Chapter 9

For a long time the couple in the room was silent, content to watch the fire change from an uncertain flicker to a roaring blaze. As heat filled the room the cold retreated.

At length Martin stirred and crossed the room to the cabinets, looking in each. He found a coffee pot and filled it with water from a handpump sticking through the floor just inside of the door. He then poured in some coffee and hung the pot gingerly above the fire. "That should make us feel better," he grinned. "Too bad there aren't some extra clothes stashed away. We could get out of these wet things."

Eva wondered why he made no mention of the kiss, nor tried to repeat the effort. Surely she had returned the embrace with interest. This was the slowest man she'd ever met. On top of that, despite the fresh warmth, Eva felt uncomfortable in the soggy clothes. "I don't know about you," she said slowly, reaching for the buttons of her blouse, "but I'm going to get out of these wet things." She smiled, adding, "They aren't doing much good hiding my womanly wiles anyhow."

"No," Martin agreed, grinning, staring. "They certainly aren't."

Eva removed the blouse and hung it from the mantle to dry, aware that her ample breasts overflowed the narrow bra. Remaining droplets of water fell from her hair, trickling down the valley between the swells, vanishing under the cloth. "Do I seem immodest?" she smiled.

Martin didn't seem visibly moved by the exposure. "Modesty is just what you make of it," he said.

Just what kind of an answer is that? Eva thought. She felt growing excitement within her as she unhooked the bra and placed it beside the blouse. Bare to the waist, she was not embarrassed. Why should she be? "I suppose you've seen many women like this," Eva smiled.

"I have," Martin admitted.

"I guess we all look pretty much alike."

Martin shook his head and grinned. "Now I wouldn't exactly go that far. You're a truly beautiful woman."

Eva brushed water from her shoulders and breast. "I'm a wet one anyhow," she smiled. "But you'd better get out of your clothes too before you catch cold. You can't shock me, I've seen a man before ... just as you've seen a woman. We're both married, remember?"

Martin laughed pleasantly. "That's a fact," he admitted.

Eva tried hard to take her eyes from him as he undressed and added his clothing to the mantle. She couldn't, admiring the lean, lithe physique that came into view. She'd never seen anything like it. Just looking at him made her weak.

But Eva managed to drag her eyes away. She unhooked the catch to her skirt and let the soggy material slide down her legs. The remaining slip and panties were pure cellophane. Without further hesitation, Eva took them off. She turned her back on Martin and strung the clothing above the fireplace. The heat singed her bare flesh and at the same time she could feel the coolness of the room on her back.

Eva felt strange being in the room with this man without any clothes on. It puzzled her. Many men had seen her body and she'd never felt this way with any of them. The feeling hadn't even existed with her husband.

And now, she was almost afraid to turn around, to expose her full womanly beauty to the man standing a short distance behind her. Why? Eva didn't know. Maybe it was because she'd been too bold and feared she'd never see him again. But that didn't make sense. Wasn't she more interested in what was going to happen to her in the next few minutes? Eva didn't think so. She knew that she would want to see him tomorrow, and the next day. So right now she was a confused young girl. She wanted Martin desperately, but didn't want to pay the necessary price.

Nonetheless Eva turned back into the room. Martin stood near the center of the room, a sheepish grin spread across his rugged face. She felt faint as she ran her eyes down the length of his body. Every inch of him was perfection. Maybe up until now he'd been able to hide his desire for her with a blank expression. But now, this became impossible. He wanted her as much as she did him. It was all too obvious.

"I feel like Adam," he said hesitantly.

"I'm Eva," she smiled.

She felt his eyes swarm from her straggly hair to her feet. Eva shivered under the gaze, despite the roaring fire at her back.

The rain beat at the window, the fire crackled and the smell of coffee filled the room. But neither figure moved for a long time, each breathing in the other's beauty.

Martin was the first to break the spell. "I've never seen anyone so beautiful," he said slowly. "What about your wife?"

Martin shook his head. "Not even her." He took a step towards her, holding out his hand. "I'm sorry I kissed you back in the car."

Eva took hold of the extended hand, her heart leaping at the touch. "Are you?" she questioned.

"I suppose not," he admitted. "It seems like the thing to say." He drew Eva closer. "Anyhow, why apologize for something I may do again?"

They were now only separated by less than a foot. Eva's breasts rose and fell with her heavy breathing. She could feel waves of strong emotions pouring across her. It was all she could to do keep from throwing herself into his arms. "I'm a married woman," she heard herself say.

"I know," Martin admitted sadly.

"We shouldn't be here, dressed like this, thinking as we are."

"I know."

"Maybe we'd better get dressed and leave."

"It's still raining." . "It'd be safer." Eva heard the words she was saying. They all sounded strange, unlike her. Where had the girl gone who considered sex as a normal part of the day? What was wrong with her? Why didn't she beg him to take her and enjoy it instead of fighting?

The hand gently squeezed until it hurt. Eva saw his face descend towards hers. She shook her head. "Please," she whispered. "Don't."

"Do you really mean that?"

Eva bit her lip, staring deeply into his eyes, her heart beating wildly. "No," she said softly.

The kiss was gentle and tender but it exploded rockets in Eva's head. She felt his warm body press against her and his lips bite hers. He was a man with a body warm and hard and firm and lovely.

Why she didn't know, but she tried, tried her best to be good.

But soon the embrace turned animal and his mouth left hers. Eva moaned at the pleasure of the touch. She found his hand and pressed it and her fingers told him he had become a part of her.

Still, she heard herself pleading...."Don't ... don't."

But the man in her arms was beyond stopping and Eva knew that she didn't want him to. He drew away for a second, his expression strained, his eyes glazed. "Gosh," he panted. "You're wonderful. Do you want me to stop?"

It was a question Eva had never been asked before, not at a time like this. Her body burned with fire, she could feel a thick passionate fog enveloping her, and it seemed as if all of her wants exploded into action at once. She shook her head, feeling her still wet hair rub her bare shoulders. "No, no" she panted. "Don't."

He gasped as he pulled her to him, and crazily, Eva heard the hiss of the coffee boiling over into the fire as she opened her heart to him and started slipping blissfully from reality.

And just as she did one thought boiled to the surface with blazing clarity. It was crazy, unheard of, unbelievable ... but Eva knew it was the truth.

She was madly in love with Martin Sellers.