Chapter 14 #2
She donned her nightgown and climbed back into bed.
Without so much as a word, he pulled her into his embrace as though she’d never left it.
Surely, by now, the behavior was raising some sort of suspicion.
But he still didn’t confront her about it.
Didn’t complain or question her. She snuggled more tightly against him.
This man, who trusted her enough to allow her the freedom to hide herself from him.
It was time to show him the truth. Tomorrow.
She would do it when he came home from The Raven’s Den.
It was the only thing she could think about all day, and it even kept her awake until she finally heard him come through the front door.
She sat on the edge of his bed in her nightgown, all of the lamps in the room lit.
“Are you alright?” he asked when he walked in and saw her there.
She nodded, curling the fingers of one hand into the other and squeezing them tight. “I waited up for you.”
A hungry smile grew on his lips, and he crossed the room to her. She enjoyed a brief kiss, but stopped him before she lost herself to desire. Before she lost her nerve.
“Will you change into your pajamas?”
He looked into her eyes for a moment, his brow furrowed with uncertainty.
But he didn’t question her. “Of course.” He pressed a soft kiss against her forehead and walked into his dressing room.
He was so gentle and trusting. She hated what she was about to do.
But she had to show him. He deserved the truth.
“Better?” he asked when he returned a few minutes later, turning in a circle for her inspection.
She walked to him and took his hand. “There’s something I need to show you.” She led him to the bed and he sat.
Her heartbeat was frenzied as she stepped back, and tears welled in her eyes.
“Sweetheart.” He reached for her, but she held up a hand to stop him.
“I have to do this, Giles. And I’m sorry.”
She gathered her nightgown in her fists and pulled it over her head.
She watched him, expecting him to recoil from the hideous blemish. But he didn’t. His gaze wandered over every inch of her body, not lingering on the birthmark for more than a second or two.
“My God. You are even more beautiful than I imagined.”
“Stop it.” Two tears slid down her cheeks.
He gripped her waist with both hands and pulled her closer. “Is this what you’ve been hiding from me?”
She nodded. “It’s ugly, and I was afraid you’d hate me for not telling you before we wed.”
“It is not ugly. It’s a part of you, and therefore, is also beautiful.” He pressed a kiss against the edge of the mark between her breasts. “And I already know it tastes just as delectable as every other part of you.” His tongue glided over it until he drew her nipple into his mouth.
She whimpered. “Are you sure you’ll still want me?”
He stood, took her wrist gently, and pressed her palm against the front of his trousers. “That only happens because I want you.”
She’d never felt it with her hand before. It was firm, and pushed against her. “May I see it?”
He raised his brow. “Do I need to leave and come back in again?”
Laughter rushed through her lips, easing her heart.
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to her.
She claimed his mouth. He was hers, and he wanted her, even after seeing everything.
While her tongue swept into his mouth, she reached between them to open the buttons of his pajama top.
His chest was warm and inviting as he pulled her against him, his hands reaching down to grip her bottom.
She needed him inside her body. Needed to be joined with him. She wrenched her lips away from his. “Show me how much you want me by how quickly you get those off.” She pointed at his trousers.
He yanked on the drawstring and pushed them to the floor. She stared at him for a moment, and nearly asked if she could touch him, but she knew what he’d say. Instead, she wrapped her hand around him. His groan confirmed his approval.
“I want you inside me, Giles. Right now.”
He spun them around, and dropped her onto her back on the bed. Lifting her feet to rest on his shoulders, he drove himself into her, taking her breath away. She didn’t realize it could be done that way, with him still standing beside the bed. But then he plunged into her again.
“Yes.” She nodded her encouragement. “More.”
His gaze swept over her as he pounded into her. “My God. I knew you were beautiful, but my mind never could have conjured something so divine.” His fingers gripped her legs. “Watching your perfect breasts shake, and seeing your body stretched around me as I take you.” He groaned.
His erotic words pushed her closer to the edge, even as he drove harder and deeper into her body. Pleasure ripped through her, and as she threw her head back in ecstasy, his roar filled the room.
He stared down at her for a minute before he helped her up to the top of the bed and flopped down beside her. He pulled her to face him.
“What about turning out the lights?” she asked, still struggling to catch her breath.
He shook his head, his gaze traveling down her body. “I haven’t finished looking at you yet.”
Christina laughed. “If I’d known it would have that effect, perhaps I would have shown you sooner.”
“You are beautiful, Christina. Every inch of you is perfect.”
Eventually, he did get up and make it dark so they could sleep.
He still wanted her. He’d left her with no doubt of that.
A smile turned up her lips. She hadn’t expected it.
She’d never imagined he’d look at her the way he had.
Lust filling his eyes. She snuggled back against him, and his arm squeezed her waist. She was safe with him, in every possible regard.
Which was good, because she was also in love.