“What is your question then?” He crossed his arms over his chest and slid further down in his seat, his legs encaging hers.
She shook her head. “I… I want to save my third question. For another time.”
The sides of his firm lips quirked upward into a semblance of a grin. “That wasn’t part of the agreement.”
She raised her nose in the air. “I never said we had to ask all three of our questions now.”
Mark sighed and shrugged. “Very well. Save your question then.”
The coach rumbled to a stop and Mark drew open the curtains to look outside. “We’re here.”
Nicole nodded and leaned out the window to see a homey little whitewashed inn sitting in a circle of fat green hedges. The windows were open, candlelight danced inside, and the divine smell of some sort of stew cooking wafted from the place. After an entire day on the road, the inn looked like heaven. Even as an uncertain thrill shuddered through her, she tried not to think about the fact that she’d be sharing a room with Mark tonight. Was she ready? Would she ever be?
Mark pushed open the door and jumped to the ground. He helped Nicole down, grabbing her waist and swinging her to the ground.
The feel of his fingers made her shiver. He drew his hands away slowly. She swallowed and forced herself to turn and look up at the façade of the cozy inn. The coachman promised to ensure their trunks were brought to their room as he led the horses away.
They entered the inn together. Nicole waited near the windows, peering out into the darkness, while Mark spoke to the proprietor. Money changed hands and Mark was given a key. He turned to Nicole and gestured to a narrow flight of stairs with a well-worn bannister. “Shall we?”
Swallowing a fresh surge of trepidation, Nicole climbed the steps ahead of him. When they came to the first door at the beginning of the corridor, Mark slid the key into the lock, turned it, and opened the door.
“So, just the one room then?” she asked, her heart hammering.
He quirked a brow. “It’s customary for married couples to share a bedchamber, or have you forgotten?”
Not for a second.
He allowed her to enter first. It was a simple room, but clean and well kept. A large feather bed dominated the center. Two small wooden chairs and an even smaller table sat in one corner. A wardrobe rested against the opposite wall.
Nicole stared at the bed, her heart still thumping like a hare’s foot in her chest.
A knock sounded on the door and she jumped.
“Are you all right?” Mark asked as he made to open the door.
“Yes, I… I think I am.”
The strapping coachman was at the door with Nicole’s trunk. One of the lads from the stable was with him carrying Mark’s trunk. The men placed the trunks against the wall nearest the door and Mark tossed each of them a coin. They grinned and hied themselves off.
Mark turned to Nicole. “I’ll go down and get a tankard of ale, to allow you privacy to undress.”
Nicole nodded, but as he made to open the door she said, “Wait. I’m… going to need… some help.”
He hesitated. His Adam’s apple worked in his throat. “Of course.”
She took a long, deep breath and turned her back to present him with the buttons of her gown. “All you need do is unbutton them and loosen my stays. Do you think you can do that?”Merde.She wanted to kick herself for that last question. He knewpreciselyhow to do that.
“I think I can remember.” His voice held a note of sarcasm.
He started at her neck. His hands were warm and gentle. She trembled and bit her lip. At least he couldn’t see her face. She closed her eyes. His skin against hers, even the barest hint of a touch, sent waves of pleasure through her.
His fingers took their time, slowly moving down her back, brushing her bare skin each time a new button popped free. This was torture. She struggled not to lean into his touch. Was he doing this on purpose? Jacqueline did it every day, quick and efficient. Perhaps he was slow because he was unpracticed? That thought sustained Nicole.
When the last button popped free, Nicole couldn’t contain her sigh of relief. “Now my stays,” she whispered.
“With pleasure.” His warm breath brushed against the back of her neck.
The stays were more difficult. They were laced tightly in a crisscross fashion. It was painstakingly slow work to pull them loose, one by one. His fingers tugged first left, then right. As the laces loosened, Nicole should have been able to breathe more freely. Instead, she held her breath, her lungs aching. His fingers stroked her bare skin and she clenched her jaw, trying not to enjoy the feel of his hands slowly undressing her. Trying not to remember the nights they’d done this as a happily married couple, falling into each other’s arms because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
