“You thought I’d beat you?” This made him laugh again.
Gillian rolled her eyes. The man rarely cracked a smile, and now he couldn’t seem to stop laughing—ather!
When she did not answer, he asked, “How do you know it worked?”
“Right after you drank it, you stuck your tongue in my mouth.”
“Right after?”
She turned her head to look at him. His brows were drawn together in mock confusion. Amusement still lined his face, as though he might burst out laughing again at any moment. The fact the expression was completely disarming and contagious didn’t help. She quickly averted her eyes, her own lips twitching now. She hardened her mouth into an angry line.
“I don’t remember that,” he said. “Potent stuff.”
Gillian expelled an exasperated breath. “I don’t mean immediately. In my chambers? On my bed? When Rose walked in on us? Do you recallthat?”Her face grew fiery again.
He watched her with interest, then finallymurmured, “Oh, that. I remember now.” From his tone, he’d known all along what she referred to, but drew her humiliation out to amuse himself. “You’re pink from your belly to your hair.” He traced the path with his fingers from belly button, between her breasts, to the hollow of her throat.
Gillian tried to ignore his observations. “Ever since you drank the philter it’s been the same. You’ve . . . been . . .”
He leaned closer, a wicked light in his eye. “I’ve been what?”
“Well . . . you’vewantedme.” A quick glance at his lower body confirmed he still did.
“That explains it,” he said with mock relief. “This strange lust for my wife has beensotroubling.”
Gillian let out a heavy sigh, her anger dissolving. “I’m glad you know. Now you know everything.” A great weight lifted from her chest, and she truly was relieved. It didn’t matter that he thought her a lackwit; at least she had no more secrets. “You think it’s a great jest now and that I’m a fool for putting any faith in a love philter, but that’s because you’re under its spell.”
He nodded seriously but bit the inside of his lip, as if holding in another torrent of laughter.
“You will see,” she said sagely. “It only lasts about a month. In a few weeks, you’ll not be moved to come to my bed anymore.” She looked away to master the pressure behind her eyes. “And that’s fine, my lord. It’s only what I deserve for doing such a thing. I am sorry. I should not have . . . but I was so sure you wouldn’t marry me. Can you forgive me?”
“I have no choice. I’m under your spell.”
She glared at him. “You jape at me, and I like it not. I said I was sorry.”
His hand cupped her cheek, turning her to face him when she tried to move away again. He no longer seemed on the verge of hysterical laughter, which was a relief.
“Perhaps thereissomething to what you say.”
Gillian’s heart sank. “You know it’s true, don’t you? I saw it on your face once . . . you looked confused, as if you couldn’t understand why you wanted to touch me.”
“Do you know, I’ve never lain in bed with a woman all morning, talking and laughing? It must be powerful magic that makes me want to waste the day in sloth with you.”
“Aye, it is.” She sighed. “And I fear, my lord, the philter has deranged you. You never laugh.”
That made him smile. “Then I should thank you for bringing laughter and sloth into my life.”
“Oh, Nicholas.” Gillian turned into his arms and pressed her face against his warm chest. He held her to him, his cheek lying against her hair.
“Ah, I’m Nicholas again.” His hand stroked her hair from her head down to her bottom. “You should have drunk the philter, too, to be fair. Why should I follow you about like a mooncalf and you feel nothing?”
Gillian’s arms tightened around him.No more lies.“I don’t need the philter to . . . feel that way about you.”
He rolled her onto her back again, arms braced on either side of her face. He traced her brows and nose with his thumb, following the trail with his gaze. Hisface was grave now. He seemed pensive, not speaking, just touching her reverently.
“How much longer until it fades?” he asked softly.
Gillian wanted to weep. He believed. She liked it better when he thought her a fool—at least then he thought what he felt for her was real.
