Just Once by Elizabeth Boyce

Author:Elizabeth Boyce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Sunlight crept through the spaces behind and between the heavy drapes, pulling Lily to groggy wakefulness. There was a dull ache between her legs and residual stickiness on her upper thighs. The evidence of the previous night’s activities drew a grimace as she rolled to face the sleeping man beside her.

Ethan’s features were slack; he lay on his side, his parted lips pushed into an irregular shape by the pillows. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw and cheeks, his sleep-tousled hair was barely more unruly than it was during his waking hours. A soft smile touched her lips as she allowed herself to do something she’d wanted to do since the moment she’d first seen him — she reached out and skimmed her fingers over and through his clipped hair. The wavy thatch on top tickled her palm, while the very short sides were like velvet.

He slept soundly, undisturbed by her touch. And no wonder, she thought wryly. He’d exerted himself a great deal last night.

Her eyes drifted closed as she recalled her initiation into the world of marital relations. It had been dark and pagan and wonderful. At his behest, she had relinquished the tight control she kept on herself and given her very body into his keeping.

Ethan had summoned a part of herself she hadn’t known existed — a carnal creature who had no thought other than the fulfillment of desire, chasing pleasure and operating on base instinct. They’d made love two more times after the first — and each time the urgency of her need seemed greater than the previous. Each time she wantonly offered herself and welcomed his invasion.

And therein lay a problem.

Ethan snored and swiped at his nose before grumbling and burrowing deeper into the sheets. Lily sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes followed the circular, cloud-like whorls a fanciful artisan had brushed into the plaster.

The problem, as she saw it, was that she wasn’t sure she liked that wild Lily. If she had learned anything during the past week, it was that she was not a woman who could simply lose control of herself — that way lay disaster, as evidenced by the marriage in which she had very suddenly found herself.

Further, the Lily who had been born last night — the lustful creature — was dependent upon Ethan. Last night, as she took him into her arms and body, she had allowed herself to imagine he harbored tender feelings toward her beyond physical attraction. In the light of day, she knew that simply wasn’t true.

Lily had stood outside the study door when he’d talked with her father. She’d heard his angry roar when he discovered the dowry clause in the contract.

He didn’t want to be married to her. He didn’t care for anything but her money. Oh, he might have whispered endearments while he bucked against her, but that was just lust talking, not any true expression of sentiment. Last night had done irrevocable damage — she’d given up control of herself.

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