[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
we re ever going to have any kind of marriage at all, you ve got to tell me what s wrong.
Michael stared down at his lovely, annoying wife and wanted to do as she asked. He wanted to share the burden of his father s sins with someone.
But such weakness frightened him and he fought the temptation. He couldn t imagine giving voice to the things Dylan had told him without coming undone.
I can t. His voice sounded ragged and strange even to his own ears. Please, just leave me alone.
To Michael s astonishment, Emma refused to go. At least let me comfort you. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.
For a moment, he resisted, even going so far as to try and shove her away, but she wouldn t give an inch. At last, he relented. He let her hold him and marveled that it
felt so right, that her soft warmth cooled some of the wrath and grief roiling within him.
He couldn t remember anyone ever holding him this way before. All his life he d borne his troubles and problems alone.
He lowered his face to her hair and took a deep, calming breath of her wonderful, flowery scent. Why are you being so kind to me? The immense quantity of
alcohol he d consumed made it hard to focus his thoughts. I thought you d be furious when I didn t come to you last night.
I was furious. She lifted her face and he lost himself in the depths of her dark, knowing eyes. In fact I came in here to tell you I intended to annul our marriage on
the grounds of nonconsummation.
He caught his breath, stunned by the thought of her doing such a thing. I didn t mean to hurt you. I just couldn t bear to let you see me like this.
She shook her head in reproof. Do you think you re the only one who s frightened by this thing between us, Michael? I m frightened, too. But at least I m willing to
try, to take a gamble.
He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. Don t leave me. I know I deserve it, but if you go, I ll have nothing.
It was the closest he d ever come to begging for something. He held his breath, feeling as though he d shatter if she walked away from him now.
She was still for a long moment, then tilted her face forward and pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss. Then give me something to stay
for, Michael. Please. Give me just one reason to stay.
Michael drew back and stared into his wife s beautiful dark eyes, stunned by her easy forgiveness. I don t deserve you, he whispered, knowing no truer words had
ever been spoken. But if you re willing to give me another chance, I promise not to disappoint you.
****
Emma s heart raced as she led Michael through the silent house toward her bedroom. He followed without protest, the fierce emotion that had driven him earlier
spent.
As they drew near her bedroom door, doubt overtook her and her footsteps slowed. Once they crossed the threshold, there would be no turning back. Michael would
become her husband in truth. There would be no grounds for annulment.
Seeming to read her thoughts, he tugged on her hand, pulling her around to face him. You don t have to do this. Perhaps it would be best if you just walked away
from me, from all of this.
She stared up at him. He looked so broken and unsure, all his pride and arrogance stripped away. I won t walk away from you. I m your wife.
Michael shook his head, then bent and kissed her, a light, gentle brush of his lips. My wife. He said the words as if they were a foreign language he was just
learning.
Oh, Michael, she breathed. Don t think so much. Just come into my bedroom. Hold me, touch me, kiss me the way only you can do. I promise things will look
better in the morning.
He managed a hint of a smile. All I know for certain is that I ve never wanted anything the way I want you.
Emboldened by his words, she took his hand and pulled him into her bedchamber, then locked the door behind them. When she turned around, Michael stood by the
bed, loosening his cravat with slow, deliberate motions.
She stood frozen in place and watched her beautiful husband undress, captivated by each inch of bare skin he revealed. First he shrugged out of his jacket, then his
crisp, white shirt. His chest was a symphony of powerful muscle and golden skin, with a soft patch of dark blond hair she longed to run her fingers through.
Come here, he whispered, holding out his hand.
She walked toward him as though in a daze. Heat pooled deep inside of her at the mere thought of what was to come. Taking his hand, she let him pull her into his
arms.
He crushed her against his chest, and held her as though he never meant to let go. Touched beyond words, she rubbed her face against the silky smooth warmth of his
skin.
He ran his hands up her back, then unfastened the combs that held her hair in its tidy knot. I love your hair. Every night I dream of seeing it loose and wild, the way it
was the day I asked you to marry me.
The heavy mass slid free and tumbled down her back. He ran his hands through the long, thick waves, smoothing away the tangles. Closing her eyes, she relaxed
against him and sighed with pleasure at his tender touch.
This passion between us... He shook his head, moving on to the fastenings of her gown. I thought I d die from wanting you.
She trailed her fingertips down the hard plain of his stomach, captivated by the way the ridges of muscle flexed at her touch. All I ever wanted was for you to follow
your heart.
Before she could figure out how to unfasten his trousers, her gown and bustle lay in a puddle at her feet, leaving her clad in nothing except her sheer lawn chemise.
At least you believe I have a heart, he whispered, steering her toward the bed. No one else ever has.
She sank down on the edge of the soft mattress, reaching up to place her hand on his chest. Will you ever open your heart to me? I need to hear that you care for
me, at least a little.
He d already begun to unfasten his trousers, but at her words he paused and stared down at her with those moody, rain washed eyes. I care for you so much it
scares me.
It wasn t the pledge of undying love she d hoped for, but under the circumstances, she felt it was more than enough. I care about you, too. More than you can
imagine.
I m glad, he said, bending to take her mouth in a passionate kiss.
She leaned into him, getting a little drunk herself on the taste of brandy that remained on his tongue. The kiss went on and on, as dizzying and wonderful as she
remembered.
Breaking the kiss only briefly, he shed his trousers and kicked free of his boots, never breaking her gaze. Scoot back. I want to lie down beside you.
She did as he asked, and gave in to the temptation to look at her husband s splendid nude body. His warm blue eyes burned with need and his powerful chest gleamed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
we re ever going to have any kind of marriage at all, you ve got to tell me what s wrong.
Michael stared down at his lovely, annoying wife and wanted to do as she asked. He wanted to share the burden of his father s sins with someone.
But such weakness frightened him and he fought the temptation. He couldn t imagine giving voice to the things Dylan had told him without coming undone.
I can t. His voice sounded ragged and strange even to his own ears. Please, just leave me alone.
To Michael s astonishment, Emma refused to go. At least let me comfort you. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.
For a moment, he resisted, even going so far as to try and shove her away, but she wouldn t give an inch. At last, he relented. He let her hold him and marveled that it
felt so right, that her soft warmth cooled some of the wrath and grief roiling within him.
He couldn t remember anyone ever holding him this way before. All his life he d borne his troubles and problems alone.
He lowered his face to her hair and took a deep, calming breath of her wonderful, flowery scent. Why are you being so kind to me? The immense quantity of
alcohol he d consumed made it hard to focus his thoughts. I thought you d be furious when I didn t come to you last night.
I was furious. She lifted her face and he lost himself in the depths of her dark, knowing eyes. In fact I came in here to tell you I intended to annul our marriage on
the grounds of nonconsummation.
He caught his breath, stunned by the thought of her doing such a thing. I didn t mean to hurt you. I just couldn t bear to let you see me like this.
She shook her head in reproof. Do you think you re the only one who s frightened by this thing between us, Michael? I m frightened, too. But at least I m willing to
try, to take a gamble.
He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. Don t leave me. I know I deserve it, but if you go, I ll have nothing.
It was the closest he d ever come to begging for something. He held his breath, feeling as though he d shatter if she walked away from him now.
She was still for a long moment, then tilted her face forward and pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss. Then give me something to stay
for, Michael. Please. Give me just one reason to stay.
Michael drew back and stared into his wife s beautiful dark eyes, stunned by her easy forgiveness. I don t deserve you, he whispered, knowing no truer words had
ever been spoken. But if you re willing to give me another chance, I promise not to disappoint you.
****
Emma s heart raced as she led Michael through the silent house toward her bedroom. He followed without protest, the fierce emotion that had driven him earlier
spent.
As they drew near her bedroom door, doubt overtook her and her footsteps slowed. Once they crossed the threshold, there would be no turning back. Michael would
become her husband in truth. There would be no grounds for annulment.
Seeming to read her thoughts, he tugged on her hand, pulling her around to face him. You don t have to do this. Perhaps it would be best if you just walked away
from me, from all of this.
She stared up at him. He looked so broken and unsure, all his pride and arrogance stripped away. I won t walk away from you. I m your wife.
Michael shook his head, then bent and kissed her, a light, gentle brush of his lips. My wife. He said the words as if they were a foreign language he was just
learning.
Oh, Michael, she breathed. Don t think so much. Just come into my bedroom. Hold me, touch me, kiss me the way only you can do. I promise things will look
better in the morning.
He managed a hint of a smile. All I know for certain is that I ve never wanted anything the way I want you.
Emboldened by his words, she took his hand and pulled him into her bedchamber, then locked the door behind them. When she turned around, Michael stood by the
bed, loosening his cravat with slow, deliberate motions.
She stood frozen in place and watched her beautiful husband undress, captivated by each inch of bare skin he revealed. First he shrugged out of his jacket, then his
crisp, white shirt. His chest was a symphony of powerful muscle and golden skin, with a soft patch of dark blond hair she longed to run her fingers through.
Come here, he whispered, holding out his hand.
She walked toward him as though in a daze. Heat pooled deep inside of her at the mere thought of what was to come. Taking his hand, she let him pull her into his
arms.
He crushed her against his chest, and held her as though he never meant to let go. Touched beyond words, she rubbed her face against the silky smooth warmth of his
skin.
He ran his hands up her back, then unfastened the combs that held her hair in its tidy knot. I love your hair. Every night I dream of seeing it loose and wild, the way it
was the day I asked you to marry me.
The heavy mass slid free and tumbled down her back. He ran his hands through the long, thick waves, smoothing away the tangles. Closing her eyes, she relaxed
against him and sighed with pleasure at his tender touch.
This passion between us... He shook his head, moving on to the fastenings of her gown. I thought I d die from wanting you.
She trailed her fingertips down the hard plain of his stomach, captivated by the way the ridges of muscle flexed at her touch. All I ever wanted was for you to follow
your heart.
Before she could figure out how to unfasten his trousers, her gown and bustle lay in a puddle at her feet, leaving her clad in nothing except her sheer lawn chemise.
At least you believe I have a heart, he whispered, steering her toward the bed. No one else ever has.
She sank down on the edge of the soft mattress, reaching up to place her hand on his chest. Will you ever open your heart to me? I need to hear that you care for
me, at least a little.
He d already begun to unfasten his trousers, but at her words he paused and stared down at her with those moody, rain washed eyes. I care for you so much it
scares me.
It wasn t the pledge of undying love she d hoped for, but under the circumstances, she felt it was more than enough. I care about you, too. More than you can
imagine.
I m glad, he said, bending to take her mouth in a passionate kiss.
She leaned into him, getting a little drunk herself on the taste of brandy that remained on his tongue. The kiss went on and on, as dizzying and wonderful as she
remembered.
Breaking the kiss only briefly, he shed his trousers and kicked free of his boots, never breaking her gaze. Scoot back. I want to lie down beside you.
She did as he asked, and gave in to the temptation to look at her husband s splendid nude body. His warm blue eyes burned with need and his powerful chest gleamed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]