AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She slid beneath the counterpane and moved to the far side of the bed to make room for him. And for a moment, the briefest of moments, Marc just gazed at her. God, he loved that woman. He loved every single thing about her. And the sight of her, lying in bed, waiting for him was the most beautiful thing he’deverseen.
“You’re going to sleep in yourtrousers?”
He flashed her a grin. “Probably the only way I can make myself behave tonight.” Because it was. Even as tired as he was, he wanted her. And he was certain he could even seduce her with very little effort, but he wouldn’t be in his top form, and she’d been so overwrought with emotion all evening, it would hardly be fair to either of them. Besides when hedidmake love to her, he wanted to leave her breathless, notwanting.
Marc dropped onto the edge of her four-poster, extinguished the light on her bedside table, bathing them in darkness. Then he rolled onto his side and drew her up against him, her back to his front. He breathed in the soft lilac scent of her and buried his face in her hair. God, he could stay just like this for the rest of his life and nevercomplain.
Caroline’s delicate fingers dance across his forearm that held her tight. “Thank you, Marc, foreverything.”
There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Marc kissed the side of her head. “I am always your most humbleservant.”
“You arenothumble,” she laughed softly into thedarkness.
What was the point in being humble? Marc grinned against her hair. “Lucky you, tomorrow night I’ll showyouwhy.”
“I can hardly wait,” she said, making him even harderstill.
“Meeither.”
* * *
Afternoon sun streamedinto Caroline’s room, but she didn’t want to open her eyes. She didn’t want to wake up, and she didn’t want to the leave the cocoon of Marc’s arms. Heavens, having him with her all night was…well, heavenly. But when she pulled herself from bed, the real world would come crashing back. Had it been a mistake to come to London? What was she going to do with Rachel? And how would Marc escape Staveley House without anyone noticing him? That was going to be particularlytricky.
If she could just stay right where she was, she wouldn’t have to think about any of thosethings.
“I know you’re awake,” his deep voice rumbled over her, and Caroline’s belly fluttered. She did love hisvoice.
“Let’s just stay here all day,” shesuggested.
His hand moved possessively across her side, settling on her hip, sending frissons of need washing over her. Oh, if he would just touch her a little lower. “While I could be talked into that, I think Emma would miss you,” he said. “She pounded on the door about an hour ago until one of the maids ranheroff.”
So the real world was already crashing down around them? Caroline’s eyes fluttered open and she spun in Marc’s arms until she was above him. “They ran her off?” Emma could be most insistent when she was ofamind.
“Mostly there were whispers,” he told her, his light blue gaze holding hers. “But I heard them tell her you went to bed late and to let yousleep.”
Then he lifted his hand to her face and caressed the side of her cheek before tucking a stray curl behindherear.
“Howdidyou sleep?” heasked.
“Better than I have in forever.” She grinned down at him. “I’ve been wondering how I could make you stay with me everynight.”
That familiar roguish smile of his tipped his lips. “Well, I’ll have to check my schedule, of course…” He pushed up on his arms and very gently kissed her. It was the softest of kisses and really very tame, but it sent a blazing hot fire coursingthroughher.
Caroline’s breasts felt swollen and her core pulsed and her nipples tightened against the silk of hernightrail.
Marc groaned against her lips. “There. Cleared myschedule.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. He made her feel so alive, like she was young and adventurous again, like that carefree girl she’d been once uponatime.
Marc dropped back down to the pillow and his stomachgrowled.
“You’re starving.” What timewasit?
He shrugged. “I didn’t want towakeyou.”
“Marc.” She scrambledoffhim.
“I’ve suffered worse,” he told her and in that moment, she noticed a white sunburst scar near his leftshoulder.
