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“It’s a very nice room” She looked around and walked over to a tall chest of drawers, mostly because it was the opposite corner of the rooloved hand over its oak wood “It’s good solid furniture”

When she turned, Lorna found Benteen watching her arm amusement “The bed is solidly built, too,” he murmured

A scarlet heat burned her face and neck Nothing she had learned at Miss Hilda’s School for Young Ladies had told her the proper behavior and procedure on her wedding night She knew all about setting a fine table and arranging flowers and e at all about as expected of her on this night of all nights

“I’m sorry, Lorna I shouldn’t have eized, amusement continued to deepen his voice

“I don’t knohat to do,” she adhtly bowed head “You’ll have to tellroom first? Or …”

When she hesitantly lifted her gaze, Benteen was shaking his head to the side She thought it was in answer to her question When he started across the roo roohtly, his hand cupped her chin

“I’ve waited a long tiroom”

Her heart was beating so fast that she couldn’t speak She had been waiting for tonight, too Not dreading it as a proper girl should do, she realized She wasn’t afraid of what Benteen was going to do to her She wanted it to happen If anything frightened her, it was this clawing need to find out what it was like, because passion was so respectable women shouldn’t feel

There was a wild fluttering inside while Lorna watched the strong line of his mouth make its descent toward hers A flare of excited panic held her completely still as his mouth touched her own Itthe stiff curve of her lips until they softened under his gentle insistence

Then the kiss was ending and Benteen was slowly lifting his head, studying her expression with eyes that were three-quarter-lidded Lorna hoped he couldn’t see what she was thinking or feeling A glint of satisfaction appeared, and she drew a breath of relief that she hadn’t been too forward

He took her by the hand and led her to the bed, his gaze never breaking contact with hers Before he let go of her hand, Benteen slipped off the glove and took her other hand to do the same There was a controlled deliberation in his actions as he laid them on the stand beside the bed and turned down the covers

When he faced her again, Lorna was captivated by the quiet strength etched in his features, a solid assurance that he knew exactly what he was doing It helped, because she didn’t For a small second, she felt some of his confidence Then his hands touched the first button of her gown, and the sensation fled She dropped her gaze to the starched-stiff collar of his sh

irt, so white against the tanned column of his neck

All her senses becaers,no atteown With each shallow breath, Lorna caught the scent of bay rum fro in her ears at a forbidden tempo, too excited by the removal of her dress She closed her eyes

Layer by layer, her petticoats were reown All that was left was her ches Lorna hadn’t arments, she raised her lashes to look at him in uneasy curiosity