The Bewitching Twin(53)
“I want you in my bed.”
It was an adamant plea and she almost felt the need to surrender to him. She took a breath, gathered her wits, and said, “I want to sleep alone.”
“I am not giving you a choice.”
She could not make love with him. She could not, she would surely get pregnant. Then what? He would not abandon his child and she would not relinquish her babe. Was that his plan? Get her with child so he would have to remain with her.
She bolted off the bed. “I will not make love with you.”
“I do not recall asking that of you.”
“You said you wanted me in your bed,” she reminded.
“Sleep was what I said and what I meant.”
“And my other duties?”
“I want us to make love, Aliss, but only if you want to make love with me. I want you in my bed, sleeping beside me, but I will leave the choice of making love up to you.”
Relief and disappointment flooded her all at once and confused her even more. What was she to make of this? Was he setting another plan in motion? Did he think she would surrender easily to him once she lay beside him?
Her yawn sounded more like a cry of help.
“You are tired.”
She had no sooner plopped back down on the bed than he scooped her up and carried her into his room and laid her in his bed.
He turned his back to undress, and knowing it was useless to fight him, Aliss shed her sandals but left her clothes on.
“You will be too warm in those clothes.”
“I will not sleep naked beside you.”
Rogan went to the chest near the door.
Aliss stared at his naked body, admiring every inch of muscle and tanned flesh and remembering the feel of him against her and inside her. Her body heated quickly and she silently cursed herself.
He grabbed something from inside and returned to the bed to toss a white garment at her. “This will be more comfortable.”
It was a white linen shift, soft and trimmed at the round neck with ribbon. He was right, it would definitely be more comfortable, and most probably had belonged to his wife. But then she was now his wife, meant to sleep beside her husband.
He climbed into bed and turned his back to her.
She hopped off the bed and swiftly exchanged her garments for the shift, then climbed under the covers, turning on her side to keep a safe distance between them. She lay stiff waiting for Rogan to move toward her, but he remained where he was and she remained hugging the edge of the bed.
Exhaustion finally claimed her, her body relaxed, her eyes fluttered closed and Rogan turned and draped his warm body over her.
She was too tired to object, and besides, his warmth chased the chill from her flesh and he made no move to touch her. He simply held her.
“I love the feel of you in my arms,” he whispered in her ear.
She refused to admit the same.
“And the scent of you—” He breathed in deeply along her neck. “Intoxicates.”
Her flesh betrayed her, gooseflesh popped up all over her.
He settled his hand over her stomach and she thought for a moment he would—
Light snoring told her otherwise. He had remained true to his word, and while it pleased her, a pesky disappointment assaulted her once again and sleepiness had suddenly vanished.
Her body was alive with passion for him.
She wanted him. She ached to be kissed, touched, and—
She nearly groaned at the thought of him hard and thick and ready to enter her. She chased the seductive thought away, but it refused to go and sprang back into her mind more vividly than before.
No. No, she scolded. Do not think about it.
She shifted and her bottom landed against him. Even soft, his member was impressive.
Stop!
What was wrong with her? She should not be having these thoughts, not after what she had learned. He had lied to her. She could not trust him. She was better off without him.
I will miss sleeping with him.
Damn her wandering mind.
Aliss fought her feelings, fought her desire, fought her own body, until the battle drained her and she finally fell into an exhausted sleep cuddled in her foe’s arms.
Chapter 22
“You have changed.” Aliss looked up from where she kneeled in her garden, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand to see her sister standing there.
“I was angry at first,” Fiona continued.
Aliss dusted her hands free of soil and sat back on her haunches. The urgency in her sister’s voice meant Fiona had something she needed to say so Aliss remained silent and listened.
“I thought that you did not need me anymore.”
“I do not need you to look after me anymore.” Aliss thought she heard a sniffle and went to her sister’s side. “I missed you. I missed our morning walks together and talking with you.”
“What did you not miss?”