readied for bed, she admitted to erring in her judgement of her husband. But she couldn’t have mistaken the stiff rod of flesh between his thighs, or its meaning. Bridget had made sure of that.
Except, apparently, she and Bridget didn’t know as much as they believed because Guy now slumbered as peacefully as a carefree babe. Mayhap she didn’t appeal to him in that way. He hadn’t so much as touched her. Mayhap she wasn’t the sort of girl men wanted to do that with.
She crept closer to the bed and gingerly raised the covers. He stirred in his sleep, but stayed on his side. Helena eased herself into the bed beside him. It was galling, but she would have to consult with Bridget.
Lady Rosalind would know how to tempt a man. The admission pricked at Helena as she adjusted her position for comfort. Lady Rosalind would have had the man panting and begging by now. The image of Guy panting and begging caused a strange tingling to start low in her belly, not an unpleasant sensation by any means.
Spreading throughout her body, the tingle seemed to emanate from her most private places. Here, at her breasts, past her navel and beyond. Her palms brushed across her nipples, firm yet sensitive. She stroked her hand down her belly to touch her mound through her shift. Then drew back, shocked at her own daring.
This had not gone at all as she had planned.
Chapter 12
Helena woke to a wondrous sensation of warmth. She had sought Guy in her sleep once more. Something was different this morning. Her pulse beat hard against her throat. The large body curled about her was unmistakably awake, which should have disturbed her. Instead it inspired nothing more in her than the need to lie absolutely still and enjoy the feeling.
“Good morrow, my lady,” he murmured beside her ear.
A tremor crept up her spine.
He made no move to disentangle their limbs or unwrap his length from around her. Her shift was still folded about her knees, but she could feel the hot press of his body through the thin linen. Nestled against her bottom was the answer to her previous concern.
Her heart pounded beneath her breast. “Good morrow.” She felt heat creep over her cheeks.
He seemed disinclined to move and Helena lay expectant. Nerves fluttered in her belly. Would he act?
His breath stirred the fine hairs along her neck, sending small shivers down her spine. She feared he’d gone back to sleep. A sharp sense of disappointment clenched in her chest. Clearly, she was going about this in the wrong way. It was hardly her fault that she had no experience of these things. Either she would have to let instinct be her guide or she would be forced to ask Bridget for more information after prayers. She could just imagine how that conversation would go.
She tried to wriggle her bottom clear of his hard flesh.
He hauled her body flush against him. “Stay.” His wide hand splayed across her stomach to keep her in place.
Her pulse leapt, as if poised on the edge of something thrilling. She breathed in and caught a hint of jasmine, but even stronger, the earthy scent of warm, male skin.
“Hmm.” He stirred against her neck, burying his face in the bend of her shoulder. Prickles of warmth spread from the places he touched. His stubbled chin scraped over her neck as he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. Oh, merciful Lord . Who knew that ears could make your body feel that way? She tingled all the way down to her toes.
A rough purr thrummed in his chest. “Helena?” His voice stirred the heat already blossoming within her body.
He was asking her, making the decision hers. Any lingering nervousness disappeared. “I’m not afeared,” she whispered.
“Nay?” His fingers trailed across her belly as his mouth lingered along the line of her throat. Heat sparked where his hand rested, frustratingly close to her breasts.
“Nay, not afeared.”
He pushed her linen shift aside with his chin to slide his mouth along the curve of her shoulder. His
Except, apparently, she and Bridget didn’t know as much as they believed because Guy now slumbered as peacefully as a carefree babe. Mayhap she didn’t appeal to him in that way. He hadn’t so much as touched her. Mayhap she wasn’t the sort of girl men wanted to do that with.
She crept closer to the bed and gingerly raised the covers. He stirred in his sleep, but stayed on his side. Helena eased herself into the bed beside him. It was galling, but she would have to consult with Bridget.
Lady Rosalind would know how to tempt a man. The admission pricked at Helena as she adjusted her position for comfort. Lady Rosalind would have had the man panting and begging by now. The image of Guy panting and begging caused a strange tingling to start low in her belly, not an unpleasant sensation by any means.
Spreading throughout her body, the tingle seemed to emanate from her most private places. Here, at her breasts, past her navel and beyond. Her palms brushed across her nipples, firm yet sensitive. She stroked her hand down her belly to touch her mound through her shift. Then drew back, shocked at her own daring.
This had not gone at all as she had planned.
Chapter 12
Helena woke to a wondrous sensation of warmth. She had sought Guy in her sleep once more. Something was different this morning. Her pulse beat hard against her throat. The large body curled about her was unmistakably awake, which should have disturbed her. Instead it inspired nothing more in her than the need to lie absolutely still and enjoy the feeling.
“Good morrow, my lady,” he murmured beside her ear.
A tremor crept up her spine.
He made no move to disentangle their limbs or unwrap his length from around her. Her shift was still folded about her knees, but she could feel the hot press of his body through the thin linen. Nestled against her bottom was the answer to her previous concern.
Her heart pounded beneath her breast. “Good morrow.” She felt heat creep over her cheeks.
He seemed disinclined to move and Helena lay expectant. Nerves fluttered in her belly. Would he act?
His breath stirred the fine hairs along her neck, sending small shivers down her spine. She feared he’d gone back to sleep. A sharp sense of disappointment clenched in her chest. Clearly, she was going about this in the wrong way. It was hardly her fault that she had no experience of these things. Either she would have to let instinct be her guide or she would be forced to ask Bridget for more information after prayers. She could just imagine how that conversation would go.
She tried to wriggle her bottom clear of his hard flesh.
He hauled her body flush against him. “Stay.” His wide hand splayed across her stomach to keep her in place.
Her pulse leapt, as if poised on the edge of something thrilling. She breathed in and caught a hint of jasmine, but even stronger, the earthy scent of warm, male skin.
“Hmm.” He stirred against her neck, burying his face in the bend of her shoulder. Prickles of warmth spread from the places he touched. His stubbled chin scraped over her neck as he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. Oh, merciful Lord . Who knew that ears could make your body feel that way? She tingled all the way down to her toes.
A rough purr thrummed in his chest. “Helena?” His voice stirred the heat already blossoming within her body.
He was asking her, making the decision hers. Any lingering nervousness disappeared. “I’m not afeared,” she whispered.
“Nay?” His fingers trailed across her belly as his mouth lingered along the line of her throat. Heat sparked where his hand rested, frustratingly close to her breasts.
“Nay, not afeared.”
He pushed her linen shift aside with his chin to slide his mouth along the curve of her shoulder. His
Similar Books
