Page 24 of Broken

CHAPTER EIGHT

Giles woke late the next day, which was surprising, considering that he was sleeping upright in a wingchair in Lilly’s bedchamber. His back ached from the strange position, and he groaned as his knotted muscles protested.

Blinking rapidly, he noticed the room was as bright as the partially closed drapes would allow. But he could clearly see that the fire had gone out long ago. He’d slept right through the night without stirring, and he hoped Lilly had done the same. When he turned toward the bed, he found her watching him with her lips slightly parted. He smiled at her, happy to see her awake already.

Her hair was mussed quite badly, her nightgown parted at her throat where he’d failed to tie it securely, but her gray eyes held his calmly. He wasn’t sure what kind of reception he’d find this morning, but then Lilly smiled, and Giles was grateful for the chair beneath him. “Good morning,” she said.

When she smiled, she was not just pretty, but so beautiful she defied description. He was leaning over the bed, his hands beside her arms, staring down into her face before he knew what he was doing. Clear gray eyes looked back at him. He could see no clouds of pain masking her view.

His smile widened. “You’re feeling better?”

“I feel so much better this morning. Thank you, Giles. Last night was a wonderful idea. However did you learn to do such things?”

Giles considered telling her the truth, then changed his mind. It was best not to lower Lilly’s opinion of him any further so early in the day. “Just something I picked up somewhere.”

Lilly’s eyes dropped away in apparent modesty, and he admired the soft sweep of her lashes fanned against her cheeks. Without her direct scrutiny, he could let himself imagine her skin against his tongue and lips. How she might appear in the throes of passion.

It was wicked and wrong of him to consider an invalid in that light, but she stirred in him a beast that longed to pleasure as much as protect. Lilly’s eyes shifted behind her lids. The way her body stilled gave him an idea. He could swear she was assessing his form.

A quick glance down reminded him that his mode of dress was improper. He had removed his cravat and opened his shirt collar when he had settled down to sleep.

Giles hoped he had not shocked her. His throat was exposed. She would probably be able to see all the way down inside his shirtfront. Did virgins scream at the sight of chest hair? He stayed still and, to his amusement, her eyes dipped.

This morning he was blessed with a fortuitous lack of erection. At this distance, she would not have been able to pretend not to see one. Thank God she had fallen asleep last night when his trousers had been uncomfortably tight.

Her gaze flickered up again, and he noticed a light blush had spread across her cheeks. The color suited her much better than the sickly pallor of yesterday. When gray eyes lifted to his, the blush turned bright pink.

Giles decided to be kind and moved his body back a bit. If Lilly was discomfited by his proximity, he would do his best to behave. Still, he caught her wrist lightly and traced soothing circles on her arm.

Lilly didn’t pull away, but she did lick her lips. That pink tongue caused more mischief than she knew. He had to imagine the nude figure of the corpulent Lady Barrow to control his desires.

In the still chamber, the sound of her rapid breath rang loud in his ears. He affected her, and the thought made him smile. At least he was not completely alone, the only one unable to retain complete control over their behavior.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, breaking the silence that had thickened around them.

“Yes, a bit.” She faltered, looking down to where her toes would be.

“Shall I send for your breakfast now?”

It occurred to him that it should be an uncomfortable morning for both of them. While he had been aware of Lilly’s effect since he had first lain eyes on her, this was the beginning for her. Attractions had a way of rendering one speechless, and given he’d had his hands all over her bare skin last night, he should have expected some awkwardness between them.

She licked her lips again and Giles’ groin throbbed at the dart of her tongue. “Not yet.”

She didn’t say any more, and with a start he realized she would never make demands on him. She wasn’t being coy, or trying to wheedle his attention. She simply thought him too busy to bother. “What is it you need, Lilly?”

Lilly’s sigh stirred the air beside his ear. “I need the chamber pot again.”

He didn’t care that she needed him for such a personal matter. He could not say whether he would do the same for any other woman though, but for Lilly, it appeared he would do anything to make amends.

“Here, let me help you.” He helped her sit, but she swung her own legs over the side unassisted, showing a great deal of white leg in the process. Lilly never noticed or covered up. She perched on the edge and then slid off the side onto the floor.

Giles glimpsed a great deal more of her body. He could not prevent the surge of blood to his groin, but he did manage not to groan aloud. That, in itself, was quite an achievement.

Lilly had lovely legs. When he glanced at her face, she had closed her eyes and an odd smile played about her mouth. He wondered what she was thinking.

“No pain,” Lilly whispered, as if reading his mind.

Startled, he gripped her arm tighter as elation roared through him. Surely, he was not that skilled. “None at all?”