Blame It on Bath Page 0,43

knight, her hero, the ideal man she had kept in her heart for a dozen years. The man she had dreamed of, then seized her chance to get when he landed in dire circumstances. Her husband, who had whisked her out of Lucien’s grasp and taken pains to secure access to her funds before leaving London but who also kissed her and slept beside her even after she assured him it wasn’t necessary. And with each passing hour, it became clearer that she knew absolutely nothing about him.

Chapter 10

Gerard woke in a very agreeable position, stretched out in a warm, comfortable bed with one arm around a woman’s waist and one leg nestled between hers. For a while he floated in barely awake bliss, aware only of the soft feminine shape against him, the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her nightdress, the curve of her arse against his groin, the way her slim legs closed around his thigh. God, it was good to be back in England, sleeping in a proper bed again with an armful of woman. He’d spent too many nights in an army camp cot, freezing cold and so bone-tired he didn’t even notice he was alone.

But this . . . This was very nice to wake up to. She smelled delicious, faintly like the oranges that grew everywhere in Spain. He gathered her closer, inhaling the fragrance that clung to her hair. His hand fell very naturally around her breast. It was small but plump, with a pert nipple that rose under his fingers. Languidly he thumbed it, making an aroused growl deep in his throat as it swelled to erectness. His own erection grew taut and heavy, and he flexed his spine, pressing against her bottom. It had been too long since he made love to a woman in the first blush of day, and now he had a wife to make love to whenever he liked.

Ah, yes. His wife. Soft and pliant when in his arms, stiff and formal when not. The challenge he’d been unable to resist.

He pressed his lips to the back of her neck, inhaling deeply of tart citrus. “Good morning, my dear.”

“Good morning,” she murmured. Now that he was more awake, Gerard could feel her heartbeat under his palm, pounding away as he toyed with her breast.

“I hope you slept well.” Was this frightening her? She held so incredibly still, but she wasn’t stiff. Gerard decided he wanted her to become accustomed to this sort of thing, and besides, it felt damned good, so he kept on as he was without pushing matters forward.

“Very well, thank you.”

He laughed. For some reason this brought a fine tension to the muscles in her back. “So formal, Kate! We’re in bed together.”

“Yes, Captain. Gerard,” she corrected herself quickly.

“Much better,” he told her. “Someday you’ll say that name first, I hope.” He stretched, deliberately rubbing against her. He’d thought she was a bit thin, but right now her shape felt just right. Soon—though not soon enough—he would explore it at leisure. He was a married man now and needn’t live like a monk. Certainly not when all he had to do was tug up her nightdress to enjoy the pleasures, even rights, of marriage so close at hand . . .

The neigh of a horse pierced the quiet of the morning. Gerard reluctantly remembered where they were and why. There would be plenty of time to make love to his new wife when they reached Bath, but until then there was a journey of almost sixty miles to make. He stretched again, reluctantly releasing her to roll over. “As delightful as it would be to stay here for the next hour, we must be on our way.”

“Of course.” She didn’t move. Gerard propped himself up on one elbow and turned her onto her back so he could see her face. She gazed up at him, unsmiling, her dark eyes as serious as ever.

“Someday,” he said, “I’m going to pierce that hauteur of yours.”

Her expression froze. “I’m not haughty.”

“No?” He twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers. In the glowing morning light it was deep gold, like polished brass. “And yet you look so distant, as if part of you is miles away, and the rest, the part here with me, is simply enduring.”

All the color drained from her face. “I am sorry to appear so. I do not mean to.”

He paused. She was honestly stricken. “Then smile,” he