Read Online Betrayal (Book 2: Time Enough to Love) by Jenna Jaxon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jenna Jaxon
Ads: Link
of incense, providing a modicum of privacy at last.
Thomas smiled into the shadows. The bedding had finally begun.
Chapter 6
Thomas turned to Alyse and reached out into the darkness beside him. He needed to bring her closer so he could whisper instructions to her. His questing hand met the smooth silk of that tempting chemise. He grasped her firmly to pull her toward him.
At his touch, she gasped aloud, tapering off into a low moan. Excited voices sounded in the chamber, along with tittering laughter and deep-throated chuckles. He cursed under his breath when the shape of her flesh in his hand revealed he had taken hold of her breast. Her nipple peaked into his palm, and he snatched his hand back, though that was the last thing he wanted to do. The sight of her in that gossamer shift and the feel of her now urged him to take what was his and repair the damage later. His cock had been demanding attention since he entered the room. Indeed, ’twas becoming painful to simply lie here next to this beautiful woman without seeking the solace of her warm sheath. Mayhap if he asked…
“Alyse?” He pitched his voice low, hoping none but she could hear.
A whimper from the other side of the bed tugged at his heart.
“Shh, Alyse, come here. I would speak a word for your ear only.” Thomas held his breath then released it when the mattress dipped toward him.
“What—”
“Shh. Quiet!”
Her normal voice had sounded loudly in the darkness. The listeners outside must have heard, for their chatter increased, and the floor creaked as someone moved closer to the bed.
Thomas pulled her toward him, positioned his mouth next to her ear. “If you do not want them to hear what we say, you must lower your voice to the barest whisper. Like this. Do you understand?”
She nodded, and he relaxed against the pillow. “Why did you not tell me about the bedding? Why make that promise when you knew you could not keep it?”
Amazing how much vehemence she could pack into a whisper.
“I did not know you were unfamiliar with the bedding ceremony. I assumed you had attended other ladies before.” He managed a hint of reproach. ’Twas not his fault the girl had not been informed.
“But you knew about it, Thomas.”
“Aye, I did.”
“So you knew this would happen. That we would be put in this bed and made to…”
The embarrassment in her voice brought to mind the image of her cheeks, now likely as scarlet as her gown had been. ’Sblood. The girl was no innocent maid.
“Yes, ’tis the usual course of things. ’Tis not looked on as shameful, but as a validation of the wedding vows.” He paused, ran his fingers along the length of her jaw. “So you do not wish to lie with me tonight?”
She sniffed. “What choice do I have?”
“The choice will always be yours, Alyse. I vowed not to force you, and I never break my vows.”
In the silence that ensued, he continued to stroke her face, her hair. He ran his hand down her arm, and she shivered. ’Twould be her choice, but he would do his best to help the decision along.
“And if I choose nay?” The whisper was so light he scarcely heard her.
He sighed and withdrew his hand. “Then we shall counterfeit the deed.”
“Counterfeit?”
“Aye. You must do exactly what I bid you do or say, no matter if you find it odd or…embarrassing, in order to make the courtiers believe we have consummated our marriage. Do you understand?”
“Aye.” She sounded doubtful.
Best to make sure. “Then your choice is nay?”
The long pause raised his hopes to a pinnacle he knew to be false. Her flicker of jealousy toward Ysabel would not have erased her loyalty to Geoffrey so soon. So when her “aye” came, soft but sure, he had already begun to contrive their performance.
“Then come, remove your gown and lie here on your back.”
“Remove the gown?” The alarm in her voice made him envision her clutching the garment to her.
“’Twould only be in our way. And I
Thomas smiled into the shadows. The bedding had finally begun.
Chapter 6
Thomas turned to Alyse and reached out into the darkness beside him. He needed to bring her closer so he could whisper instructions to her. His questing hand met the smooth silk of that tempting chemise. He grasped her firmly to pull her toward him.
At his touch, she gasped aloud, tapering off into a low moan. Excited voices sounded in the chamber, along with tittering laughter and deep-throated chuckles. He cursed under his breath when the shape of her flesh in his hand revealed he had taken hold of her breast. Her nipple peaked into his palm, and he snatched his hand back, though that was the last thing he wanted to do. The sight of her in that gossamer shift and the feel of her now urged him to take what was his and repair the damage later. His cock had been demanding attention since he entered the room. Indeed, ’twas becoming painful to simply lie here next to this beautiful woman without seeking the solace of her warm sheath. Mayhap if he asked…
“Alyse?” He pitched his voice low, hoping none but she could hear.
A whimper from the other side of the bed tugged at his heart.
“Shh, Alyse, come here. I would speak a word for your ear only.” Thomas held his breath then released it when the mattress dipped toward him.
“What—”
“Shh. Quiet!”
Her normal voice had sounded loudly in the darkness. The listeners outside must have heard, for their chatter increased, and the floor creaked as someone moved closer to the bed.
Thomas pulled her toward him, positioned his mouth next to her ear. “If you do not want them to hear what we say, you must lower your voice to the barest whisper. Like this. Do you understand?”
She nodded, and he relaxed against the pillow. “Why did you not tell me about the bedding? Why make that promise when you knew you could not keep it?”
Amazing how much vehemence she could pack into a whisper.
“I did not know you were unfamiliar with the bedding ceremony. I assumed you had attended other ladies before.” He managed a hint of reproach. ’Twas not his fault the girl had not been informed.
“But you knew about it, Thomas.”
“Aye, I did.”
“So you knew this would happen. That we would be put in this bed and made to…”
The embarrassment in her voice brought to mind the image of her cheeks, now likely as scarlet as her gown had been. ’Sblood. The girl was no innocent maid.
“Yes, ’tis the usual course of things. ’Tis not looked on as shameful, but as a validation of the wedding vows.” He paused, ran his fingers along the length of her jaw. “So you do not wish to lie with me tonight?”
She sniffed. “What choice do I have?”
“The choice will always be yours, Alyse. I vowed not to force you, and I never break my vows.”
In the silence that ensued, he continued to stroke her face, her hair. He ran his hand down her arm, and she shivered. ’Twould be her choice, but he would do his best to help the decision along.
“And if I choose nay?” The whisper was so light he scarcely heard her.
He sighed and withdrew his hand. “Then we shall counterfeit the deed.”
“Counterfeit?”
“Aye. You must do exactly what I bid you do or say, no matter if you find it odd or…embarrassing, in order to make the courtiers believe we have consummated our marriage. Do you understand?”
“Aye.” She sounded doubtful.
Best to make sure. “Then your choice is nay?”
The long pause raised his hopes to a pinnacle he knew to be false. Her flicker of jealousy toward Ysabel would not have erased her loyalty to Geoffrey so soon. So when her “aye” came, soft but sure, he had already begun to contrive their performance.
“Then come, remove your gown and lie here on your back.”
“Remove the gown?” The alarm in her voice made him envision her clutching the garment to her.
“’Twould only be in our way. And I
Similar Books
