Brocade Series 02 - Giselle (32 page)

He was still angry
. The red tone in the center of his chest showed that, and
Giselle’s lips parted. She nodded.

“You won’t cry?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Then come here.
”

He opened his arms and she scooted into the space he’d created
. He lifted her at the same time his mouth met hers, and nothing had tasted so sweet!
His hands were rough this time as they rubbed her breasts, arms…thighs. Giselle lay back against the pillows again,
bringing him to her, and this time s
he helped him. She did her best to
welcome him. Despite everything, tears filled her eyes. He
saw them, but she didn’t cry out — she didn’t dare.

She tried to endure it
without complaint. She held to him as he filled her,
branding her with an agony she didn’t know existed. It burned. Tormented. S
he had to force herself not to beat at him.
He was blurred. She
opened her mouth to beg for mercy, but he forestalled her.

“Look at me, Giselle,” he interrupted her. “Look and don’t look away.”

Blue and violet eyes held hers, resembling storm-filled
skies, just like the first time she saw them. Giselle had never seen them so soft and tender.

“
I love you.” He whispered it and pressed his head against the headboard. “Are you ready?”

“
For what?” she asked.

“Wrap your legs about me,
” he answered. “Now. Tightly. You do trust me,
Oui
?”

She nodded, although it took an act of will to
do it
. Everything was raw and painful.

“Navarre
? I love—
Dieu!”

Her words were lost in a shriek as
he grabbed her hips and rammed, fully possessing her. Filling her. He stopped the cry with a kiss, this one containing the flick of his tongue. Another. And then Giselle was matching him, losing reality in the enticement of his mouth. His lips. His tongue.

He moved,
sliding the swelled part from her. The
pressure eased. Giselle had a moment to sigh her relief before he rammed again,
bringing it right back. She would have tried to shove him from her then, but he was having none of it. He gripped her buttocks with hands that were
probably going to leave bruises, as was the frantic motion of his mouth against hers.

And then he did it again
. Sliding from her only to thrust back into her. Out. Back in. Again. Over. And over. Little grunts began emanating from his throat, matching his movements. Sliding out. Ramming back in. Out. The mattress started rocking in accompaniment. The bed frame joined in next, creating a rhythm of creaks and groans and then it held her moans.

And still his body pumped into hers
.

A stray spark flit through her
lower belly. It came again. Stronger this time. And again. Adding to his motions as they started increasing in tempo. Harder. Faster. While the structure about them rocked with it. The inner spark came more often, each time gaining intensity. Duration. Strength.

It altered as
Giselle began shoving against him. Locking her ankles behind him for stability. The spark no longer ended. It just kept growing. The rhythm got even faster, swaying the mattress with it. And Navarre’s grunts weren’t little, nor were they spaced out. They were matching every thrust of his body into hers. The depth. The scope. The heat.

It was still hot, but it was a different heat
. Scorching. Fiery. And then the most amazing sensation flooded her, whooshing to inferno level, and even that wasn’t enough. Her legs strained to match his rhythm. Her fingernails caught on the ridges of his back and shoulders.

“Oh Giselle
. Oh, love. Oh…love. Giselle. Love.”

He lifted from their kiss
, mouthing a litany of words in accompaniment to their motions.
Sweat slicked the air, coated their bodies, meshed their joining. The motions got faster. Harder. More erotic. S
mell further excited her. He pushed up from her, gaining a position in order to pummel her body with his. And Giselle exploded.

She grabbed a breath and slammed her entire body up into his
. Lightning was hitting at her. Stunning her. Overtaking and encompassing her. And her ears were filled with a thunder that spliced the night, encompassed her hearing, overrode her experience, and claimed her body. Giselle clung to him while the cacophony of sound dimmed, replaced by the heavy thud of her own pulse
.

His arms shook,
and then it transferred to his body as everything went taut. Rigid. He lifted his head, arching backwards while his body vibrated in spasms that lifted her, too. The
space above them reverberated with the deep rawness of his long, drawn-out groan. It ended in laughter just before
Navarre collapsed, rolled onto his back, and pulled her atop his chest, where Giselle
rose and fell with each breath.

“Oh Giselle
.
Je t‘adore. Merde!
I’ve never…. I had no thought to—I love you. I can’t believe it!”

She felt exactly the same
way. Navarre whispered more
endearments to her once his breathing calmed.
Giselle listened to each beat of his heart as she struggled with her sobs. She knew it was the wrong time to cry, but nothing stopped them.

Navarre lifted his head when he felt them.

“You’re crying?
”

He was smoothing the hair from her face as he spoke and his
whisper tore at her heart.

“
I cry, because it’s so beautiful, Navarre.”

“You do
?
Truly? I didn’t hurt you
overmuch, then?”

She shook her head and wiped quickly at the moisture before it
dripped off her nose. She couldn’t believe herself. She’d just had the
most incredible experience of her life, and she had eyes swollen with
tears and a red nose.

“Ah, Giselle, my love, you’re wondrous
. That was wondrous. I can’t believe it! Everything is amazing. I’ve never felt so amazing. Etienne had better
plan for a dozen children, and I’ll tell him of it on the morrow.”

He
chuckled at his joke before turning on his side. He
settled her into the niche he’d created at his front
.

“
I love you, Navarre.” She whispered it into his throat.

“And I you,
ma petit.”

He kissed her ear. His breath touched
her cheek, and his warmth enfolded her nearly everywhere.

A dozen children
?

Sounded wonderful
.

“Open the door, Giselle!” Louisa called. “The entire staff is
awaiting you.”

Giselle should have guessed who was behind the infernal
pounding at her door. Then again, she was the one who’d bolted it.

“You’d better see what they want,” a bored, male voice said
beside her. “I certainly can’t do it.”

Giselle gasped
and lifted her
head from the pillow.

“Good morning, Giselle,”
Etienne said.

Chills ran
her back at the memory of what Navarre and she had done. In
the exact same place where Etienne now reclined. Giselle slid from the bed and raced to the water closet. And the chamber pot. She was
afraid she was going to be ill. It didn’t help that Etienne’s laughter
accompanied her actions.

“Giselle
! I don’t want to break down this door!” Louisa
shouted.

Giselle swished
a wet cloth across her face with a trembling
hand and tied her robe more securely. She wore one of her heaviest ones. Navarre had dressed her in it before he left. After another session of lovemaking. At almost dawn. She was blushing as she crossed to the door, knowing Etienne watched her.

“
Ah, Louisa! You’ve been so loud, you woke my…husband.”

Giselle stumbled on the word, and at the sight of Gerty directly
behind Louisa.

“The
duc?”
Louisa asked.

“
Oui.
He sleeps at my side…as you can both see.”

Giselle moved aside to
let them in. The women looked at Etienne. He replied by waving his fingers at them.

“Yes
. Well. I suppose
Madame
will want breakfast.
Gerty?”

Louisa
sounded strange.
Gerty was staring wide-eyed.
Etienne wasn’t having any problem with the situation. He stretched out, folded his
arms behind his head,
and then grinned. By the way Gerty was shifting from foot to foot Giselle guessed the
maid couldn’t wait to tell everyone this news.

“
That sounds nice. Yes. I’d like my breakfast. A
nd a bath brought up, too.”

“A…bath?”
Louisa was still acting stunned.

“Perhaps Gerty will see to it, instead
.”

“Gerty?”
Louisa asked.

“Gerty, see to a breakfast tray for the
duc
and myself. Fetch
Isabelle, too. You may go now.”

Gerty swiveled and started running
. Giselle’s lips twisted. She knew her supposition had been
right. And she shouldn’t quibble. It was according to plan. If none
gossiped over Etienne’s presence in her chamber, they might spend their
time gossiping over who sired Giselle’s babe, when there was one.

She blushed and had to duck her head for a moment
. If there
was no babe, it wouldn’t be due to any lack of Navarre.

“Isabelle?” Louisa whispered.

“Perhaps you’d better sit down, Louisa.”

“
Dismiss your woman, Giselle. And come back to bed.
I miss your warmth.”

Louisa saw the look that accompanied Giselle’s shudder, but
that didn’t stop it. She might be learning to play-act like any other Berchald, but Louisa would be hard to fool
.

“
I shall come back to you…darling.” Giselle rolled the word
across her tongue like it was nothing. She was rather pleased with
herself over it, too, “but only if you keep your word not to drink today.”

“My what?”

Louisa looked a little pale, and both women watched Etienne’ s
temper tantrum as he pounded on the covers. He just managed to look and sound silly.

“
Oh look. Our breakfast has arrived,” Giselle said.
“Merci,
Gerty.
Perhaps you could see now that my husband’s valet is summoned?”

“It’s already been seen to,
Madame.”

Giselle wondered at her
own naiveté. Of course it was already seen
to
.
Informing her brother of the duc’s location would have been the first thing Gerty did.
Giselle narrowed her eyes.

“Tres bien.
You’re very competent this morning, Gerty. My compliments. That will be all, then.”

“
I don’t need my valet!” Etienne folded his arms and glared as
Giselle helped Louisa to the door.

“Please see that Isabelle has a bath brought for me, Louisa.
I’ll
wish to speak with you later, too.”

“
I daresay you do.” She shook her head as she left. Giselle returned Henri’s nod before closing the door behind
Louisa.

“
Now. What is that nonsense of my valet?” Etienne said. “I’m
perfectly capable of getting back to my chambers myself. I didn’t
need anyone to get here, did I?”

“Well, then….” Giselle surveyed him from across the chamber,
assuming the same type of affronted expression he wore. “I look
forward to seeing you do just that. Do you need your chair?”

She
poured a cup of tea and sipped it, ignoring him no matter how
difficult it was. Her legs and thighs were sore, and she blushed again. It was so near. So dear. So amazing. She
closed her eyes, breathed the tea aroma, and let the memory wash over
her. Making love with Navarre had been unbelievable, and she felt the renewed satiated feeling.

It
was difficult to brand such a beautiful thing as evil.

“What brings that sort of look to your face, I wonder?”

Etienne said it snidely, and Giselle opened her eyes. He was
wheeling himself from around the bed. She watched him for
several moments.

“Are you still here?” she asked finally.

He made some exclamation she didn’t try to decipher, stopped at the chamber door. “Tell my brother not to get too
used to usurping my property. I may be half a man, but I’m still a
man. Understand?”

Giselle nodded. She didn’t trust her voice.

“He must be a no lazybones, by the look on your face. Give him my compliments, will you?”

She screamed the reaction, and threw her cup of tea at the
closing door. Etienne found that amusing.
She knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to manipulate her into feeling guilty. Despite the fact he’d begged her.
Giselle was determined not to allow such a thing.
She’d made her decision. Nothing about what happened with Navarre had been anything other than heavenly. She closed her eyes again. That way, she swore she could actually smell Navarre.

She wouldn’t have awakened, but Navarre’s movement near
dawn pulled the covers off her, and she tried to cling to him.

“Don’t leave me
,” she’d mumbled.

He
’d kissed her lightly on the nose.

“Imagine the scandal, Giselle
.
Especially after I’ve gone to all this trouble.
Do you think it easy to slip through the maze at night?”

She
’d giggled.

“You think it’s amusing?” He
’d sat on the edge of the bed, his
outline vaguely visible. “Perhaps you should visit me instead.
Except you’d probably get lost, and then what would everyone say?”

“
I shudder to think of it,” she whispered.

“Help me find my shirt
. I can’t leave it here. This room is so
damnably dark. Why in the blazes—? Ouch!”

Giselle
had laughed as he fumbled about and opened the drapes,
letting the first blush of dawn into the room. She shouldn’t have, but he was in such disarray. His hair was a riot about his head,
and his breeches were on backward.

“You should put on something before you walk about, Giselle.
”

Her eyes
had widened as he neared, and she crossed her arms
modestly, before realizing how stupid that must look.

“Not that
I’d
complain…”

His breath
had raised the gooseflesh on her arms, although he simply stood there. He wasn’t touching, just looking, and her blush
warmed her more than the bedding could.

“You must stop this enticement, Giselle,” he complained. “I’m
so sore, I may not be able to visit you again for a time.”

“What?”

She’d grabbed at him, pulling his arms around her as she trembled against him. Now that she knew what loving meant, it
wasn’t possible to think he’d not come again.

“I’m teasing, my love. It’s not my soreness that bothers me, it’s yours
. You must let me know, during supper if you like, if you
can…or if you can’t.
I’m
explaining this poorly, aren’t I?”

She shook her head before meeting his eyes.

“It will be light soon. I must make certain you’re dressed.
Choose a more concealing gown. There’s no question now, you know. You’re mine. I can’t bear to recall how you looked last night,
and no one, not even Etienne, is to see you that way. Ever.”

He
’d touched a finger to her chin, lifting her mouth to his.

“You’re mine, Giselle. Mine!”

Their lips stopped his words, and she’d sagged against him
. The beat of his heart warmed her, filling her palms with
the texture of it, and then he stepped back.

“Go back to bed,
love. Dream of me.”

Giselle
had settled onto her belly against the pillows, watching as he tied on his
cape and pulled the hood over his head. She stretched, lifting her
derriere
into the air a bit. She would do as he asked, and don the
thick nightgown…but not yet.

He was almost to the connecting door to Etienne’s rooms.

“I love you, Navarre.” Her voice barely made a sound, and his
back stiffened.

“
Merde,
but I can’t bear the thought of leaving!”

He’d
lunged across the bed and
pulled her into a hug so tight, she almost fought it.

“The hours ahead
of me now? They will seem like days!
I know I’ll see you at sup, but that’s much too far away. Oh, how can I bear it, Giselle? I slept away the day to be awake all night long with you. And what happened? I slept.” He smiled, then sighed. “What have you done to me to make it so?
Life, she is cruel,
non?”

Giselle was trembling so much at his observation, she couldn’t
answer. She knew exactly what he meant. She never felt more
protected or loved. She was where she belonged, where she was
meant to be, and there was nothing bad or wicked or wrong about it.

A noise
out in the hall had Navarre lifting his head. They both had held their breaths
as the sentry set down his chair in a new place.

“
I must go.” There was the slightest touch of his lips to her
hair, and then he was gone.

Giselle
had listened, without knowing how tense she was, waiting
for Jean or Henri to shout the alarm outside Etienne’s door. She didn’t realize no sound of alarm was given until a shaft of sunlight
lightened the floor where Navarre had stood. Thank goodness! They couldn’t be caught now! But, how could she face the hours ahead?

~

“We could always tour the first addition, Giselle,” Esmee said.
“I couldn’t take you there before, but that’s not a problem now.”

“
Really? Why would that be?” Giselle lifted her blue skirts with a
hand that trembled.

“Why, because it’s Navarre’s wing, of
course.”

She should have known
. Giselle steeled herself to meet Esmee’s gaze with a blank expression.
Esmee smiled as if harboring a
secret. Giselle felt her heart drop
. And then Esmee turned back around and led the way.

Giselle forced her legs to climb the staircase to
Navarre’s rooms.
She had no idea lovemaking would leave her so tired and sore.
The throbbing in her legs threatened to drop her more than once. She also had
several thumb-sized bruises on her inner thighs. She knew Isabelle had seen them, too, but her maid didn’t say anything. She never did.