Chapter 13 #2
She tightened her grip on him. “I fear I will not have the strength even with your help once I sit.”
Rhys wanted to be able to slip her nightdress on as soon as he slipped her dress off, otherwise it was not going to be easy to hold her completely naked in his arms. He had waited impatiently for the first moment he would see her naked.
He had not expected that when it came he would not be able to touch and kiss her lovely body, but rather he would be dressing her in her nightdress and tucking her into bed and that the whole ordeal would be his fault.
So, with reluctance he said, “Then I will get your dress off first, then you can sit while I fetch your nightdress.”
“I would be most grateful.”
Grateful. He had never expected her to be grateful to him for stripping her naked or that he would be disappointed when he did.
He pushed the annoying thought from his head.
He needed to see this done and as fast as possible.
He worked on the ties at the back of her dress, loosening them and hoped that she wore other garments beneath like some women did.
Then he could leave them on her to save his sanity while he got her nightdress.
As soon as he freed the ties all the way, he could see she wore no top undercover. He had to be done with this and see his wife clothed shortly after stripping her or he might not be able to keep his hands off her once he got in bed with her.
He worked the dress down over her shoulders and then her breasts.
It was impossible not to let his eyes feast on what his mouth could not.
He shut his eyes for a moment, but the images of her lovely breasts followed behind his closed lids and, of course, he grew aroused.
How could he not when looking on such enticing breasts.
Her soft moan had his eyes springing open.
“Bed,” she whispered, “I need to get in bed.”
He admonished himself for thinking of his own need when she was suffering.
Keeping his thoughts focused on seeing her comfortably settled for the night, he hurried to rid her completely of the dress.
And when he pushed the dress down over her curvy hips and it fell the rest of the way down to her feet, his eyes could not help but admire the thatch of blond hair at the apex of her legs.
How he ached to touch her, explore her, and bring her pleasure.
He shook his head.
“My body does not please you?”
“It pleases me too much. You are more beautiful than any woman I have ever known.”
She moaned again. “My head...hurts.”
Rhys eased her up into his arms, and then laid her down gently on the bed.
He slipped off her shoes and pulled the blanket over her, though he would have loved to continue to feast his eyes on her enticing body.
She was curved perfectly in all the right places and her skin was soft with not a single blemish on it.
And she must have done much physical work for while her skin was soft to the touch there was tightness to her body that he rarely saw in a woman.
He was growing far too aroused and turned to walk away and not only fetch her nightdress but to take a moment to collect himself and calm his growing arousal.
She reached out, grabbing his hand. “Do not leave me.”
“You need your nightdress,” he said, knowing it was a necessity for his own sanity.
“I need you more.”
Her desperate plea grabbed at his gut and turned his ache for her unbearable. But he would not deny her when the incident had left her frightened. He would, however, leave his garments on.
He went to climb in bed with her, but her words stopped him.
“Your garments...take them off or you will not sleep comfortably.”
He never expected to hear his new wife tell him to take his garments off and at any other time he would be only too pleased to oblige her. But this night had been difficult enough without having to crawl into bed with her naked. Another thought he never believed he would ever have.
“Please hurry,” she begged.
He did as she asked and got in bed carefully so as not to jostle her and cause her more pain. As soon as he stretched out beside her, she turned, pressed herself tight against him, placed her leg over his, her arm across his waist and rested her head on his chest, and sighed contentedly.
This was going to be an unbearable night and yet he cherished having her in his arms. He rested his arm around her shoulders and slipped his other hand in hers, locking her safely in his embrace.
“How many women?” she whispered.
He narrowed his brow, not understanding. “What is that you ask?”
“You said I was more beautiful than any woman you have ever known. How many women have you known?”
“More than I needed to.”
“That is an odd answer.”
“It is a complex matter.”
“How so?” she asked.
“You need your rest.”
“You told me not to sleep.”
“You can sleep now. I will stir you now and again to make certain you are all right,” he said, not wanting to discuss the matter with her now or possibly ever.
“My head hurts too much for me to sleep. If we talk, it may take my mind off the pain and allow me to sleep.”
“Then talk...of something else.”
“Have you ever truly loved anyone?” Heather listened as her question caused his heart to beat faster.
“I will not discuss love with you,” he snapped.
“Why not? Does love frighten you?”
“Very little frightens me.”
“Then what is it that does frighten you?”
“A wife who nags me with endless questions.”
Her soft laughter turned to a yawn. “See I grow tired already, and I do not nag. Are you not curious about me?”
“I know all I need to know.”
“And what do you know?”
“That you belong to me now and always,” he said, declaring it so.
“You will never let me go?”
“Never.”
“You will never leave me?”
“Never. You will remain by my side always whether you like it or not.”
“You do not have to make it sound as if you must order me. Being wed to you is not the burden I imagined it would be.”
“You say that now, but in time you may think differently,” he said. “Now no more talk. Go to sleep.”
Heather yawned again, finding their conversation had taken her mind off the pain that seemed to have faded. Her eyes grew heavy and began to drift close and just as she slipped into slumber, she heard the whispered words that often filled her dreams.
I love you, Heather.
“I love you— always—Quinn,” she whispered as sleep took hold.