Free The Barefoot Bride by Rebecca Paisley Page B

maddened anew when he saw her condescending smirk.
    "You ashamed o' yore body, Saxon? Is that why yore allus a-runnin' fer cover when you ain't got no clothes on?"
    "I do not run for cover!"
    "Yes you do."
    "No I—" Dammit to hell! Why was he arguing with her? Who cared what she thought anyway? Still, it was just a little too much to bear. "You're not married, and you've had little intimate contact with men, Keely. So how is it you are so well-acquainted with the sight of a nude male?"
    She picked up a handful of small pebbles, and one by one threw them his way. "Me and T.J. Howe used to go a-swimmin' buck-naked. Our mamas never knowed."
    "Have you done that recently?"
    "Nope. Don't seem right now that I'm growed."
    Saxon's eyebrow raised. "What's the matter? Are you ashamed of your body?"
    "Nope."
    "Then get in here with me."
    "Done washed already."
    "Who said you had to bathe again?" Saxon, on his knees, started to get to his feet. As he did, he noticed Chickadee looked away. "Are you afraid I'll rape you?"
    "Seems we done had this conversation afore."
    Saxon settled back into, the water. "Yes we have. But I was wounded then, remember? My injuries are healed now."
    Chickadee quivered. He was doing it to her again. Making her feel that strange way. Like... like she was pining away for something only he had the power to give her.
    "Come in with me." He stood, his body completely revealed to her. She jumped from her rock and ran back to the cabin, Saxon's laughter ringing in her ears. "What happened to all your bravado?" he called after her.
    As he finished bathing, he thought of his marriage plans again. How was he going to convince Chickadee to become his bride? From what she said about her mother, he realized she believed in that ridiculous fantasy called love. But Saxon had no such beliefs, nor would he pretend he did: Chickadee would see right through him. But dammit, there had to be a way! A way to make her want to be with him.
    The feel of her lips on his came to mind. She'd enjoyed that kiss. And her body had told him she wanted more.
    He'd seduce her. Saxon knew he was famed for his abilities to entice even the most proper of Boston women into his bed. And women, blue-blooded or mountain-blooded, were all the same.
    The way he saw it.
    *
    "You look beautiful, Keely."
    Chickadee whirled in the middle of the cabin, her mother's skirts wrapping around her legs. "It swallers me."
    The dress was too big, but the indigo blue of the homespun cloth was lovely on her, and instead of hiding her shapely form, the gown emphasized her slenderness. Saxon knew every maiden in Boston would be put to shame beside her.
    "It's large, but you're still pretty in it."
    She stopped spinning. "Y'mean it?"
    Saxon sat by the fire. He withdrew a cheroot from the pocket of his shirt and lit it, a blue haze of smoke surrounding him. "Why don't you believe my compliments? Do you think you're ugly?"
    "I ain't had many other womenfolks around me to compare mysef with. But one time I seed this girl with hair so yaller it looked like it was made o' sun. You like girls with yaller hair?" She sat at his feet.
    He picked up a lock of her hair. "As a matter of fact, blonds were the only women who attracted me. But I find I'm beginning to prefer redheads."
    His warm fingers played in her hair and heated her body. "I like black hair," she said. She snapped for Khan and, as if it were the most important thing in the world to do, she examined her pet's fur, keeping her head low lest Saxon see her flush.
    "Ah, so you like my hair. What else do you like?"
    She raised her gaze. "I like the smooth way you talk."
    She liked the way he talked? He'd thought she was going to tell him how handsome he was! He chuckled at his own conceit. "Let's go to bed." He slid out of his boots and shirt and reached for the fastening of his breeches.
    The widening of her eyes stilled his actions. Go slowly , Sax, he told himself. Gain her confidence first. Frighten her and you'll