The Thawing of Mara (17 page)

It was a long, slow process and Sin was teaching her to enjoy every minute of it. Meanwhile his hands were caressing her, wandering over her hips and thighs and gliding over her spine. Their touch aroused her at an unhurried tempo.

The intoxicating pleasure of his possessing kisses was a heady thing. Gradually they sent raw desire spreading through her veins, heating her flesh to a fever warmth. Sin molded her according to his will. Nothing registered in her mind but the aching needs and wants he was instilling in her.

Unerring fingers found the buttons of her blouse, and she shifted on his lap in faint protest. Not forcing the issue, Sin bent his head to kiss her throat. His hand covered a breast, the rounded flesh swelling firm under his touch. The silk of her blouse was no barrier, she realized.

Sensing her acquiescence, Sin efficiently but unhurriedly unfastened the buttons. Seconds later, the lacy engineering of her bra was disposed of and her soft flesh was spilling into his hand. His lips made a breathtaking investigation of the new territory. Dizzying excitement thundered through her veins as she shuddered from sheer rapture.

It was a new world for her, with fresh discoveries to be made at every turn. His power over her grew stronger instead of weaker during the prolonged exposure. When his mouth returned to take passionate command of her lips, she submitted, surrendered and returned his fire.

The innocent lovemaking showed her the glorious promise of the real thing, made her eager to know the wonder of it, but her teacher was repeating the same lessons, wisely not rushing her. And Mara didn't object.

The chimes from the clock sounded again. She had grown used to their softly ringing tones, having mixed them up several times with the sound of bells ringing in her head. But they distracted Sin's attention.

His mouth lingered on her lips an instant longer. Then his hand was stroking her cheek as he drew away. His eyes were darkly blue as they met the passionately disturbed light in hers. He took a deep breath, seemingly in an attempt to control his own inclinations.

"I promised Adam I'd have you home by ten," he told her, and glanced briefly at his watch. "That gives us only half an hour."

Ten o'clock. Adam. Promise. The words echoed through her mind, its thought processes slowed. While Mara tried to surface from the irresistible tide of desire, Sin began fixing her clothes, fastening clasps and buttons. Irritation born of her unsatisfied condition made her more shakily off his lap.

"Next I suppose that you'll tell me you aren't going to complete your seduction of me because of the other promise you gave Adam." Her voice was remarkably steady as she released her frustration in a taunting accusal.

Sin was on his feet, taking her by the shoulders and turning her to face him. He caught her downcast chin between his fingers and tilted it back to examine her face. Her eyes glimmered with mingled mutiny and regret.

"I have no intention of ever seducing you, Mara," he told her, and pain stabbed through her with the sharp breath she took. The firm line of his sensual mouth softened, "I will never persuade you to let me make love to you against your will."

Realizing how much of her innermost feelings she had betrayed, Mara turned away from him, mumbling, "I'll get my coat." She walked swiftly to the hall tree on which Sin had hung her coat.

He followed but made no attempt to help her on with her coat as he took his own from a hook. "Instead of taking the car, I'll walk you home," he said. "I think we can both benefit from the cold air."

Mara didn't argue. She readily admitted to herself that she needed something to cool her flesh and her senses. She couldn't find any consolation in the fact that Sin apparently felt the same way.

Once they were both outside the cottage, Sin produced a flashlight from his pocket. The brilliant beam picked out the track through the woods and led the way. They followed it in silence, the frosty air nipping at their faces and turning their breath into vaporous clouds.

When the lights of the house came in sight, Sin spoke. "I'll be leaving for Baltimore tomorrow. I won't be back until next weekend, probably very late Friday night."

Mara continued walking toward the back door, staring straight ahead. "Don't forget to leave a list of what you'll be needing."

The flashlight went off as his hand stopped her and turned her to face him. "Don't forget what you've learned."

His mouth crushed down on hers, hard and punishing. Its fierceness stole her breath and inflamed her senses. The walk had chilled none of her desire. Just as quickly as it had begun, the kiss was ended and Sin was striding into the night.

Chapter Nine

THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY Mara had finished washing the breakfast dishes and was pottering around the kitchen. She didn't stray far from the window above the sink. Sin would have arrived at the cottage sometime last night, she knew. Her anticipation at seeing him again was running high, partly with eagerness and partly with apprehension.

As she went past the window, her gaze was drawn beyond its panes. A familiar silver-gray car was stopping in the driveway to park beside the house. Her heart gave a little leap and she turned guiltily away from the window. She didn't want to admit that she had been watching for him.

Quickly she sought an excuse for being in the kitchen. Taking a mug from the cupboard, she walked to the coffeepot. As the car door slammed, Mara kept her back to the door so she could pretend she didn't know he was coming. The thick walls of the house prevented her from hearing his footsteps. She could only wait for the knock on the door.

Sin entered without knocking. The only advance warning Mara had was the sound of the doorknob turning, and in the next second he was in the kitchen. She turned with a start to be regarded lazily by the cloudy darkness of his blue eyes.

"Hello, Mara." The warmth of his low greeting was disturbing.

Unable to respond naturally, she turned back to the coffeepot. "I was just going to pour a cup of coffee. Would you like some?" Her polite inquiry was stilted, almost as betraying as the knocking of her knees.

"No, I don't want any coffee." The sound of his voice came closer and Mara knew he was walking toward her. Her silly heart skipped a beat, then rocketed when his hands slid around her waist. "And neither do you."

The breath she took became more of a gasp as Sin nuzzled the side of her neck. "Where's Adam?" He spoke against her skin.

"In the other room." Her voice wavered under the spell of his caress.

Sin turned her sideways in his arms, her shoulder against his chest and her hip pressed against the strong column of his thighs. Curving a hand along the side of her neck, he tilted her chin with his thumb. His mouth closed over hers, parting her lips with sweet intensity. When the coolness of uncertainty ended and Mara responded, the kiss lingered for an instant before Sin raised his head. His thumb made a feather tracing of her warm, trembling lips.

"I told you not to forget," he murmured. He released her from the intoxicating circle of his arms to take hold of here hand. "Let's find Adam."

"Why?" Mara asked in confusion.

But Sin didn't bother to answer as he led her from the kitchen. Adam was in his study, taking notes from the diary of a rebel soldier. He glanced up when they entered, his gaze dancing to Mara's hand held firmly in Sin's.

"Hello, Sin." He seemed not at all surprised by the scene he was viewing.

"Have you made any plans for today, Adam?" Sin asked, ignoring Mara's attempt to wiggle her hand free.

"No. Should I?" Her father was trying hard not to smile.

"I'm taking Mara away for the day," Sin explained further. "I've never been to the Amish country around Lancaster, so I'm going to make use of her services as a guide. We'll be gone for the better part of the day and I know she won't want to leave you alone that long."

Mara stared openmouthed at the announcement. She couldn't think of even a halfhearted protest. She was being swept along in the tidal force of Sin's presence and had no desire to save herself.

"No problem," Adam assured them with a shrug. "Sam Jenkins will come over. Since he's retired, he welcomes any excuse to get out of the house."

"Give him a call while Mara gets ready," Sin suggested, and glanced at her. "How long will it take you? I'll give you ten minutes and more." Before Mara could take a breath, she was being turned toward the staircase in the foyer.

With the ten-minute time limit, she didn't have time to consider whether going with Sin was something she wanted to do. She changed out of her slacks into a wool skirt of winter white and pulled a complementing sweater of French-blue angora over her head. Pausing only to fluff her hair with her fingertips, she hurried back downstairs.

"Ready?" Sin had her coat and scarf in hand.

Mara glanced at her father, who answered the unspoken question in her dark eyes. "Sam is on his way over here. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"There's vegetable stew in the refrigerator. Have Sam warm it for your lunch," she instructed as Sin helped her on with her coat. "And there's some cold cuts for sandwiches."

"We'll find plenty to eat," Adam replied. "Sam is good at raiding a refrigerator."

The arm around Mara's shoulders firmly guided her to the front door so that no more time was wasted with last-minute instructions. Outside, Sin walked her to the passenger door of his car.

"I'll drive," he explained, helping her inside. "That way I'll have something to concentrate on besides you." His look was darkly blue and meaningful, throwing her more off balance than she already was.

Trying to hide the exciting confusion she felt, Mara glanced back at the house when Sin slid behind the wheel of the car. "Do you think Adam will be all right?"

"Instead of thinking about Adam, maybe you should be wondering if you'll be all right…with me." His glance was teasing.

"Will I?" Mara was stunned by the provocative question that came from her lips.

This time when his gaze met hers, it was quietly considering, a bit probing in its attention. "It all depends on whether you're better at being a guide than a distraction." His gaze swung away from her as he turned the car onto the graveled road. "We'll soon find out if you're as knowledgeable about the Pennsylvania Dutch as you were about Gettysburg."

"I do know the term 'Pennsylvania Dutch' has nothing to do with Holland. They're descended from German immigrants. The word 'Dutch' is an American corruption of 'deutsch', and 'Deutschland' is the German homeland," Mara responded with an almost euphoric feeling of self-confidence that was strange under the circumstances.

"That's a good start." Sin flashed a brief smile in her direction.

Mara looked out the window at the crisp blue day. It was too perfect to be marred by anything. The feeling remained with her throughout the day.

When they arrived at the Lancaster area, she guided him onto the side roads, away from the commercialism of the main highway. The information she relayed about the area was never given as a means of defense; it flowed naturally and freely from her.

They lunched at a local restaurant specializing in Pennsylvania Dutch dishes. Even when Sin mildly flirted with her, she never felt threatened by his advances. On tours in the area, they walked hand in hand or he curved an arm around her shoulders. The action seemed part of the natural order of things.

After midafternoon Sin turned the car toward Gettysburg and home. Mara sat close to him, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting against his shoulder. Contentment warmed and relaxed her.

Sam Jenkins was just leaving when they arrived at the house. Adam insisted he hadn't been aware of Mara's absence; his day had been too full. It was Adam who invited Sin to stay for dinner, an invitation that Mara seconded. Sin didn't need any persuading to accept.

Afterward her father and Sin played chess in the living room while Mara washed the dishes. Adam had just scored a checkmate when she entered the living room. He was leaning back in his wheelchair, a knowing smile on his face.

"I don't think your mind was on the game, Sin," her father declared. "That win was almost too easy."

"You could be right," Sin acknowledged, his gaze sliding to Mara as if she was somehow the cause of his loss.
 

She hadn't even been in the room, so it seemed illogical that she was to blame for his lack of attentiveness to the game. Still, the implied compliment made her feel all warm and shaky inside.

"How about some hot chocolate?" she suggested.

"Sounds good," her father was the first to agree. "Only I'll have mine in my room. It's been a long day and I'm beginning to feel the effects."

He didn't look tired. In fact, Mara had the fleeting thought that she had never seen him looking more alert. But such impressions were often misleading, or at least Mara was willing to pretend they were since it meant being alone with Sin.

"I'll help you, Adam," Sin offered before Mara had a chance to step forward, "while Mara makes the cocoa."

His logic defied protest and Mara found herself returning to the kitchen she had vacated only moments ago. It didn't take long to heat the milk, and pour it over the cocoa and sugar in the mugs. Marshmallows bobbed and melted on top of the steaming liquid as she carried the tray of mugs into the living room. She left two mugs there and carried the third on the tray to her father.