Page 91 of Crash Landing
“Yes, Your Grace.” The maid scurried off with the bundle of garments and his boots.
Trajan shut the door and then turned to Florence. “Are you hungry? Or of a mind to continue what I started before we were interrupted?”
She melted at his wicked grin that also managed to be tender and endearing. “What do you wish to do? I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“What? Eat?”
She laughed. “It’s nice being here with you.”
“Makes one forget we are on the run from a desperate, deranged lord that I hope will not be soon on our trail.”
“Ugh, do not mention him. You’ll spoil what I hope will be a most promising night for me. My first time. I’ve never been with a man before.”
“I know, love. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
She cast him a gentle smile. “I’m looking forward to it. But may we eat first? I’m famished.”
“So am I.”
He hastily washed up before sitting down to supper, choosing the sandalwood soap for himself.
Florence inhaled his scent as he sat beside her at the small table in their quarters. “Nice.”
He breathed her in and gave her a heated kiss on the neck in return. “Even nicer.”
She smiled as she dished out the simple repast of ham in a honey glaze and roasted potatoes that they both enjoyed.
As they were finishing the hearty meal, the maid returned with his polished boots and their refurbished clothes. Trajan waited for the girl to wheel the cart out of their chamber, and then he latched the door and propped a chair against it for added security.
“The chair will topple if anyone tries to get in. I’m a light sleeper and will certainly hear the thud if it falls.” He next tucked a knife under his pillow, set his boots beside him, and tucked a pistol in the lip of the right boot. “Probably unnecessary, but why take chances?” He took the letters out of her pouch and tucked them into the hidden pocket of the gown she was to wear tomorrow. “One less thing to remember as we scramble out of here in the morning.”
She nodded. “What next?”
He cast her a breathtaking smile. “I kiss you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Trajan was experiencedin the bedchamber, but bedding Florence was proving to be more of a challenge than he expected because their hearts were involved, and hers was so fragile.
In all his years, he had never imagined himself falling in love with a big-eyed, slightly eccentric, and definitely stubborn bluestocking who trusted him, needed him, and loved him as no one had ever done before.
She cast him a smile filled with hope, heart, and sunshine.
“I love you,” she said as he drew her close to kiss her.
With her words, she was also giving him permission to take her outside of the bonds of marriage.
But he was not certain she was truly ready for this yet.
As for him, he had been ready since first setting eyes on her. “Mutual, Florence.”
Oh, he wanted her with an agonizing urgency.
He would show her pleasure tonight, but it hurt him to know that she would absorb his every kiss and caress, soak it all in like a little sponge because she had been denied love for so long. For this reason, he intended to wait until they were married to claim her as a husband should claim his wife because…well, taking her without that vow of marriage felt like atakingand not agiving. As though he were taking advantage instead of bestowing his heart, and it did not feel right.
Every time he thought of it, he was angered that she had beenraised to feel lesser all of her life. Despite everything, she had accomplished so much.
And yet this notion of her being unworthy still haunted her. She carried it around like a great stone weighing upon her slight shoulders, waiting for the moment it would crush her.
