Read Online A Convenient Bride by Cheryl Ann Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cheryl Ann Smith
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bathtub with hot water, and withdrew. “We are on a fool’s errand.”
Brenna leaned to sniff the lamb stew. Her mouth watered. “You cannot give up. Even if we are too late to save her from the marriage, you will have tried.”
Eager to eat, she laid out the meal on the scarred table. In addition to the stew, there was wine and bread.
He grumbled under his breath as Brenna ate with vigor. The meal infused her tired limbs with warmth. “I shall take the first bath,” she said, not waiting for his reply. Her achy bones longed to soak in the hot water.
She stepped behind the screen and slipped out of her clothing. She wanted to kick her offensive garments into the fire,but thought that traveling the roads wearing nothing but her cloak might be pushing the boundaries of propriety. Even for her.
Bathing with Richard—as she’d begun to think of him—just outside the screen was scandalous enough. As she lowered herself into the tub, she did not care. A low groan escaped her as the water closed in around her.
Silence fell as she scrubbed with a chunk of crude soap. Though coarse enough to scrub pots clean, the soap left her skin tingling and her hair free of debris.
She knew by the clank of spoon against bowl that Richard was eating. She wondered if he was thinking of her naked in the tub as he spooned stew into his mouth.
If so, she hoped he was tortured by the image. It was the least he deserved for all the aggravation he’d caused her with his grumbles and scowls.
Once clean, she leaned back and closed her eyes, a wistful smile on her lips. The bath was heavenly.
A chair scraped on the wood floor. His gruff voice carried past the screen. “Do you plan to stay in the tub all evening? If not, you have two minutes to exit the tub or we will soon be sharing the space.”
Brenna sat upright. Share the bath?
Scandalized by the thought of their bodies intertwined in the tub, her face warmed, and her body tingled. She stood quickly, letting the night air cool her tempestuous thoughts.
“I am getting out.” She stood and scrubbed dry with a towel, untangled her hair with a brush left with the soap, and stepped into her chemise. Without a robe to cover the thin fabric, she kept the damp towel clutched against her as she walked from behind the screen. “I did not expect to be traveling or I would have packed a valise. I have nothing else to wear.”
Richard nodded, his eyes on her. His mouth tightened. “Tomorrow we will get you a gown.”
“Thank you.” She walked over to stand by the bed. Contemplating the night ahead, and her troubling attraction for the man, she took a quilt from the chair, rolled it up as best she could with one free hand, and divided the bed with the makeshift barrier. Then without asking which side of the bed hepreferred, she dropped the towel, scooted beneath the sheet and quilt, and pulled them up to her chin. “Good night.”
“Good night, Brenna.”
R ichard watched her adjust the covers to her chin, her back to him, the shape of her curves not as well hidden beneath the faded quilt as he would have liked. She was like a siren leading him to his death, and he struggled to fight her silent call.
Even now, the image of her body barely hidden under her thin chemise caused him to harden beneath his breeches.
With a low curse, he tore his eyes away and walked behind the narrow screen. Doffing his clothes, he stepped into the rapidly cooling water. Knowing she’d been naked in that same bath moments previous hardened his cock a second time, and he silently cursed his lack of control.
He struggled to regain his wits, turning his thoughts to her father, to Anne, to parliament, anything that would keep him from thinking of Brenna lying warm and soft in the bed.
The effort gained him little, but he did manage to finish the bath without spilling his seed in the water.
After, he dried off and reclaimed his breeches. Brenna was breathing softly when he returned to her, her exhaustion
Brenna leaned to sniff the lamb stew. Her mouth watered. “You cannot give up. Even if we are too late to save her from the marriage, you will have tried.”
Eager to eat, she laid out the meal on the scarred table. In addition to the stew, there was wine and bread.
He grumbled under his breath as Brenna ate with vigor. The meal infused her tired limbs with warmth. “I shall take the first bath,” she said, not waiting for his reply. Her achy bones longed to soak in the hot water.
She stepped behind the screen and slipped out of her clothing. She wanted to kick her offensive garments into the fire,but thought that traveling the roads wearing nothing but her cloak might be pushing the boundaries of propriety. Even for her.
Bathing with Richard—as she’d begun to think of him—just outside the screen was scandalous enough. As she lowered herself into the tub, she did not care. A low groan escaped her as the water closed in around her.
Silence fell as she scrubbed with a chunk of crude soap. Though coarse enough to scrub pots clean, the soap left her skin tingling and her hair free of debris.
She knew by the clank of spoon against bowl that Richard was eating. She wondered if he was thinking of her naked in the tub as he spooned stew into his mouth.
If so, she hoped he was tortured by the image. It was the least he deserved for all the aggravation he’d caused her with his grumbles and scowls.
Once clean, she leaned back and closed her eyes, a wistful smile on her lips. The bath was heavenly.
A chair scraped on the wood floor. His gruff voice carried past the screen. “Do you plan to stay in the tub all evening? If not, you have two minutes to exit the tub or we will soon be sharing the space.”
Brenna sat upright. Share the bath?
Scandalized by the thought of their bodies intertwined in the tub, her face warmed, and her body tingled. She stood quickly, letting the night air cool her tempestuous thoughts.
“I am getting out.” She stood and scrubbed dry with a towel, untangled her hair with a brush left with the soap, and stepped into her chemise. Without a robe to cover the thin fabric, she kept the damp towel clutched against her as she walked from behind the screen. “I did not expect to be traveling or I would have packed a valise. I have nothing else to wear.”
Richard nodded, his eyes on her. His mouth tightened. “Tomorrow we will get you a gown.”
“Thank you.” She walked over to stand by the bed. Contemplating the night ahead, and her troubling attraction for the man, she took a quilt from the chair, rolled it up as best she could with one free hand, and divided the bed with the makeshift barrier. Then without asking which side of the bed hepreferred, she dropped the towel, scooted beneath the sheet and quilt, and pulled them up to her chin. “Good night.”
“Good night, Brenna.”
R ichard watched her adjust the covers to her chin, her back to him, the shape of her curves not as well hidden beneath the faded quilt as he would have liked. She was like a siren leading him to his death, and he struggled to fight her silent call.
Even now, the image of her body barely hidden under her thin chemise caused him to harden beneath his breeches.
With a low curse, he tore his eyes away and walked behind the narrow screen. Doffing his clothes, he stepped into the rapidly cooling water. Knowing she’d been naked in that same bath moments previous hardened his cock a second time, and he silently cursed his lack of control.
He struggled to regain his wits, turning his thoughts to her father, to Anne, to parliament, anything that would keep him from thinking of Brenna lying warm and soft in the bed.
The effort gained him little, but he did manage to finish the bath without spilling his seed in the water.
After, he dried off and reclaimed his breeches. Brenna was breathing softly when he returned to her, her exhaustion
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