Song of the Heart - Alexa Aston Page 0,77

her, his mouth was on hers again, urgent in its demands. He stretched out next to her, throwing a leg over hers, trapping her.

He reached for the hem of her tunics and lifted them slightly, touching her calf, stroking her skin up and down, massaging the flesh. He moved to the back of her knee, touching it lightly. Her breathing now came in uneven spurts. Still kissing her, his fingers moved higher, grazing her thigh as he moved to hover over her.

He deepened the kiss, his tongue stroking hers, sucking on it gently, nipping it playfully. She reveled in sensations never experienced before. He continued brushing her thigh, then moved even higher, cupping her womanly parts, rubbing against the seam of her sex gently. Slowly, he pushed a finger inside her.

Madeleine tensed, not understanding what he was doing, even as she began to quiver with need. He slid his finger out gradually and then pushed it back in quickly. She gasped, gripping his shoulders tightly. He continued the movement and she rose to meet his hand each time, whimpering quietly. He stroked her more deeply and more quickly until she cried out, her body shuddering violently as waves of pleasure exploded through her, leaving her limp and spent, wondering what had just occurred.

Garrett eased off her and she watched him quickly doff his clothes. As the candlelight flickered and shadows danced across his muscular frame, she sucked in her breath and gripped the bedcovers. He was perfect in every way—and gazing at her with passion and love as he returned to the bed and wrapped her in his arms. His kiss was gentle now, slow and sensual, and as his tongue mated with hers, he entered her. He began an easy rhythm which she responded to readily. No thought was required. She simply moved until they were one.

Then she shattered again, her cry of joy muffled as his mouth hungrily claimed hers again and again. She felt the tremors running through them both.

Madeleine finally knew love. And knew it well.

He rolled over, bringing her with him and cradled her next to him. He kissed her brow, her eyelids, her cheeks, and her mouth, over and over. She never wanted this moment to end.

“I love you, sweetheart,” he told her again and again, nuzzling her neck, caressing her gently. She sighed her pleasure softly in his ear.

Finally played out, he gathered her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder. After a while his ragged breathing evened out and Madeleine realized he’d fallen asleep. How could he, she wondered, after such a glorious experience? Was this what happened between a man and a woman when they loved each other? It was the most marvelous, most divine thing she’d ever known. Their lovemaking bore no resemblance to what Henri did to her. That had been vile and degrading. She thought she’d never want physical love from a man again.

How wrong Garrett had proven her.

Madeleine nestled closer to him, secure in his strong arms. She had no guilt, no shame in what had happened between them. She could die happily now having experienced all his love.

Within a few days, though, she would be up to full strength and must make her way to France. She took heart, recognizing that even once she was far from him, this one night with Garrett would sustain her for the rest of her life. Knowing complete happiness for the first time ever, Madeleine fell into a deep sleep, no dreams of Henri troubling her.

Chapter Twenty

Madeleine awakened to nibbles on her earlobe. She opened her eyes slowly to soft candlelight.

Garrett leaned over her, a trace of a smile on his face. “It’s very late,” he whispered as he bent to kiss her. “Mmmm, you taste good.”

Her heart quickened as he touched her breast, his palm running lazy circles around her nipple. He made love to her once again, more gently than before, yet still filled with passion and longing.

As they lay entwined in each other’s arms, Madeleine savored the intimacy created between them this night.

“We won’t be able to walk through the great hall,” he told her. “One look at the two of us and all will know what has passed between us.”

Madeleine snuggled closer to him. “I don’t look any different, my lord.”

“No, sweetheart,” he said, “you are wrong. Even without the candlelight, I know there is a glow about you that wasn’t present before.” His fingers idly stroked her arm. “I’m sorry I broke