The Tempest (17 page)

I love you.
It was overwhelming to recall those words falling from his lips. And yet, when he’d said them, there had been such a light of fear flickering behind his eyes…and she knew well the reason why. Under that dark facade of his there was a deeply wounded man who longed for acceptance and love, but in a strange way was terrified of it, for fear it would be taken away. But she was determined to reassure him, to comfort him and make him see that he would always have her heart, come what might. She wanted to eradicate the darkness that had poisoned his heart for so long…and she began by moving just that small space between them to kiss him while he slept, gently pressing her lips to his forehead, his eyelids, and his lovely angular nose. And when she softly kissed his mouth, she was rewarded with the opening of his eyes. His beautiful gaze met hers and he smiled, a wonderfully loving gesture she gave back to him instantly.

“You are so very handsome when you smile. More so than usual, and that is saying quite a lot.”

His smile lessened, and he made a little grunt of doubt. “I do believe you are the only one who looks at me with such flattery. My looks have never been an attribute.”

Her eyebrow raised in doubt. “I find that quite difficult to believe, if the rumors I’ve heard in the past are true. It is said that many women sought your company.”

He gave a little sigh. “Yes, but I do not think it was my face that caused them to seek me out.”

Without a second thought she punched his shoulder quite forcefully, unable to quell the sting of jealousy that arose from his insinuation. Even when he looked at her with a curious expression, as if he wondered what he had said wrong, she couldn’t help but feel resentful about his past liaisons. After a moment, he seemed to realize his blunder, and propping himself up on one elbow, he looked down at her.

“What I meant was not what I implied. What I should have said was that women seeking out a nobleman such as I are most often attempting to gain a higher status.”

He shrugged then, seeming to give further thought to what he was trying to say. “Perhaps there were more base reasons for their actions, but…”

“Perhaps?” She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to look her in the face and lie. She knew that, aside from his status as a nobleman, his reputation with women was quite the talk. He was dark and dangerous, and even if women didn’t find him to be the most handsome man in the world, they certainly wanted to find out what he could offer in the way of carnal knowledge. Thinking on the incredibly passionate times they’d had together…what his touch could do to her, how incredibly delicious his kisses were…it made her almost furious to imagine other women knowing him that way. Looking at him now, she could see him almost reading her mind. And in his voice, she could hear him seeking forgiveness for his past sins.

“I am no longer that man, Cassia, and I do not wish to be. Whatever my former indiscretions, I wish only to leave them in the past and forget them.”

In his eyes, she could see that he meant it. And yet, she could not resist giving him a stern look, and a slight hint of warning in her tone. “That is as it should be, Guy of Gisborne, for you belong to me now. And woe to the errant female foolish enough to set her sights on you.”

He chuckled at her feistiness. “You need not worry on that score. I’ve said before that you’ve bewitched me. You’ve placed me under your spell, blinding me to the charms of all women but you. And I do not see that ever changing.”

“Good,” she replied. And then she smiled…a look of triumph on her face. “I pray that your memory is wiped clean of every lingering look, every naughty little gesture. Even whispered conversations.”

“With other women, there was little…conversation.”

She gave him a slight grin, and a wily reply. “What was there, then? Only monosyllabic grunting noises and other crude sounds?”

A low, rumbling laugh escaped him. Lowering himself over her, she welcomed the feel of his strong chest pressed against hers. “Good God woman, you are direct.”

“So I am, but would you have me be otherwise?”
He ran gentle fingers through the hair at her temples, and she studied him closely. There was something so wonderful about his expression at that moment…as though when looking at her, he saw something he cherished above all things. Her heart beat fast at receiving such a gaze of admiration. He smirked in the way she adored so much, his voice soft.

“I would not want you to be any other way. I adore that fire about you.”

Feeling a womanly possessiveness for him, she gave him a slight push with her body to roll him to his back, and he allowed it quite gladly, if the growing flame in his eyes told the truth. She lowered her head to hover just above his, her lips grazing his seductively, her voice nearly a whisper.

“Tell me what else you adore about me. I would love to be so enlightened.”

She felt his hands crawling along her spine, moving down to grasp the soft roundness of her buttocks. Her mouth fell open in a silent gasp at the incredible feeling of his slow entrance. Instinctively she moved herself to take in every burning inch of him. His words to her were as potent as the heat coming from his body.

“I would much rather show you…My beloved Cassia.”

With gentle fingertips and heated brushes of his lips he worshiped her body, telling her without words how very much he needed her. They made love with deliberate slowness…sharing long, deep kisses as they caressed each other, their lower bodies moving together as one. When the wave of desire rose to a dizzying height and then fell in an incredible motion of sensation, they gripped each other tightly, whispering words of love to one another and wishing they never had to part.

He looked at her as she lay beside him. Her head was on his shoulder, her arms around him. Snuggled close against him, soft and warm, she was peacefully settled…and he pressed her slightly closer.

The realization dawned on him that in a few hours, they would be greeting the morning together. This time, there would be no need to part…no concern for time or fear of discovery. The notion of such freedom, such peace of mind, was something he’d never known before. It was incredible…this feeling of absolute peace she brought to his soul. He shifted his weight, turning to his side. She moved in her sleep, adjusting her position with him, pressing her cheek against his neck. There wasn’t the slightest space between them, and he did not wish there to be. He wanted only to remain there in the moment, basking in her warmth.

But outside, rain had started to fall. A low rumble indicated a coming storm. With the windows open as they were, some of the torrent would soon find its way inside. He gave a reluctant sigh. Gently removing himself from her arms, he rose from the bed to close the window. While he was up he checked the other windows of the house as well, and saw to other little necessities. After washing up he went back to the room, and as he came in he saw her stirring. She sat up in bed, her tousled hair falling in fabulous display around her body. She clutched the bed sheet to herself, and he found something incredibly alluring about such a gesture of modesty…coming from a woman of such incredible passion. Just the sight of her, lush and tempting as she waited for him…it stirred his senses to a fever pitch. He started towards the bed, intent on having her at that very moment. But she rose from the bed and started out of the room. He reached for her hand, whispering close to her ear.

“Where are you going?”

She whispered back. “I shall not be gone long.” She gave him a peck on the lips before slipping away.

He smiled, crawling back into bed to wait for her, thinking of how perfect a mate he had found in her. He sighed, smiling at the thought of having her for his wife…of her being a mother to his children.

The thought of siring heirs had always been on his mind. The subject had been drilled into him since childhood. It was the duty of a man to seek a wife, to have many children, and continue the family lineage. He had always thought of it as just that…a duty. An obligation he knew he must one day keep. But until now, he’d never imagined it as a joy he would long to have. To think of Cassia as a mother, giving all of her love to his child…to their child…it filled his heart with an almost painful kind of joy. It was quite possible that at this very moment, she was carrying his babe. He found himself filled with wonder at the possibility.

This feeling of bliss he now felt…of being with someone he was meant to be with, someone who complimented him in every way. It seemed too good to be true. He felt so complete when she was near…and so very empty when they were apart. Even now, just having her a room or two away, he felt a slight pain of separation. A feeling of relief, of joy and anticipation, came over him as he saw her shadow in the doorway.

Out of nowhere, a flash of lightning lit up the room, and a crack of thunder rattled the entire house.

Cassia gave a shriek, rushing forward to the bed. As she threw herself into his arms, hiding her eyes against his shoulder, he couldn’t help but smile. It was the first time he’d seen her truly frightened…and though he still wanted her, he felt his excitement cool for the moment, desires giving way to the need to comfort and protect the woman he loved. Holding her securely in his arms, he ran his hands gently along her back, trying to sooth her.

“The storm frightens you, does it?”

She nodded her head against him.

“Always have I feared storms. Thunder and lightning especially. I used to run and hide from them when I was a child.”

Gently stroking her hair, he smiled at her admission. “I find it difficult to believe you are afraid of anything.”

She sighed, her cheek brushing softly against his chest. “There is much that I fear.”

The tone of her voice made him sense that she was troubled. An anxious feeling slowly came upon him, though he remained silent, listening to her.

“My mother believed that storms were an admonition from God…a forewarning of dreadful things to come.”

His brow furrowed, concern growing quickly within his heart. He knew of what she was thinking…and he wanted to silence her before she talked of it. But she spoke too soon.

“Guy, what will happen if Briwere discovers us here?”