The Gift of Love (The Book of Love #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,73

course. She reached out tentatively to wrap her fingers around the bulging muscle of his upper arm.

Sweet mercy.

It was hard as a rock.

The butterflies in her stomach began to flutter.

Was it possible his glorious body would be all hers to play with?

His face was a thing of beauty, too.

She put her hand to his cheek and felt the rough, stubble of his beard.

Then she ran her fingers through his hair, lightly brushing back a few stray curls. She liked the way the ends hugged the corded muscles of his neck.

His eyes held amusement. “You are not very adventurous, are you? You will put me to sleep if this is all you dare to do.”

He slid his arm around her waist to nudge her closer. “Ronan! The unguent!”

“We’ll work around it. I’ll show you how it’s done. You shall be my test frog. Close your eyes, Queen Pea.”

“Why? What are you going to do to me?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ronan knew he was behaving like an idiot, but he didn’t care. He could blame his clouded thinking on his injuries? Why not? Life was fragile and easily stolen in a moment. He wasn’t going to waste time being polite. “I’m going to make wild, low-brain love to you, Queen Pea.”

Dahlia gasped and opened her eyes. “How can you do such a thing in your condition? Do you think I would ever allow it? The effort might kill you.”

“I’m not going to hurt myself. Nor will I hurt you. Keep your eyes closed. I want you to clear your mind of everything but the sensation of my touch.” Ronan’s chest was tight, and every movement caused him pain, but Dahlia soothed his heart as no one and nothing else could.

Perhaps he was being a monumental idiot, but he’d ridden from Tilbury in excruciating pain just to be with her. All worth it, for she had now promised to be his wife.

More than that, she had given up her dream wedding because of him.

She was a beautiful, sacrificing angel.

He wasn’t going to do anything obscene with her.

But he wanted her to know his touch, which would be loving and reverential. The quivering flesh part would come later, once they were married, and his chest was no longer coated in this foul poultice that was necessary to keep him alive and free of infection.

“What should I do with my hands?”

“Keep them primly folded on your lap, if you wish. You needn’t do anything yet.” He was fighting against the laudanum because he wanted to stay alert and focused. Having her all to himself would not last long. His brothers and cousins would be tromping up the stairs shortly. Lord help him, so would Miranda.

He had little time to show Dahlia how pleasurable his touch could be.

Oh, bollocks.

The damn poultice would interfere with this lesson.

But she looked so delectable. “I need to kiss you, Queen Pea.”

At some point, he expected she would club him over the head and tell him to stop calling her that. But he couldn’t help it. The kiss they’d shared after she’d found the pea in the holiday cake had sealed matters for him.

She was the woman he would love to the end of time.

“Again? We just kissed.” She nibbled her plump lower lip, now fretting. But her eyes were still closed.

She looked lovely and trusting and achingly innocent.

She had the most beautifully shaped mouth. He could explore it for hours. Full bottom lip and sweetly curved upper lip. Her mouth was perfectly designed to be crushed against his.

Indeed, he would enjoy delving his tongue into its velvet warmth. “Will my every request be a negotiation?”

“No. But I dare not hurt you.”

“You will never hurt me, sweetheart.” He caressed her cheek, the mere movement causing him agony. But if it was a choice of touch or not touch, then touch would win every time.

She smelled of cinnamon and roses.

Well, his nose was off, so he couldn’t tell exactly what he was inhaling over the fumes of that foul unguent. Something nice, to be sure.

He slid his hand down her neck, brushing his thumb along the gentle line of her jaw. Then he traced his fingers down her throat and further down to cup her breast. Her eyes opened wide, but she did not scamper away. “Ronan?”

“You are beautiful, Queen Pea.” Her breasts were lush but not too weighty. They filled his hands. “Close your eyes. I want you to feel the way I touch you.” He drew her forward and placed his mouth against