Page 60 of A Knight for Gwenllian

Alexander remained immobile a long moment, savoring his triumph. Then he poured himself a cup of wine, emptied it, and hurried to the gallery above, seized by the sudden need to see Gwenllian. He understood that, had she not come to him that morning, he would have run to her. By coming so propitiously, she had saved him the trouble of riding to Sheridan Manor and making up an excuse for his visit.

Gwenllian was sitting at the bay window when he entered the chamber. She looked as if she had always belonged here, utterly at home.

“You did make it to the right room this time,” he murmured, knowing she would understand the allusion to the night she had walked in on him naked. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” She stood up and took a tentative step toward him. “What did Hugh say, then?”

“He agreed to swap Audley for Throckmorton. The papers will be signed tomorrow.”

She let out a long sigh of relief. “I’m so glad.”

Yes. So was he. And…what now?

“Shall I take you back to Sheridan Manor?” he asked, not sure he wanted to.

“Not yet.” Her eyes sent sparks. “I have told my uncle I would spend the night at Redhill with William. So I’m free to stay here until tomorrow.”

So many lies for him… He didn’t know whether to be humbled or horrified. “Why did you do that? Did you fear the blow delivered by my brother would have addled my mind?”

She flushed, proving that was what she’d thought—in part. “No, as I was certain you would find a solution. But I could not resist the temptation of another night in your arms.”

In his arms.

Everything within him roared. Yes, they would spend the night in each other’s arms and to hell with everything. Alexander took her by the hand before he could act on the sudden desire racing through his veins.

“Come. Let’s go for a ride.”

That night, in bed, Alexander welcomed Gwenllian into his arms. He could not deny the urge he had fought so hard the previous night. As soon as they’d settled under the covers, he drew her to him and kept her tight against his flank. And, to his surprise, he did no more. He made no move to kiss her or claim her in any way. There was no need. He was happy to simply hold her.

Even more puzzling—perhaps even vexing—was the fact that Gwenllian seemed just as content with this chaste arrangement. She had promised him they would not do anything while his brother was sleeping next door, and she was keeping true to her word. How was she finding it so easy to control herself? What did it mean? Had she lost all desire for him? No… With her so close to him, he could not miss the tension in her body, which matched his. She wanted him, but she was happy to wait because she knew she would win in the end. And she was right to be confident.

Tomorrow, once everything was sorted, he would have her. In all senses of the word.

“Mm. You smell so good,” she murmured against his neck, the brush of her lips sending goosebumps along his spine.

A smile. “So do you.”

“You feel good against me.”

Another smile. “So do you.”

“You’re so hard. All those muscles.”

He snorted. He was hard, and if she slipped her hand under the covers, she would see just how much. But she was only talking about his chest, where her small, delicate hand was resting. He covered it with his.

“Well, you’re not hard; you’re all soft and warm.” Perfect.

“You’re warm too.”

Yes, and no wonder, since he was burning with the need to have her. Should he tell her that he wanted her, but he was fighting his desire for her until the perfect moment? He had the feeling she would understand, as she seemed to be doing the same thing.

He tightened his hold around her and placed a kiss on her soft hair. She smelled of wildflowers. Buttercups? The idea made him smile again. Of course not, buttercups didn’t really smell of everything, and this scent was unique to her anyway.

“I’m so glad you found a solution to keep Audley,” she murmured. “It’s clear that it is where you belong. The people working here love you, and the tenants would have been sorry to see you go.”

“Mm, I’m happy to have found a solution as well. Although, in truth, Christopher is the one who found it.”

“You or him, ’tis one and the same. Anyway, all will be sorted tomorrow.”