babbling, Madeleine. You can try the stairs on your own another time. This time”—he grinned crookedly at her—“I am here, and I wouldn’t pass on this opportunity for the world.”
He mounted the stairs easily, his masculine scent and very nearness overwhelming her senses.
“Truly, Garrett, I can walk,” she croaked. “I must.” Her voice cracked.
He frowned at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I simply forgot to drink during my tale. I’m parched. I’m fine.”
He proceeded down the hall, passing her chamber. “You missed the door,” she told him, her voice deep and raspy.
“You need wine. I have some in the solar. I’ll give you a cup and then take you to bed.”
*
Madeleine eyed him speculatively, her brows arching. “Your solar?”
Garrett smiled enigmatically at her and then squeezed her playfully, a squeak spurting from her lips. As he walked down the stone corridor, he wanted to jest with her some more but found his own mouth now dry. The thought of bedding her caused him to stir. He was so aware of her nearness, each breath she took, each blink of her eyelids.
Now he finally had her in his arms after weeks without a single touch and he wanted nothing more than to make love to her.
He regretted his rash promise of two months before. He had been full of hope that the bishop would send his petition immediately to Rome but that had not been the case. Despite Garrett’s insistence and liberal contributions, the cagey holy man had not acted swiftly, putting him off with one excuse after another. Garrett despaired of his suit reaching the Pope before the spring.
He wondered how much more he could take, seeing Madeleine every day, longing to touch her. Now she was gathered in his arms, here in his chamber, something he’d only dreamed of each night. He took a deep breath and eased her onto the bed. Wanting to hide his arousal, he quickly moved to the other side of the room and busied himself with pouring two cups of wine.
But then he lost all the willpower he’d gathered the minute he turned and saw her sitting straight and still on the bed. It reminded him how stiff she’d been against him that night they’d ridden Ebony together, the night they’d first met. She hadn’t truly relaxed until she’d fallen asleep in his arms. The memory of her body pressed to his was enough to shatter any control he had left.
He slowly moved toward her, extending one of the cups. She drank a few sips nervously, her eyes never leaving his.
He drained the contents and set the cup onto a table. “Drink up, Madeleine,” he urged.
She did as he requested, her amethyst eyes wide as they peeked over the rim. Finishing, she handed him the cup, which he put next to his.
“Thank you for the wine, my lord,” she said haltingly. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
He sat next to her on the bed. “Do you not know that my every thought is of you?” He lifted her braid and brought it to his lips.
She shivered. “My lord?”
He stroked her hair along his jaw and across his cheek, savoring its silky texture. He traced the braid across her lips, then rubbed it lightly across her face. As he did, his knuckles grazed her cheek and she sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes met his as he began winding the braid around his hand, drawing her nearer to him.
She tentatively caressed his cheek and he groaned. He placed his free hand behind her neck and brought her lips to his.
The moment they touched, shock waves ripped through him and he moaned. She pushed her palms against his chest but he did not budge.
“Garrett, we—”
“No,” he shushed her, kissing her again. “We can’t go on as we have any longer. I must have you, Madeleine.”
“It’s wrong,” she murmured into his mouth.
He edged away from her for a moment and gazed into her eyes. “Then morality be damned.” Instead, he shifted her into his lap and continued the kiss, deepening it.
*
Madeleine’s stomach flipped as if she’d turned somersaults. Dizziness made her head spin as if she’d drunk too much champagne. As he kissed her, his hand left her neck and moved to her breast, slowly kneading it.
She gasped.
Garrett continued caressing her as his lips trailed along her jaw to her neck. He rained a shower of kisses there, causing her to tremble. He lifted her from his lap to place her across the bed. Even as he settled