Thomas glanced over his shoulder, a bit surprised to find Abby holding the box of chocolates still unopened in her lap. "I didn't spike them, if that's what you're worried about," he assured her while he kicked off his pants.
"Oh, I wasn't worried," said Abby, suppressing a grin. "I just didn't want to miss watching you undress."
"Ah!" Thomas climbed onto the bed. "And are you going to return the favor?" he asked in a low voice, leaning so close it made the girl shrink back and blush.
For a moment Abby wondered whether he could actually see anything, staring down her nightgown like that. She quickly opened the box to distract him. "Here, you should have one too," she said.
Thomas peered down. "Which one has any liquor, do you suppose?" he asked.
"The oval one, I think," she answered.
Just when Thomas reached out his hand, Abby pulled away the box. "Wait!" she cried, remembering he had just scaled the wall again. "Wash your hands first." She nodded at the washing table next to the door.
For a moment the young man was stunned, but he chuckled when he moved away. "Yes, ma'am."
Abby was amused to see Thomas cross the room in his bare buttocks. She thought he looked innocent enough, standing at the washing table she had grown up sharing with her sisters. "You're the first boy to visit this room," she explained when he cast her a curious glance, "and you'll probably remain the only one, judging from the way things are going."
"I'm honored," replied Thomas, "although I really am a
man
by anyone's definition." He flexed his muscles to illustrate his point.
Abby suppressed a giggle. "Perhaps," she teased in a skeptical tone.
"Perhaps?" echoed Thomas with mock indignation. "Oh, but surely Abby Greene would never allow an immature boy into her room." He climbed back onto the bed with a mischievous grin on his face. "A mere boy would never be allowed to kiss her... and touch her... all over her beautiful body."
Abby closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations while Thomas followed his words with actions. "You've got that right," she said with a smile.
All of a sudden Thomas paused. "We'll share one," he said, taking one of the chocolates from the box. "You bite the other half." He straightened his back and placed the candy between his teeth.
Abby sat upright to follow his suggestion, but the liquor spilled out when she did so and it subsequently traveled down her throat to disappear under her collar.
"Interesting," said Thomas with a grin. His kisses followed the liquid trail across her skin.
Abby pulled down her nightgown to accommodate him. "You knew perfectly well this would happen," she accused him, feeling like a proper hussy.
"My love, you overestimate me," protested Thomas. "Calculating the trajectory of any possible spillage is quite beyond me."
"True enough," reckoned Abby. She noticed the molten chocolate on Thomas' fingers and decided to get back at him. She took his hand and brought it to her mouth.
"My love!" exclaimed Thomas when she started licking his finger tips. "How you tease me!"
"How so?" asked Abby, feigning ignorance. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "I thought this was teasing." She wrapped her lips around his fingers and sucked on them.
Thomas swallowed hard. "That's teasing me
more
," he said. He could not stop himself from wondering how far she would go. "I don't suppose if I'd melt any chocolate on my..." He broke off the sentence when Abby frowned at him. "Or on you," he suggested instead. "Somewhere? Anywhere?"
Abby's frown deepened. "No, Thomas," she said, "I was taught not to play with my food."
The young man shrugged. "So was I," he replied, "but all's fair in love and war."
His words amused the girl. "So what's this?" she asked him. "Love or war?"
"Hm, the battle of the sexes," mused Thomas. Then he grinned. "I do carry something of a weapon, a rather versatile one. It can stab or shoot according to the situation."
Abby stood aghast at the analogy. She folded her arms across her chest and tried to look stern. "And is there any way I might defend myself against such an onslaught?" she asked.
"Nature did not design a defense for women," answered Thomas in a solemn voice.
"That's hardly fair," said Abby, "considering a woman has no weapons of her own."
"I beg to differ," said Thomas. "A woman's weapon is her charm, and I daresay yours is quite effective."
Abby's mouth curled into a grin. "Do you speak from experience?"
"I do," confirmed Thomas. "I must admit I am entirely under your spell. You have bewitched me quite completely."
"And quite by accident, I assure you," added Abby.
Thomas blinked at her. "Do you regret it?" he asked her, unable to hide his disappointment.
Abby almost wished she could take back her words. She had meant it as a jest even though it was the truth. "No, I don't regret it," she assured him. "I regret nothing we did in Northfair." She paused for a moment. "But I do regret being so mean to you after the dance. Please forget the things I said."
"No," said Thomas, "I deserved all of that." He gave her a pout. "Don't you regret hitting me with that bucket though?"
"That was warranted!" cried Abby. Before she knew it, she grabbed her pillow and used it to hit him on the head.
"Ow! Pillow fight!" cried Thomas. "Mercy, milady!"
"What need have you for mercy when your skull is made of concrete?" asked Abby, but she put down her pillow anyway.
"Well, yes, but the
hair
!" cried Thomas. He tried to rearrange it, but only seemed to worsen the static.
Abby suppressed her laughter. "Don't worry about your hair," she said. "Your father still has all of his, and so does Robert."
Thomas chuckled at the idea. "That's no guarantee though," he argued, but he did not stop her from ruffling it up some more. "Would you still love me if I grew bald?" he asked instead.
Abby pursed her lips. Thomas was not supposed to have overheard her confession. She needed to punish him for this. "What if I said 'no'?" she asked him in turn.
