He could not make out her face, for her head was bowed. But it was not her face that held his attention. She was wearing only a thin white shift that reached to mid-thigh, but she might as well as have been naked, for the wet shift was molded against her like a second skin. His practiced masculine eye took in every line and curve of her. Her breasts were full and high, straining against the thin material. His eyes followed the slender lines of her waist and flat belly, to the small triangle of hair outlined by the clinging wet material. She turned slightly, revealing the curve of full buttocks and long, long legs. He felt a jolt of desire and forced himself to look away from her. He tried to calm himself, reasoning that he had been too long without a woman. He recalled the very giving young woman with whom he had spent two delightful nights but the week before and decided with a grin that he must find another excuse.
She must be a local village girl, he thought, and began to walk toward her without precisely deciding to. She leaned negligently over to wring the water from the lower part of her shift, and her hair, bounded in braids atop her head, was suddenly illuminated by bright shafts of sunlight. It was a light wheat color, glistening with golden streaks.
Edward pulled up short in his tracks and simply stared at her. As if aware that she was not alone, she grew still and raised her head toward him, shading her eyes with her hand. A name formed in Edward’s throat, and he called it aloud.
Cassie froze for an instant when she heard his voice and gazed at the tall, slender gentleman who was loping quickly toward her.
“Edward!”
Cassie ran toward him and flung herself against his chest. Her voice was a jumble of sobs and laughter. “Edward, it’s really you. I can’t believe it. You have finally come back.” She hugged him fiercely, then pushed him away to look into his face.
“Cass,” he said, and gently cupped her face between his hands. How differently he had envisioned their first meeting, with the pained and awkward silences that he had thought inevitable. For the first time in their lives, he kissed her.
Cassie had often wondered how she would feel at her first kiss. She had even, upon occasion, pressed her palm against her lips to see if it would make her feel somehow different. She had felt nothing but foolish, and was totally unprepared for the sensations that coursed through her body. His mouth grew demanding, and his tongue moved over her lips. Tentatively, she parted her lips and let him possess her mouth.
Edward felt a shudder pass the length of her, and reveled in it. His hands moved urgently over her, kneading her hips and pressing her belly hard against him. It was the gentle moan of budding passion escaping her lips that brought forth the honorable English gentleman. Almost violently, he clasped her arms in his hands and pushed her away from him.
Cassie gazed up at him, her eyes full of wonder. She felt strangely breathless, somehow urgent.
Edward gave a low laugh that ended in a groan. “God, Cass.”
She tried to wrap her arms about his neck again, and he forced himself to step back from her, holding her hands tightly in his.
“It’s good to see you again, Cassie,” he said, trying to force lightness into his voice.
She frowned at him, confused by his sudden formality. Her frown lightened as she looked closely at him for the first time, and took in every contour of his face. “You are much a man, Edward,” she said finally. “But you have not much changed.”
A smile touched his lips, and he was unable to prevent his eyes from sweeping over her. “And you, my love, have changed much.”
She dimpled up at him innocently. “I trust you approve the changes, my lord.” She gazed at the white ruffles at his throat and added shyly, “It was so very warm today. I was swimming.”
“Yes, I know. I was watching you. I did not think that young ladies indulged in such manly pursuits.”