His Brother's Bride by Denise Hunter Page A

legs trembled under her . His eyes darkened to a deep bluish green. Their depths held a mix of sorrow and something else she was afraid to define. His thumb moved along her jaw, blazing a trail of fire. Her heart threatened to escape her chest. She closed her eyes again lest he see the depth of her feelings.

Ten
    His thumb traced the curve of her lip, and she thought she’d surely faint dead away. Why was he doing this? It was sweet torture.
    There were no words, and no world around them, just the touch of his hand and the fire of his gaze. Though she’d never been kissed, she knew this man, her husband, wanted to kiss her now. And she longed for it with all her heart.
    He leaned closer until she could see the tiny flecks of color in his eyes. She wanted to drown in their depths, but more than that, she wanted to feel his lips on hers. Even now, she felt the heat of his breath caress her lips.
    â€œMa?” Adam’s voice echoed down the stairs.
    She froze in place, as did Cade, and her heart beat out an emphatic complaint.
    â€œPa?”
    Cade’s hands fell to his side, and the flesh they’d left went suddenly cold.
    His gaze flitted over hers, and she read the reluctance in them. He walked to the stairs and spoke from there. “What is it?” His voice sounded raspy and mildly irritated. Was he as disappointed as she at having been interrupted?
    â€œI got a question ’bout heaven.”
    Cade tossed her a look, and she suddenly felt silly standing alone in the middle of the room.
    Before she could move, he went up the stairs. The moment was gone, and she feared there would never be another like it.
    That night, she pulled out her diary from its secret spot and put her thoughts on paper.
    Dear Diary,
    I feel compelled to broach a subject I have avoided all these weeks here in Cedar Springs. It’s silly of me, but somehow I felt if I didn’t write my feelings in these pages, they would just disappear. I’m speaking of my feelings for my husband.
    Such a whirlwind of emotions are even now flooding my mind. Moments ago, I was so angry with him I could have screamed.
    I have never seen him angry like he was tonight, and as much as it distressed me, I realize how different his anger was from Uncle Stewart’s. I had no fear tonight of harm coming to my own person. Still, his anger bothered me in a different way. I think it’s because I care so much what he thinks of me. And to think that he was disappointed in me was most distressing.
    But I couldn’t let him think as badly of me as he did. In his anger, he’d said things that weren’t justified, hence my own temper flared. But somehow, just a kind word and a touch from him, and I was pliable as dough.
    My face heats as I write this, but, Diary, tonight he nearly kissed me. My heart has still not recovered, nor has my deep disappointment that we were interrupted before his lips met mine. Has another woman ever felt so overwhelmed at her husband’s touch? I wonder if it’s inappropriate to feel so much desire.
    Well, these questions won’t be answered tonight, and right now, I long to curl up on my bed and dream sweet dreams.
    â§
    Cade pulled his chair back with a scrape and let his weary body fall onto it. He could hear Emily at the stove scraping breakfast from the skillet. Next to him, Adam rested his chubby cheek against his palm, his eyes closed against the morning.
    Cade rubbed his own eyes. Sleep had been slow in coming last night on account of his confused thoughts. By the time he’d answered all Adam’s questions about heaven and hell, Emily had gone to bed. A part of him had been relieved, but another part was disappointed. He’d wanted to kiss her, no denying that. He was starting to cotton to her, and there was no denying that either.
    He picked up the pitcher and filled their cups with fresh milk.
    Was it so wrong of him to want his new wife? To have feelings for her? Those