“Beth?”
“Don’t stop.”
“Never.” He pushed the rest of the way inside her, until he was sheathed deep. “Christ, you feel good.”
She didn’t speak, just pressed her lips to his neck and held him in a fierce hug.
“I love you.” He eased out and back in.
“And I you.” She looked up at him. “So much.”
No more words were needed. Nathan kept his thrusts gentle, fighting the need to take her harder. She was an innocent and hurting; he would be a brute to give in to the desperation inside him.
“I won’t break, Nathan.”
“I want you so much, but I will not hurt you,” he rasped as he continued to thrust slowly into her. The pressure built to an almost a painful degree, and then he felt her tremors.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Feel me inside you.”
She made that little sound again, deep in her throat, and it was his undoing. He thrust harder, and she came apart, with Nathan following, the sensation unlike anything he’d experienced before.
He slumped down beside her, taking her with him, holding her pressed to his side. His breathing was rapid, as was hers.
Finally able to open his eyes, he studied her. Her eyes were focused on him.
“That was quite the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced.” She sighed. “And to do so with you when I believed it would never be so, made it more so.”
He smiled. “I believe I said that was only the beginning.”
Her smile lit her entire face. She’d not smiled like that since returning to London.
“Come, you need to go back to bed. I’m sure I just set back your recovery several days.” Nathan stood, then bent to helped her up. “You will be sore everywhere tomorrow… today.”
“I know, but I could never regret what we did.”
“No, there will be no regrets.” He collected a cloth and cleaned her.
“I can do that.”
“So can I.” He threw it back into the tub when he had finished, then picked up the chemise that showed every enticing curve on her body. “Lift your arms.”
She winced, and he cursed silently that he’d just made things worse for her. He then picked her up once more and carried her back to the bed, lowering her gently onto the mattress. He then dressed quickly.
“I have no wish to sleep again now. In fact, I wish to rise and discuss what must be discussed, Nathan. My father and I, what we have done will result—”
“There is time to discuss that soon.” He sat beside her, bracing his hand beside her head on the pillows. No matter how hard she denied it, she was exhausted. Nathan could take this time with her until she slept once more. Then he and his brothers had work to do.
“You should have told me, Beth. I would have helped you. We were in love; I would have done anything for you.”
“I did what I believed was right. If our roles were reversed, would you have told me?”
He traced the dark bruise on her cheek. The impact needed to create something like this would have knocked her down.
“Our roles were not reversed, so that question has no bearing on this conversation. I could have helped you.”
He continued to trace his fingers over her face, and she fought the slumber that tugged at her.
“I did not know you were part of this Alexius, Nathan. Logan is a dangerous man; I would not have you in his sights.”
