“I would thank you for dancing with me this eve,” he said quietly. “You are a delightful dancer.”
She smiled and his heart thumped loudly in his chest; he was sure she could hear it. “I rather enjoyed it, too. And it should be I who thanks you for putting up with my foolish behavior when you first suggested the dance. Sometimes I…. well, I never much liked to dance with Guy.”
“Do you like to dance with me?”
She did. But she was afraid to admit it. Yet he was looking at her with such warmth that she couldn’t help herself. “Aye, I did.”
Gaston couldn’t help himself. He knew he should not touch her in any way, but he simply could not stop his hand from moving to hers. The moment he touched the pure, warm silkiness of it, he knew he had to taste it. Gazing into Remington’s wide eyes, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“And I like to dance with you,” he said hoarsely. He had such a deep voice that it all came out in a rumble.
She couldn’t speak. No one had ever kissed her hand so sweetly, so tenderly. In fact, no man had ever shown her such consideration and gentleness. The fire in her cheeks spread to her belly and made her shake. As new and wonderful asher emotions were, she was still filled with a deeply ingrained terror of being touched. Until this moment, she had never been touched kindly by a man in her life.
She wanted to take her hand away. His lips were still on her palm and she could feel the stubble of his face. But she was so electrified by his touch that she couldn’t manage to move her hand. Uncertainty and utter fascination were all she could seem to feel.
He was immensely pleased when she did not yank her hand away; he had fully expected her to bolt. He could see that she was staring at the bottom half of his face with an astonished expression and he kissed her palm again just to see how she would react.
Her eyes flew to his in surprise and he smiled broadly, his mouth half-covered by her hand.
“Have you never experienced something so gentle, angel,” he asked softly.
She shook her head honestly. “N-never.”
His smile faded to an ironic gesture. “Nor have I.”
She stared at him a moment and suddenly tore her hand away, stumbling back from him. Her expression was open and accusing.
“You are married, my lord.” she said. “Master or no of Mt. Holyoak, you have no right to toy with me as such. I am not part of the castle as a servant or the land, or the sheep of the field. You may not use me as your…whore. I will not allow it.”
“Whore?” his brow furrowed deeply. “Remi, I never said….”
“Is that what you have been planning all along?” she accused. “You show kindness to my son, to me, simply so my guard will go down and you shall be able to do as you please? I know this to be your intention. You are all alike, you are all….”
She was getting quite loud and he had heard enough. He moved toward her, faster than she had ever seen anyone move,and before she realized what had happened she was plastered to the bed, covered by a massive body.
She instantly assumed the worst and opened her mouth to scream, but he slapped a huge hand over her lips and covered half her face and neck.
My God, this can’t be happening. She was more terrified than she had ever been in her life, terrified because he was easily three times her size and weight, and she could do naught to fight against him. She was so badly frightened and startled that tears began to flow.
No.Her mind screamed to the heavens.Please no.
Gaston knew her fear and regretted his actions deeply, but he felt them to be entirely necessary. He would rather run himself through than frighten her like this, but he knew it was the only way she was going to listen to him. Her ranting had grown out of control so quickly that the only way to douse it was equally as fast.
When her tears came, falling hot on his hand, his heart nearly broke. “Remington, listen to me and listen well,” he said in a husky whisper. “You shall not be my whore, nor anyone’s whore. Nor shall your sisters. Those days are long over. ’Twas never my intention to deceive you or your son and I have done nothing that was not completely sincere. I would never hurt you, Remi. I swear to God I would never hurt you.”
Her body was relaxing underneath him and he looked down into the sea-crystal eyes that were so capable of changing color.
“Do you believe me?” After a long pause, her head dipped again. He removed his hand. “I am sorry I frightened you, but you were growing quite loud and I was afraid you would awaken Dane.” He eyed her. “Do you truly believe me or are you just agreeing with me because you are frightened?”
She was shaking; he could feel her. “I…I believe you. I do not know why I should, but I do. You have not lied to me yet.”
“And I never will,” he replied. Their bodies were molded into one another and he could feel a fire beginning in his loins; he shifted so she could not feel his rapid arousal.
“But you kissed me,” she whispered, obviously still overcome.
He made a wry face, trying to alleviate her apprehension. “I kissed your palm, Remi. You let those idiots Walter and Clive do that as well. I did nothing scandalous.”
He was correct; he had not, and she was growing embarrassed. It was only right that she apologize profusely and hope he wasn’t offended by her words.
