Forever His(112)

For as release rushed through him, he knew he did not wish to live without her.





Chapter 22


“Anyone who would step into a metal box and let it be flung into the air is a half-wit.”

“Not a box. It’s called a plane.” Celine laughed. “And it isn’t flung through the air. There’s no catapult involved. It flies. Like a bird flies.”

“A metal bird filled with people?” Gaston asked dubiously.

“That’s right. And if we had one now, instead of having to ride Pharaon here, this trip that’s taken four weeks would have taken less than an hour.”

“You are making this up.”

Celine laughed again and shook her head, resting a little closer to Gaston, letting herself enjoy the strength of his hold on her, the way he made her feel secure in his arms even though Pharaon moved at a swift trot. The weather had been clear and warm since that rainy afternoon in the clearing two weeks ago, and they were making good time.

Etienne rode just a few yards behind them, but Remy had ventured so far ahead they couldn’t see him. Though Gaston had traded her lame mare for a sturdy little plow horse in a village, the poor animal had been pressed into service as a supply vehicle. It trailed behind Etienne’s horse, tethered to his saddle.

Celine had expressed concern that riding together would give an impression of closeness they shouldn’t give, but Gaston refused to take no for an answer. He had insisted, assuring her that his men would not find their merely riding or talking together worthy of mention to the King.

She rested her head on his shoulder, looking up through the trees, where the first green buds were just visible.

Gaston hadn’t let her out of his sight, or out of reach, since they had made love. Something had changed in him that day. In the past two weeks, she had seen a side of him she had only glimpsed before, a caring and gentleness and humor that made her fall a little more in love with him every day.

Which made every step of their journey all the more bittersweet. The eclipse was just eleven days away now. They were within hours of Gaston’s chateau. They would spend the night there, then go on to Paris to see the King.

And ask for an annulment.

They hadn’t argued over it again. They had come to an uneasy truce about it, a reluctant agreement that it was what must be, a silent accord not to speak of it anymore.

“Gaston, when we leave for Paris tomorrow, I probably should have my own horse.”

“Nay.” His arm tightened around her waist. “This is better for you. Using me as a pillow causes less strain upon the injury in your back.”

She wasn’t sure that was entirely true, but she wasn’t going to be stubborn about it. She was selfish enough to enjoy the chance to be near him during the day, since they were so careful to stay away from each other at night. “I just thought this might be ... uncomfortable for you.”

He lowered his cheek to hers, the scratchy silk of his beard rough against her skin. “Because I want so badly to make love to you?” he murmured.

A rain of heat melted through her. “Because I don’t want to torment you ... or me.”

He made a hungry sound that she could feel vibrating through his chest. “I fear we shall need to take our escorts with us when we leave for Paris. It would look suspicious if I asked them to stay behind.”

Her breath caught as he sneaked a nibble at her earlobe. “Yes.”

“Yes, it would look suspicious? Or yes to this?” His tongue teased the sensitive skin behind her ear.

“I can’t th-think when you’re doing that.”

“I cannot think at all. Except of how to steal a moment alone with you.” He nipped her neck, wringing a little moan from her. “I have tried to devise some excuse to send our loyal shadows away for even a quarter hour. It is all I think of. Us together. You all soft and hot and open beneath me.”

“Gaston,” she pleaded.

“Aye, like that. The way you say my name like that. When I sink into you so deep ... so hard ...” He punctuated each word with a flick of his tongue in her ear. “And you turn into sweet honey all around me.”

His hand shifted upward slightly, his thumb caressing the underside of her breast through the velvet of her gown. Her heart was pounding.

“Etienne is right behind us,” she whispered in warning.

“Hmm. Mayhap the solution lies in a few alterations to your gown,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “A secret opening in the skirt, and I could shift you just so ...”

A tremor shuddered through her as he moved her more tightly against him. Breathless, she gripped his arm, able to feel exactly how aroused he was.