Page 94 of The Beauty and the Boxer
His eyes opened and she saw the samemischievous look dancing in the green depths as she had when he hadcourted her.
“Hello,” he said softly.
“What are you doing?” She finally asked.
“Laying here,” he answered.
“I see that. Why?”
“Because I’m tired from the day. I wasmarried you know.”
The first honest smile of the day passedover her lips.
“Yes, but why aren’t you…”
“Why aren’t I what? Ravishing you?” Sheturned pink. “Turning you over? Having my way? My love, I’ve noplans to ravish you tonight.”
“Why not?” She said, unsure why she soundeddisappointed. “I mean, why don’t you have plans?”
“Saddened by my decision, love?” She juststared. “You’re frightened to death. I don’t wish for our couplingto ever scare or worry you, to bring you stress. So, I will justlay here tonight.”
“Fully clothed? You’ll sleep like that?”
“Ah, there it is. I will lay here, perfectlystill or not,” he spoke the wordnotwith an addedinflection. “Fully clothed, or not and do whatever you’d like me todo.” He winked. “Or not. I am your humble servant.”
“If I wanted you to sleep on the floor then,you would?” She asked, suddenly at ease in this game Edward hadcreated.
“If that is your wish.”
“And if I wish for you to undress completelyand sit in the chair across the room, you would do it?”
He smiled.
“Daring little thing you are, aren’t you?Yes, anything you want.”
Penelope thought a moment as curiosity ateat her, while the fear abated.
“You will stay perfectly still?” sheasked.
“Silent if you wish.”
Leaning further over him so that her facehung above his, she stared into his green eyes. His smile faded afraction and he seemed to hold his breath as he looked up at her.She didn’t know what she was looking for, but for that moment shebelieved him.
“Are you an honest man?” she asked, not surewhy she wanted to know.
“I am.”
“Do you keep your promises?”
“I always try to,” he said, the corner ofhis mouth quirking up. “Why do you ask?”
“Do you truly promise not to move then?”
He nodded slightly and Penelope leanedcloser. He was quite handsome she thought and perhaps she hadn’tmade a terrible mistake in marrying him, although she was far fromrevealing too much of herself to him. He was practically a strangerand yet, there was something that pulled her to him, something thatseemed to hook her deep down in her sternum and tug her closer.What an odd sensation, she thought as she looked into his eyes. Shewas sure he would look away, but he held her gaze steadily until itwas she that looked away.
“Hm,” he said so quietly that she barelyheard him. “I think I’ve just noticed something about you I hadn’tbefore.”
Her skin felt prickly and her heart began tobeat faster.
