He fought the urge not to bring his palm to his face, but that did not stop the memory from replaying in his mind.
Sleep.
Perspiration, her lips.
Sleep.
Her tongue, his fingers.
He was going mad. He was hearing her voice now, her soft laughter. He roared, but the sound didn’t fade. He bolted up, ready to beat his head into submission, when he realized the sound was not a betrayal of his mind.
She was no longer screaming, but laughing loudly, manically. William wanted to make her submit to him. He wanted her obedience. He spotted a white ribbon across the room, and he figured out just how to handle her.
He got up and returned to her chamber, slamming the door open as he did. She was clearly startled from sleep, as she bolted upright, looking around wildly. When her eyes landed on him, she frowned.
Her hair fell in temptingly loose waves down her shoulders, and her darned robe had slipped down her arm, exposing one creamy shoulder. He gritted his teeth as desire surged through him.
She was so stupidly reckless, repeatedly summoning a man to her chambers. Tonight, she would regret it.
“Surely, I didnae scream this time. I had a wonderful dream about yer uncle,” she said groggily.
William refused to react. He would not give her the satisfaction. He was almost soothing. If he were someone else eavesdropping, he would assume two doting lovers were conversing.
He shuddered at the thought.
Maybe death had saved his uncle from a lifetime of torture. Maybe, just maybe, his uncle had outwitted him once more by leaving his disaster of a wife to his charge.
Blast! He was getting angry again.
Calm yerself.
A wave of calm washed over him. His shoulders dropped, his lips quirked up, and his fingers uncurled around the ribbon in his pocket.
“Last time I was here, ye were setting up to stay awake.”
“I tried, but ye ken I am a delicate woman, and I couldnae fight sleep,” Sorcha simpered, throwing his words back at him.“I thought it would be better this time. I promise, this isnae on purpose.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, fiddling with her fingers.
“I believe ye.” He sank beside her, planting his knee on the mattress. He patted her head, and she went still. “At least ye werenae haunted this time. I am glad.”
She forced a smile that resembled a crack on a porcelain doll. “Ye’re being awfully amiable.”
“I’m nae the monster ye make me out to be. In fact, I ken a way to help ye, so we can both enjoy the evening.”
“What’s that?” She swallowed as he stroked her cheeks.
He hooked a thumb beneath her jaw and tilted her face up. She tried to follow his movements discreetly, but to no avail, for his grip anchored her gaze to his.
He deftly fished the ribbon from his pocket and hid it behind his back. She was forced to hold his gaze. The lovely slant to her eyes drew him in but he didn’t allow himself get distracted by her.
“What are ye doin’?” she asked, swallowing deeply.
“Somethin’ I believe will be most enjoyable for both of us,” he answered.
And then, before she could react, he roughly pushed her down and straddled her. Eyes wide with fear and confusion, she fought against him, but he was quicker and stronger. The ribbon was tightly wrapped around her mouth before she could stop him..
“This looks good on ye,” he teased, watching her lips wrap around the white fabric.
