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He resumed making lazy circles on her skin. “She thought she was in love with me. Later, I realized I’d simply turned her head.”
“But you loved her.”
“I did. Very much. She gave me the greatest gift a woman can give a man.”
“I would never have come to Smoke River if it had not been for Cissy’s child,” Winifred said quietly. “We would never have met.”
“Are you glad we did?”
“Yes.”
“When a Klamath or Nez Perce Indian loses a wife, he takes the sister. Did you know that?”
“No, I did not know.”
“That, however, is not why you are here with me now.” He bent to kiss her and she turned into his embrace.
“I want to be with you,” she murmured.
“Are you sure?”
“I am sure.”
He propped himself on one elbow and smoothed his hand over her breasts, her soft nipples, then moved to her belly. When he reached the dark hair between her thighs, she sucked in a breath.
“Are you frightened?”
“Not of you, no.”
“Of what, then?”
“I do not want to conceive.”
His fingers stilled. “Ah. When was your last monthly course?”
“It ended two days ago.”
“Then do not be concerned. It is extremely unlikely that you will conceive.”
He moved his hand again, lower, touching her with his fingers to ease his entry. Her mouth opened in a moan soft as a breath and she moved convulsively under his touch. He couldn’t help smiling. She was responsive beyond his imagining. He wanted her first time to be wondrous for her.
She moved again, stretching toward him, opening her thighs. He put his mouth there and heard her breath catch. He stroked her soft folds with his tongue until she cried out. God, she was wonderful. Wonderful.
She grew wet under his mouth, wet and hot and...female. It was the only word that seemed right, and at this moment it seemed very, very right.
He brought his lips to her temple. “Winifred,” he whispered. “I want you very much. And I want you now.”
He rose over her and caught his breath when she reached her arms around his body and pulled him down to her. He placed her legs farther apart and positioned himself at her entrance.
“Keep your eyes open,” he breathed. “Keep looking into mine.”
He pressed into her. She was moist and tight and he could tell by her breathing that she was waiting for more. He took it slow, moving deeper a scant inch at a time, feeling her flesh stretch to take him.
Her eyes held his. “Do it now,” she murmured. “All of it.”
He drew a breath without moving, blew it out and drew another. Then he thrust hard. She caught her breath on a cry and then she was smiling up into his eyes and arching toward him.
He withdrew partway and thrust again, slowly, heard her whispered “yes,” and lost himself. Her sheath closed around him in spasms and with surprise he realized that she was climaxing. He moved inside her until he stopped thinking and let himself tumble over the edge into the sweetest oblivion he had ever known.
When he came to himself he could not speak. God, he prayed it had been half as good for her.
He rolled away from her, then pulled her into his arms.
“Winifred, what is between us is serious. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know,” she said. Her voice was soft and sleepy and he wanted her all over again.
She ran her fingers down his cheek to his chin. “I think loving someone is beautiful,” she murmured.
He caught her hand and pressed his mouth into her palm, then kissed her lips. “I want you to marry me.”
Her face changed. “I can’t, Zane. I have a career. My teaching. Concerts. Obligations. I’ve worked hard to establish myself. I can’t give that up.”
“Why not? Celeste did. She gave it all up when she married me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I am not Cissy. She was my piano duet partner. She did not teach at the conservatory.”
He swiped the moisture off her cheeks. “I thought it was different for a woman.”
“Perhaps it is for some women,” she said. “But...” Her voice hitched. “But not for me. Could you simply move your medical practice to some other town?”
He blinked at the suggestion. “No, of course I could not. I have a partner, Samuel Graham. He and I built the hospital together. And Smoke River is my home.”
“But it is not my home. My home is in St. Louis. I am a professor of music at the conservatory there, and I cannot just leave that behind. It matters to me.”
