Page 24 of A Raven Returns

He set down his glass and held out a hand to her. Her heart leapt at the invitation. He wasn’t sending her away. At least, not yet. She practically skipped across the room to him. She closed her eyes, reveling in his warmth as his strong fingers surrounded her hand.

“I want to thank you, Gwen.”

“For what?”

“So many things.” His smile held such kindness. “Let's start with the easiest ones.”

“Oh, well if there’s a list, then I’d better settle in.” He sucked in a breath as she climbed onto his lap. Holding it in, he closed his eyes, every muscle in his body tense. She knew it was a risk and he might send her away, but she desperately needed to feel his warmth, to be close to him. After a moment, he slowly blew out the breath he was holding, and opened his eyes. He gave a little nod, seemingly to himself.

“You’re sitting in my lap, Gwen.”

She bit down on her lip to stop the laughter threatening to burst out of her. “Am I?” She looked about in feigned surprise.

He chuckled. “You are an imp.”

“My feet are cold. I couldn’t very well just stand there.”

“Well, we can’t have that.” He wrapped his hand around her icy toes, on top of his thigh, sending a delicious warmth through her entire body.

“So, you were saying?” she prompted.

Ash’s purr of laughter made heat bloom in her belly. Why did he affect her so?

“Thank you for taking care of that maid today. I knew you’d be just what she needed in that moment.”

“Thank you, Ash, for trusting me enough to send her up to me. For trusting that I wouldn’t need any explanation.”

“Of course I knew you’d take care of her. You’re an angel, Gwen.” His hand gently massaged her foot. He probably wasn’t even aware that he was doing it, but she certainly was. It stirred more life into the strange longing that was beginning to course through her veins. “Last night, you were my angel. That’s really what I wanted to thank you for.” He reached his arm around her and eased her down to rest her head on his shoulder. “You saved me from my nightmares, and although I’m sorry you had to see me in that state, I will never forget the kindness you showed me. No one has ever done anything like that for me before, and I’m not sure what I did to deserve it.”

Gwen sat up and cupped his cheek. “You really can’t see your own kindness, can you? Ash, you saved me after I tried to steal from you. You didn’t stop to consider whether or not I was deserving of your kindness. You simply gave it. So why do you believe you have to earn kindness from others?”

“I—” He opened his mouth and closed it, and for a long moment his thoughts turned inward. After a bit, he lowered his forehead to rest against hers. She liked it when he did that. “I have a lot to atone for, Gwen, but I don’t want to talk about that tonight.”

She wouldn't press the issue. “Well, there is something we could do that doesn’t involve talking.” She paused for a moment, nervousness fluttering in her stomach. “I was hoping, if I asked nicely, you might kiss me again.” Gwen’s heart pounded inside her chest as she waited for his answer.

“Oh, Gwen. You know I have strict rules about that kind of thing. As your employer, it isn’t right for me to engage in such things with you.”

She wasn’t going to point out that she was currently sitting in his lap while he rubbed her bare feet, or that she’d slept against his naked body the previous night. “Hear me out. After my last experience, I don’t think I ever want to marry again, so perhaps we can stretch a few of the rules, just until we return to London. Once we get back to Raven House, I promise I won’t ask for anything that’s forbidden.”

His eyes filled with such tenderness as he gently brushed his hands over her hair before settling them against her neck. Slowly, he pulled her closer and pressed his lips against her forehead. She was about to complain that that wasn’t what she’d meant, but he didn’t stop there. His lips were so soothing as he pressed featherlight kisses between her brows, over her eyes, and across her cheeks.

Her lips tingled with anticipation before he even touched them. When he finally did, a burst of longing swept through her, and she immediately opened for him, but he didn’t plunge inside as he had the night before.

Strangely, his leisurely pace stirred desire in her even more than the passionate kiss from last night. He kissed her as if they had all the time in the world. As the tip of his tongue traced over her lips, her nipples grew hard, begging to be touched. What did it even mean? Why would he touch them? It didn’t matter, they needed to be touched. She pressed herself wantonly against his chest, just as his tongue slipped into her mouth. Pleasure pulsed through her body, forcing a moan from her throat.

Ash pulled back, his own breathing labored. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand these feelings.” She felt like such a fool. Were these feelings normal? She’d certainly never experienced anything like this with Greg. Her cheeks warmed with what she was about to say, but she trusted Ash not to judge her. “I want something, desperately, but I don’t really even know what it is.”

Ash’s brow furrowed. “Have you never experienced sexual pleasure, Gwen?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged and lowered her gaze, humiliated at her lack of knowledge after having been as good as married for a year.

Ash lifted her chin. “Don’t be embarrassed, Gwen. You would know if you had, and if you haven’t, that certainly isn’t your fault.”

She shrugged again. “I guess I haven’t then.”

“Would you like me to show you?”

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