Brighit noticed the direction he was headed and she tensed. He kicked open the door to the Bishop’s chamber. He released her legs. She slid down to standing. His eyes closed in pleasure. “Just the touch of you against me renews my spirit.”
With a hand on either side of her face, he took her mouth. The touch of his tongue against hers sent sparks straight to her core. Her body turned to mush and she clung to him for dear life. “I have missed you so.”
He nibbled at her ear. “I’ve longed to hold you again.”
His hand went to her head and he pulled back. “What?”
He looked at her as if he’d never seen her before and stepped away. “What are you wearing? Why are you—” His eyes took in their surroundings.
When she’d moved into the nun’s quarters, they put Bishop Odo’s chamber back in order. “Why does this room look like this?”
Peter ran his fingers through his long hair then scratched along his scalp and turned away. “I don’t understand...”
He turned back to her. “Have you been sleeping here?”
“No. I was lonely. I missed you. I moved to sleep with the nuns.”
He crossed his arms, his eyes ran the length of her nun’s clothing, up to the wimple on her head, and back down again before stopping at her face.
“And why are you dressed like that?”
The hard angles of his face matched the anger she saw in his eyes. She looked away. “It seemed easier to dress as the nuns do.”
He moved closer. Close enough that she could feel the heat pour off him. Close enough that she could sense the tightly leashed desire within him. Close enough that all she needed to do was move against him and he would take her. He would have her beneath him. He would ravage her. He would make her body sing and she would be lost. She didn’t move.
“Has something transpired since I left that I should be told about?” He glanced over her body, pausing at her bosom.
Brighit held her breath. “No, my lord.”
“Then I’m not sure why you look like a nun, sleep with the nuns, work with the nuns when I believe you are still my wife.”
She looked down and paused before facing him. “We are wed, my lord. Of course. I just had time to think and... well...”
Peter raised his eyebrows as if asking for better clarification. She hadn’t thought through what she would say. She hadn’t expected him to set off such happiness and longing when he returned. And she hadn’t expected him to act like he had missed her just as much.
She gave him her back when her eyes filled. “Um, I just had been thinking—”
He moved in closer to her. Her eyes shut. Her breathing became labored. She wanted him. Peter took a slow, deep breath. He was taking in the scent of her. She imagined he closed his eyes as he did it. Oh, dear God, she had not thought about how hard this would be.
“Tell me, Brighit.” He was close enough that his breath brushed against her cheek when he spoke. She would die if she didn’t respond to his unspoken desire. The child moved within her, she shifted in surprise, bumping against him.
Peter moaned as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. He rubbed his hardness against her bottom. “I have wanted you, woman.”
His words were a hot whisper against her face. He slipped his hand under her wimple and released her hair in one gentle sweep. He nibbled her lobe. “Give me what I’ve longed for.”
She moaned when he reached his hand under the outer robe and fondled her tender breasts. He pressed his mouth against the pulse of her neck, his hands immediately moving more tenderly. With the tip of his tongue, he moved along her neck, releasing her only to turn her toward him.
His eyes were dark pools of deep desire, holding her gaze. He parted her robes, slipping first the gown over her head, then the stark, white chemise. She shivered when the cold touched her heated skin. Then his eyes were on her body. She held her breath. His hands followed the same path and his eyes closed as if overwhelmed by the feel of her under his hands. Pulling her close against him, she could feel his erection pressing into her.
“Take me,” she said.
He jerked the covering from the bed, lifted her into his arms, and deposited her with the utmost care onto the middle of the bed. He covered her and stilled. When she moved to touch him, he held her hand.
“No. I’ve been away too long. I need a moment.”
He dipped his head into her neck. His rapid breathing sent ripples of desire through her.
“Please. Do not hold yourself away from me. I am here now.”
