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Maddie attempted to draw in a breath of air, but her lungs seemed to be locked tight. The thrill of being in Lucky’s arms was like coming home after trekking through a snowstorm. “I’ve missed you holding me at night,” she whispered.
“I’ve missed holding you at night.”
His gaze had gone to the bed, and Maddie knew why. She rested her cheek against his chest. Before leaving her with Smitty, Bass had left her many other places, and more than once that had been with one of the women who’d been smitten by his black hair and blue eyes. Lately she’d been remembering the winter she’d spent with Roseanne and the houseful of women similar to those in the hull of the Mary Jane. Though once repulsed by what had taken place in their bedrooms, experiencing such things with Lucky had taken on an intriguing appeal.
He leaned back and frowned at her, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking about.
They weren’t married, even though people still thought they were, but those women hadn’t been married, either.
“Maddie?”
She didn’t want a man taking what was rightfully hers, telling her what to do, but she didn’t want to be alone, either. Lucky wasn’t like other men, hadn’t been from the very beginning, and there were things she wanted to share with him. Like kissing. That was something she sincerely wanted to do again.
A thrill shot through her, and Maddie took a chance. Stretching onto her toes, she pressed her lips to his.
He didn’t move—not even his lips twitched beneath hers—and Maddie’s heart threatened to stop beating right then and there. She wasn’t a quitter, though, not when it was something she wanted, so she reached up, grabbed the sides of his head and pressed her lips harder against his.
A smile formed on his lips; she felt it, and her heart took to racing. She grinned, too, and then giggled.
“Aw, darling,” he said as his arms wrapped around her. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Kiss me,” she suggested.
He lifted her feet off the floor and spun around in a wide circle until they were both laughing. “Like this?” he asked as his lips danced over hers playfully.
Growing dizzier by the second, even though he’d stopped spinning, Maddie laughed. “I didn’t know there were so many ways to kiss.”
“Too many to count,” he said, nibbling on her bottom lip.
It was amazing, and made her want more. She grasped his shoulders, pulling herself onto her toes again, and parted her lips. His parted, too, and she swept her tongue inside his mouth, as he’d done earlier. A quiver raced through her, and she nestled in closer, completely swept away by the game of tag happening between their tongues.
The game was utterly fascinating, as was the way his hands roamed her back. Every caress, every swirl caused other things to happen inside her. Her nipples tightened at being pressed against his shirtfront, and deep down, in her most secret spot, heat spiraled as if there was a miniature whirlpool inside of her.
A squawk along with a gruff voice stating, “Don’t mean to interrupt,” brought everything to an abrupt stop.
On the outside. Inside Maddie was still as worked up as she’d ever been.
Lucky’s nose bumped hers as they both glanced toward the doorway. To her own surprise, no hint of embarrassment rose up as Jack, along with Homer, entered the tent. There was no room, Maddie suspected, for such feelings when her entire being was overflowing with joy.
“The bird told me you found gold,” Jack said.
“She sure enough did,” Lucky answered, hugging her to his side with one arm. “Come take a look.”
Arm in arm they walked to the table, and the thrill of the gold specks glistening in the pan was ten times greater this time than when she’d first seen them. Especially when Lucky kissed the top of her head. She glanced up, and the gleam in his eyes was enough to make her joy overflow. Though she covered her mouth with one hand, her happiness let a laugh escape.
Lucky laughed, too, and hugged her again while Jack whooped.
“That’s some mighty fine color, there, girl,” Jack said, examining the pan closer. “Mighty fine color.” He turned his wrinkled, smiling face to Lucky. “Looks like we need to get that sluice built right quick-like.”
“Looks like we do,” Lucky agreed, tugging her closer yet. “Looks like we do.”
“Well, let’s get at it,” Jack said.
“Gold,” Homer squawked. “Gold.”
“Blabbermouth,” Maddie muttered. The men laughed again, but a tainted and dark memory slipped into her thoughts to destroy her bliss. “What if the men across the river see us?”
