“I don’t care.”
“I’ll only bring you trouble and scorn from society.”
“It doesn’t bother me.”
“Even emotionally, I’m afraid I’m as dry as a desert.”
He kept stroking her, cursing Roxbury for breathing. “A desert will turn into a garden with proper care.”
“Yet you still want to protect me.”
“Always.” He meant it. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him, but he meant it.
She cupped his cheek and caressed it with her thumb. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but no word came out.
“What is it?” He brushed an auburn curl from her forehead. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“Ethan, I…” She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Yes?”
“Would you kiss me? May I kiss you?” she whispered.
A shock of stillness froze him.
She lowered her eyelashes. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have asked. I shocked you.”
“Wait.” He took her chin when she started to move away from him.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat. Her eyes grew larger as if she begged him to understand her. He dipped his head and waited a breath away from her luscious lips in case she changed her mind. The wave of sensations hitting him when he gently pressed his lips against hers caused him to shiver. He had to force himself not to let his passion overwhelm him. She traced the line of his jaw, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. He ran the tip of his tongue along the seam between her lips and growled when she parted them.
It was with effort he restrained himself as he stroked her velvety tongue lightly with his. He wanted to devour her delectable mouth and ravish it with savage thrusts of his tongue. She took him in deeper, sucking gently on his tongue, and his blood shot south. Instant desire gathered in his groin and tightened his shaft painfully. But he’d endure discomfort ten times stronger than that for her. She pressed her lips harder against his, grazing her teeth on them. Shivers caused his skin to pebble.
When she broke the kiss, he found himself unable to let her go. He held her close to his chest, careful not to hurt her shoulder. He didn’t know what the kiss meant for them, but whatever was going to happen, whatever the future stored for them, he would cherish it forever.
“Are you all right?” he asked, brushing his knuckles over her cheek.
“Never been better. I hope you’ll kiss me again.” A corner of her mouth quirked up, and a delightful peach colour crept over her cheeks.
“Any time you want.” His pulse raced.
She tangled her fingers through his hair and paused when she touched his missing ear.
He stiffened. “The skin isn’t pleasant to the touch.”
“No, it’s not that. I was thinking of all the pain you endured.”
“The ear healed though.” He touched the shoulder under his missing ear. “The blade that cut it off sliced my shoulder. The wound got infected. It still hurts.”
“You have all my sympathy.”
He laughed and kissed her forehead. “Now you need to rest.” He helped her don the nightgown and button it.
She took his hand and kissed it. “Thank you.”
His pulse kicked faster than when he sparred on the fighting pitch. She’d been denied so much love and care he wouldn’t be able to give her all the love she deserved.
But he’d damn well try.
