulled his sweater over his head. Then he stepped out of his pants, having already discarded his boots. Finally, he took off his long johns and stepped into the water. He leaned back. “This is the life. I don’t believe I’ve ever enjoyed a bath more.”

“It is wonderful. I can feel my muscles relaxing as we speak.” She’d placed her washcloth over the rim of the metal tub before she leaned her back against it. Then she slid down until only her head and knees were out of the water. “I definitely could get used to this.”

“So could I. But our little stove can’t handle much more than a pan of water to wash our face and hands.”

“We can use the fire for the oven, but the first buckets would get cold before we heat the last ones. Hmm. I guess it’s just not practical.”

For the next fifteen minutes, they were silent...both of them taking advantage of the hot water.

Sadie soaked until her fingers wrinkled. Then she sat up and washed her body followed by her hair. Rinsing it would be a problem. She reclined in the tub, rinsing out as much soap as she could, and then used the pan and the water in the extra bucket to complete the process.

She wrapped her head with a towel and squeezed as much water out as possible. Then she wrapped a towel around her body.

She stepped out of the tub, turned her back to Barnaby, and dried her body.

When she was done, she dropped the wet towels to the floor near the bathtub. Then she pulled out a clean shirt and put it on before setting the carpetbag on the floor.

Barnaby turned around and gazed at her. “Why are you getting dressed?”

“Because I don’t want to be naked or in bed when they come to get the tubs. Aren’t you going to tell them to come get them?”

“I am.” He smiled. “Later. Much later. For now, I’d like to explore what is under that shirt.”

Her face heated as she unbuttoned the shirt. “What do you want me to do? Take it off?”

“Let me.” He leisurely slid one sleeve down her shoulder and then the other.

The sleeves stopped at her elbow.

He pushed them down off her arms and let the shirt slide to the floor in a puddle around her feet.

“You are totally mine now.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer. Then he lowered his head and his lips met hers.

His kiss was gentle, and then he pressed his tongue against the seam of her lips.

“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide.

He entered her mouth with his tongue. Then he was exploring her. Tasting her and urging her to taste him.

She touched her tongue to his, liking his taste of coffee and the gravy from the stew he’d eaten.

He pulled back. “You’re amazing, Sadie. I can’t believe you’re mine.”

She furrowed her brows. “Who else’s would I be?”

He chuckled. Then he bent, picked her up into his arms and deposited her in the middle of the bed. “We’re going to take this slow. I want to get to know you and your body. I want to learn the things you like...and for you to get used to my body.”

She ran her hands along his arms, feeling the muscles quiver at her touch. “You’re so much bigger than I am.”

“Don’t worry about that,mo ghra, we were made for each other. Trust me, okay?”

Sadie nodded. “I trust you, Barnaby.”

He came up on one elbow beside her. Then he ran his fingers lightly down her arms, over her chest and her stomach, carefully avoiding her breasts.

Her stomach fluttered, and the center of her femininity throbbed. “Barnaby, what are you doing to me?”

“I’m learning what you like. How do you feel, Sadie?”