Page 38 of A Raven Repents

He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead but didn’t let her go. “I don’t think any of that, Christina. You made very clear that you know your own mind the moment you walked into my sitting room, valise in hand, intent on eloping with me. But this.” He slid his tongue over her bottom lip, drawing out a whimper as some strange desire pooled in her belly. “This requires trust. Trust that I haven’t earned.” His kisses were hot and enticing as he moved along her jaw to her ear, making her breathing heavy. “Would you really be comfortable baring yourself for me?” He stopped her from retreating, but the image his words created was both alluring and terrifying.

“Would you?” she asked.

He pulled back to look into her eyes, a wolfish grin growing on his lips. “I would gladly have us both naked before you could blink.”

His fingers still gripped her hair, not allowing her to look away from him in embarrassment.

“Are you ready for that?”

A part of her wanted what he offered. Desperately. And his firm hold on her hair only made her want it more. But he was right. She wasn’t ready for that. “No.”

The grip on her hair loosened and he soothed her scalp with his fingertips.

“Does that mean we have to stop kissing?”

His gaze passed over her lips. “I could kiss those lips all night long.”

The caress of his lips sent a fresh whirl of desire through her. She held onto his lapels as sensations overwhelmed her.

Feeling bold, she slipped her tongue between his lips, and he groaned. Why did the sound make her want more?

Struggling for breath, she pulled herself away. She could see her desire mirrored in his eyes as they looked into hers.

“I think I need to stop.” It was hard for her to say that because she was thoroughly enjoying it. But if she didn’t, she just might pull her nightgown over her head and beg him to seduce her. Her stomach fluttered at the thought. But the reality of being naked as he looked at her body was terrifying. It would be, even if she didn’t have the large red birthmark that covered most of her left breast.

What would he think if he saw that? It was ugly.

“Hey.” He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her eyebrow. “Where did you just go?”

“What do you mean?”

“As you disappeared into your thoughts, I watched the happiness drain out of you.”

She’d have to tell him about the mark eventually, but she wasn’t ready. “Does kissing make you want other things?”

“Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean we have to do those other things. They can happen when you’re ready.”

Letting go of his lapels, she sat back on her heels. “Why did you change after I ran away? What made you suddenly become so kind and patient with me?”

He let out a long sigh and leaned back against the bed. “The truth is, this is who I am, most of the time. I know I treated you horribly. I hate that I did that. But I was already set on coming back to you and groveling. You just disappeared before I got the chance. Although, I should have just kissed you in the first place, like you said. It certainly would have been more enjoyable than being an utter cad.”

She laughed, but a yawn surprised her.

“You should get back in bed.”

She was tired. She stood up with a nod and folded back the blankets before climbing onto the mattress. But he didn’t follow her. Instead, he pulled the covers over her and pressed a gentle kiss against her cheek.

“Sleeping in the chair again?”

“No. My mother has forbidden it.” Dimples appeared in his cheeks as his smile grew. “I’ll sleep on the floor tonight.”

“Don’t be silly.” She threw the blankets back and scooted to the far side of the mattress. “Your mother will be thrilled if you tell her we shared the bed.”

His smile deepened. “Are you sure?”

“You’ve had plenty of opportunities to ravish me, Giles. I hardly think sleeping in the bed rather than on the floor is going to make you suddenly lose all control.” She patted the mattress beside her.

“Don’t you think I should at least don pajamas first?”