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Abruptly, two muscular arms slid firmly around her, one just under her breasts, the other about her waist, pulling her solidly against his broad chest. At once sure of her captor’s identity, she melted into him. Warm lips found the juncture between her neck and shoulder and quickly kissed a path to her ear, causing her to shudder. A flash of desire so strong she almost fainted shot through her. She turned to brush her cheek against the coarse surface of his woollen coat and breathed in the scent of soap and sandalwood. The aroma calmed her as effectively as a drug.

A deep voice whispered roughly in her ear, tickling the sensitive skin. “You could not see me. How is it you knew I was here?”

She sighed contentedly. “I cannot explain it, but I can sense you...your presence.” He kissed the top of her head at the revelation, and had she turned her face up to his, she would have seen a look of incandescent joy on his face.

“Since you found me, it is as though something within alerts me when you are near. I can remember, even when my mind was still unclear, that I would sense you close by and turn to find you watching. It gave me such peace to know my protector was always there.”

“Oh, Elizabeth!” He kissed her hair again. “I will always be your protector.”

When she turned in his arms, his mouth captured hers. This kiss was not gentle, as had been their final kiss last night, but full of want—of insatiable need. Immediately, she felt the now familiar hardness against her, and the knowledge of his desire rekindled her own. She slid her arms around his waist, trying to pull him closer. His response was to unbutton his coat and pull her inside its warmth. Quickly, she unfastened his waistcoat and slid her hands over the hard planes of his chest. The heat of her small hands was like a brand through the thin cloth of his shirt and he groaned. Sliding his hands down to cup her bottom, he lifted her and slowly rubbed back and forth against her, causing her knees to buckle. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her inside and gently lay her on the bed. His eyes were dark as pitch as he sat down on the side and leaned across her.

“If you only knew how much I desire you at this moment.”

He climbed onto the bed, not stopping until he lay atop her, boots and all. Rising up on his elbows, he stared into her eyes as slowly he lowered his mouth to unite with hers. The kiss was achingly slow, each touch of their hungry lips progressively harder, until powerful, deep strokes merged their mouths, and they would not be parted.

Hands, both his and hers, found places they had longed forever to caress and lingered, lost in pleasure. He pulled her dressing gown fully open, and he found generous breasts soft beneath the thin nightgown, until under his manipulation, each nipple hardened. Her hands found entrance under his shirt, and he as she explored his body, beginning at his rock hard chest, before sliding down to his abdomen.

Unconsciously, their bodies fell into a motion, a rhythm, responding to desires as ancient as the earth, though their clothing prevented complete satisfaction. It was with great effort, that William finally rolled onto his back, pulling her onto his chest, his breath coming in pants, as did hers.

His voice was hoarse. “I find myself begging your forgiveness every time we are together.”

“You did not hear me object, my darling,” she sympathised, raising her head to admire his handsome face as she ran a finger along his jaw. “Please do not make me feel wanton by apologising for something I clearly wanted as much as you.”

He smiled. “Then I shall simply say that I am sorry to have started something I cannot finish—at least not now. I love you, Elizabeth, and I cannot wait to make love to you.”

She kissed him lightly. “I cannot wait either.” His countenance changed, and she wondered if she had said something upsetting.

“Sweetheart, I worry that you have been so abused by him. I never want you to feel that I would use you or discard you, or ever harm you, or—”

A finger to his lips silenced him. “I have no such thoughts. You are nothing like him. When I rejected your offer, you fled England because you could not have me. When I rejected him, he took me by force.” At the wretchedness etched on William’s face, she continued. “It is time I told you.”

“Never feel that you owe an explanation or that I require one.”

“I know that I do not, and you are so kind not to ask, but if we are to be together, I must tell you. Otherwise, there will be a gulf between us, and I could not bear it.”

William threaded his hands into her hair, lifting his head to place a kiss on her forehead, before dropping back to the pillow. “Then, tell me everything.”

“When I said he took me by force, I was referring to the abduction.” Elizabeth swallowed hard. “I was never his wife in any sense.”

William tried not to show any surprise, focusing on keeping his breathing as normal as possible. “Do you mean he never—”

“No, though he tried to.” She took a ragged breath. “I awoke in the middle of the night to find him in my bed. It only happened the one time, but he could not...he was incapable,” she sputtered, blushing a deep red and diverting her eyes. “He left and never tried again, though he did force his kisses on me.”

William closed his eyes and pulled her back to his chest, burying his face in her hair as the tears he could not hold back escaped the corners of his eyes.

“Oh, sweetheart, while I despise that he touched you in any way, I am so thankful you were spared.”

“God must have meant for me to be only yours.”

Instantly, he rolled over, trapping her beneath him, but this time he did not kiss her. Propping himself on one arm, he ran his hand gently through her hair, then began to trace along her brows, eyes, nose, jaw and eventually her lips. His eyes followed his fingers, committing each feature to memory. At last, he spoke with great purposefulness, gently raising her chin so their eyes held.

“Are you sure this is what you want...loving me, committing to me forever, having my children? You have been through so much, Elizabeth. Forced into a marriage against your will, abused, kept a virtual prisoner, your friend killed before your eyes, and your being so ill. You have borne so much pain in your short life, and God help me, I was part of it.”

Shaking her head, she cried, “No!”

“Yes, I was. If I had not been so proud, so bound by duty when we met, perhaps you would have accepted my offer, and all the rest would never have happened.”

“We cannot know that.”