Part 32 (1/2)

”I don't know how you endured it,” she said softly.

He tautened, and the muscles across his back became as unrelenting as steel. ”I didn't endure. Before they finished with me, I screamed for mercy.”

He was so hard on himself. If only he could spare some of the generosity he'd shown her to stanch his own wounds. ”You didn't betray your comrades or your country,” she said in a quiet but implacable voice. ”You stood up to over a year of torture and didn't break. You're too brave for your own good.”

”You wouldn't think that if you'd seen the pathetic fool I made of myself when they started on my hands.” He rubbed his head against her neck in a desultory caress. The unforced gesture sent warmth spiraling through her. She could hardly comprehend he trusted her enough to stay in her arms.

”Oh, my love,” she said in a low voice throbbing with emotion. She ran her hand in comforting trails over his powerful back. Under her hand, his scars created a b.u.mpy tapestry, a map of the intolerable tribute his years in India had claimed. She couldn't see his ruined hands. She didn't need to. The sight would haunt her forever.

”You have to forgive yourself, or you'll go mad. Good Lord, Gideon. You're covered in scars. You hardly sleep. You flinch if anyone comes within reach.” Her voice softened into persuasion. ”You gave all anyone could ask. More. Much more. Everybody in the world sees that but you.”

Charis turned her head and glanced a kiss across his cheek. The poignant tenderness inside her demanded some expression. She felt his breath catch. She suspected acts of uncomplicated affection had been rare in his life.

Because she ached for his solitude, because it was all too easy to picture a clever little boy happier with his books than any companions, she kissed him again. A glance of the lips that caught him on the rim of one ear.

Again the hitch in his breath. Slowly, he straightened and stared at her with a wariness that pierced her heart. Surely by now he must know she wanted only his good. But he'd been so hurt, he s.h.i.+ed away from anything that smacked of love. For all the barriers she'd crashed through in the last days, she didn't fool herself that he was near to accepting he was worthy of her adoration.

The scars of Rangapindhi cut too deep for any simple remedy.

For now, he was with her and showed no signs of wanting to go. She intended to take what advantage she could. Rising on her toes, she kissed one side of his neck, then the other. She still held him, but loosely, easily, without the quaking desperation. He s.h.i.+fted restlessly, and his hands slid to span her waist.

She traced a line of kisses along one sinewy shoulder. Pausing when she reached the top of his arm.

A strangled sound emerged from his throat. She wasn't sure whether it was encouragement or protest. She dropped another kiss on the ball of his shoulder.

The kisses were quick, soft, playful. Like those she'd give a crying child to coax it from a fit of sullens.

Except she knew to the depths of her soul that Gideon was no child.

He was a full-grown man. Potent. Pa.s.sionate. Predatory.

A thrill s.h.i.+vered through her. More purposefully, she grazed her lips along the vein down the side of his neck. Feeling the powerful life thundering through him.

His breath caught again. Then he s.h.i.+fted and pressed his lips to the collarbone revealed under her red gown's square neckline.

Her heart stuttered. He became a partic.i.p.ant at last. She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe. Her hands settled loosely on his hips.

She pressed a kiss to his other ear.

He kissed her chin, his lips warm and firm.

She brushed her lips over his jaw.

He caught one earlobe in his teeth and bit down gently.

Response burned down to her toes, and a strangled moan escaped her. As he bent to kiss her shoulder, she caught a flash of masculine triumph in his face.

They no longer clung to each other like the survivors of a s.h.i.+pwreck. She'd kissed him to comfort, but somewhere the game had changed into a duel of kisses.

She angled her head and kissed the hammering pulse at the base of his throat. Instinct made her lick him there. His skin was warm and salty. Delicious.

She forgot the playful battle and licked him again. Slowly. Luxuriously. His flavor filled her senses. His low rumbling growl vibrated against her lips.

Dazed, she lifted her head and stared at him. The humor seeped from his expression. Replaced by an intense concentration that sent a sizzle of antic.i.p.ation down her spine.

The innocent games were over.

Danger hovered.

Danger and pa.s.sion.

Time stopped. Along with her heart and breath. She felt as though she poised on the brink of one of Penrhyn's craggy cliffs. Would she plummet to her death? Or would he catch her, as he always had?

As slowly as if he waded through deep water, Gideon raised his ruined hands. He set them on either side of her head and tipped her face up.

The moment held untold importance. It was as if he'd never touched her before. The brush of his scarred palms on her cheeks made her s.h.i.+ver with pleasure. He stared at her, flicking back stray tendrils of her hair with his thumbs.

With spine-tingling attention, his gaze traced her features. His black eyes glowed as if he looked upon his soul's desire. Deep in her bones, she finally recognized that he loved her and always would. He didn't want to love her, but he did. Perhaps he'd never say the words again, but the awe and wors.h.i.+p on his face crushed any lingering doubts to dust.

A shaky sigh escaped her. His eyes focused on her parted lips. She grew taut with uncontrollable longing. Surely he'd kiss her like he'd kissed her this afternoon. She desperately wanted him to kiss her again. Her hands curled into his hips to urge him closer.

”You're so beautiful, you break my heart,” he murmured.

”Gideon...” she choked out.

Any further response to that astonis.h.i.+ng declaration was lost as with sudden decisiveness, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

Gideon felt the moist cus.h.i.+on of her lips flatten against her teeth. Then, sweet moment indeed, she sighed and parted to let him in. He thrust his tongue inside, testing the hard smoothness of her teeth, the hot honey of the interior. His heart raised a paean of rejoicing as her tongue fluttered, retreated, returned to stroke and caress.

She learned fast, his darling wife. Only this afternoon, his deep kiss had shocked her. Only yesterday, he would have been incapable of touching her, let alone sharing this astonis.h.i.+ngly sensual kiss.

Every second he held Charis in his arms felt like a miracle.

Very deliberately, he licked the roof of her mouth, the insides of her cheeks, delighting in the contrasting textures. Delighting in her response as her tongue brushed the sensitive underside of his.

She moaned and pressed her mouth harder against his. He sank into hot, succulent blackness.

He lifted his head and rested his forehead against hers. They panted, sharing the small s.p.a.ce of air between them. The act felt as intimate as that extraordinary kiss. As if one life united them.

Feverishly, he slid his hand up her rib cage to where her b.r.e.a.s.t.s strained against her bodice. He slid his hand under the neckline, found a pebbled nipple, and pulled gently.

”Yes,” she sighed, and traced the line of his mouth with her tongue.

Hunger slammed through him. Drowning out all other sound, his blood thundered. He leaned forward and bit her lower lip. She s.h.i.+vered with excitement, her hips jerking against him.

”If you want that dress to stay in one piece, take it off,” he said unsteadily.

She gave a breathless gust of laughter. She hooked her hand around his neck and sent him a scorching glance under her eyelashes. ”You'll have to help. It laces up the back.”

”d.a.m.n fool fas.h.i.+on,” he grunted.