Page 48 of Ladybird

“Yes, I’m sure you are right,” she agreed, spreading out the blanket and sitting down upon it. “Sit down next to me, Hunter. But first, you’d better remove your wet clothing.”

His head snapped around and even in the dark she could tell that he wondered what she’d meant by that.

“You’ll get my bedding wet otherwise,” she explained.

“Oh. Yes. All right,” he said. She heard him kick off his boots. Then she heard the rustle of clothing and he sat down next to her. She couldn’t really see him in the dark. But when she reached out and touched his bare arm she knew that he had removed his wet tunic like she’d told him to do. Just the thought of him sitting there bare-chested made her feel all warm inside.

“I don’t think it’s right that I’m in here with you,” he said in a whisper.

“Shhhh.”

“Nay, really, Regina. This isn’t right.”

“Then just don’t tell anyone about it tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. Not if I value keeping my head attached to my body.”

She giggled. “You are so sweet, Hunter. Whoever that girl of yours is back home, she is truly lucky to have you.”

“What girl?”

“The one you told me about when we were sitting by the fire. Your sweetheart.”

“Nay. You’ve got it all wrong, Regina.” She felt him cup her cheek, the heat of his big hand melding with her skin and feeling so inviting. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. “You are the sweetheart I was talking about. There is no one else.”

“Me?” Her eyes sprang open. “Really? Hunter, are you saying that you want me to be your sweetheart?”

“If things were different, then yes. I would want you not only for my sweetheart but for much more than that.”

Regina felt him cup her face in both of his hands next. Then his soft lips caressed hers in a kiss that was so gentle and caring that it was hard to believe such a big and rugged man could be so tender with her.

“What do you mean if things were different?” Her eyes were getting accustomed to the dark now and she could see his face clearly next to hers. They were sitting very close together.

“I am talking about the fact that you are a noble and I am just a commoner,” he said.

“Why do you have to bring that up now?” She put her arms around him, feeling his bare chest against her while her hands touched his strong, bare back. Pressing her lips to his chest, she placed kissed trailing across the wide expanse of muscles.

“Mmmm,” he moaned, pulling her closer and placing kisses down the back of her neck, managing to send a delicious shiver up her spine. She jerked, but in a good way. “Regina, does that bother you?” he asked in a truly caring voice.

“Not at all. I like your kisses. Very much.”

“That’s not what I meant.” His hands roamed and she didn’t stop him. He cupped her breasts and his thumbs flicked over her nipples beneath the fabric causing them to go erect. Her back arched. “I meant the fact that we are from two different worlds, sweetheart.”

Mayhap she could have answered if he hadn’t slid his hands up the inside of her shift, his fingertips softly making little circles on the skin of her back. Her breathing labored when his hands came up close under her arms and then he palmed her breasts, skin on skin.

“Hunter?”

“Yes?”

“You’d better stop all this talking before someone hears us.”

His hands stilled.“You’re right. I don’t want that to happen. Mayhap I should leave.”

“It is still raining out there.”

“It’ll cool me down.”

“I’m hot, too. Very, very hot,” she said in a breathy whisper, her mouth against his ear. She let her tongue flick out and lick him, making him squirm.