Page 18 of Catching Captain Nash
“You feared you’re not her father.” A horrified light sparked in her eyes. Horror that turned to swift outrage. “When I said I had things to tell you, you thought I meant to confess to taking lovers.”
As he opened his mouth, he knew it was a mistake to try to defend himself. “Well, I walked in on you getting engaged to that dunderhead Garson.”
“He’s not a dunderhead,” she said hotly, drawing herself up to her full height.
“He is, if he wants to marry my wife,” Robert said with equal heat.
“Your widow.” She raised her head, haughty as a princess. Last night’s skittish creature was no longer in evidence, thank God. “And you’re the only man who’s ever slept in my bed.”
Why the devil were they fighting? Although he liked to see anger revive the spirited woman he’d wed. That vivid girl had never given him his way, just for the asking.
When he looked closely, he could see that he’d been wrong to think that their long parting had left her unmarked. She was still breathtakingly beautiful. But her loveliness now conveyed a depth and richness of character. In his bride, that had been just a promise of things to come. And the deep blue eyes that accused him of misjudging her were softer and wiser, and too familiar with grief and loss. She was no longer the carefree girl he’d married.
Of course, she wasn’t. She was a mother.
By heaven, he was a selfish cur. He’d never before considered their separation from Morwenna’s side. He’d needed every ounce of strength and determination to come back to her, and he’d been through hell in the process. But she must have been through her own hell while he was away. She’d spent all this time believing he was dead. What had that done to her?
“I know I’m the only man who’s been in your bed,” he said calmly, folding his arms and leveling an unwavering stare upon her.
She frowned. “How on earth can you know?”
“Because you made love to me as if you’d waited all this time, as if you’d missed me as I missed you. Surely you remember what we did together last night. It was spectacular.”
“What nonsense is this?” She frowned again, this time, through a blush. “Of course I remember.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “You didn’t say anything.”
“Neither did you.”
“I thought if I spoke, you might come to your senses about what we were doing and make me stop.” More vile selfishness, damn it. But he’d needed her last night. Needed her like he needed air to breathe.
“Why on earth would I stop you? I...wanted you.”
Heaven save him. Hearing her admit her desire in that husky, hesitant voice had him as hard as a blasted ship’s mast. Hard and ready. And blessedly alone with her.
What he planned to do right now was audacious, but irresistible. “Do you still?” he asked slowly, his gaze unwavering.
Her cheeks turned a delightful rose pink. “It’s morning.”
He ventured a step closer, pleased to see she didn’t retreat at his approach. “We’ve come together in the morning before.”
She gave the door an uncertain glance. “In our own house when we weren’t likely to be interrupted. This is Silas’s house.”
“And he’s left us to sort out our differences.” Robert crossed the room and locked the door with one determined twist of his hand. “Very considerate of him.”
“Someone could come into the garden and look through the window,” she said shakily, as he turned back to face her.
“Not bloody likely.” Robert cast an unimpressed glance out the window at the torrential rain. “It’s like Noah’s Flood out there this morning.”
“They’ll all know what we did,” she muttered, avoiding his eyes.
He rounded the polished mahogany table until he stood mere inches from her. “They might guess.”
“We can’t, Robert. What about Kerenza?” Morwenna bit her lip, and the sight of white teeth sinking into that pink, cushionyflesh only made him hotter. “Don’t you want to hear about your daughter?”
“Oh, yes. More than anything else. Almost anything else.” He was desperate to bury himself deep inside his wife, but he hadn’t completely surrendered to his primitive self. Last night, he hadn’t asked her what she wanted before he went ahead and took her. “Are you really going to deny me, Morwenna?”
Her pale hands fluttered up to her throat, and she looked charmingly indecisive. Well, it would be charming, if he didn’t feel like his balls were about to burst.
