Page 43 of Black Widow

With quick efficient movements, he removed his waistcoat and cravat. One boot dropped on the floor. It was swiftly followed by the other. He kept everything else on and pulled up the bedclothes just enough to slide in next toher.

Amelia had no choice but to move to the side to give him room. He was a big man. She tried to make herself as small as possible, scooting to the side until she was almost hanging off the edge of themattress.

Gideon reached out and hauled her close. He sighed, his body relaxing completely. She considered slapping his face…but she didn’t wantto.

It would just be for tonight. Her bone-deep weariness had dissipated during their conversation, but it was back now. And the heat from the earl’s body was so inviting. With a little exhalation, she lay her head on his shoulder and cuddled againsthim.

There would be ample opportunity to rail at Gideon tomorrow. Butfirst…

“Sir Clarence burned down my home, didn’the?”

Gideon sucked in a breath and began to rub his hand up and down her back. “I believe he did. It must have been retaliation for when you and Martin leftEngland.”

Tears pricked at her eyes. “Why couldn’t Sir Clarence have been content with my dowry? I made sure he had the entire sum before weleft.”

She waited, but Gideon made no response. That was just as well; she already knew the answer wasgreed.

“I suppose Martin thought he had plenty of time to rebuild, and that’s why he didn’t tell me,” she continued, trying not to blame her husband. He’d only been trying to protect her. “However, even rebuilt, the house will never be the same. It won’t be the home I shared with myparents.”

Gideon was quiet for so long she thought he had fallen asleep, but then he saidsomething.

He couldn’t see her frown in the dark. His murmur had been close to unintelligible, but it sounded like. “My home is wherever youare.”

Exhausted, she gave up on further conversation and fellasleep.

Chapter 17

Gideon openedhis eyes to full darkness. Shifting, he felt the warm weight of Amelia nestled against him, sleeping soundly. She hadn’t moved in all that time or he would have woken earlier. He was a lightsleeper.

He would have gone back to sleep, but a stray thought prodded him to full consciousness. Amelia had no trouble sleeping with him because she was accustomed to having someone else in herbed.

Martin, ofcourse.

A flare of jealousy caught him off guard. He told himself he was being an ass—again.

The pair might not have been lovers but with all the traveling they had done, it was only natural they shared a bed. Indeed, they wouldn’t have had a choice. Martin couldn’t have left Amelia unprotected in all those inns and foreign homes they visited during theirtravels.

How odd it must have been for the two of them to be forced into a charade where they had to pretend all thetime.

Rather like spies. He snorted at theirony.

Amelia shifted and raised her head. “What is it?” Her voice was confused and husky withsleep.

He winced. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. It’s still a few hours till dawn. Go back to sleep,” hewhispered.

She nodded and settled back into the pillows but didn’t close her eyes. He couldn’t see their blue shade in the moonlight, but he knew they were studyinghim.

When she continued to watch him, Gideon couldn’t resist reaching out to trace the smooth line of her cheek, following the path down her neck with hisfingertips.

Amelia closed her eyes and shivered. Hoping it was excitement that caused her reaction, he leaned over her until his lips were a hairsbreadth from hers. Given her ample time to pull away, he closed thedistance.

It was meant to be a brief caress, a test of sorts, to see if she would respond to him. But his restraint burned away the second he realized she wasn’t going to push him away. He teased her lips with his tongue until they parted and let him inside. Her taste was addictive and exotic, more intoxicating than anywine.

Gideon pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She shivered again and put her arms around his neck. His skin tingled, and a groan escaped as her soft warmth envelopedhim.

Amelia responded to his caresses with an untutored and honest passion. Gideon spared a thought to thank the stars. He hadn’t destroyed her sweet desire with his impatient blundering during their first disastrous experience together. But he needed to proceed cautiously, to open her mind and body to the pleasure of physicalintimacy.

He shifted, pressing his heavily aroused lower half against her. Amelia’s eyes flew open, and she broke off the kiss to look up at him with anxious eyes. He bent to kiss the silken skin next to herear.

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