A Bargain With Fate
Page 23
‘It is not that. I might hurt you. You are still not well. Your aunt said you should not exert yourself.’ She was finding it difficult to breathe—his touch was a drug, but she could not let him continue.
‘She said you were to keep me confined to my bed as much as possible. It will be much easier for you if you are with me. Otherwise I shall be forced to trail you about the house.’
She stroked his beloved face with a gentle hand. ‘But your wound, I do not want to aggravate it.’
He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips. His eyes were dark with passion. ‘You won’t hurt me. My love, I want to be with you tonight. I want to make love to you. I want to make you mine.’ He cupped her face in his hands. ‘Tell me that’s what you want also. Tell me you love me as much as I love you.’
A small sound halfway between a sob and a laugh escaped her. ‘I do love you, Michael.’ And then he pressed her back against the pillows, his lips possessed hers, and his hands cupped her breasts through the soft fabric of her gown. She murmured a faint protest when he lifted his head but it was only to ease her nightdress over her head. Then there were no barriers between them.
The early light of dawn glimmered across the bed. Michael stirred and turned to wrap his arm more firmly around the soft warmth of the precious woman curled up against him. His wife. He liked the sound of that more than he’d ever imagined. Never had he dreamed union with a woman could be such a joining of soul and spirit as well as body.
She moved in his arms and he pressed his lips to the nape of her neck, burying his face in her silky tresses. She half-turned; her eyelids fluttered open. She looked at him with sleep-filled eyes.
‘Good morning, my love.’ He kissed her lightly. ‘I hope you slept well.’
She gently caressed his face and returned his kiss. ‘Yes, very well. Better than I have for weeks. But you, your arm, does it pain you?’
‘A little, but I will survive.’ He smiled, stroking the soft silky skin of her upper arm. ‘I shall have to ensure you sleep well every night, then.’ A delicate pink stained her cheeks. The shy modesty concealing her passionate nature intrigued and delighted him. ‘So did last night persuade you marriage to me might be tolerable?’
‘I shall have to see.’
‘So you don’t know yet? I can see I must try a little harder to convince you.’ He shifted so his mouth and body covered hers. Her hands came up to pull his head to her.
Three-quarters of an hour later, Rosalyn lay with her head on his chest. He softly stroked her hair. ‘What do you think now?’ he inquired.
She smiled shyly. ‘I think I shall find it much more than tolerable. In fact, I think I will like it very much.’
ISBN: 978-1-474-02588-1
A BARGAIN WITH FATE
© 1998 Ann Elizabeth Cree
Published in Great Britain 2014
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,
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