Page 8 of Love Me Forever
From his touch she could tell that her right side had suffered the most damage, though her left ankle was badly swollen. She suddenly recalled being thrown against the inside of the coach, her right side slamming viciously against the door, and how soon after she had lost consciousness.
She thought him done and was surprised when his hand traveled slowly back up her leg.
“Can you move your legs apart, Brianna?” he asked, giving her an encouraging glance.
She looked oddly at him.
“You have a bruise on the inside of your thigh that I did not notice when I first examined you.”
She accepted his explanation and attempted to move her legs but choked on the pain that gripped her.
“Easy,” he cautioned, his long, lean fingers stroking her thigh gently until her pain subsided. “I will move them for you. Relax and do not worry. I will not hurt you.”
Brianna listened to his soft yet strong voice, which soothed her, and she did as he instructed; though when his hand spread her legs and slipped close to the warmth between them, she stiffened and caused herself pain.
He thought he had caused her pain, and he attempted to rectify his mistake by gently stroking the bruised area, which ran completely around to the back of her thigh just beneath her backside.
“I am sorry,” he said softly and continued stroking her.
Surprisingly, she found herself relaxing and all her worries fading until her eyes drifted shut and she thought of nothing but his tender touch.
He did not wish to disturb her, she looked so content, but he did need to turn her on her side so he could take a look at her back. And he needed to stop stroking her for the sake his own sanity.
“I need to turn you,” he said a bit more sharply than he intended.
She seemed not to notice and simply nodded her approval.
He slipped his arm to rest between her full breasts, and with his one hand on her shoulder for support he eased her over on her side with his other hand.
She winced and her delicate hand grabbed hold of his arm, giving it a squeeze.
“I will hurry,” he said and saw that her back held fewer bruises than the front of her. A touch here and there told him what he needed to know. He then carefully eased her over on her back and covered her with the warm wool blanket.
Her sigh was deep and she shivered.
He tucked the blanket around her. “Are you comfortable?”
“Aye, and tired.” She yawned.
“Sleep.”
His word sounded like a whispered command, and she smiled, her eyes drifting shut. He was a warrior but a gentle one. How very strange.
Royce watched a smile light her face and he thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon.
Sleep claimed her as soon as her eyes closed, and her body relaxed beneath the blanket
She had been uncomfortable being naked in front of him and why not? He was a stranger, and how did she know if she could trust him? But she had handled herself well and had hid her fear and doubt, demonstrating a false courage, which took bravery.
He wondered over her husband. Had she loved him and favored his touch or had it been an arranged marriage that brought her no happiness? The sound of disappointment in her voice when she had mentioned her husband left him curious. He wished to learn all he could about her, though that thought struck him as odd. He had never bothered to learn much about the women he had known.
He had cared only for the battles he fought and won, and they had been endless, one after another. And he had always been victorious. He had lived for those battles, ached for them. He raised his hand to carefully touch the scar on his face.
Now he would always have a reminder of his victory, though he no longer ached for the battles. He shook his head, chasing away the bitter memory.
Brianna sighed and winced in her sleep, and Royce instantly soothed her with a gentle hand to her face. She calmed with his familiar touch. In her sleep she seemed to respond to him without hesitation or fear.
She sighed and turned her face into his hand, as if she needed the comfort of his touch. He rubbed her cheek and her slender neck with the back of his hand in a soft steady rhythm, and she once again settled into a contented slumber.
