At her touch, Chetwynd turned his head to look at her. It was early morning, and there was just enough light for Isabel to see his face. His expression was still soft and relaxed from sleep.
“Would you come into bed and hold me?”
Her voice was a whisper that pulled at Chetwynd’s very soul. He halfheartedly tried to decline. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, my lady.” In spite of his words, he laid his hand on her throat and felt the pulse beating there.
“I’ll turn my back. You are fully clothed, my lord.”
Because Isabel turned away from him and moved over in the bed, she missed seeing his smile. She pulled her knees up, hoping to remind him of how he held her on the horse. She gave a sigh of relief when she felt him raise the blanket and move onto her bed.
Chetwynd positioned his body behind hers and moved one arm around her. As his hand rested below her breasts, he became very aware of the fact that her night shift was much thinner than the clothes she had been wearing when they were on his horse. Her rounded breasts rested on his arm, and he couldn’t help cupping one of them. When she snuggled back against him, Chetwynd was afraid he might go mad. He was fully awake now.
To distract himself from the soft body that was arousing his own, he whispered in her ear, “You told Jerome I rescued you from soldiers.”
“Yes,” she murmured, her voice husky with satisfaction. “We talked through the night. He told me how you and Ingram rescued him from life as a robber. You are a very chivalrous man, my lord.”
He didn’t feel like a chivalrous man. In fact, all he could think of was turning the woman he held so tenderly onto her back and burying himself deep inside her. He reminded himself that she was a virgin. If he did what he wanted to do, it would give her more pain than pleasure.
As his own tension grew, he could feel Isabel relaxing. He willed himself to do the same. If he could lull her to sleep again, he could back out of her bed. He moved his hand away from her breast and gently rubbed her stomach. He had seen mothers do this to put their babies to sleep.
But Isabel was not a baby, and Chetwynd could tell she was far from being lulled. She moved her own hand on top of his and pressed it against her. She might be a virgin, but she was aware of the erotic potential of her body. When she directed his hand lower, he knew where she wanted him to go. Through her shift her mound felt hot and moist.
Pushing that thin bit of clothing aside, he rubbed her gently, tantalizingly, until she was moving against his hand in a more desperate and increasing rhythm. She turned her head into her pillow to bury her moans. Unable to refuse her the release she sought, Chetwynd increased the pressure of his caresses. It wasn’t long before he felt the small contractions against his hand.
Isabel lay still for a long time. She was too embarrassed to take her face out of her pillow. She had talked him into her bed. He had given her pleasure, but taken none for himself. She tried to keep him from turning her face to look at him, but she wasn’t strong enough.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, although he thought he knew.
“I shouldn’t have talked you into my bed. You can go now.” Her voice was a whisper, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Isabel, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You have a lovely, sensual body. It’s a pleasure just to touch you.”
“But you don’t desire me.” She looked at him then, and her eyes were incredibly sad.
“Is that what you think?”
Chetwynd pulled her against him, allowing her to feel his aroused body. His mouth found hers, and he kissed her with all the passion he had held in check. His mouth moved on hers until she opened her lips, giving him the access he desired.
It was a long time before he stopped making love to her mouth, tasting her and tangling his tongue with hers. Isabel felt her desire for him growing again and groaned when he pulled back and looked into her eyes.
“I want you, Isabel. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you moving in the pond. But you’re a virgin, and there are things I must settle before I can change that. We need to wait.”
Her eyes shone. “You desire me.” It was a statement, not a question, and she tried to move closer again.
“Yes, I do.” He held her away. “Did you hear the rest? We need to wait,” he repeated.
“How long?” she asked as she placed her hand on his chest and felt his heart beating wildly.
He rolled his eyes and grimaced. “I hope not too much longer.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ISABEL WATCHED CHETWYND LEAVE HER bed. He kept his back to her as he straightened his clothes. Although Chetwynd had made a point of showing that he desired her, she couldn’t help but wonder if she understood his meaning. She hoped he wanted to be her husband in every sense, but perhaps he only wished to satisfy his physical need. Isabel longed to ask him a question that would clarify his intent, but she was embarrassed by what had just happened. She had practically begged for his caress. Feeling self-conscious, she decided to wait until he left the room to leave her bed.
“Will we be leaving Saint Ives soon, my lord?” she asked.
When Chetwynd turned to face her, Isabel was sitting up with the blanket pulled
