Caleb removed his coat.
Slowly.
“You're sure?”
She stared.
“You have asked me that so many times that I am beginning to suspect age has damaged your hearing.”
“I’m thirty-four.”
“Tragic decline.”
He almost smiled.
They lay on opposite sides.
Fully clothed except boots and outer layers.
The bed felt enormous.
Then incredibly small.
Eleanor faced the wall.
Caleb faced the ceiling.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Then:
“Eleanor.”
“Yes?”
“Your feet are freezing.”
She looked down.
They had touched his calf.
“Sorry.”
“Come closer.”
She rolled.
Caleb lifted the blanket.
She moved into the warmer center.
Their shoulders touched.
Then hips.
Her body became intensely aware.
Caleb’s breathing changed.
Eleanor whispered:
“Still difficult?”
He turned his head.
“What?”
“Keeping your hands off me.”
His eyes met hers in dim lamplight.
“Yes.”
Her heart accelerated.
“Good.”
Caleb stared.
“That was cruel.”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Because it is equally difficult from this side.”
He exhaled.
Then one hand rose.
Stopped near her face.
“May I?”
Eleanor nodded.
His fingers brushed her cheek.
Moved into her hair.
He kissed her.
Slowly at first.
Then with months of restraint underneath it.
Eleanor’s hand pressed against his chest.
Caleb pulled her closer.
She felt no mockery in him.
No surprise at the reality of her body.
No hesitation once permission had been given.
Only desire held inside discipline.
That mattered more than she could explain.
The kiss deepened.
Then Caleb pulled away.
Again.
Eleanor stared.
“Are you ill?”
He almost laughed.
“No.”
“Then?”
“If we continue—”
“Yes?”
His face tightened.
“We will probably continue.”
Heat flooded her cheeks.
She knew exactly what he meant.
“And that would be terrible?”
“No.”
“Then?”
He looked at the ring on her hand.
“I don't want our first night together happening while the marriage exists because of a property dispute.”
Eleanor stared.
“You think that would make it false?”
“I think I want you to know I am choosing you apart from the contract.”
Something inside her chest ached.
She touched his face.
“Then when?”
“After the review.”
“March first?”
“Yes.”
“That is five weeks.”
“I know.”
“You are very irritating.”
“Yes.”
Eleanor rolled away.
Caleb smiled in darkness.
Three seconds later she kicked his shin.
“Ow.”
“Accident.”
“Liar.”
She slept against his chest anyway.
The investigation into the parcel records became dangerous.
A letter they sent to the retired county recorder disappeared.
The second reached him.
He agreed to meet.
Before they could travel, someone broke into Caleb’s barn.
Nothing stolen.
But the desk drawer containing copies of the land records had been forced.
The originals were elsewhere.
Eleanor had moved them.
Caleb discovered this.
“You moved them without telling me?”
“Yes.”