Emma set the tray across his lap, he made no move to pick up his spoon or fork. "It's been a long day," he said with a heavy sigh. "I'm not sure I want to make the effort to eat." She sank into the chair beside the bed. "But you must eat," she replied. "You'll never get your strength back if you don't." Steven lifted one shoulder in a dispirited shrug and looked away. After drawing a deep breath and letting it out again, Emma reached for his fork, stabbed a piece of Daisy's meat pie, with its thick, flaky crust, and raised it to Steven's lips. He smiled wanly and allowed her to feed him. In fact, it seemed to Emma that he was enjoying this particular moment of incapacity. The experience was oddly sensual for Emma; she found herself getting lost in the graceful mechanics of it. When Steven grasped her hand, very gently, and lightly kissed her palm, the fork slipped from her fingers and clattered to the tray. Her breasts swelled as she drew in a quick, fevered breath. Steven trailed his lips over the delicate flesh on the inner side of her forearm until he reached her elbow. When his tongue touched her at the crux, the pleasure was so swift and so keen that she flinched and gave a soft moan. His eyes locked with hers and he told her, without speaking aloud, that there were other places on her body he wanted to kiss. Places he fully intended to explore and master. Emma took hold of the tray with a hasty, awkward movement and bolted to her feet, feeling hot and achy all over. "Well," she said with a brightness that was entirely false, "if you're not hungry any longer…" "I didn't say that, Miss Emma," he interrupted, his voice as rough as gravel. "It's just that it isn't food I'm hungry for." Only her fierce grasp on the sides of the tray kept Emma from dropping it to the floor-plate, cup, leftover food, and all. "What a scandalous remark!" Steven smiled and stretched, wincing a little at the resultant pain. "I can think of plenty of 'scandalous' remarks," he said, "if you'd like to hear more." Emma was painfully conscious of the pulse at the inside of her elbow, where Steven had kissed her. A number of other fragile points, such as the backs of her knees and the arches of her feet, tingled in belated response. "Good night, Mr. Fairfax," she said, with feigned dignity. And then she turned and walked out of the room.
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Emma And The Outlaw ]
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