several dances. âOne more drink weâll have with our coffee, then head for home.â Nick sighed. âThereâs a thousand times a night Iâm wishing we were living in the same home, sharing the same bed â¦â He chuckled softly at the pink in Bridieâs cheeks. âThereâs pretty you are when youâre blushing and still so shy I can scarce believe it, Bridget Mhairi Maxwell.â
Nick had drunk more wine than was his habit and he drove slowly, carefully, on the way back to Lochandee, but the roads were almost deserted. Petrol was still rationed and few people drove purely for pleasure. Just before they reached the village he drew into the shelter of a stretch of woodland and stopped the car. He turned and drew Bridie into his arms, kissing her with an urgency which took her by surprise after the dreamy pace of the evening. She guessed it was the wine, as well as the news that they could start building their own home, which was adding fire to his blood. He undid the buttons of her coat and slipped his arms around her, feeling her quiver in response as his hand explored the softness of her body beneath the thin material of her dress. Bridieâs breath came faster as Nick slipped one hand beneath her skirt, feeling the tops of her best silk stockings and the thin satin suspenders. She was a little shocked at his dexterity in opening one single-handedly. She clung to him as he stroked the bare skin of her thigh, still gently, but Bridie felt the passion growing in him. She felt it too.
âSoon it is weâll be getting married, my love â¦Â soon â¦â His voice was husky. âCouldnât we â¦Â just this once â¦Â Bridie â¦?â
Bridieâs lips were clinging to his, her heart racing. Desire flared to match his own as his hands aroused so many sensations. She had never felt quite so wanton â¦Â but always her motherâs voice came into her mind â gentle and clear, and so very insistent. She could almost see the anxiety in Mumâs eyes, looking down into her own. She had been 12 or maybe 13 at the time. She remembered one of the girls at school, only two years older than herself, having a baby.
âYouâre almost a young woman now, Bridie. I had no one to explain to me about being a woman and all that it means â like making babies. You must never let any man try to make a baby with you, Bridie, not until youâre married.â Her mother had been so earnest, her face full of loving concern. Bridie remembered staring back, bewildered and anxious.
âI-I donât understand, Mama â¦â
âYou will one day. Itâs so easy to make a baby, especially if you think you love someone or want to please them.â
âBut how can I make a baby?â
âWhen we want the cows to have a calf, you know we put them beside the bull?â
âOf course, but â¦â
âAnd months later the cow has her calf. Men and women are just the same, except we are not animals and we should be married first â make our vows before God, in church.â Her mother had shuddered. Bridie still puzzled over that conversation, but she had never forgotten. There were still many things she didnât really understand about men and women and right now she yearned passionately for Nick to hold her tighter and tighter ⦠For him to â¦
âNo, Nick! Please, we mustnât make any babies â not yet â¦â There was panic in her voice. She wanted whatever it was Nick wanted, but she could not forget her motherâs warning, even now.
Nick caught his breath, paused, then with an impatient sigh he drew away from her. He leaned back in his own seat, head thrown back, drawing in great gulps of air as he strove for control. He rested his elbow on the window, his head in his hand. Bridie glanced at him miserably, feeling cold, bereft.
âI-Iâm
Nick had drunk more wine than was his habit and he drove slowly, carefully, on the way back to Lochandee, but the roads were almost deserted. Petrol was still rationed and few people drove purely for pleasure. Just before they reached the village he drew into the shelter of a stretch of woodland and stopped the car. He turned and drew Bridie into his arms, kissing her with an urgency which took her by surprise after the dreamy pace of the evening. She guessed it was the wine, as well as the news that they could start building their own home, which was adding fire to his blood. He undid the buttons of her coat and slipped his arms around her, feeling her quiver in response as his hand explored the softness of her body beneath the thin material of her dress. Bridieâs breath came faster as Nick slipped one hand beneath her skirt, feeling the tops of her best silk stockings and the thin satin suspenders. She was a little shocked at his dexterity in opening one single-handedly. She clung to him as he stroked the bare skin of her thigh, still gently, but Bridie felt the passion growing in him. She felt it too.
âSoon it is weâll be getting married, my love â¦Â soon â¦â His voice was husky. âCouldnât we â¦Â just this once â¦Â Bridie â¦?â
Bridieâs lips were clinging to his, her heart racing. Desire flared to match his own as his hands aroused so many sensations. She had never felt quite so wanton â¦Â but always her motherâs voice came into her mind â gentle and clear, and so very insistent. She could almost see the anxiety in Mumâs eyes, looking down into her own. She had been 12 or maybe 13 at the time. She remembered one of the girls at school, only two years older than herself, having a baby.
âYouâre almost a young woman now, Bridie. I had no one to explain to me about being a woman and all that it means â like making babies. You must never let any man try to make a baby with you, Bridie, not until youâre married.â Her mother had been so earnest, her face full of loving concern. Bridie remembered staring back, bewildered and anxious.
âI-I donât understand, Mama â¦â
âYou will one day. Itâs so easy to make a baby, especially if you think you love someone or want to please them.â
âBut how can I make a baby?â
âWhen we want the cows to have a calf, you know we put them beside the bull?â
âOf course, but â¦â
âAnd months later the cow has her calf. Men and women are just the same, except we are not animals and we should be married first â make our vows before God, in church.â Her mother had shuddered. Bridie still puzzled over that conversation, but she had never forgotten. There were still many things she didnât really understand about men and women and right now she yearned passionately for Nick to hold her tighter and tighter ⦠For him to â¦
âNo, Nick! Please, we mustnât make any babies â not yet â¦â There was panic in her voice. She wanted whatever it was Nick wanted, but she could not forget her motherâs warning, even now.
Nick caught his breath, paused, then with an impatient sigh he drew away from her. He leaned back in his own seat, head thrown back, drawing in great gulps of air as he strove for control. He rested his elbow on the window, his head in his hand. Bridie glanced at him miserably, feeling cold, bereft.
âI-Iâm
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