* * *
The sun was shiningin the windows when he finally awoke. Megan lay on her side watching him. She smiled shyly. “You snore a little.”
“Did I wake you?”
“No. The sun did, and the noise from the yard below.” She looked him in the eye and said, “Do you have a mistress?”
His face heated. “No, but I did. We parted ways before I headed to Wales.”
“Why? Why did you part ways?”
“Because she wanted more than I could give her, and I won’t lie to her. She was more interested in pleasing my uncle, the Duke. I’m his heir as he has no sons. My uncle can be very manipulative to get what he wants, and I didn’t trust her.”
“Trust is everything,” she whispered.
“I’m beginning to see you’re right. I want to trust those around me. Like I trust Webb. He is not of my social standing, but I’d trust him more than I trust my uncle or any other peer I know.”
“I’ve never been able to trust anyone. They were all employed by Penharrow and so were paid by him, but mostly they’re just scared of him. And I cannot blame them. He is cruel, vindictive, and I call him the devil.”
“But you trust me?”
She lay staring at him before lifting her hand and cupping his cheek. “I do. So please don’t do anything to destroy that. I may never get over the loss.”
“I promise not to betray you.”
She rolled onto her back. “You might mean that now but once we enter your world, I wonder how easy it will be for you to keep your word. You promised to set me free.”
“I had a falcon once. I found it injured and nursed it back to health, but when it was well, it was like a trapped mouse in a maze. My father said to set it free. And if it came back to me once free, then I knew it trusted me and liked me. So I did what he suggested, and it used to return to me each summer. Then with its mate. It never forgot me and it seemed to be thanking me for letting it live a good life.”
“So, you think if you set me free, I’ll come back?”
“I’m not saying that. You’re taking the wrong meaning from my story. I’m merely stating that any living being held captive is not really living and will wither. I’d never want you to wither. I want you to shine and grasp life and live it how you want.”
A small tear slipped from her eye and slid down her check. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
They were as soft as he’d imagined and more addictive than he wanted. He tried to hold back and let her explore, but as hertongue slid along his lips he opened and, on a groan, hauled her to him and took over the kiss.
He explored her mouth as if it were the sweetest dessert and knew once would never be enough. She didn’t try to withdraw but let him enter her mouth and taste her. The kiss went on and on, and soon he couldn’t hide his body’s reaction, and he tried to move, afraid he’d scare her, but she moved closer.
His hand moved down her side, feeling the curves beneath her woolen gown and oh, how he wanted to be skin to skin. She gave a little moan and he rolled them over, so he lay atop her. The kiss ended, and they lay breathing heavily, looking at each other.
“I’m sorry. I should have stopped the kiss,” he said, his erection pressing into her stomach.
“It was my choice to kiss you. My free choice, the first I’ve ever had, and I didn’t want you to stop, but most importantly, I knew you would if I asked.”
She didn’t understand how close he was to not being able to stop, so he said nothing. Finally, he looked at her and said, “We should check on Webb and get some food. We need to keep moving even though it’s daylight. We can’t risk Penharrow’s men returning.”
“How long until we reach your estate?”
He looked out the window. “The sun is shining. It’s not raining or snowing, and the horses are rested and fed, so a day at the most.”
She gave a small smile. “So close. I am starting to believe.”
Once his erection had subsided, he rose and walked to the door, unwilling to remind her that close wasn’t good enough. Only when they walked into Saxton Castle would he know she was safe. “I’ll leave you to your ablutions, while I check on Webb and organize some food.”
* **
Once he’d left,Megan saw to her needs. She looked at the bed where she’d slept next to him and then ran her fingers across her lips. She’d wanted to kiss Oliver. It wasn’t because he was as handsome as sin. It was because of who he was inside. Honorable, kind, truthful, and because he hadn’t taken or asked. She understood he wanted her, but he’d not pushed her. He’d let her take the lead and then halted when he instinctively knew she wasn’t ready.
