Page 71 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
She’d been such a fool.She’d hoped that giving in to her desire for him would sate her.It turned out that surrender to physical need was the gateway to wanting everything.
Athene had spent years cursing her youthful recklessness.But the price of her rashness had never cut so deep as it did right now.
She pressed against Hugo and told herself that she could bear it.She had to.“You don’t have to give me up.”
Athene knew that it wasn’t enough for him.It wasn’t enough for her, for pity’s sake.But it was the best that she could do.He tightened his embrace and despite all the turmoil and the fact that they’d reached no genuine solution, she drew comfort from his touch.
“Shall we go back to bed?”Hugo asked eventually.
“Yes,” she said.Because whatever else divided them, their passion was too powerful to deny.
But as they lay together in the firelit darkness, they didn’t make love.Instead they twined their arms about each other, as if defending themselves from a world that sought to rip them apart.
Athene stayed awake, struggling to come to terms with Hugo’s offer to give up his home for her.She’d never ask him to do it, but she understood the magnitude of the sacrifice.It spoke of a depth of commitment to her that awed her.And daunted her.She was tragically aware of what misery that meant for both of them in the future.
Beside her, Hugo was awake, too.But he didn’t speak.
What was left to say?
***
Hugo was lying flat on his back when he stirred to the drift of warm silk over his body.As heated lips grazed his bare chest, he made a hoarse sound of approval and raised heavy eyelids to see Athene poised on her knees beside him.Her thick black hair tumbled down over her shoulders to tease his naked skin.
He’d taken off his shirt last night before lying down.He still wore his breeches.He didn’t need to glance down to know he already hardened.Every morning at the Three Crowns, he’d greeted the day with a cockstand.That had resulted in some delightful frolics.
Athene trailed her lips across to lick his nipple.Heat sizzled through him, as he caught her rope of black hair in his fist.
“That tickles.”His voice rasped with drowsiness and burgeoning arousal.
“You’re awake.”She raised her head and smiled at him.“Good morning.”
After last night’s turmoil and conflict, Hugo hadn’t been sure what to expect today.But the smile she gave him was unshadowed, and he read desire in those velvety brown eyes.
His fingers raked through her hair.She still wore her white nightdress, which would provide an impression of modesty, if the wide neck didn’t gape to reveal her sumptuous breasts.“Good morning to you, too.”
It was late.He’d lain awake too long, raging against what he couldn’t change.He couldn’t see the clock in the salon, but the curtains were open to full morning.The light let him admire her lovely face.When her eyes lowered to her task, a fan of black lashes made crescents on her cheekbones.Another rainy day, too.Not that he had plans to venture far from this bed.Despite his growing sensual interest, weariness weighted his limbs.
He wasn’t angry anymore.By the time he’d dropped off last night, he’d just been sad.Sad and defeated and lost.He’d found the woman he wanted, but unless something changed between them, she was never going to be his wife.
But how could he remain downcast, when Athene seduced him so thoroughly?As she’d said last night, they didn’t have everything, but what they had was a gift.
She pressed her lips to his.Streams of pleasure washed over him as she took her time, tasting him with open enjoyment.He snaked one hand around her neck to bring her down on top of him with the idea of rolling over and thrusting inside her.
To his surprise, she made a faint protest and wriggled free.“Not this morning.”
Hugo let her go and studied her face.“What is it, Athene?Is something wrong?”
She’d never denied him, not since they’d come to Putney.When he was an old, old man drawing his last breath, he’d remember her swift response to his touch.
“No.”
Then he realized what it must be.His touch turned tender, as he ran his hand down her arm.“Is it your courses?”
Pink tinged her cheeks.“No.”
“Then what is it?”This morning he was at sea with her.More than usual.She’d never woken him with kisses before.Did that mean she was interested in bed sport?She’d know that he was as hard as a wooden mast, so there was no reluctance on his part.
She completed a charged head-to-toe inspection, which did nothing to cool the rising fire in his blood.“I want to please you.”
