Page 33 of A Joyful Ring
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” Risa whispered, glancing back at Gunder with her face bathed in the soft light.
“Beautiful,” he repeated, taking a step closer to her. In that moment, he couldn’t have resisted the pull to her if his life had depended on it.
He shifted so he faced her, awed by the vision of her awash in the moonlight. Risa was magnificent, and the sight of her was one he’d never forget as long as he had a breath left in his body.
Gently, he cupped her chin, surprised when she leaned ever so slightly into his touch. His rough fingers glided across the smooth skin of her cheek before tracing the rim of her ear, then settled at the back of her neck.
No words were spoken. None were needed. She rose on her toes, meeting him halfway as helowered his head, and his lips touched hers.
Although he’d expected her lips to be chilled from the cold, they were warm and so incredibly soft. Softer than he’d dreamed, with the hint of peaches lingering on them.
Gunder slid his other arm around her waist and pulled Risa so close he was sure he could feel the reckless pounding of her heart keeping time to his through the wool of their coats.
How long they kissed, he had no idea. For him, the second their lips had touched, the rest of the world had ceased to exist. In that moment, there was only them. Only his love for her. Only his need for her love.
Rapture was the only way to describe the wonder of kissing her. He felt energized and languid, hot and cold, ecstatic and desperate all at the same time. The contradictions barely registered in his mind as he realized Risa was every bit involved in the kiss as he was. The connection deepened, and the question of whether one could die of bliss flew through his mind.
Finally, he lifted his head and smiled. “Thank you, Risa. That was a wonderful and unexpected gift.”
He was sure she was blushing, but she held his gaze. “It was unexpected, yet entirely welcome. However, before someone walks by and jumps to improper assumptions, you need to go home, Gunder Birke.”
“I’ll go, just as soon as I walk you back to the house,” he said, taking her hand in his and moving with slow, plodding steps.
Risa shook her head and purposely bumped against him. “I don’t think the walk to the door should take the rest of the night. We’ll freeze to death.”
“I can keep us warm,” he said in a husky voice and waggled an eyebrow at her, making her laugh.
Playfully, she swatted his shoulder, then tugged on his hand until they stood at her back door.
“Good night, beautiful Ree.” Gunder dipped his head toward hers and kissed her again with reverence and tenderness.
When she pulled back, she patted his cheek and smiled. “Good night, Gunder. Sweet dreams.”
He took her hand in his and kissed the tips of her fingers. “I know they’ll be sweet because they’ll be of you.”
Before the temptation that was Risa became too great for him to resist, he turned and hurried back to his cold, lonely tent, wondering how much longer he’d have to wait before he could make her his beloved bride.
Chapter Eight
“This is ridiculous.” Risa shook her head to clear her thoughts as she finished cleaning the last room at the boardinghouse. Gunder’s kisses last night had left her so … befuddled, she’d tossed and turned most of the night, unable to get any rest when she felt so vibrantly alive.
In the months since he’d arrived in Lovely, she’d thought about kissing him. Pondered what it would be like. But nothing had prepared her for the reality of Gunder wrapping his powerful arms around her, pulling her close, and lavishing her with love through those irresistible lips of his.
The first time she’d seen him, Risa had noticed how kissable his mouth appeared. Now she knew exactly how entirely and irresistibly delightful it was.
If good sense hadn’t prevailed, she might stillbe standing out by the barn, her lips frozen to his. Then again, the attraction between the two of them put off enough heat they would have likely melted a huge patch of snow around them.
She didn’t know whether to be ashamed she’d allowed anyone who wasn’t her husband to kiss her like that, or thrilled that the one doing the kissing had been Gunder.
Confused and irritated with herself, Risa picked up the basket that carried her cleaning supplies, left the room, and made her way downstairs. In the kitchen, Mrs. Baldwin was sitting at the table, cracking walnuts to add to the fudge she’d mentioned making after lunch.
Risa stored the basket in the small closet by the back door, then washed her hands and stirred the soup for lunch they’d agreed would be tasty, since it was just the two of them. After pouring a cup of coffee from the pot on the back of the stove, she joined Mrs. Baldwin at the table.
Noticing Mrs. Baldwin’s nearly empty cup, she refilled it before resuming her seat.
“Thank you, dear girl.” Mrs. Baldwin took a sip and nodded appreciatively.
Risa took a few sips from her cup while her thoughts swirled around Gunder and what to do about her feelings for him. He hadn’t been part of her plans for her future.
