***
When Alison came in spasms that shook her body and made her cry out, David’s entire body tightened and pulsed, demanding his own release. He wanted to be inside her with every fiber of his being. Yet pride and something else he could not name required that she want that too. He needed to feel her pull on his shoulders, to lift her hips, to lock her legs around him.
He needed to hear her say the words.I want you, David.
Would she ever?
He moaned as his body moved of its own accord, thrusting his erection against her side.
She trailed her fingertips down his chest, her light touches igniting sparks, and said, “Let me.”
He gasped when she wrapped her fingers around his throbbing cock. This was not what he hoped for, but it did feel good. Exceedingly so. And he was beyond ready. He gritted his teeth to prolong the pleasure as long as he could.
Though she was inexperienced with receiving pleasure, she had clearly done this before. He kissed her hard on the mouth to keep himself from thinking about how she had gained her expertise.
He bit back her name and buried his face in her hair as he came in an explosion of pleasure.
But afterward, as Alison lay in his arms, he tortured himself with thoughts of her pleasuring Blackadder with her hand. And, far worse, letting that foul man do what she denied him. He stared at the ceiling while the black thoughts swirled in his head.
She had disliked Blackadder—or at least she professed to—so perhaps she had taken a lover. She would never choose a man like him, the Beast of Wedderburn. Nay, if Alison took a lover, he would be a courtier dressed in brocade and velvet who flattered her with flowery poetry and strummed on a goddamned harp.
David clenched his teeth until his jaw ached.
“If ye ever let another man touch ye again,” he said, “I’ll kill him.”
***
Wedderburn’s harsh words cut through Alison’s languid drowsiness like a sword. She rolled away from him and out of the bed. How could he say such a thing to her?
“You insult me,” she said, clenching her hands. “I welcome no man’s touch—though I must tolerate yours.”
He leaned back on his elbows and let his gaze travel over her. Suddenly aware that she was stark naked, she snatched her night shift from the floor and jerked it over her head.
“I’d say ye more than tolerated my touch,” he said with a smirk on his handsome face that made her want to slap him. “’Tis only right that I give ye fair warning I won’t tolerate another man so we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Ye know how killing troubles me.”
The wretched man actually winked when he said this.
“I am not free with my favors,” she said, glaring at him. “I’ve given ye no cause to suggest it.”
“A man who trusts easily doesn’t place sufficient value on his pride or his life,” he said with a shrug, “and he’s bound to lose one or both.”
“Hmmph.” She folded her arms and turned her head.
“Trust, like forgiveness, must be earned.”
“Well then,” she said, “you’ve yet to earn either from me.”
Alison never would have risked speaking with such insolence to Blackadder, and she had no notion why she had the nerve to do it now. It was not as if David’s accusation of immoral behavior was worse than Blackadder telling her she was inept and weak-minded. And yet David’s insult had set a fire under her.
His eyes held a dangerous glitter as he got out of bed and came toward her. Standing her ground was not easy, but she did.
“Ye can be damned irritating when ye let your spirit show.” He cupped her neck, preventing her escape, and leaned down until she felt his breath on her face. “But I find it verra appealing.”
She barely had time to realize he was not angry with her before he pulled her into a fiery kiss that made her head spin and her knees weak.
CHAPTER 21
Alison awoke encircled in David’s arms, snuggled closer, and let her eyes drift shut again.
