It was clear she was upset by this news, but why? Hehad already explained to her weeks ago that she need have no fear that Rogerwould become her guardian again if he himself was ever struck down in battle.King Edward himself had promised him as much the morning they had left forWales.
"Is there anything I can get for you before I go?"she asked, her eyes bright in the soft firelight. "Another pillow? Agoblet of water?"
"It is not rest my body craves, Leila," Guysaid, his gaze falling to the tempting rise and fall of her breasts beneath hersnugly fitting lilac tunic. Imagining their pink-crested fullness bared to histouch, he felt a flash of blistering heat race across his loins. "Ithirst, but not for water."
His need to possess her was overwhelming.All-consuming. He had demanded to be moved into the privacy of their bedchamberfor that very reason. After so narrowly thwarting death, he burned to hold herin his arms again and feel her panting breaths like life's sweet affirmationupon his lips.
Guy held out his hand to her. "Come, my love.Surely your tasks at the hospital can wait."
To his consternation, Leila took several steps backwardand darted a glance at the door.
Whatever was the matter with her?hewondered, his hand falling to the mattress. He had never seen her sodistracted. He didn't want to think that she was withdrawing from him again,but it seemed that might be the case. Now that he thought about it, herbehavior had puzzled him from the moment he had been lucid enough to notice.She had seemed preoccupied and subdued, as if something was troubling her.
Damn Philip anyway! He could only imagine what his halfbrother must have said to her before Henry had thankfully intervened. Leila hadrefused to discuss the incident, and he had not pressed her. Now it seemed heshould have insisted she tell him about it.
Guy was gripped by a familiar sense of frustration.When, when would Leila ever give him her heart? At times he could swear she hadalready done so—when he kissed her, when they made love. But when she actedlike this he doubted his own instincts.
Enough!heberated himself. Ifhe had to start over with her again, so be it. She meant everything to him. Shewas worth his every effort to capture her love. Let it begin anew with a kiss.
"Very well. If you will not come to me," hesaid, flinging aside the fur coverlet, "I will simply come to you."
"No!" Leila cried, rushing back to the footof the bed. "You mustn't stand on that leg. Not yet."
Guy held out his hand, his startling blue eyessearinginto hers. "Then what will it be, my love?"
Desire flooded her body, and Leila knew she had alreadysuccumbed to his challenge. There would be no hasty exit. Her heartrending planwould have to wait awhile longer. She only prayed that she would have thestrength to leave him after . . .
She took his hand almost before she knew what she was doing,her knees growing weak at the warm pressure of his palm against hers. He drewher slowly toward him,thenhis other hand wascaressing her face as he looked deeply into her eyes.
"Ah, Leila. I feared I would never touch you likethis again. Never hold you—" He seemed to choke, his eyes misting. "God,woman, how I love you. Love you . . ."
And I will alwayslove you, Leila thought with an aching tightness in her breast.You will be forever in my heart, Guy deWarenne.
She inclined her head, her gaze straying to his sensuousmouth, and offered no resistance as he tunneled his fingers in her hair andgently pulled her down to him. She felt a warm whisper of breath and then theirlips met, fervently, passionately . . . his kiss a joyous reunion, hers apoignant parting.
Yet she realized in that moment that this was what shewanted. This was how she wanted to say goodbye.
With a wantonness born of her overwhelming desire forhim, she pulled away slightly and ran the moist tip of her tongue boldly acrosshis lips. She felt a rush of pleasure, knowing she had pleased him, when hegroaned against her mouth.
And, oh, how she wanted to please him! She wanted toshare herself fully with him, to give him what was rightfully his, holdingnothing back!
Leila deepened their kiss, her tongue darting andteasing as she cradled hisstubbledjaw in her hands.She was not surprised when his strong arms flew around her and he crushed herto his chest, or when he took the lead. He ravaged her with his mouth until shewas breathless and dizzy, and only then did he tear his lips away.
"This must go," Guy demanded hoarsely,tugging impatiently at her tunic. He wanted her so badly he was prepared toshred the cloth from her body.
"Then release me and it shall be done," shemurmured,her violet eyes large and liquid with passion. "Andin a way I think you will enjoy, my lord."
Guy let her go reluctantly and as she seemed to glide awayfrom him, he marveled at how little he understood her, this exquisite andbaffling woman who was his wife.
He could not comprehend how one moment she could be soreluctant and wary while in the next she was teasing him to madness. But he wascertain he would understand in time. If she could desire him like this, thensurely one day she would love him as wildly. They had a lifetime to learn tounderstand each other.
Guy watched spellbound as Leila began to strip out ofher clothing, not swiftly but in a languorous fashion that made his blood boilhotter with each passing second.
After removing the silver girdle from around herslender waist, she caught the embroidered hem of her tunic and dragged it overher head, exposing a nearly transparentchainsethatdid little to hide her bewitching curves. With a motion that was enticinglyslow, she began to pull the linen shift up over her body.
Guy wet his lips as her shapely legs were revealed,slim calves and sleek white thighs, and he caught his breath when her ebonywoman's hair came into view. Thechainsedrifted likea gossamer mist over a torso that was wondrous in its perfection, over upturnedbreasts with hardened, rosy nipples that seemed to plead for his touch.
Guy was in agony by the time she dropped the flimsygarment to the floor to stand naked before him. He began to work at thedrawstring on hisbraies, the only thing he waswearing.
