Violet woke upslowly out of the kind of deep sleep that came after an utterly exhausting day.She stretched her arms above her head and blinked up at the pale pink of her canopy.The baby moved in her belly, as though she had woken it as well.Violet laid a hand on top, enjoying the soft tumble of movement.Then she sat up and pushed her hair off her face.
“Good morning.”Rhys’s gravelly voice startled her.He stepped over her windowsill as though it were an absolutely normal way to enter a house.
“Rhys, you know the house has doors, which are the usual way to enter.”She smiled.
He pulled off his cap, and he looked so handsome standing with the sunlight glinting off his blond hair.He wore his habitual black jacket and trousers.His shirt was simple, crisp white, and he hardly ever wore a vest or necktie.Not that his manner of dress detracted from the aura of power he carried effortlessly.
He paused mid-stride into the room and stood there staring at her.“God, you’re so beautiful,” he said.
Violet gathered her hair and attempted to tame it with a quick finger-comb.“Don’t be silly.I know I look an absolute fright in the mornings.”
“Stop,” Rhys commanded.He strode over to stand in front of her and pulled her hands down and away.Then he thrust his fingers into her hair, shaking it loose to tumble down around her shoulders in a wild mess.“Beautiful.”He bent and captured her mouth in a scorching kiss.
When he pulled back, Violet smiled up at him.“Good morning to you too.What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t wait another minute to see you.To kiss you.”
Violet’s heart melted at that.But Lord, she had to pee.“I am glad you are here.But I must ask you to step out of the room for a few moments.This baby is making its presence known on top of my bladder.”
His eyes widened at her candor.But truly, he needed to leave now, or she was going to embarrass herself.“I need five minutes.”She pointed to the door.
“I will go order some breakfast for you.”Then, thankfully, Rhys turned and left.
Violet’s lips twitched in amusement at what her staff would think when Rhys walked into the kitchen, demanding breakfast.She used the chamber pot and then quickly brushed out her hair, grimacing at her reflection.The man must be blind to call her beautiful with the absolute rat’s nest her thick hair had tangled into overnight.And her warm flannel nightgown was hardly alluring as it draped like a tent over her bump.
Violet took a cleansing breath in, as she mentally shook herself from her spiraling thoughts.Stop.Her body was blooming because she had a tiny life growing inside.She used to think her breasts were too small.Now that her figure was filling out, she should see it as a boon.She untied the ribbons of her nightgown and, pulling her arms from the sleeves, let the fabric fall and pool at her feet.Turning sideways, she assessed her bump, her fuller hips, and heavier breasts.He was right.Beautiful.Ripe with new life.She refused to let Stuart’s voice in her head, disappointed and mocking, poison how she felt about herself.She ran a hand over her belly.Yes, it was a thing of beauty.
A knock sounded at the door.“Is it all right for me to enter?”
Violet scrambled for her dressing gown, throwing on the silky robe and tying the belt.“Yes, come in.”
Rhys came in and paused as he spotted her nightgown on the floor.His gaze flew to her.Then he swung around and turned the lock.“Violet, what are you wearing under that robe?”
Violet squared her shoulders.“Nothing.”
Like before, Rhys closed his eyes and let out a low rumble, deep and sexy.But unlike before, when he had told her they should stop.That he had self-control.This time, he walked across the room and, with one hand, he gripped the belt of the robe.His body seemed to vibrate, and she had a sense he was holding himself tightly coiled.“Violet, will you let me touch you?No rutting, I promise.This will be just about your pleasure.”
“My pleasure?”
He brushed a thumb across her bottom lip.“Christ, yes, your pleasure.Let me show you?”
Violet stared into Rhys’s glacier-blue eyes and nodded her consent.Then he lifted her into his arms and strode over to the bed.He let go of her legs.She slid down his body to land on her feet, gripping his shoulders.Lord, every inch of his body was hard muscle, including his manhood, which pressed against her thigh.Was she really doing this?Was she going to lie with Rhys?She chewed on her bottom lip.Kissing him felt so decadent, like sinking into a hot bath; his lips had seared across her skin, lighting up her insides.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”She wanted more.“I trust you.”
He tugged at the tie to her dressing gown and slowly pushed it off her shoulders with a soft caress of his hands down her arms.“I thought about you all last night.”His gaze slid slowly down her body.Almost as good as the sweep of his lips across her skin, the look in his eyes was reverent and so heated it warmed every inch of her skin.
“What did you think about?”
“I thought about how soft your skin would be.”His fingertips trailed down her throat and through the valley between her breasts.“I thought about how lush your body would be.”He continued to explore, sweeping his hands down her sides to her hips, then sliding them around to squeeze her backside, pulling her against his body.“Of how you would feel pressed against me.”
He bent to kiss her and she reached to cup his cheeks.She could kiss him forever.But too soon, he pulled back.She opened her eyes to blink up at him.He frowned.“Violet, you probably shouldn’t let someone like me touch you.”
“Nonsense.You are the first man to ask permission, and I freely give it.Please touch me.”
A low groan rumbled from him.His hands came up to cup her breasts, giving each one a gentle squeeze.Then he dipped his head and took one nipple into his mouth with a slow suck that had her head falling back at the delicious sensation.“Lord, that feels good.”
