Free A Texas Christmas by Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda

and sometimes light and playful. He couldn’t seem to get enough of the feel of her hair in his hands, and she’d grown used to the rise and fall of his hard chest against her breasts.
    She nestled beneath his arms. “Is this how it is between married couples?” she asked.
    “Between some,” he answered. “Very few, I think. Maggie, I kissed a few girls when I was more kid than man, but I’ve never touched or kissed anyone like I did you right now.” He laughed against her hair. “If you had any sense, you’d slap me or have the sheriff toss me in jail.”
    “I wanted this. I wanted to feel.” She drew in air and added, “I want more.”
    He was still for a while. “How much more?”
    “Just a little more.”
    He lowered his mouth and she welcomed his gentle kiss as she raised her arms and moved her fingers into his midnight hair. One arm held her gently as she relaxed into the warmth spreading through her.
    She was lost in the flood of feelings washing over her when he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. Without breaking the kiss, he lowered her on her back and rested his weight beside her.
    “How about I just hold you all night?”
    She made a sound but wasn’t sure it made any sense. The feel of his long body running along her side warmed her completely.
    “Go to sleep, Maggie,” he whispered as he kissed her on the cheek.
    She lay awake for a long while knowing he was doing the same. Finally, his breathing grew regular and slow. Rising, she spread a blanket over them both. When she lay back down beside him, he pulled her to him.
    Late in the night, when she’d been half sleeping as she drifted between dreams and reality, she felt him move his hand over her body as if even in sleep, he needed to know she was there.
    His hand stopped over her breast, cupping it.
    She didn’t move.
    His fingers tightened slightly, then released her. In a sleepy voice he whispered against her hair. “I wish you were mine. All mine.”
    She tried to keep her breathing normal. She fell back asleep wondering if she’d really heard him say the words or if she’d simply dreamed it.

Chapter 10
     
    Sam woke just before dawn. Maggie was curled beside him sound asleep. He smiled as he lifted her off his arm and tucked the blanket around her.
    The air seemed bone cold, but any heat from the fire below had traveled up to keep the sleeping quarters above freezing. He checked on Webster curled in one corner of his crib. Sam knew if he was lucky, the boy might sleep another hour. By then he’d have the fires going and the first floor would be comfortable.
    He’d just finished washing in the sink when he saw Maggie standing at the archway. Her hair was a mess and her clothes looked like she’d slept in them, which she had. She looked adorable. A few years ago he’d stopped dreaming, but if he still did, Maggie standing in his kitchen just as she was now would be his favorite dream.
    “Morning,” he said, watching her rub her eyes.
    “Morning,” she answered. “If you can wait a few minutes for breakfast, I’d like to clean up first.”
    “All right.” He leaned against the counter and waited.
    “Without you watching, if you don’t mind.”
    “Oh, of course.” He had no idea where he would go. Three feet of snow blocked both doors and if he went upstairs he’d wake Web.
    Finally, Sam decided to turn his rocking chair to the fire and pretend to be reading while she padded around.
    First she tiptoed upstairs and brought down a load of her things, then he heard her pouring water in the tub.
    Sam closed his eyes and swore. She was taking a bath in his kitchen only a few feet away and there wasn’t even a door between them. Not that he really needed to look, he told himself. He’d imagine how she looked without clothes every time his hands had moved over her body last night. That might not be the same thing as looking, but it was probably as close as he would ever get.
    He heard her splashing and decided