Page 56 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
He settled beside her and drew her into his arms.“You’re incomparable, Athene.”
Hugo couldn’t be sure she heard him.With an incoherent murmur, she relaxed in his hold.Already half asleep, he tangled his hand in her hair and gathered her close.Another of those sweet little murmurs.Hugo remained alert enough – just – to sense the moment that she yielded to exhaustion and slept safe in his arms.
Chapter 15
Your touch is fire.
You take me higher
Than heaven’s gate.
This must be fate.
Athene stirred and slowly opened her eyes to realize that Hugo was stroking her hair, smoothing it from the wild tangle it had become in their frenzied matings.He rested on one elbow and subjected her to a tender concentration that made her idiot heart cramp with longing.
A creased sheet covered them both to the waist and the room was warm with the fire roaring in the hearth.He must have left the bed to stoke it.She really had fallen into a deep sleep.It was still dark outside, but something told her that dawn wasn’t far away.
She made a husky sound of appreciation and gave him a drowsy smile.“Good morning.”Her voice was scratchy with tiredness and after her cries of release when he’d set her world alight.
“Good morning.”The deep rumble made her think of a contented lion.
She was in such trouble here.He’d been difficult enough to resist before she discovered his generous, passionate soul.Before she’d discovered the bliss that he could create in her body.“I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
“No need to be.”His smile was as tender as his touch.“We have plenty of time.And I’ve been devilish demanding, when all is said and done.”
He’d lifted her higher than heaven on a golden ladder of ecstasy.Memories of that ineffable joy lent a lazy throb of contentment to her blood.
She cupped his jaw, feeling the rasp of whiskers.“I love that you want me so badly.”
Athene had a horrible feeling that she loved more than that.But she refused to inspect the farthest reaches of her emotions.Perhaps if she didn’t think about them, those inconvenient feelings would go away.
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss that expressed his delight in her.“The feeling is mutual.”
She loved this quiet moment – love again, heaven save her – when she felt like nothing could ever go wrong.Sliding her hand around the back of his head, she brought him down for a kiss.Like everything in this radiant interim, it expressed affection and gratitude rather than desire.Although desire hovered within reach, should they choose to pursue it.
When they drew apart, Athene left the bed and picked up her nightdress, tugging it over her head.It seemed silly to cling to modesty, but something within her cringed at prancing around the room naked.
“Ouch.”
Her gasp had Hugo lurching up against the pillows and frowning.“What is it?
Grimacing, she braced her waist with her hands.Overnight she seemed to have developed muscles that she’d never known she possessed and they all complained.Vociferously.
“My body is letting me know that it’s a long time since I’ve…” Fucked?That was George’s favorite word for congress, but it seemed too crass for the luminous communion she’d shared with Hugo.
“Damn it, Athene, I should have been more careful.”Hugo surged out of bed and rushed across to take her arms.“Do you want to lie down?Should I call a doctor?”
With a wry laugh, she surveyed over six feet of naked male looming above her.She liked that he cared so much about her.Nobody had cherished her in so long.George certainly hadn’t.“Hugo, there’s no need for all this.You haven’t injured me.Nothing’s seriously wrong.I’m just a little stiff.I haven’t been with a man in a long time and we were…vigorous.”
Hugo surveyed her with a concerned expression.“Are you sure?”
“My few aches and pains don’t merit this fuss.”
“Yes, they do,” he said gravely.“I’d hate to hurt you.”
“You haven’t.”She stroked that stalwart jaw.He really was a knight in shining amor.Her first impression hadn’t been mistaken at all.“I just need more exercise.”
To her relief, that made him laugh.“That’s one word for it, I suppose.”
