He looked at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I have never been more sure of anything in my life.” Her gaze held his for a long moment.
Finally he moved. “As you wish.”
Slipping off his robe, he rounded the bed and she saw his skin reflect the candlelight. Nude and beautiful to her eyes, he also slid onto the mattress, covering himself with the sheet and quilt, and resting his head on his arm as he looked at her. “Tell me what you want, Adalyn. Talk to me. I love to listen to you, you know.”
She took a breath, filling her nostrils with the unique scent that was Daniel. A mixture of leather, wool, man and a touch of sandalwood—she’d have known him in the dark.
“You all smell different,” she muttered, giving voice to her thoughts.
“We do?” He grinned.
“Oh dear, I didn’t mean that in a bad way. Do forgive me. I spoke aloud…perhaps I should not have.”
“Hush.” He put a finger to her lips. “You never have to be careful around us, Adalyn. Speak your mind always. We all would demand no less from you.”
She smiled, letting her mouth curve beneath his touch. “Very well.”
He kept his position, his fingertip drifting across her cheek and trailing over her neck as she spoke.
“Evan carries the scent of spices. Cinnamon sometimes, or rosemary…and mint. Mixed with the lavender soap he favours.”
“How about Jeremy?”
She closed her eyes. “Ah yes, Jeremy always smells fresh, especially in the mornings. I think it must be his shaving cream. Spearmint, maybe, or something like that. Not floral exactly, but a natural green kind of fragrance…” She paused, trying to identify the light touch of whatever it was that was Jeremy.
“And Trick…leather, horses, and grass—that wonderful scent of morning rides in the country. It is also uniquely him…” Her voice tapered away for a few moments. “God, Daniel. Did I do the right thing?”
He immediately closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, cuddling her close to his chest, understanding her. “Yes, Adalyn. You did the right thing. And if Trick were here he’d agree with me, I know that for certain.”
“I’ve all but condemned him to a year of misery. That tears at my heart so much…”
“I can believe that, my dearest, but you must perceive you had no other choice.”
She sighed, nuzzling against his neck, enjoying the heat radiating from his bare skin. “I know that. Now. But when I made my decision, I had no idea of the rules of Wolfbridge.”
He stroked her, letting his arm run gently down past her elbow to her wrist and then back again. “You followed your heart, Adalyn. It led you to make the right choice, not necessarily the easy one.” He pulled her even closer and tipped up her chin to look at her. “You did exactly what the Mistress of Wolfbridge should do. And we all support you, you know that.”
“I know…” Her gaze fell to his mouth. “I know, Daniel…” she whispered, a jagged edge of want building within her as his naked body warmed hers.
“Adalyn,” he breathed. “Oh, Adalyn…”
The kiss was inevitable; her lips parted in anticipation and his touched hers, the lightest of caresses at first, just a soft brushing against the fullness, the nerve endings vibrating in a warm rush of pleasure.
She opened for him, welcoming his tongue, sighing into his mouth as he delved within, scraping her teeth, playing with her, teasing and duelling and making her smile even as she dared to press harder against him.
Someone moaned—it was probably her—and the tiny sound made her tremble. Daniel moved away a little, his eyes glowing gold in the low light of the candle. “I want to touch you, Adalyn. Really touch you. Do you want that? Will you let me?”
She didn’t need to think about her response. She simply lifted one hand to her neck and untied the ribbon fastening her nightgown. “Help me.” She parted the fabric wide, leaving no doubt as to her wish.
“Yes,” whispered Daniel, his hands rapidly pushing her nightgown down from her shoulders and to her waist, then stripping it away from her completely. “Oh God, yes.”
His hand ran back up over her naked skin from knee to shoulder. “So soft, sweetheart. So warm…” He stroked again, delicately, making her feel like a precious piece of porcelain. His touch was tender, his hands so strong yet gentle as he soothed her, discovering the curves where her hip met her waist, and then grazing her breast as he traversed the length of her once again.
She tumbled into the growing pleasure his caresses inspired.
“You feel like…silk, like warm soft silk…” His cupped hand lingered and he leaned close, dipping his head to give the hardened bud a sweet lick. “And you taste of magic and moonlight…”
