Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory

Author:Margaret Mallory [MALLORY, MARGARET]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC027000
ISBN: 9780446558549
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2009-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Stephen kept his eyes closed, not wanting to waken and find it was all a dream. A smile spread across his face. Nay, that could not have been a dream. He’d always known Isobel had a passionate nature beneath that sober exterior, but God in heaven, he was a lucky man.

Aye, he must admit to one disappointment. He was not so foolish as to expect her to profess abounding love. But she did not even admit to a particular fondness for him. Did she simply desire him? Surely that alone would not be enough for a woman like Isobel to cross the line and commit herself.

Even at the end, he tried to pull out to preserve at least some possibility she could change her mind and avoid the marriage. God knew how hard that was! Surely she understood why he did it. Her answer was unmistakable: she wrapped her legs around him like a vise.

It had been heaven.

Other men could give her pleasure, so that could not be the only reason she chose him. Since the only other man she’d been with was that ancient husband of hers, it was possible she did not know that. Well, she would never know it now. No man but he would touch her again. He’d cut de Roche’s hands off if he tried.

Strong mutual desire was not a bad start to marriage; it was more than many had. She enjoyed his company. Still, he hoped she saw more in him than a charming jester who could please her in bed. He wanted her to think better of him than that. Nay, he wanted to be a better man than that for her.

He opened his eyes. The sight of her was like a sharp stab to his heart. She looked unspeakably lovely, with her tousled dark hair, smooth pale skin, and serious green eyes.

“Did I sleep long?” he asked.

A softness came into her eyes, and a hint of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. She shook her head a fraction.

“I am a lout to let you get chilled,” he said, gathering her into his arms. “Good Lord, you are covered in gooseflesh!”

He rubbed her back and arms until she laughed and begged him to stop. As he held her to him, he glanced up through the holes in the roof to judge the light.

She must have heard his sigh, for she asked, “What is it?”

“We must return to the abbey in another hour,” he said. “The monks have their supper early. If we are not back before then, someone is bound to notice we are still gone.”

She shrugged one fine-boned shoulder.

“Surely you do not want to be the cause of even more sinful thoughts among these poor monks?” he chided her with a smile. “You’ll have them doing penance for months.”

When she laughed at his joke, he had to kiss her. And just like that, he was hard again. From the way her eyes widened when he leaned back to look at her, she’d noticed.

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