Free Mail Order Meddler by Kirsten Osbourne

and this time his kiss wasn’t filled with passion.  It was a healing kiss, letting her know with his actions that he truly was sorry for the things he’d done.  She sighed against his lips, her hands going to his shoulders to keep steady.  When she lifted her head, she was seriously considering his words.  She wanted so badly to be wanted and needed by someone that she was willing to grasp at straws to get there.  “I don’t know.”
    He pulled her face down for another soft kiss, sensing that she was softening.  "Please.  I’ll get down on my knees and beg if you need me to.”  He couldn’t imagine letting her go.  It wasn’t just the cooking.  She was a pretty, intelligent, loving woman.   He needed her for his sister and his brothers.  More importantly, though, he needed her for himself. 
    She leaned down and initiated a kiss with him for the first time ever, her lips dancing across his.  “You don’t have to beg.  I’ll stay.”  She sank against him, not realizing until then that she’d been holding herself rigid on his lap, so as little of her body would touch his as possible.  As soon as she agreed, she snuggled close to him.
    He took one of her legs and lifted it over his lap to the other side of his hips.  She was then facing him on his lap, and he pulled her down closer to him, deepening the kiss and stroking her soft curves.  “Thank you,” he whispered against her lips.
    Tracy was surprised at how intimately she could feel him through their clothes.  They shouldn’t be touching this way in the kitchen.  Even she knew that.  What if one of the children came down the stairs for a drink of water?  She blushed at the very idea.  Pulling her head up, she said, “I’m going to get ready for bed.  Give me five minutes?” she asked.
    He shook his head.  “I’m not letting you out of my sight.  I’m afraid you’re going to change your mind.”  He helped her off his lap and got to his feet, holding her hand tightly in his as he led her to their bedroom. 
    “I made a promise.  I don’t go back on my promises.”  Tracy tried to push him out the door so she could undress.
    “I trust you.  I just don’t want to let you go.”  He kicked the door shut, and kissed her gently, his hands stroking up and down her arms.  “Let me help you get ready for bed.”
    Tracy pulled back and looked at him in surprise.  “I know how to change into my nightgown.”
    Andy smiled, his lips toying with hers once more.  “You’re not going to wear a nightgown tonight, sweetheart.”
    She was surprised to hear him use the endearment.  Sure, she knew he wanted her in his bed, and he wanted her to cook for him and his brothers and sister, but sweetheart?  Really?  “I couldn’t sleep without a nightgown.” She was embarrassed at the very idea.
    “Sleeping naked is freeing.  Trust me.”  His hands went to the buttons at the front of her gown and slowly worked them out of their holes.  Once he was finished, he spread the bodice of her dress wide open, looking at her in just her petticoat and corset.  He pushed the dress off her shoulders, his hands smoothing over her.  “You wear too many clothes,” he whispered. 
    She blushed, swallowing hard.  “I wear the same amount as any decent woman.”
    He chuckled.  “But at night, when there’s no one around but us, I want you to be in decent.”  He pulled her to him again, kissing her passionately, his hands going behind her to work at the strings of her corset.  He’d never helped a woman out of her clothes, or seen one with nothing on before, and his hands were shaking as he helped this woman remove her undergarments. 
    Tracy stood docilely, enjoying his kiss es and allowing him to undress her.  She felt she was being naughty allowing him to get so close to her, but she also knew he was her husband and had the right to touch her in any way he wanted.
    He dropped the corset to the floor and pushed the strap of her