Having pulled away from Grace, Henry composed himself and answered. “Thank you, Standish, for the quick work. Her Grace can stay here with me. Will you please send Lucy in? You can return to bed and let the rest of the staff retire as well.”
“Very good, Your Grace. Have a good evening,” Standish said with a bow before exiting. Lucy appeared in what felt like seconds, and Henry sent her for supplies to tend to Grace. Within minutes her cut had been tended and she was warmly ensconced in new night clothes.
“Thank you, Lucy,” Grace told the maid. “I appreciate your ministrations. Go get some sleep.”
“I’m glad you are all right, Your Grace,” Lucy offered with a shy smile before leaving the two of them alone after a hectic half an hour.
Grace looked worn-out as the final traces of adrenaline left her system, and all Henry wanted to do was hold her. “Let’s go to bed,” he suggested and moved to blow out the candles. He heard the rustle of Grace pulling back the covers and cautiously made his way to the other side of the bed, feeling his way in the dark. Removing his dressing gown, he slipped under the covers and joined her in the bed. He reached for her, and she did not resist, obviously needing some comfort after the unexpected events of the last hour.
When her head hit his bare shoulder, she pulled back in shock from feeling his skin. “You’re not clothed!”
He chuckled at her reaction, utterly charmed by her primness. “I’m not naked, I promise. I just don’t like to feel restricted by a shirt when I sleep. Did you not notice I was only wearing trousers when I first entered your room?”
“I guess now that you mention it, I can only picture you in a loose set of pants. . . I guess I was too distracted by everything else for it to sink in.”
“If you’re bothered by it, I’m happy to put on a shirt,” he offered.
“No, I want to you to be comfortable. This is your room and your bed. I’m the one intruding on your normal sleeping arrangements, please don’t feel like you need to change to accommodate me.” She tentatively settled down next to him, and he wrapped an arm around her back, drawing her in close.
“I would be happy for you to interrupt my sleeping habits anytime,” he whispered in her ear. “I like having you beside me.” He felt a shiver run through her body at his words, followed by her delicate touch as she placed a palm against his bare chest. He kissed the top of her head as she nestled into the space where his shoulder met his neck, and after a few minutes, they both fell back to sleep.
CHAPTER27
Grace woke the next morning cocooned in warmth. It took her a moment to notice that, rather than a pillow, her cheek was resting on warm, firm skin. Remembering the events of the evening before, she recalled where she was. Though she could be offended by the position she was in due to the agreement with Henry, allowing her space and time before engaging in the physical nature of marriage, she chose to ignore what she ought to feel. Instead, she decided there was nothing wrong with indulging in the comfort her husband’s naked chest was currently providing her.
It wasn’t but a moment later that Henry began to stir beneath her. “Mmmhh, good morning, wife,” he mumbled into her hair before stretching his arms, accentuating his toned chest. She couldn’t help but stare.
He was in healthy shape, likely from his years spent in the army, and Grace could see the muscles ripple as he rolled his shoulders back, shaking off the fog of sleep. A light dusting of dark brown hair covered his pectorals, only highlighting his manliness. Gazing upon him made her feel warm, and she looked away before her blush could betray her.
“It’s alright, Grace. You can look at me.”
His voice came from behind her as she curled into herself, fighting off new ideas and sensations from the sight of him. Calling upon her bravery, knowing she would not be able to avoid him forever, she rolled back to face him.
“Your so skittish with me, do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked with a creased brow, showing his concern.
“No, I actually feel quite comfortable with you, I’m just not used to being so intimately close with a man.” He still looked puzzled, no doubt due to the fact that she was a widow and no stranger to sharing her body. “I never saw my previous husband naked,” she said, feeling she needed to offer him more and surprised that she actually wanted to. “He always kept his sleep shirt or dressing gown on whenever he would come to me.”
“You did not share a bed?” he asked as he brushed his fingers across the cut on her cheek. She shook her head. “That is a shame,” he said, leaning in closer to her, “because it is wonderful to wake up next to the person you desire.”
He breathed across her lips, and she shuddered at the sensation, knowing he was about to kiss her. He leaned a fraction of an inch further, and when she did not pull back, proceeded to press his lips against hers. He was not aggressive, but he also did not go in slowly. Boldly using sustained pressure before he slid his tongue across her bottom lip asking her for access, she gasped, opening her mouth. He gently entered her mouth and proceeded to reduce her to bone-lessness as he fed off her with his kisses for several minutes like he was starving for her.
She had become so enthralled that it took her a moment to notice his hand sliding up the outside of her thigh where her night rail had become bunched beneath the twisted covers. The feel of his hand on her skin rising even higher set her ablaze as he left a trail of heat everywhere he touched. She was sure it would leave a permanent burn, marking her forever. His hand finally came to rest at her hip, almost to the curve of her waist, and she could feel his fingers graze the top of her buttocks.
He finally pulled away from her mouth, but before she could catch her breath, his lips had moved down her jaw to her neck, and continued to move down, sliding across her collarbone. When he reached the edge of her night rail that rested at the top swell of her bosom, he edged his face lower and used the tip of his nose to nuzzle her breast through the material. The sensation overwhelmed her, and her body started to feel restless, writhing of its own accord. When she arched her back and her pelvis surged into his hard stomach, she came back to herself with a start.
Gasping, she forced her eyes open and shoved herself out of his arms. “I can’t,” she gasped, covering her eyes with her hands. “I’m so sorry, I can’t.”
Henry rolled away from her onto his back. He lay there for a moment, catching his breath, and she watched as he scrubbed a hand over his face.
“I’m sorry if you’re upset with me,” she whispered.
“I’m not upset with you,” he said, looking at her. “I promise. I’m upset with myself for moving so quickly. I didn’t mean to push you.”
“You did nothing wrong,” she cried, “it was me. I behaved like an utter wanton. I don’t know what came over me, I’m so sorry!” she practically wailed, hiding her face in the pillow in mortification.
“I don’t understand,” she heard him say. He tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do you think the way you responded to me was inappropriate?”
Turning her head to peer at him with one eye, she asked, “Do you not think so?”
