Mail-Order Groom (13 page)

He lifted it. “Would you like a glass of water?”

Appearing lost in thought, Savannah shook her head. “No.”

Hastily Adam thought harder. “A chair? You don't have to stroll around in here.”
Especially given the graceful, alluring way you're doing so
. “I'm sure the settee is very comfortable.”

Mentioning it was a mistake, though. Suddenly all he could think about was lowering Savannah onto that settee and kissing her. Unfastening her gown's tiny buttons, revealing her smooth skin, making himself better acquainted with all her tantalizing curves.

Oblivious to his imaginings—and still seeming lost in thought—Savannah spared the cushioned seat a glance. “No.”

“A blanket, then? A wrap? Are you cold?”

“No.” Shaking her head, Savannah moved to the bedstead. She trailed her fingertips over its fancy quilted coverlet, then sat on the plump mattress. She gave an experimental bounce.

A delighted smile crossed her face.

Adam nearly groaned aloud. Savannah could not possibly know the kinds of notions such a move put in a man's head. She was an innocent—no matter what secrets she might be hiding. Still, her energetic bouncing called to mind something entirely
wicked
to him. He felt hard-pressed to stop staring as she bounced a little more vigorously, making her bosom jiggle enticingly.

Somehow, he made himself look away. “I'm sorry I don't have more entertainment to offer,” he said awkwardly. “If I could offer you a book to read, or some other diversion, I would—”

“That won't be necessary.” Savannah slid off the bed, the whisper of her skirts against the coverlet sounding loud in the stillness. She fixed him with an alluring, boldly challenging gaze. “As I said, all I need is you. Especially tonight.”

Her words were as close to an outright invitation as any decent man could expect to receive from a respectable woman. If Adam had entertained any doubts about her intentions, the look she cast him next would have laid them to rest for certain.

Savannah wanted to be with him, Adam realized with a fresh jolt of eagerness. She wanted him. But
he
would have to resist her. It was the only responsible thing to do.

Desperately he gestured at the window, still hoping to find a suitable diversion. He felt, somehow, that he should have earned a medal for being capable of rational thought at all, given how preoccupied he was with Savannah's
nearness. Her softness. Her warmth and charm and overall allure.

“The view is nice,” he managed to say.

“Indeed, it is,” Savannah said. “I heartily approve.”

But she wasn't looking outside at the nighttime view of Avalanche, Adam noticed. She was looking, instead, directly at
him
. She was looking at him, in fact, the same way a hungry kitten might have viewed a bowl of cream. Intently. Curiously. And with a clear sense of anticipation.

Adam didn't know where that anticipation came from, since he was sure Savannah was inexperienced in carnal matters. Only
he
truly understood the togetherness he wanted them to share. But he also understood desire when he saw it…and seeing it reflected in Savannah's gaze made him quiver in his boots.

“I'll get you a glass of water,” he blurted.

But Savannah stopped him before he'd so much as lifted the carafe. “Thank you, but I'd rather…try kissing again.”

Adam frowned, knowing he must have misheard her.

“Especially that
other
kind of kissing,” she specified.

She sounded breathless. Adam felt that way—deprived of breath and sensible thought alike. How had he gotten in this fix? “You should go back to your room,” he said roughly.

Otherwise, I might find myself unable to resist you at all
.

“Kissing
you
again,” she specified, as though his frown owed itself to some romantic confusion—and as though he hadn't just mentioned her leaving. “Kissing you in that special way.”

That special way.
Kissing Savannah
had
been special. Adam remembered the breathy sound she'd made when he'd pulled her nearer. He recalled the inexpert but endearing way she'd returned his kisses. He thought about those few
moments of intimate contact as she'd opened her mouth beneath his and allowed him entry.

“I'd like that, too,” he said in a husky tone. Frowning, he cleared his throat. “But the night is getting late.”

It required all the discipline he possessed to put his hand to Savannah's back and usher her to the hotel room door.

Her perplexed expression didn't help matters. Neither did the stubborn way she slapped her palm on the door, then confronted him with a wide-eyed look. “But… Don't you
want
to kiss me again? Was I so terrible at it that you—”

“No.” Anguished, Adam closed his eyes. “Don't say that.”

“—didn't enjoy it? Because with practice, I'm sure I can improve.” Savannah set her chin, giving him a direct look. “I can be very diligent when I set my mind to something.”

Something like…driving you witless with desire,
Adam heard—but only in his own mind. Because that's exactly what Savannah seemed to have set her mind to accomplishing tonight. This wedding night was going to be the death of him. He would expire, surely as sunrise, from unmet desire. “I have
no
doubt you can be diligent.” He opened his eyes on an unforgettable view of Savannah's vivacious face, golden hair and downturned mouth. He longed to curve her lips in a smile…to hear her sigh in his arms again. “I'm trying to do the right thing. I promise I am. But I'm only a man. I can't—”

“Of course you can.” Unexpectedly Savannah smiled. “If you're concerned about your injuries… Well, I'm sure that whatever you can manage in your condition will be just fine. The important thing is that we begin our marriage correctly. And passionately.” Her cheeks colored pink. “You're well enough for that, aren't you? You've seemed quite strong all day today.”

She thought he was hesitant to kiss her because of his hurt ribs, sore head and gunshot wound? But Adam had been healing quickly. Besides, over the years he'd been involved in many confrontations like the one with Roy Bedell—usually with more providential results, but all the same… He felt fine now.

If being tortured by wanting Savannah—and not having her—could be counted as
fine
.

“I'm very strong,” he said. “That's not the problem.”

“Then what is?” Savannah wrinkled her nose. The lamplight danced across her features, making her appear both impish and alluring. “Is it the way I pulled away from you before? Because when things don't go exactly right the first time, that's just another reason to try again, isn't it? Here. Hold still.”

Daringly she raised herself and pressed her mouth to his. Caught by surprise, Adam stood as immobile as a board while the flowery fragrance of her soap washed over him. Helplessly he savored the soft flutter of her hands against his chest. He imagined all the other places that Savannah might touch him—with that same gentleness and care with which she did everything.

At the thought of it alone, Adam groaned.

“Oh! I've done it again. I've hurt you, haven't I?” Looking aggrieved, Savannah put her hands to the sides of his face. Keenly she examined him. “I'm terribly sorry. I don't know how I keep making a hash of things this way, but I apologize immensely. Honestly, I do. I hope you'll forgive me. Please.”

Paradoxically it was her use of such politeness that finally broke him. Savannah's overt civility was so like
her
, such a part of every good thing he associated with her, that Adam couldn't bear it any longer. He had to give in.

“You could only hurt me by staying away.” He raised his
hand to hers, then clasped her fingers in his. Surrendering at last, he gazed into her eyes—undoubtedly wearing an expression as sappy as his feelings. “All
I
want is
you,
Mrs. Corwin. Now and forever.”

And even though that couldn't be—even though they could never have
now and forever
between them—it pleased him to admit the truth to her. He'd think about the rest later.

“Oh.” She blushed prettily. “That's very romantic. Thank you very, very much. But now that we're married, you simply
must
call me—”

“Yes?” Breath held in anticipation, Adam waited. Would this be the moment that Savannah trusted him completely?

“—Savannah. Please call me Savannah.”

It was. Humbled and awed, Adam felt his fingers shake as he went on holding her hand. To cover his lapse in self-control, he squeezed her hand more assuredly. “I will. Thank you.”

“But you look so solemn!” She laughed, then nudged him in his flat midsection. “Go on. Let me hear you say it.”

Despite her laughter and her urgings, Savannah appeared almost as grave as he felt. She
was
trusting him, Adam realized. She was trusting him absolutely, with her well-being and her heart alike. That made his situation all the more precarious…
and
all the more irresistible.

Buoyed by her trust, he smiled. “Very well…Savannah.”

She gave a girlish squeal of approval. “Well done!”

“Savannah,” Adam repeated in a hoarse tone. Her mouth tempted him, so he simply gave in and kissed her. “Savannah.”

She sighed with satisfaction, so he kissed her again.

“Savannah,” he said, enjoying the sound and intimacy of her name on his lips. “Savannah, Savannah, Savannah…”

Before he fully realized it, Adam had drawn her into his arms again. He punctuated each breathy repetition of her name with another kiss, feeling his whole body lean toward hers with increasing urgency. He wanted her, now more than ever.

But he had to resist. He had to resist…for a reason he couldn't quite recall. Not while he had Savannah in his arms, warm and curvy and smiling up at him with an adorably contented expression. She had no idea, it occurred to him with roguish insight, exactly how contented she
might
be feeling, very soon…if he had his way. He knew he could make her feel good.

“Just to be clear.” She blinked up at him as though to reorder her thoughts, then glanced away with a demure expression. “Now that we're finally married, I—” She broke off, fiddling with his coat buttons with trembling fingers. “I want you to know, I'm fully prepared for whatever happens between us tonight.”

“You are?” Lightly he stroked her cheek. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, sending his imagination spiraling. There were all sorts of
happenings
they might share, both on the big four-poster bed behind them and beyond. Adam's body tautened with anticipation. His muscles flexed in readiness. He would be gentle with her. Very gentle. And considerate and passionate…

“I promise I won't get skittish again, like I did before,” Savannah vowed, her gaze earnest on his. “I assure you that I'm more than ready to accept whatever you have to offer me.”

He had everything to offer her.
Everything
. If only he
could allow her to take it. If only doing so wouldn't be a violation of the same trust she'd just given him. If only…

If only her sincere admission hadn't touched him in a way he'd thought he'd become fully hardened against. But it had. He
needed
her faith in him, Adam found, almost as much as he needed her. Savannah had become as essential to him as water or air.

With a fond smile, he drew back—the better to drink in the sight of her…and remember her. For later. “All I have to offer is myself,” he confessed. Then something else occurred to him. He gestured around the room. “Well, that, plus a glass of water, a seat on the settee, a view of the town outside our window—”

“Why, Adam!” Smiling just as fondly, Savannah shook her head. “Don't you know? This situation
definitely
doesn't call for such formality between us. If you're going to be a real Wild West hero, you simply
must
learn what's appropriate.”

“Ah.” At her joke, his heart lightened. He arched his brow. “And what is appropriate in this situation, then?”

“For me to tell you that
I
only have love to offer you,” she said. “Well, that, and my nest egg of savings to share.”

At her mention of it, Adam sharpened his gaze. Until today, outside the hotel dining room, she'd never confirmed the money she supposedly had secreted away. Of course Savannah had mentioned that money in her letters to Roy Bedell, he knew, but only in passing—only enough to spark Roy's thieving interest.

Reminded of the Bedell brothers and all the trouble Savannah was in, Adam frowned anew. With Curtis Bedell so clearly on their trail, time might be running out for them.

Already the gang had been more patient than any thinking person had cause to expect, given the Bedells' notorious
history. Surely they wouldn't wait much longer to make their move.

But now, tonight, there was nothing Adam could do about that. Nothing except wait and wonder…and try to keep watch over Savannah. Deliberately, he shoved away his worries, then smiled as Savannah kept talking.

“And that if that's enough for you,” she went on, “then I'd say the two of us are luckier than most people ever get to be.”

“Well, now that's true.” He held her in his arms again “Love is more than enough for me.”
If only I could keep it
…

Savannah nestled comfortably against him. “Excellent.”

At the emphatic way she said it, Adam smiled more broadly. The vigor with which Savannah approached life never failed to astonish him. Neither did her openness and enthusiasm for the physical aspects of marriage. He hadn't expected that, but he felt delighted by it, all the same.