Moonstone by Olivia Stocum

Author:Olivia Stocum [Stocum, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Love Story
Publisher: TangledMoon Books
Published: 2014-02-04T14:00:00+00:00

* * *

“I cannot move,” Rhiannon said, lying, dizzy and defeated on her stomach. A lock of hair was trapped between her broken arm and the pillow, pulling at her temple.

William carefully freed her hair. “Aye, you can. You have to eat.” He slipped one arm between her rib cage and the mattress and moved her onto her back, propped against the pillows. She didn’t even try to stop him. What point was there now? The man had helped her use the champed pot for goodness sake!

He handed her a goblet of wine and she sipped at it, humiliated. William set a wooden tray between them on the bed. After she took a few more swallows he removed the wine from her good hand and handed her an earthen bowl.

“Gruel?”

“Aye.” He passed her a spoon.

“I do not like gruel.”

“I was raised on it. Now eat.”

She dished lukewarm porridge into her mouth while giving him dirty looks over her spoon. It might as well have been mud as far as her stomach was concerned. William broke apart a loaf of bread and handed her a piece. She set the bowl on her lap.

“I know you’re frustrated with me right now,” he said. “But you misused something very important to me, and I canna just stand by and allow it.”

She frowned at her bread, set it aside, and picked up her wine instead. He caught her bowl before it tipped and spilled sticky oats and barley onto her lap.

“When will you understand?” he whispered.

Rhiannon shoved the goblet at him, then hugged her knees against her chest. “Why do men want to posses me? My father used to call me Psyche because of it.”

His eyes widened. “How many men did your father have to defend you from, lassie?”

“They came around.” She looked away. “My brother ran them off.”

William took up his cup and drank all the wine in it, then he drank hers too. He set both goblets on the tray, and leaned back against the headboard. “You are verra beautiful.”

“I have not felt beautiful in a long time, at least not like I used to. I feel like an object.”

He was quiet, his brow drawn in thought. “There is more between lovers than physical pleasure.” He paused. “I should hope.”

His admission made her drop her guard. She could see how it would be hard for a man in a position of power. How would he know whether or not he could trust any woman deeply enough to lay himself open for her?

“I dinna know why Geoffrey did this to you,” he said. “But for me you are . . .”

Her heart hammered in uneven beats, and all she saw were his gray eyes. “I am what?” Tell me, please.

He looked away. “Never mind.”

She watched the side of his tight face and thought about what Triona had said. It made her wonder . . . “How long have you been chaste?”

“Rhiannon,” he warned.

“Triona told me.”

“Of course she did.”

“As your wife, do I not

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