Gritting her teeth, she shifted the potholders and reached for the big pot again, determined to have her hot bath no matter what. Before she had fully extended her arms, she was s.n.a.t.c.hed off her feet, spun around, and found herself facing Wolfeas furious indigo eyes at a distance of bare inches.

aAre you too stupid to know that boiling water will raise blisters on your aristocratic hide?a At Wolfeas words, Jessicaas eyes narrowed until they were splinters of pale blue. For a moment she didnat answer, because she didnat trust herself not to scream like a fishwife at him.

aEven you arenat that stupid, my lord,a she said finally, softly. aOr have you managed to teach a boiling pot to come to your heel like a long-tongued hound?a aWhat are you talking about?a aGetting a pot of water from the stove to the bath,a she said succinctly.

aIf you think you can soothe my ire over dinner by offering me a hot bathaa Jessica opened her mouth to object that it was her own bath she was speaking about, not his, but Wolfe was talking again.

aYouare right,a he continued. aIave been looking forward to a bath much more than to eating whatever dinner you cooked. Clever of you to realize it.a aWe non-paragons do our best,a she said between her teeth.

aIall remind you of that while you scrub my back.a Wolfe smiled at the furious young woman suspended between his strong, dark hands.

aTell me, husband dear, are all paragons also Amazons?a aWillow is only an inch or two taller than you.a aBut broad in the shoulders and thick in the arms?a Jessica suggested sweetly.

aSheas as delicate and feminine as her name-sake.a aThen how does she get hot water to her batha"one delicate demita.s.se at a time?a aParagons donat have to carry hot water to their baths. Nature does it for them.a aAh, I knew it,a Jessica purred. aSheas a witch.a Wolfe pressed his lips together firmly, determined not to let Jessica beguile him with her quick mind and quicker tongue.

aNothing that sinister,a he said smoothly. aCaleb built their house near a hot spring. Reno put in pipes to the house.a aLacking a husband as clever as Caleb and a brother as skilled as Reno, Iall have to manage getting hot water to my bath in the usual Western fashiona"one bucket at a time.a Wolfe measured the determination in Jessicaas eyes and knew she wouldnat back down on this issue. He could either carry the pot for her or stand by and watch her pour two gallons of scalding water over herself.

aIall carry the b.l.o.o.d.y water,a he snarled.

Ten minutes later, Wolfe had filled the long, narrow tub, drawn more buckets to heat, and stoked the stove. He stripped off his clothes and lowered himself into the water.

aAll right, your ladyship,a he called. aCome and wash your husband.a aWhat?a aWash me,a Wolfe said impatiently. aThatas something even you should be able to manage.a The stunned look on Jessicaas face as she came to the doorway should have made Wolfe laugh; instead, it made him angry. He had been looking forward to putting Lady Victoriaas advice to work: Teach the little nun not to fear a manas touch.

aDonat worry, Sister Jessica,a Wolfe said curtly, turning his back as she edged up to the tub, awashing me wonat make you pregnant.a She didnat answer. She didnat even hear Wolfeas words. The sight of him naked in his bath had taken her breath away. She had been too shaken that night in Lord Stewartas house to realize how physically magnificent Wolfe was, but now there was no wild panic or pain to distract her.

Now there was nothing but Wolfeas tawny body gleaming with water and rippling with masculine power.

A curious heat stirred in the pit of Jessicaas stomach, as though she had swallowed a tiny b.u.t.terfly with wings of golden flame. It reminded her of the hotel in St. Joseph, when the feel of Wolfe brushing her hair had sent heat and pleasure cascading through her.

Thereas pa.s.sion in you, Jessi.

Fear burst in Jessica, chilling the soft heat that had come at the sight of Wolfe sitting in his bath.

I canat be pa.s.sionate. Iam not some stupid lamb frisking off to slaughter. If my stomach feels odd, itas because Iam so tired Iam cross-eyed.

aIam waiting, wife,a Wolfe said.

Jessica opened her mouth. All that came out was a breathless sound. Wolfe rose from the dark, gently steaming water of the bathtub like a torso by an Italian sculptor: smoothly muscled, poised, powerful, quintessentially masculine in its elegance.

Candlelight rippled over sleek flesh like sunlight over water, heightening the play of muscle beneath skin that was as fine-grained as amber. The combination of stark male power and equally stark male beauty sent heat rushing through Jessica, shortening her breath, making her feel as though Wolfe were running his hands over her.

The thought was both frightening and fascinating. With fingers that trembled, Jessica scooped up soft, rose-scented soap and began rubbing it into Wolfeas hair. For a few moments, there was silence except for the splashing of water when Wolfe shifted in the tub and the soft, whispering sounds of Jessicaas fingers as she worked rose-scented soap into Wolfeas hair.

Little of Wolfe was visible but his head, shoulders, and much of his back. The rest of him was hardly more than a golden blur beneath water that looked black but for streaks of lather and the shimmering of candlelight across the wateras surface.

Despite the aching of her arms after hours of scrubbing, Jessica found that she enjoyed washing the thick, black pelt of Wolfeas hair. Working her hands through it caressed the sensitive inner surfaces of her fingers. The heat and softness of the lather sliding over her hands was another lure. When she went from his scalp to the taut skin of his neck, she found herself wanting to stroke him, testing his strength and resilience.

The golden b.u.t.terfly in Jessicaas stomach spread its wings again, sending heat streaking through her, making her catch her breath in pleasure.

No, not a b.u.t.terfly, she told herself harshly. Itas a moth. A stupid little thing flying around a great hot flame, never knowing that the next second could be the last!

Fear and pa.s.sion warred within Jessica, making her tremble. Despite that, she couldnat help wondering what it would be like to spiral closer and closer to the flame, letting fire consume her to her very core.

Wolfe shifted abruptly, sending dark waves lapping at the sides of the tub. The slow rubbing of Jessicaas fingers over his scalp was causing a heat greater than that of the bath water to gather between his legs.

aAm I doing it correctly?a Jessica asked.

The sound of her own voice alarmed her. It was much too husky, reflecting the tug-of-war between ingrained fear and blossoming desire. She enjoyed touching Wolfe far too much. Yet she was willing to risk it. Being close to him was an incredible lure.

aYes,a Wolfe answered. aYouare doing very well.a His voice was deep, dark, warm. It made Jessica feel as though she had been caressed. Gentle fingertips traced the line of Wolfeas neck and shoulders. Muscles bunched and slid beneath skin that was the color of gold brushed with copper. The power in him fascinated Jessica, for he took it as much for granted as he did the air he breathed. She couldnat take him for granted in that way. Not any longer. The realization made her tremble.

aW-what did you do before I came here?a Jessica asked hurriedly.

Wolfe closed his eyes and fought the primal stirring of his body at the husky music of Jessicaas voice and the magic of her fingers transforming him. Then he shrugged and let it happen, knowing there was nothing he could do to prevent it.

aI hunted, bought, sold, bred, and trained horses,a he said.

Jessicaas hands paused. aBut there are no horses here, save for the one you purchased with the wagon in Denver.a aI sold all but my best horses when I decided to go to England for your engagement ball.a aWhere are the rest of your horses?a aAt Calebas. I spent most of the year there, helping him build his house. In return, he and Willow are taking care of the mares for me. Theyall be bred by her Arabian stallion.a aAre they all mustangs?a aYes. One of them is an extraordinary animal, elegant and strong, fierce and intelligent. Sheas the color of steeldust. Sheall be the foundation of my future herd.a aWhen will you bring your horses back here?a aI donat think I will. This side of the Rockies is getting too settled. Itas time for me to pull up stakes and move on.a aToo settled? Youare joking.a aNo. For the most part I get along all right with ranchers and soldiers, but townspeople take a narrow view of halfbreeds. If anything goes wrong, they come looking for the nearest Indian to blame.a Jessicaas hands paused. aThatas terrible.a Wolfe shrugged again. aItas simply human. If I lived here long enough, Iad get around most of the townspeople. The rest Iad fight until they changed their minds, shut their mouths, or left for more healthy climates.a aIf you can make the townspeople accept you, why donat you stay?a aMy Cheyenne name is Tree That Stands Alone. It suits me.a aBut you built such a cozy home here.a aIall build another one somewhere else. Maybe up over the Great Divide, where Caleb and Willow have their ranch. Sure to G.o.d it would be easier than riding back and forth as often as I have to see them.a Jessicaas hands tightened in Wolfeas hair. Willow again. Blast that paragon. What chance do I have to persuade Wolfe of my worth as a wife when he is forever yearning after her?

aTake a breath,a Jessica muttered.

As she spoke, she pushed Wolfeas head quite forcefully under the water. He emerged instantly and shook his head like a hound, spraying water all over her.

aAgain,a she said sweetly.

Jessica pushed. Hard.

Smiling to himself, Wolfe slid under the water once more. This time he stayed under long enough to worry her.

aWolfe?a She tugged at his shoulders. He didnat budge.

aWolfe, thatas enough. Wolfe? Are youa"a Water erupted as Wolfe rose halfway out of the tub, grabbed Jessica, and held her poised over the dark water.

aPut me down!a she demanded breathlessly.

aWith pleasure.a aOn the floor, you devil! On the floor!a But Jessica was laughing too hard to stand, so Wolfe had to hold her. He leaned his elbows against the tub, supporting her, smiling, calling himself every kind of idiot. He should be withdrawing from her, not teasing smiles and laughter from her beautiful mouth, and feeling as proud as a hen with a new chick because there was color in her cheeks once more.

He would never win the war if the kept siding with the enemy. Very carefully, he released her.

aI think youare well-rinsed now,a Jessica said, turning to leave. aBy the time the rest of the water is heated, you should be finished with your bath.a Again, her voice was alarmingly husky. At the sound of it, Wolfe narrowed his eyes. Little nun or not, she had liked washing his hair. He wondered how she would like washing the rest of him.

Abruptly he knew he was going to find out. His arm snaked out, grabbing Jessica around her hips before she could leave.

aYouave forgotten something,a Wolfe said.

aWhat?a aThe rest of me. It needs washing, too.a

6.

aY OUaRE joking,a Jessica said.

Wolfe felt the warmth and tension of her body and smiled. aNo, Iam not. Pick up the sponge.a She bent over a bit awkwardly, for Wolfeas arm was still around her hips. Just when her bend was at its deepest, she felt Wolfeas hand caressing and squeezing her hip as though testing its shape and the resilience of her flesh. She straightened so quickly that she almost fell over.

aWolfe!a He made a deep sound that could have been stifled laughter or a m.u.f.fled question.

aYour handa"that is,a she stammered. aYoua"a He smiled a lazy, dangerous kind of smile. aI?a he invited.

Jessica blinked. She had never seen quite that expression on Wolfeas face. He was remarkably handsome, and looked every bit the devil she had accused him of being a few minutes ago. If the flame looked half so beautiful to the moth, it was no wonder the poor thing ended up getting too close.

aI, er, nothing,a Jessica muttered.

Hurriedly, she started rubbing up a thick lather on the sponge. Wolfe measured her high color and the pulse beating rapidly in her throat. The looks she gave him as she washed his face and shoulders told him she was both nervous and intrigued by his nakedness.

Lady Victoria, my hat is off to youa"along with everything else, Wolfe thought with amus.e.m.e.nt. Youare every bit as wickedly clever about human nature as I remembered. Jessica is no more a nun than I am.

Working in a rush, Jessica rinsed Wolfe, trying not to see beneath the darkly reflective surface of the bath. It was impossible. She closed her eyes, thinking to make the bath less intimate that way.

It was a mistake. With her eyes closed, her hands seemed doubly sensitive. The sleek, hot power of his body beneath her hands made her tremble. The different textures of Wolfe was a new, pleasurable shock each time her hands moved across his chest. Heat burned softly through the pit of her stomach, making her shiver. She moved her hands across Wolfeas chest once more, telling herself that she was rinsing him and knowing that she was lying to herself. She wanted to knead his flesh like a cat, and, like a cat, she knew she would purr all the while.

Desperately, Jessica opened her eyes just in time to see one of Wolfeas long, powerful legs emerge from the water. Dark patterns of water-slicked hair began above the ankle and progressed farther up his muscular thigh than she was prepared to acknowledge.

Wolfe saw the direction of Jessicaas glance and knew that the water wasnat hiding as much of him as it had before. He waited for a long, tense moment, measuring the combination of fear and desire in her. Knowing that he intrigued her as a man was violently exciting to him.

And it showed.

aW-Wolfe?a aSurely Iam no more difficult to scrub than bricks,a he said casually. aWash me, wife.a Carefully looking no farther than Wolfeas thigh, Jessica ran the soapy sponge over his leg in a single, breathless rush.

aRinse,a she said.

The huskiness of her voice was another kind of caress on Wolfeas responsive flesh. His right leg disappeared, only to be replaced by his left. She rubbed the sponge up the flexed muscles of his calf to his knee, only to fumble and lose the sponge. Instantly it sank beneath the surface of the water between his legs.

Jessica waited for Wolfe to retrieve the sponge for her. When he made no move, she looked up. She thought she saw the gleam of his eyes beneath his black lashes, but decided she was wrong. Carefully she fished beneath the water. Her fingers met hard, smooth flesh rather than sponge. Breath hissed between Wolfeas clenched teeth.

aIam s-sorry,a she said breathlessly, s.n.a.t.c.hing back her hand. aI didnat mean toaa aTouch me?a Wolfe smiled without opening his eyes. aI forgive you, sweet nun.a aThe sponge,a she began.

aHammer the sponge. Your fingers feel much better.a Jessica was too rattled to argue. She grabbed more of the soft soap and rubbed it into the powerful muscles of Wolfeas thigh, skimming over him in the s.p.a.ce of seconds. Then, against her will, her own hands betrayed her and returned to enjoy the feel of his skin beneath her palms.

aRinse,a she said in a low, choked voice.

The leg vanished back into the water. Lather swirled and floated away. Before Wolfe could make any more demands in regard to being washed, Jessica surged to her feet and hurried from the room, mumbling something about checking the heat of her own bath water on the stove.

Wolfeas shuttered, hungry glance followed Jessica until she was out of sight. Reluctantly, he fished out the sponge and finished the bath, knowing he had teased her as much as he daredaat the moment.

By the time Jessicaas bath water was heated and she returned cautiously to the bedroom, her heart was beating at a less frantic pace and her stomach no longer did odd little flips at every other breath. She watched from beneath lowered eyelashes as Wolfe tamped the wooden plug back in place, closing up the hole that drained the bathtub through an opening in the bricks and onto the ground below.

Jessica admired the flex and play of Wolfeas body while he emptied bucket after bucket of scalding water into the tub, then drew more water from the pump to cool the bath. It was quite easy for her to admire Wolfeas supple power, for he wore nothing but his linen towel wrapped as a loin cloth. The pale l.u.s.ter of the cloth against his copper-brushed skin fascinated her.

Rather quickly she began to feel the increasingly familiar sensation of having swallowed golden b.u.t.terflies. As a result, her fingers were clumsy when she went to work on the b.u.t.tons up the back of her dress. Even worse, her arms simply refused to flex more than a few inches. Her muscles were too tight after hours of scrubbing to have any flexibility left.

With a stifled, frustrated sound, she hooked her fingers in either side of the opening at the back of her neck and yanked. b.u.t.tons tore free and fell soundlessly onto the thick wool throw rug by the bed.

Warm, hard fingers brushed Jessicaas hands aside. Wolfe began unb.u.t.toning the dress in a silence that thickened with each jet b.u.t.ton sliding free of its tiny hole. Finally, nothing but the long sleeves were holding the dress in place. The exquisite lace of Jessicaas silk camisole revealed more than it concealed of the skin beneath.

aThank you,a Jessica said breathlessly. aI can manage now.a aDonat you want me to bathe you?a aNo, that wonat be necessary thank you,a she said, running the words together in her rush to have them spoken.

Wolfeas long finger traced the length of Jessicaas spine. aAre you certain?a She shivered as an odd tingling rippled through her at his touch. aYes.a Wolfeas finger paused before retracing every bit of its journey as he asked, aYes, youare certain you want to be bathed?a Jessica made a small sound as curious sensations flared unnervingly in the pit of her stomach. aNo, I can bathe myself.a aIf you change your mind, call me.a As soon as the door closed behind Wolfe, she let out a long breath she hadnat been aware of holding and began stripping off her clothes with more haste than care. With the pot of soft, rose-scented soap in one hand and the sponge in the other, she stepped into the tub.

A delicious shivering went over her as she lowered herself into the wateras hot embrace. The tremor of sheer pleasure was very much what she had felt at the long, slow stroking of Wolfeas fingertip down her spine. The realization was almost as unnerving as his touch had been. Quickly, she ducked beneath the water to wet her hair before she began rubbing soap into it.

By the time Jessica had rinsed and begun to work a second round of soap into her hair, the quivering reluctance of her arm muscles abruptly changed into something more alarming. Her arms locked in a half-raised position. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnat raise them any farther. In fact, she couldnat even hold them upright.

Soap began trickling down her face and into her eyes as her arms fell uselessly to her sides.

aWolfe,a Jessica cried out. aSomething is wrong with my arms!a Afraid to open her eyes because of the soap, Jessica didnat know Wolfe had come into the room until she felt a warm cloth moving over her face. She flinched in surprise.

aBe still, Jessi,a Wolfe said. aI wonat hurt you.a aI know. You just startled me. My arms, Wolfe. I canata"a aYes, I can see,a he interrupted.

He ran his hands gently over her arms. The slender muscles were knotted and hard beneath her smooth skin.

aDo you hurt?a he asked.

Jessica shook her head. aNot really. I think the muscles have just declared a holiday. The same thing happened to my legs that day I tried to jump the creek the way you had. Remember?a Wolfe smiled slightly. aHow many times did you try?a aI donat know. I spent most of the morning running and jumping.a aAnd landing in the water.a aAnd landing in the water,a she agreed, sighing. aIt made me angry that you could fly so easily over the creek time and again and I couldnat do it even once. That night I couldnat walk.a aYou never told me.a aI was too proud.a aJust as you were too proud to tell me today that you couldnat work any more.a Jessica said nothing.

aIall take care of the soap on your face, first,a Wolfe said. aYour arms can wait. Tilt your head back and keep your eyes closed.a The gentleness of Wolfeas voice was matched by his fingers sliding into Jessicaas soapy hair and easing her head back while he blotted up the last of the lather.

aNo, donat open your eyes yet. I havenat gotten all the soap out.a Jessica heard the sound of cloth being rinsed, felt the swirling of water over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and blushed at the reminder of her own nakedness. Water ran warmly over her closed eyes, down her cheeks, down her neck.

Wolfe watched each golden trail of moisture with something approaching envy. He wanted to be that close to her, that warm on her skin, licking over her without hindrance.

And he was a fool to want any part of her at all.

aDo your eyes sting?a aNo,a Jessica said hesitantly, wondering at the leashed anger in Wolfeas voice.

aKeep them dosed until I rinse your hair.a aYou donat have to. I cana"a aYou canat do a b.l.o.o.d.y thing,a he interrupted impatiently. aThe muscles in your arms have cramped. Take a breath.a Jessica barely had drawn a breath before her body was shifted and her head was pushed under the warm water. Unlike Wolfe, she was almost able to stretch out in the narrow tub.

Working quickly, Wolfe stripped out lather and swirled clean water through the long mahogany strands until all the soap was gone. Only then did he prop her head above the water against the tub.

aThat should do it.a Jessica tried to push a stray lock of hair from her eyes, but her arms still wouldnat cooperate. When she tried again, the struggle brought the pink tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s above the level of the water. Immediately, her nipples tightened against the cool air of the room.

When Wolfe looked down, he wished he hadnat. His body hardened in a rush that would have brought him to his knees if he had been standing. But he wasnat. He was kneeling next to an aristocratic little nun who had worked so hard at unaccustomed tasks that her arms had given out. He would have felt worse about being such a savage taskmaster, except that Jessicaas revenge, while unintentional, was complete. The memory of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tipped by tight coral crowns would haunt him without mercy.