When his breathing had calmed to something close to normal, he lifted his head. He immediately sensed how still she’d gone and he once again cursed the darkness that kept him from seeing her clearly. While he’d been taking his time catching his breath, he’d no doubt been squashing her. He made to roll off her, but she tightened her arms and legs around him.
“Don’t go,” she whispered. “The way you feel on top of me, inside of me…I’m not ready for it to end.”
Heaven help him, neither was he. He brushed his fingers over her cheek, freezing when he felt the wetness on her soft skin. “Are you
She shook her head. “No.” She trailed her fingers over his features, as if trying to memorize them in the dark. “I’m just…overwhelmed. I…never expected to feel that way again. Never expected to experience passion again.” She turned her head and kissed his palm, a tender gesture that seemed to yank his heart from its moorings. “Thank you, Simon.”
His throat tightened at the emotion in her voice. “Genevieve.” Bloody hell, just saying her name pleased him. He leaned forward and touched his forehead to hers. “I am the one who should be thanking you.”
For several seconds she said nothing. He listened to her pull in a several deep breaths, her warm exhalations caressing his lips. Then he felt her lips curve against his palm. “I must say, your idea of retribution gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase
“Indeed it is. And I’m delighted you think so, since I’m not nearly finished with my retribution.”
“Oh, my. But surely you realize that will only lead to me enacting retribution of my own.”
“Yes, that did occur to me.” He heaved a dramatic sigh and nuzzled her fragrant neck. “I’ll endeavor to endure whatever repayment you deem appropriate.”
“As I recall, your method involves a kiss for a kiss.”
“Yes. And a touch for a touch-”
“And a lick for a lick?”
“Precisely. And then there is the small matter of the satin ribbons to bind the wrists.”
She heaved a dramatic sigh. “And if I refuse to give in to such treacherous demands?”
“I’ll simply have to find a way to bring you around to my point of view.”
“Hmm…I suspect that won’t be overly difficult. I have a terrible weakness for kisses.”
He ran his tongue over her plump bottom lip. “And licking?”
“A
“As I said, I’ll try not to complain and take it like a man.” Yet as he settled his mouth over hers, Simon was hit by the unsettling realization that he had a very terrible weakness of his own. And she was named Genevieve Ralston.
12
SIMON AWAKENED and moaned in protest at the evaporation of his very enjoyable, very erotic dream featuring him, Genevieve and a jar of honey. But then he realized it didn’t actually have to end. She was right here in his bed. And there were several jars of honey in the pantry.
Smiling, he rolled over, then froze at the sight of the empty space next to him.
Muttering an obscenity, he flung off the covers and grabbed his breeches. Damn it, he was supposed to be protecting her. How the hell had she managed to leave the room without awakening him? He was normally a very light sleeper, but clearly not this morning. Was she safe?
He jabbed his legs into his breeches, snatched his knife from the bedside table then quickly crossed the room on silent bare feet. As soon as he stepped into the corridor, he heard the murmur of voices. Keeping close to the wall, he moved cautiously forward. As he approached the kitchen he heard Baxter say, “That ain’t a smart thing to do.”
“You’re looking for trouble” came Genevieve’s voice.
Clutching his knife tighter, Simon crept forward then cautiously peered around the corner. And blinked.
Genevieve sat at the wooden table in the center of the kitchen, a plate of food and steaming teacup in front of her. Baxter stood next to her, a white apron covering the front of his clothes, his beefy fists planted on his hips. They were both staring at the floor and smiling-at Beauty, who was on her belly, inching her way toward Sophia, tail wagging, head cocked to one side, her puppy curiosity clearly wondering, “What sort of chewy treat is this?” Sophia eyeballed the encroaching dog with all the enthusiasm a princess would bestow on week-old stall-muckings.
“Yer about to get yer nose swatted, pup,” Baxter warned, his gravelly voice laced with amusement.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than one of Sophia’s paws flashed out, catching Beauty’s snout. Beauty yelped and tried to scramble away, but she couldn’t find her footing on the wood floor and landed on her stomach with her legs splayed. Clearly satisfied that she’d demonstrated who was in charge, Sophia lifted both her tail and her nose in the air, then strolled several feet away to lie down in a pool of sunlight streaming through the window. With the golden rays adoring her, she hoisted a hind leg in the air and proceeded to groom herself.
Relieved that there was no need for concern, Simon stepped into the doorway. Beauty caught sight of him and barked a greeting, then, managing to gain her feet, she darted toward him. Bending down he scooped her up and was instantly the recipient of a wealth of canine adoration, followed by whining that was obviously a report on the terrible fate that had just befallen her. He gave her a sympathetic hug, then holding her in the crook of his arm and dodging doggie kisses as best he could, he entered the kitchen.
His gaze instantly settled on Genevieve. Dressed in the same demure pale-yellow day gown she’d worn last evening, her blond hair pulled back in a simple chignon, she stole his breath. He stared at her, feeling as if he’d been punched in the heart. Her lips looked ripe and slightly kiss-swollen, yet her beautiful blue eyes offered no indication that the two of them had shared anything more than a casual conversation. That irked him, mainly because he wasn’t certain his expression was as inscrutable.
Memories of the previous night flooded his mind…hands and lips exploring, her straddling his thighs, taking him deep into her body, the sound of her moaning his name as she came apart in his arms. Then, holding her close, their limbs entwined, his lips pressed to her temple, breathing in her delicate fragrance. The profound, utter satisfaction that had washed through him-satisfaction, he sensed, that was due to more than mere sexual gratification. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt so damn good. So damn…content.
Good enough apparently to fall into an uncharacteristically deep sleep. Of course, it had been a long time since he’d been so completely wrung out. Indeed, he couldn’t recall a single occasion when he had been so thoroughly exhausted by a woman. Normally he left soon after his passion was spent. Sleeping with a woman, spending the night with her, awakening with her the next morning was too…intimate. Too…serious.
Yet he’d never once thought of leaving that bed. Instead he’d held Genevieve close and fallen into a deep, restful sleep the likes of which he couldn’t recall ever experiencing. Until this woman. A woman who was now looking at him with a glimmer of humor in those bewitching blue eyes he couldn’t stop staring into.
He cleared his throat. “You’re all right?” he asked Genevieve.
“Of course she’s all right,” Baxter broke in. “I’ve been watchin’ over her while ye slept like a babe. Made her breakfast and tea. Weren’t easy considerin’ how bare yer pantry is.”
Simon shifted his gaze to Baxter, whose glare could have melted bricks. “Obviously you’re feeling better.”
Baxter grunted. “Good enough to watch over Gen without any help. So now that yer awake, we’ll be gettin’ ready to leave.”
Simon’s insides knotted at the words. He couldn’t let her go back to the cottage yet, not until he knew what sort of threat she was facing. He realized it was more than that, however. He simply didn’t want her to go. Not yet.
He opened his mouth to object, but before he could speak, Genevieve said, “I don’t think we should be in such a rush to leave, Baxter. What if whoever attacked you returns?”
Baxter cracked his knuckles. “I’ll be ready for him next time.”
“Still, I think I’d feel better staying here a while longer. That is, if Simon doesn’t object.”
“You may both stay as long as you like,” Simon assured her. Clearly she suspected the intruder would return. The only reason the bastard would do so was because he hadn’t found what he was looking for last night-something
