Bedded by the Warrior. Denise Lynn
Читать онлайн книгу.
be the night for more questions, she closed her eyes. But sleep would not come. It was held at bay by the solid length of his body behind hers, and by the strong beat of his heart against her back.
Every passing heartbeat fed her guilt. And each moment that he held her close, offering protection instead of ravishment, made her worry that she’d not be able to see this plan of Eleanor’s through to the end.
Dear Lord above, what would she do if that proved true? If she betrayed Queen Eleanor, she could likely lose her life. Yet, if she betrayed William, he would lose his. Unless she could somehow talk the Queen out of seeing him dead. Thus far, she’d never been able to change the Queen’s mind on anything, so Sarah held little hope for doing so in the future.
The pounding inside her head was nearly unbearable. And the tightness in her throat, from holding back tears, threatened to strangle her.
William loosened his hold from around her waist, reached up and brushed a thumb across her cheek, wiping away a tear she hadn’t realised had fallen. ‘Rest easy, Sarah, I am not going to hurt you.’
She sniffed, then said, ‘I know that.’ The second the words were out of her mouth she wanted to quickly push them back inside.
He raised up on his elbow and leaned over her. ‘Then what are you crying about?’
‘Crying? What are you talking about? I am not crying. What would I have to cry about? There’s no reason for me to cry. Everything is fine. Go to sleep.’ She spoke so fast that she knew he’d realise she was lying—a witless fool would know.
With his lips against her ear, he whispered, ‘Surely you know that blithering only exposes your lie.’
Since he hadn’t posed a direct question, she said nothing.
William feathered kisses on the sensitive flesh of her neck. His gentle touch sent her heart racing anew, and her mind spinning.
Before she had a chance to calm her flitting senses, he moved back to her ear. ‘I would have thought…that you…would be much better…at fabricating the truth.’
Between words, his lips against her neck, then her ear, chased thrills the length of her spine. Without thought, she answered, ‘So did I.’
At his chuckle, Sarah’s groan of dismay changed quickly to a gasp. The lout had done that on purpose. She pushed at his forearm, hoping he would release her from his embrace.
But instead of releasing her, he tugged her on to her back. ‘Ah, Sarah, how were you ever successful spying for the Queen?’
That was a question she’d like to know the answer to herself. The few men who managed to get her alone long enough to play these games of seduction had never made her mind go numb. Her heart hadn’t pounded like it did now.
In the dim light of the fire she could see only the outline of his form. Still propped up on his elbow, William leaned down towards her. ‘You are such a fraud.’
He brushed her hair from her face, before tracing a finger down the side of her cheek and then across her lips. His touch left a fiery trail on her skin.
William leaned closer and kissed the corner of her mouth. ‘I wonder how much truth there is to the rumours about you.’
Thankfully, he didn’t pursue the issue further, but when she went to move away from him, William draped a leg across hers, effectively preventing any escape. She tensed her muscles and held herself stiff as she waited for him to say, or do…something.
Finally, she reminded him, ‘You said you would not hurt me.’
‘Hurt you?’ He drew a fingertip along her lower lip, repeating the motion when she shivered. ‘Did that hurt?’
Sarah turned her head away. ‘Please, I just want to sleep.’
His sigh echoed into the clearing before he cupped her cheek and brought her back to face him. ‘One kiss, then you can sleep.’
She pursed her lips, then raised her head to quickly touch her mouth to his. ‘There, you’ve had your kiss.’
‘Oh, is that what that was?’ His question wisped across her lips.
‘Ye—’
He quickly covered her mouth with his, cutting off her reply. And for the first time since she had been a child, Sarah felt the icy touch of terror as it weighed heavy and cold within her chest.
Her pulse raced so fast it left her dizzy. This was dangerous. She had to stop him. Had to find some way to make him see reason.
William moved his lips more firmly against hers. Sarah lifted her arms to push him away, to break this maelstrom stealing over her, setting her afire.
But her arms refused to obey, and instead, she encircled him in an embrace, clinging to him for a steady purchase against the shifting ground.
William broke their kiss on a ragged groan and touched his forehead to hers. ‘That was a kiss.’ He rolled on to his back, gathering her against him. ‘Go to sleep.’
Sarah stared across his chest at the fire, wondering if her heart would ever slow down enough so she could sleep.
Chapter Five
Sarah leaned over the rail of the ship in fear she would once again disgrace herself. She had never travelled well across water and hated crossing the channel.
But at least she wasn’t alone in this as Adrienna appeared to be having the same difficulty. The only difference was that the Earl was at Adrienna’s side.
‘Are you always this ill aboard a ship?’
She jumped at William’s question. He’d come from behind, startling her.
‘Yes. And I swear if I never again have to cross another body of water it will still be too soon.’
William rubbed her back and Sarah rested her forehead on the rail, accepting his offer of comfort.
‘Stand up and open your eyes.’ He leaned next to her on the railing, drawing her closer to his side. ‘If you don’t look at the water, it isn’t as bad.’
She peered at the rolling waves and swallowed hard. ‘But that’s all there is to look at.’
‘Look at the sky instead.’
Sarah closed her eyes. ‘I would rather look at nothing.’
‘Don’t you think that just makes it worse?’
Her stomach rolled. How could it be any worse? ‘How so?’
He moved behind her. ‘If you look at the water, you see only the rolling of the waves.’
She couldn’t argue with that assessment.
William pulled her against his chest, forcing her to stand upright. ‘And if you keep your eyes closed, your mind still sees the rolling.’
Sarah groaned. ‘Let me go.’
He only held her tighter. ‘No. Look up at the sky. It remains still.’
Too weak to argue with him, or fight his embrace, she tipped her head back, resting it against his shoulder and looked up at the cloudless sky.
When the ship swayed with another swell, William spread his legs, planting his feet further apart. To her amazement, he held her steady against him. And to her relief, the rolling of her stomach lessened.
‘Why are you being so kind?’
‘Because you are ill.’
She pressed harder into the warmth at her back. ‘And if I wasn’t?’
Against her ear, he whispered, ‘I wouldn’t be holding you in my arms.’
His answer gave Sarah reason to pause. He wasn’t being kind because he cared, but because he felt obligated. Not