He grinned.
“Don’t you trust me?”
That got his attention. He turned towards her, and her large eyes stunned him for a moment.
“I do. More than anyone.” But he also feared her opinion. More than anyone’s.
“We’re married, and we’re friends. You can trust me.”
He exhaled. Friends. He fiddled with his hands, searching for the right words. She didn’t prompt him to talk.
He moved his fingers slowly, his way to whisper. “Only the captain witnessed my nightmares. They leave me exhausted. Idon’t want you to see me in that state. I don’t want to wake you up in the middle of the night and scare you.”
“And I want to help you, and there’s nothing you should be ashamed of. Had I been in your situation, I would have nightmares constantly.” She ran a hand through his hair with such tenderness that the tension riding his shoulders eased. “Will you sleep with me tonight?”
He nodded, under her spell and not at all sorry about that.
“Will you stay even if you have a nightmare?”
Another nod, although he was less confident.
She tangled her slender fingers through his curls. “Do you know what I was thinking this morning after I woke up alone?”
His mouth grew dry for some reason. “What?”
“You left without kissing me.”
A flare of heat spread from his chest through his whole body. He cupped her cheek and inched closer. Only a short distance separated his lips from hers, but he took his time. Her sweet fragrance of orange blossoms intoxicated him. The warmth spreading through him made him dizzy.
She tilted her head, allowing him to press his mouth against hers more easily.
A shudder went through him as he tried to deal with the rough energy overwhelming him; it was a primordial force, more powerful than the anger towards Murdock that had always dominated his life; sweeter than the sense of freedom he’d experienced once he’d realised he wasn’t Lion Boy anymore; more devastating than any blows he’d received.
He kissed her again, trembling from head to toe with a riot of emotions. After last night, he should control his feelings better, but the kiss was as shocking as the first one. The first one might have been the product of the spur of the moment, but this second one was deliberate.
She ran her fingers through his hair again and rested her hand on a sensitive spot on his nape.
Why the gesture made him shiver harder, he had no idea.
They opened their mouths at the same time, and the kiss turned quick.
Her tongue stroked his, sending his heart into a frenzy of beats. He liked it when she pressed herself against him or when her hand travelled from his neck to his chest. Matching the movements of her lips was natural.
He covered her hand with his, right over his heart, letting her feel how fast his pulse raced, only because she was kissing him.
They were both breathless and dazzled when they broke the kiss. Her sweet orange taste lingered on his lips.
He stared at her. His inner turmoil was reflected in her eyes. Her chest rose and fell in rhythm with his heartbeat.
She lowered her gaze. “I understand I’m not pretty now?—”
“What? You’re as beautiful as always.” He rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “I’m only concerned about your strength. We don’t have to rush.”
She leant into his palm. “Then I’m looking forward to getting better.” She ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip, and he caught a breath.
He dipped his head and was about to kiss her again when loud voices came from the path.
“I really don’t understand why you have to be so stubborn!” Dobkins chased Captain Jackson along the gravel path.
