"I do. As long as we have the deck of cards here, I shall fetch the cribbage board and see how you get on."
After playing a couple of hands and already being down thirty points, she said with a laugh, "I can see this is another thing you're very good at."
"Beginner's luck."
"Hah. You must have fleeced everyone in the officer's mess."
He frowned in concentration. "I don't think so. I can't recall."
"But you know the rules."
He shrugged one shoulder. "Not much to do around a hospital all day."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I never thought-"
"It was one of the monk's ideas."
"Well, it was a jolly good one."
When Alexander eventually won the game, she stretched and yawned. "It's been a long day. You must be worn out."
"I am. Time for bed."
She stifled a yawn herself. "I need to make an early start in the morning, washing and carding."
"I'll look forward to it."
"No you won't. A sensible man would opt to stay in bed and sleep."
Alexander laughed. "You're lucky I'm mad then."
"Don't say that!" She let out a shaky sigh. "It is just that, well, they said Clifford's wife Vanessa was mad."
"And was she?" he asked curiously.
"No, of course not. Just extremely educated, with a peculiar half-brother."
"I see. You can tell me the story some time. But not at the moment. Now you need your rest." He patted her on the shoulder.
She picked up her candle and ascended the stairs. "Good night."
"Good night."
Suddenly, he broke every good resolution he had ever formulated. He stooped down and kissed her masterfully on the lips.
Sarah's common sense tumbled like the house of cards they had just had fun building. She kissed him back ardently, unable to help herself, or to quell her pent-up yearnings. Their tongues mingled and her heart hammered in her chest. She stretched up against his huge muscular frame, but he made no move to embrace her.
In fact, he raised his head shortly afterwards and sighed. "I'm sorry, Sarah. That was nothing to be upset over. Just a kiss between friends, all right? Good night."
She watched with a heavy heart as he vanished into his room and locked the door.
Why was he so standoffish one minute, so, so passionate the next? It was dreadfully frustrating! Her whole body throbbed with need, yet he had shut the door almost in her face twice now. What on earth was he playing at? And why wasn't she more relieved that he had some control and decency?
Sarah entered her room and had to restrain herself from slamming the door. She unbound her hair so that it flowed freely over her back, stripped off her clothes, and in a fit of daring, slipped between the sheets naked. She had her robe nearby just in case. In fact, she hoped he would have another nightmare. At least it would give her an excuse to be close to him, wrong though she knew the desire to be.
She thought she would toss and turn, too keyed up to sleep after that soul-wrenching kiss. Yet soon she felt a heavy drowsiness overtake her limbs, and glided into a deep slumber full of sensual dreams in which Alexander's hot hard hands were upon her. Caressing, exploring, teasing her most provocatively. Her breasts, belly, thighs, curl-clad mound.
She could feel the rush of sensation flood through her lower limbs, and opened her eyes as a movement in the room caught her attention. She saw the door close, and shot upright in alarm. It was still dark. She wasn't quite sure what she had seen.
Had Alexander been in her room, touched her so, so intimately? She felt her nipples thrusting against the sheet, an unusual warmth to her skin. Had he been sleepwalking, or had he come into the room to finish what they had started the other morning? And he had then left her to sleep? Changed his mind?
She rose and put on her wrapper, and went down the hall. She opened the door, and peeped in. He was sitting on the edge of the bed in his dressing gown.
"Alexander? Are you ill?"
He laughed shortly. "You could say that."
"Can I help?"
"Believe me, you've tried," he said raggedly, sounding as though near tears.
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Never mind, Sarah! Just go to sleep."
She wished she could see his face, but the room was shrouded in darkness.
"Were you, were you just in my room a moment ago?"
"I thought heard something," he lied.
"I see." She did not dare voice her suspicions aloud. It was just too difficult to talk about.
"Are you sure I can't get you anything?"