Defiant Destiny (The Hearts of Liberty Series, Book 2) by Conn Phoebe

Author:Conn, Phoebe [Conn, Phoebe]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

It was the unaccustomed feel of the weight of Gaetan's arm curled around her waist that awoke Arielle shortly after dawn. Startled, she gasped in surprise then remembered how they had come to be together. She had not gotten up again after lying down after supper and she was still fully clothed, as was Gaetan. The compact bed was barely wide enough for two, and he had wrapped himself around her to make the best use of what little space they had. While she had not felt him join her in the bunk, she doubted he had been with her long, for surely they would have been so crowded she would have been jostled awake long before this.

Tears welled up in Arielle's eyes as she imagined herself waking up in Gaetan's arms every morning for the rest of her life. She tried to blink them away but failed, and they trickled down her cheeks and soaked her pillow. No price would have been too high to pay for Byron's life, but she did not know how to conceal her overwhelming sorrow. She could not cry all the time, nor could she pretend a happiness she did not feel.

Burdened by the fears and doubts she could not assuage, she could not lie still, but when she attempted to slip off the bunk without waking Gaetan, he immediately tightened his hold on her waist to stop her.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Nowhere. I just wanted to get up."

Gaetan raised up slightly. "Don't. Stay with me instead." He kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek, then nuzzled the warm curve of her neck. "How do you feel?"

The slight growth of his beard tickled terribly, and she had to fight her natural impulse to draw away. "All right. At least I think I do."

"Good." Again stretching out behind her, Gaetan drew Arielle closer to his chest. She did not resist his move, but rather than relaxing against him as he had hoped she would, she was merely limp. He wanted to make love to her so badly. He ached to feel the softness of her bare skin against his own, but at the same time, he wanted her to give her love freely as she had to Bernard and the Englishman. That she would stubbornly withhold it pained him deeply.

He propped his head on his elbow so he could study her expression. "What is it about me that you find so objectionable?" he asked. "Why don't I please you?"

Arielle glanced up at him. Uncombed, his dark curls dipped low on his forehead giving him a boyish appearance that didn't match the insolent set of his mouth. With his dashing good looks and unusually charming grin, he ought to have had an equally attractive personality, but sadly he was demanding rather than considerate. He was angry with her more often than not, and she did not want to provoke him again by reciting a list of his faults. Instead, she tried to smile.

"Our temperaments

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