Page 51 of Broken

“Not exactly,” Lilly admitted, then worried at her lip as if the response embarrassed her. “My education largely ended when I was hurt.”

He clasped her hand, led her to a book of maps open on a lectern by the far wall, and pointed out her location, then that of London. Lilly ran her fingertip over the lines and then crisscrossed the map’s surface, pausing on names that must have been familiar.

When her finger found Exeter, Lilly sighed. Dumas, her family estate, lay south of Exeter. A very long way from Cottingstone Manor.

She traced the line back to Northamptonshire and looked north. She found the border of Scotland, traced across to Wales, and then dragged her fingers away.

“Did Papa say where he was going?”

“Somewhere in Wales, I believe. He did not give me any specific directions.” Giles watched her nervously. They had engaged in small talk before, but it had never been this awkward. His stomach had never churned like this before. “Is your neck paining you again? You are rubbing it.”

“Yes, it’s just a bit stiff. I had trouble sleeping.”

Lilly did not accuse him, but he knew the fault was his.

“Would you mind rubbing it for me, Giles?” Her voice sounded so hesitant that he had to smother the urge to crush her to him. Did she doubt that he wanted to help her? Foolish, foolish girl.

Giles moved behind her. He sensed Lilly’s confusion when he nudged her to rest her arms against the lectern. He gently arranged her limbs so her shoulders were relaxed and set to work. Lilly breathed deeply, perfectly compliant to his wishes.

Eyes fixed on the curve of her neck, he ran his hands along her arms, shoulders and upper back. Her sigh on the first sweep of his hands was deep and satisfied. She needed him. No one had ever needed him beyond sex before. It was a heady realization.

Giles leaned in, brushed his lips against the elegant knot of hair and applied firmer pressure. She was unique, his Lilly, and he would do his best not to disappoint her again. They stayed like that for some time. Lilly softened by degrees and he smiled. He enjoyed doing this for her. It felt natural and easy to be alone with her. She played no games and made no demands.

When she was softer, he pressed his lips to her cheek. “You should go get some rest now.”

Lilly pushed back from the lectern, right into him. “I suppose I should, but it is time to dine.”

“You will feel better for the rest.” Giles slid a hand around her waist, imagining her stretched out in her bed, waiting for him to give her relief again later that night. “Do you want me to take you to bed?” Well, of course, Lilly shouldn’t say yes to that.

“No, I promised the staff I would dine downstairs.” Lilly sighed.

Giles pressed another kiss to her hair then had a great deal of trouble keeping his lips from her skin. She tasted better than any pheasant, better than any dessert in creation. He would rather feast on her.

A knock sounded on the door and Giles quickly put a respectable distance between himself and Lilly. “Come.”

His butler stepped into the room. “Dinner is ready when you desire, milord.”

The butler retreated quickly, but his eyes held amusement.

* * *

Giles’ lower body pulsed as Lilly licked her lips to capture the last of Cook’s most decadent dessert.

“Did you like that?” Giles shifted his position in his chair.

Lilly’s eyes glowed. “Oh, that was delightful. What did you call it again?”

“My father christened it Passion’s Peak.”

She laughed. “Giles, I don’t think that could be the correct name.”

Despite his discomfort, he laughed with her. “Well, I don’t question Cook too closely in case she stops creating these masterpieces for me,” Giles confided, sliding to the edge of his chair and standing with trepidation. He was aroused, painfully aware of every innocent movement Lilly made with her mouth or hands.

The table had hidden his state for the meal, but now that dinner was over, he needed to walk Lilly to the drawing room or study if she wished to consult the atlas again.

Lilly stood, but turned to face him. “Giles, are you in pain?”

“To a small degree, but it is nothing I can’t live with.” And had lived with for weeks. Lilly was driving him to the edge of his sanity.