leave," Renaud said, stepping into the room.
She jumped at the sound of the Normans voice. Surely, he had not heard the two of them discussing their plans? She prayed not. "A moment only," she replied.
Taking her brother's face between her palms, she kissed each cheek. "Stay strong. I shall visit soon."
Adelstan's nostrils flared in his effort to contain his emotions. "God keep you."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward Renaud, taking the hand he held out to her.
CHAPTER 5
He was so quiet.
Too quiet.
Aleysia looked up from her embroidery to find Renaud watching her. He had been sitting in a high-backed chair before the fire, staring into the flames for the past hour, yet just now she had felt his silver gaze boring into her.
Had he overheard her discussion with Adelstan? He had allowed her to go to the healer and ask for her to tend Adelstan's wounds—but he had also sent three guards along to make sure she made it without incident. If he had heard the plan, he would not have allowed her to go to begin with.
The healer, an old woman who had so faithfully served her parents, agreed to tend Adelstan's wrists and ankles. The guards had slipped inside the hut just after she'd asked the old woman about the draught. Thank goodness the healer had readily agreed to help her.
Now all she had to do was wait, and hopefully gain Renaud's trust.
A heavy sigh broke into her thoughts. Renaud ran a hand through his already tousled hair. How restless he seemed. She prayed he did not guess at her treachery.
Her stomach clenched, knowing she flirted with danger, and her brother's life. Unable to stand his intent gaze any longer, she set her embroidery aside and stood.
He shifted in the chair.
She met his gaze boldly, and nodded toward the bed. "My lord, do you wish to join me?"
His expression did not falter, though he did lift a dark brow. "I am not tired."
Fear rippled along her spine as she walked toward him, forcing herself to remain calm.
He watched her approach warily, his gray eyes intense with an emotion she couldn't decipher. Undaunted, she continued, noting that his gaze shifted over her... like a slow caress. Visions of the night spent in his arms raced through her mind, flooding her with warmth.
Going on her knees beside him, she rested her hands on her lap and met his gaze. "Did you have a difficult day, my lord? You seem distracted."
Reaching out, he touched her hair lightly, before his long fingers gently combed through the tresses. "You have beautiful hair, Aleysia. Like silk."
No matter how much she tried to deny it—his touch was like heaven, sending shards of pleasure pulsing throughout her. Already her body responded to his touch. Her nipples sensitive, tightening into small little buds. Even the space between her thighs grew wet and hot.
He lifted a curl to his nose and breathed deeply. "Lavender," he said with a soft smile.
She nodded, wishing he were not so handsome. How old Duncan seemed to her now. In fact, she found it difficult to conjure up her betrothed's image. Would she find the same pleasure in Duncans arms as she had in Renaud's? Were all men the same in that way? She did know that Renaud's body was pleasing to look at—both with and without clothing. She could stare at his naked body for hours. For some reason she could not imagine Duncan nude. The very thought made her shudder.
"A man could get lost in your eyes." A moment later his mouth descended on hers, and the next thing she knew, he pulled her onto his lap. His powerful thighs felt rock-hard against the backs of hers.
Desire swept throughout her body as his hand moved down her throat, over her breast, cupping it through the soft material of her gown. His thumb brushed the sensitive nipple, and she could feel the hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her hip.
Resting a hand against his chest, she felt the mad thumping of his heart, matching the rhythm of her own. Feeling daring, her fingers ventured over
She jumped at the sound of the Normans voice. Surely, he had not heard the two of them discussing their plans? She prayed not. "A moment only," she replied.
Taking her brother's face between her palms, she kissed each cheek. "Stay strong. I shall visit soon."
Adelstan's nostrils flared in his effort to contain his emotions. "God keep you."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward Renaud, taking the hand he held out to her.
CHAPTER 5
He was so quiet.
Too quiet.
Aleysia looked up from her embroidery to find Renaud watching her. He had been sitting in a high-backed chair before the fire, staring into the flames for the past hour, yet just now she had felt his silver gaze boring into her.
Had he overheard her discussion with Adelstan? He had allowed her to go to the healer and ask for her to tend Adelstan's wounds—but he had also sent three guards along to make sure she made it without incident. If he had heard the plan, he would not have allowed her to go to begin with.
The healer, an old woman who had so faithfully served her parents, agreed to tend Adelstan's wrists and ankles. The guards had slipped inside the hut just after she'd asked the old woman about the draught. Thank goodness the healer had readily agreed to help her.
Now all she had to do was wait, and hopefully gain Renaud's trust.
A heavy sigh broke into her thoughts. Renaud ran a hand through his already tousled hair. How restless he seemed. She prayed he did not guess at her treachery.
Her stomach clenched, knowing she flirted with danger, and her brother's life. Unable to stand his intent gaze any longer, she set her embroidery aside and stood.
He shifted in the chair.
She met his gaze boldly, and nodded toward the bed. "My lord, do you wish to join me?"
His expression did not falter, though he did lift a dark brow. "I am not tired."
Fear rippled along her spine as she walked toward him, forcing herself to remain calm.
He watched her approach warily, his gray eyes intense with an emotion she couldn't decipher. Undaunted, she continued, noting that his gaze shifted over her... like a slow caress. Visions of the night spent in his arms raced through her mind, flooding her with warmth.
Going on her knees beside him, she rested her hands on her lap and met his gaze. "Did you have a difficult day, my lord? You seem distracted."
Reaching out, he touched her hair lightly, before his long fingers gently combed through the tresses. "You have beautiful hair, Aleysia. Like silk."
No matter how much she tried to deny it—his touch was like heaven, sending shards of pleasure pulsing throughout her. Already her body responded to his touch. Her nipples sensitive, tightening into small little buds. Even the space between her thighs grew wet and hot.
He lifted a curl to his nose and breathed deeply. "Lavender," he said with a soft smile.
She nodded, wishing he were not so handsome. How old Duncan seemed to her now. In fact, she found it difficult to conjure up her betrothed's image. Would she find the same pleasure in Duncans arms as she had in Renaud's? Were all men the same in that way? She did know that Renaud's body was pleasing to look at—both with and without clothing. She could stare at his naked body for hours. For some reason she could not imagine Duncan nude. The very thought made her shudder.
"A man could get lost in your eyes." A moment later his mouth descended on hers, and the next thing she knew, he pulled her onto his lap. His powerful thighs felt rock-hard against the backs of hers.
Desire swept throughout her body as his hand moved down her throat, over her breast, cupping it through the soft material of her gown. His thumb brushed the sensitive nipple, and she could feel the hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her hip.
Resting a hand against his chest, she felt the mad thumping of his heart, matching the rhythm of her own. Feeling daring, her fingers ventured over
Similar Books
