He told himself he was on fire because he hadn't touched a woman in so long. But it was more. It was Karlee.

Carefully, he unfastened the buttons at her collar, hoping to make her more comfortable. When she didn't move in sleep, he allowed his fingers to drift along the outline of her breasts once more, gently testing their fullness and shape. Then he slid his hand along her back as though she were a sculpture he had to touch to appreciate.

Brushing her lips, he wanted more of the taste of her. His hand twisted into her hair as he lightly teased her mouth with feather kisses.

She stretched in sleep, lifting up to him as though in welcome.

Moving his hand over her, his kiss deepened. He wanted more of her, far more of her. Without thought that he might wake her, he parted her lips with his tongue and drank in the flavor of her.

Her body rocked slightly, shifting beneath his touch. For a moment, he thought she struggled. But by the time he could register the thought, she'd settled once more.

He couldn't get enough of the taste of her. With a sudden hunger his hand caressed the fullness along her hip.

She moved her leg over him, cuddling against him even closer. Now she was so near he could feel her breathing. He took the weight of her rounded breasts against his chest, knowing that she'd welcome his touch when he stroked her.

She seemed to sleep so calmly while he felt himself burning. The need to feel her skin beneath his hand, to hold her against him, to blanket over her, was driving him mad.

His hand slid beneath the layers of her skirt. With only a thin cotton undergarment to cover the warmth of her flesh, he moved his fingers along her thigh.

She made a little sound and would have pulled away, but he gripped her leg tightly with one hand while the other stroked her face. When she relaxed, he kissed her tenderly.

His fingers spread over the thinly covered flesh of her backside as his mouth moved from her lips to her throat. He found the place where her blood pulsed and tasted her skin.

She moaned in need now, and he laughed as he returned to her mouth more hungry for the taste of her then ever before.

Slowly, he withdrew his hand from her skirts and spread his fingers boldly over her breast, kneading her flesh through the layers of material. She arched toward his touch as her mouth opened, responding to his hunger.

He smiled against her lips, enjoying the way she conformed so willingly to his touch. He hadn't expected it. But then, he hadn't expected Karlee at all.

Through the thickness of his mind, he heard the sounds of talking coming from the kitchen. Much as he wanted more, now was not the time or place to explore further.

His touch softened to a gentle caress, the kiss lightened. Gently, he rocked Karlee back to sleep in his arms, allowing her to grow accustomed to his hands moving over her. When her breathing had returned to its slow easy pace, he tasted her lips one last time.

“You're mine,” he whispered. But he could no longer add “whether I want you or not.”

Karlee tried to push away the voice of someone waking her. She wanted to stay asleep and continue the wonderful dream.

“Karlee,” Daniel whispered near her ear as he stroked her hair away from her face. “It's noon.”

She yawned and stretched, feeling his body beside her. “I don't want to wake up,” she answered. “I was having the most delicious dream.”

“Dreams are dreams, but the reality is we have a house full of company.” His voice softened slightly. “You can dream again tonight.”

Karlee sat up in bed and stretched. “You're right, of course. Do you need help?”

“Besides being starving,” he grumbled, “I'd like to get dressed.”

“But…”

“If you'll find my clothes, I'll be out of this bed.”

She stood and straightened her garments. “Of course. I'm a wrinkled mess too. I'll be right back.”

Within a few minutes, she brought a stack of clothes. She placed his on the bed and moved to the chair with her pile.

“I've been wearing this same dress since I put it on two days ago.” She pulled the garment over her head and tossed it on the couch. Next came the petticoat and undergarments. “It will feel so good to get into fresh-” her eyes met his just as she pulled the first button of her fresh camisole together.

“What is it, Daniel?” He seemed to have paled from a minute before.

“You're undressing in front of me,” he said so quietly she barely heard the words.

Karlee relaxed. “Of course I am. I've done it several times before. Surely you're used to the sounds by now.” She pulled on her bloomers.

Daniel reached for his pants. “Let me guess,” he said as he dressed. “You've thrown your clothes in a pile on the couch.”

“You're getting good.” She rested her foot on the bed as she pulled on her stockings.

“And right about now all you have on is your undergarments.”

“Good guess.” She laughed as she finished buttoning her camisole.

“They're white, of course.”

“Of course,” she answered.

“With a pink ribbon laced along the top just above the bustline like a drawstring.”

“I wove that in myself.” Karlee's fingers stopped at the last button where the pink ribbon crossed.

She glanced up. His blue eyes were staring directly at her. “You can see!” she mouthed the words.

“I can see.” He smiled.

Embarrassment warred with excitement inside Karlee. She quickly pulled on her dress. “I'm so thankful you can see,” she mumbled beneath the layers of her garments. “I've been hoping and praying and…”

“Karlee?”

She didn't answer but turned away from him as she buttoned her dress.

“Karlee, it's all right.”

She slowly raised her head. “I know it's all right. I just didn't know I was being watched.”

“You've nothing to be ashamed of. You have a beautiful body.”

“That's the first compliment you've ever paid me.” She walked to the door, too embarrassed to say more.

“It won't be the last,” she heard him mumble.

• • •

Karlee entered the kitchen hoping no one would notice how red her cheeks were, but her entire face felt as if it was on fire. She started lunch with little more than a smile to Allie and Adam.

Allie must have stayed close to John all morning, talking with him and not just to him for the first time. She'd even managed to get him to wear a pair of trousers.

Wes wandered in with a nod to Karlee before sitting down at the table. He tried to get his wife's attention so he could tell Allie all about the fine horse he'd bought for John.

Daniel entered without a word but fully dressed. He made his way slowly to the table and sat down across from Wes.

Karlee tried not to look at her husband's face while she served the soup. She told herself his caresses had been a dream and she'd been asleep, but she knew both were lies.

Adam broke the silence. “He's up and dressed. I guess the morning nap was the best medicine he's had.” Adam pointed to Daniel but winked at Karlee.

“And he can see,” Karlee volunteered.

“A little,” Daniel answered as Adam forgot the meal and started examining him.

“A lot,” Karlee corrected. She sat down at the only chair left. The one beside Daniel. To her surprise he made no attempt to keep his leg from brushing hers. To her shock, neither did she.

Everyone talked at once as they ate her potato soup and crumbly cornbread. Karlee had to give the McLains credit. They all thanked the cook politely, as though they didn't notice the poor quality of her skill.

“If you think you're able to make it on your own, I thought I'd head back with Wes and Allie toward home.” Adam leaned in his chair. “I know Nichole will be wishing me home by now. I'll ask the doc in town to come by and change your bandage.”

“There's no need,” Daniel answered calmly. “Karlee will do it for me. She does a better job than the old doc does anyway.” He absently slid his hand along his leg, brushing hers with his movement.

“Allie and I could stay another few days if you think there will be any trouble,” Wes volunteered, even as his wife frowned.

“No need,” Daniel promised. “Wolf's here in case trouble explodes the minute you leave.”

Both older brothers laughed as if they half expected their little brother to find calamity the minute they weren't around, just as he did when he was a kid.

After lunch, the four left for Wes and Allie's ranch with no ropes around Allie's brother. It would take a long time to find the John Sheridan inside the Apache. A part of him would always be the free warrior.

When they were gone, Wolf insisted on going after the twins only to return a few hours later to report that the Buchanans wanted to allow Karlee and Daniel time alone. He also brought supper, saying it was the first installment on Adam's bill for delivering the baby.

Karlee laughed, knowing that, more likely, Granny thought the men starved from having to eat Karlee's cooking. Also, she and Daniel needed no time by themselves. Alone or with a house full of people wouldn't matter. Nothing would happen between them, she thought. They were simply getting used to one another, nothing more.

She dressed for bed, then tapped on the parlor door. She wasn't sure if she should ask to sleep with Daniel or not.

Daniel sat up in his bed reading, a blue ribbon twisted around his fingers. “What is it, Karlee?”

He sounded tired. He'd pushed himself to stay up all afternoon moving around the house, forcing his leg to take his weight. Several times on the porch, Daniel and Wolf talked, almost arguing about something. Karlee hadn't caught more than a few words, but she remembered hearing Lieutenant Logan's name whispered as an oath more than once.

“I thought I'd change the bandage,” she offered as she entered Daniel's room.