“It certainly was.” He was inordinately pleased with himself and still reveling in her passionate response. Some men bedded their wives purely for the purpose of begetting children and used mistresses for the earthier pleasures of making love. But it sat ill with him, and he had no wish to be such a man. He had pledged to be faithful in his marriage vows and meant to keep to his pledge.
But Cherish made it easy for him.
Beauty and brains. Kindness. Passion.
He was giving up nothing in remaining faithful, for there could be no finer bed partner for him than his own beautiful wife. It pleased him that she would be his beloved mate in every sense.
“Gawain…”
“Yes, love?”
She looked up at him with those heart-melting brandy eyes. “How long before we can do this again?”
Chapter Sixteen
Cherish realized shemust have asked a stupid question when Gawain sank back against his pillow and laughed heartily. “Give me a moment to recover and I’ll have at your luscious body again.”
“Be patient with me. I didn’t mean to sound so foolish.”
He caressed her cheek. “No, sweetheart. It wasn’t foolish at all. How could you know? My laughter was because of my own relief that you enjoyed it. I hoped you would.”
“I did.” Cherish snuggled against him, loving that his muscled arms were wrapped around her. He seemed very well pleased, if that affectionate, slightly possessive smirk still playing on his lips was any indication.
She had never thought of herself as wanton, but he had evoked more passion in her than she thought possible. In truth, she had no idea that she possessed any. It left her stunned that such depth of feeling had been hidden within her all this time.
Only for him, of course. She could not imagine herself responding to another man’s touch in this way.
For all his jests about being a Silver Duke, he had a wonderfully fit body. A fully matured man’s body. Firm and muscled, but also slightly marred by battle scars. He was broad in the shoulders. She liked the mix of salt and pepper in his hair along his temples and the breadth of his chest. She also liked that he was not atonideal of elegantly thin.
His muscles had been honed by years of physical labor and exertion. He also had the scent of a man. Clean, of course. But hot, earthy, and with a hint of spice that made her want to inhale him deeply and run her tongue along his skin.
He might like it.
Should she try it?
She was not quite so bold yet, which seemed ridiculous, since they had discarded their clothing and she was enjoying the sight of his naked splendor as much as he was obviously enjoying the sight of her in all her glory.
She tried to tuck the sheet around her for the sake of modesty. He grinned and did not stop her, but he remained stretched out atop the bed covers, not caring that she had grabbed the lion’s share of them. Well, why should he be shy about his spectacular body? Her heart had yet to stop fluttering wildly. His arms fascinated her, the way his muscles rippled when he lifted her or put his weight on his forearms.
Dear heaven.
He was all hers to enjoy for the rest of her life.
She tried to be discreet, but he had to know she was looking her fill and enjoying all of him immensely.
He made a joke about his age and the gray in his hair, though she had not noticed more than mere traces. “Does the difference in our ages bother you, Gawain? It is not all that uncommon for a man to be significantly older than his wife. And need I remind you that most men would consider me old and firmly on the shelf.”
“Then they are fools.”
“I’m glad you think so.” In her opinion, he would look equally handsome with a full head of silver hair. She only hoped hers would look as good when she got older. “What happens next?” she asked.
Despite his assurances, she still wondered whether he only meant to protect her from her uncle but did not really wish to change his Silver Duke ways. He seemed sincere in making this a true marriage, and had even said he loved her. But how much did they truly know about each other? Even if all he said was true now, would it change within a month?
A kernel of doubt remained within her heart.
Perhaps it was foolish to worry about such a thing. He had said he loved her, and treated her as though he did. Nor was he the sort to make a statement merely to mollify her.
But surely he must have uttered words of love to other women he had bedded. Had he held them as sweetly as he held her now?
