Page 148 of The Highlander Who Protected Me

It was an impressive, if rather intimidating sight.

Ainsley couldn’t help pressing a hand to her bedraggled bodice. “My goodness.”

He gave her a rather sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’ll keep these on for now, if it makes you feel better.”

“There’s really no hiding it, I’m afraid.”

He hesitated. “We can slow down, if you like.”

“I’m perfectly fine. Besides, I suspect you’ll be hurting yourself if we don’t take care of that.”

His laugh was rueful.

Ainsley pulled down the bedclothes and slipped under the sheets. “Come to bed, Royal. For once, let me take care of you.”

A look of intense yearning crossed his features as he joined her. He took her face between his palms and feathered a kiss across her lips. “I truly don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.”

Her eyes prickled. “It might have something to do with the fact that you’re the nicest man in the world.”

“That sounds rather boring.”

She scooted over to make room. “There’s nothing boring about you, as I believe you’re about to show me.”

Royal settled them in a comfortable cocoon of bed linens and blankets, tucking her securely against him. “Before I show you anything, I must ask you a question.”

She let out a mock groan.

He turned on his side, looking serious as he traced a fingertip down the length of her nose. “I’m just wondering how you want to do this.”

“Sorry?”

“Which position will be most comfortable for you?”

She blinked, disconcerted. “Oh. Well, I don’t know, actually. What do you think?”

He propped an arm behind his head. For a moment, his bulging muscles and the dark feathering of hair in his armpit distracted her. She had to resist a silly impulse to tickle him.

“There are a number of positions that might suffice,” he said, sounding rather professorial. “But for our first time, I suggest either you on top, or you underneath me, face-to-face. I am, however, open to suggestion. Whatever you prefer, love.”

She frowned. “I suppose either would be fine. Although. . .”

“Yes?” he gently asked as she hesitated.

Her anxiety flared, but Ainsley forced herself to ignore it. She understood why he was asking the question. As usual, Royal was taking gentle care of her.

“Actually, I would prefer that I not have my back to you,” she said.

He frowned. “Of course not. Not for our first time—” He broke off, his mouth suddenly a taut line. The spark of anger in his gaze told Ainsley that he’d understood.

That’s how Cringlewood had assaulted her. When he’d hit her, the force of the blow had spun her around, sending her stumbling against a chaise. The marquess had then pushed her face down into the cushions and violated her.

She knocked about in her head, trying to find the words to lighten the moment, but they eluded her.

Royal studied her for a moment before nodding. “Definitely you on top, then.”

Ainsley gave him a tentative smile. “You’d like that?”

“It’s one of my favorite positions. Even better, you get to be in charge. I can be your helpless love slave while you do all the work.”

---