The light from the fire in the cast-iron stove danced copper over Jesse’s naked, bronzed body. He stilled as he stood above her, his chest rising and falling, his eyes dark with passion and just a little wild, his hair mussed from her hands. And in that moment June knew with her whole being she could love this man. A raw ache swelled in her to have him, hold him, know him. Keep him. His gaze holding hers, he reached out and removed the hair tie from the end of her braid. He loosened her curls around her bare shoulders. “I thought you were an angel when I came around in your bed, you know that?” he whispered. She undid her bra as he spoke, and her breasts swelled free, nipples tight. He placed his large, calloused hands on her shoulders and guided her onto her back as he lowered himself over her. He cupped her breast, rasped a rough thumb over her nipple. Something tightened low in her belly. She reached up and placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t talk,” she said. She didn’t want to think, and talk made caution whisper darkly around the edges of her consciousness.
