Page 16 of A Raven Returns

He groaned and dropped his forehead against hers, once more. “You know you can’t stay, Gwen. I’m not even dressed, and this is wholly inappropriate.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “I’m not leaving you alone, Ash.”

“Gwen.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “Are we just going to sit like this all night, then?”

She shrugged. “If that’s what you want. Personally, I’d rather get under the blankets where it’s warm.”

“I don’t have anything on under here!” He sounded appalled and she couldn’t contain her laughter.

She shrugged again. “It’s not as if you haven’t seenmenaked.”

“That’s different,” he argued.

“Listen.” She once again placed a finger over his lips, which continued to smile beneath. “I promise to behave myself. I won’t touch anything below your waist, and I’ll try my best to sleep and not bother you.” His eyes grew wider with every word she spoke. “But,” she said more loudly, as he tried to interrupt her. “I will not leave you tonight. Even if that means I have to sit just like this until the sun comes up.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “You may promise those things, but how can you be so sure I will follow suit?”

She cupped his cheek, his stubble grazing against her palm. “Because I know you, Ash. If I say I don’t want anything to happen, nothing will happen. Honestly, I could throw back these blankets right now and beg you to take me, and you still wouldn’t.” He had more self-control than anyone she’d ever met.

After a long moment, he finally nodded. “You are a stubborn little imp.” With a sigh, he lifted the blankets beside him. Triumph flooded through her. Not because she had won, but because he was allowing her behind the armor he always wore. He was allowing himself to be vulnerable, even if just for one night. She scurried to climb under the covers before he changed his mind. As he laid back, she snuggled up against his side and he froze, holding his breath for a moment before he slowly relaxed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He gasped as she pressed her icy toes against his bare leg.

“Christ, woman. How are they so cold?”

Gwen giggled and snuggled more tightly against him. With her arm thrown over his chest and her head cradled against his shoulder, she felt like she was home. She would gladly have lain awake, enjoying their closeness all night long, but in the safety of his embrace and surrounded by his warmth, sleep claimed her in no time at all.

ChapterSix

How was any of this real? Gwen was asleep in his arms, her body pressed against his, the only barrier between them the thin cotton of her nightgown. And yet, it wasn’t lewd or indecent or even tempting him for something that may be. It was the most wholesome, most tender thing he’d ever experienced.

Even as she’d sat in his lap, straddling him, her breasts pressed against his chest, it was her heart he’d craved and not her body. She’d shown him such sweet kindness. No one had ever consoled him like that before, just held him and allowed him to not be strong. Gwen hadn’t only allowed it, she’d demanded it of him. She’d seen him in the worst moments of his fear, shaking and sweating from the horrific nightmare, and she hadn’t turned away. She hadn’t sneered or judged him as lacking in some way. She hadn’t asked him to explain or tell her about his dream. Even feeling the scars on his back hadn’t caused her to recoil in disgust. She’d simply continued to hold him and soothe him, as if he were the only thing that mattered in that moment.

He breathed in her sweet scent and pressed a light kiss against the top of her head. “Thank you, my angel,” he whispered, even though he knew she wouldn’t hear it. Eventually, he drifted off for a few hours, her protective presence keeping his nightmares at bay.

When he woke, the room was beginning to lighten. She was still snuggled against his side, but her leg was now thrown over his, and lust was stirring. Carefully, he extricated himself from her embrace and slid out of bed. For a moment, he simply stared down at her precious form. He’d be eternally grateful for the gift she’d given him last night and wanted to seal this image of her in his mind to treasure forever.

He grabbed his cane and quietly left before she woke to see him standing there naked and staring at her like some depraved wolf.

An hour later, Ash chastised himself for being a coward as he rode out across his estate. Somehow, facing Gwen in the daylight, knowing what she’d witnessed, had been too daunting. He’d told Benson to keep an eye on her, and Mary to see that she had everything she needed, and then he’d simply left.

Something in the distance caught his eye. A pair of men were having a heated discussion. He slowed his horse and moved carefully into the shadows of a row of trees. One of them was undoubtedly Warwick, but Ash didn’t recognize the other. From this distance, he could really only tell that he was tall and lean with dark brown hair.

Unfortunately, in spite of the pointing and shouting, Ash couldn’t understand a word of their argument. Eventually, the younger man threw his hands up and stormed away before mounting a chestnut horse and riding in the opposite direction from where Ash watched. Warwick mounted his own horse and headed for the house. He was probably going in search of Ash, but he didn’t wish to see the man just now. Let him wait. He’d undoubtedly make himself comfortable and help himself to Ash’s liquor.

Ash nudged his horse forward. Perhaps if he hurried, he could follow the other man and see where he was headed.

His destination turned out to be a small house on the estate. He must be one of Ash’s tenants. As the man jumped down from his horse, a young girl, maybe four or five years old, sprinted out and threw herself into his waiting arms. She had messy brown curls and an excited smile. Ash stayed out of sight, but now that he was closer, he could see that the man was only eighteen or twenty. Not really old enough to be the girl's father, so perhaps she was his sister? He set her down and sent her back into the house while he dealt with the horse.

What had he been arguing with Warwick about?

Ash spent a couple more hours out on the estate. He’d been lucky to be in the right place at the right time today, but now, it was time to head back. The cold was making his leg ache, and his stomach was rumbling.

“Is Warwick still here?” Ash asked as he handed off his hat and coat.

“Yes, my lord. In the drawing room, I believe.”

“Send in some tea and some kind of food. I’m famished.”

“Yes, my lord.” The footman hurried off to do his bidding and Ash made his way to the drawing room.

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