Page 68 of A Knight for Gwenllian

Hugh gave a throaty laugh. “God, you’re a distrustful bastard, are you not?”

“Can you blame me?”

“No, I cannot. But to tell you the truth, I was having second thoughts anyway. Throckmorton is a much bigger castle, much more suited to a man of my consequence. If you hadn’t agreed to let me bed your woman when you did, I would not have bothered. Not that I regret it, mind you.”

Alexander didn’t rise to the bait. He cared nothing about Hugh’s taunts, he cared only about one thing. Seeing the blasted man ride through the gate.

Edward was soon back with the deeds to Audley. At the bottom was a flowery signature. All was in order. The castle was now his. He barely felt the faintest flicker of excitement, however. The confirmation that Gwenllian had not had to endure the touch of a man she didn’t want meant a lot more to him.

“Now, listen. It is my turn to add a condition to this agreement.” Releasing the gelding, he glared at his brother. “After today, I don’t want to ever see you again.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t.” With a snort, Hugh climbed onto his horse. “Goodbye, Alexander.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Alexander found Gwenllian still sitting on the stone bench, staring into the distance. Before going into the garden, he took a moment to admire her. The tilt of her nose, the curve of her neck, the sensuality of—well, of every part of her. She was beautiful, from the crown of her exquisite head to the tips of her delicate fingers.

This extraordinary woman, who had sacrificed herself for him, was to be his wife.

If she was still willing to have him.

He had used her, taking her time and time again without ever making any promise of an honorable future, then when she had tried to explain what she had done, he had doubted her word. He would not blame her if she told him she could not marry someone who did not trust her.

Unable to wait a moment longer, he stepped into the enclosed space. This was it, the most important moment of his life.

Gwenllian raised her head at the sound of his footsteps. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes, as if she feared he was about to send her away with a curse. He stopped in front of her, oddly intimidated. Because, suddenly, he was very conscious of all he owed to her and all he had made her go through.

“Hugh has left. I hope I have finally seen the last of him.”

She appeared relieved to know that the man was gone, but still anxious. “Did you manage to speak to him before he left? Whatever he told you, I swear we never⁠—”

“I know.” He gave a sigh and sat down next to her. “I could tell that he was confused by his lack of recollections about what had happened last night but reluctant to admit as much, just as you said. All he found to convince me that he had made love to you was to tell me that you liked to submit to your lover.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, indeed. No man who’s had you in his bed could have that impression.”

She reddened, as if embarrassed when thinking of her brazenness. But he didn’t mind, rather the opposite. He loved her brazenness, and with luck, he would get to enjoy it for the rest of his life.

“So you believe me,” she said hesitantly, “because of this?”

“No. I believe you because I realized that I trust you more than I ever trusted anyone. And because Hugh fell right into my trap. I told him you had a stain to see how he would react. Here.”

Slipping a hand under her skirt, he brushed the inside of her left thigh slowly. The skin was so soft it drew a groan from him.

“I don’t have a stain there,” she said, as breathless as he was.

“No, you don’t. You’re perfect. I should know. I’ve spent enough time with my head between your legs.”

Her eyes threw sparks that ignited his loins. “I disagree. You haven’t spent anywhere near as long as you should with your head between my thighs.”

“You want me to remedy the situation, my lady?”

“Yes. Right here. Right now. The garden is private enough, is it not?” It was, he supposed. Private enough, especially as his people would never have dared disturb him while he was with a woman. “Get on your knees, Alexander. You wanted to ask me to marry you anyway, so you might as well assume the position.”

Before he could say anything, the minx reclined on the bench and gathered the hem of her skirt, exposing her milky, unmarred thighs to the sunlight—and his enraptured gaze. Alexander fell to his knees. There was no other option. When he made no move to lean in, she grabbed his hair and brought his face a bare inch from the sweet temptation covered with golden curls. Which happened to be the exact place he wanted to put it.

But two could play at this teasing game.