Page 22 of The Winter Rogue
He finally pulled his whirling thoughts together and opened his eyes.“Did I hurt you?”
Charlene turned her head and smiled shyly.“I don't think you caused any more pain than what should be expected the first time.”
Fuck!He knew she was a virgin, and he'd asked—but her words were a stark reminder of what he'd done.Of the control he'd lost.
Drew got up from the bed and walked over to the ewer of water and a basin.He poured in some fresh water and brought the basin and a rag over to the bed.
Charlene’s eyes widened as he came closer.“What are you doing?”
He set the basin on the bed and dipped the rag in it before he nudged her legs apart.“I should think that would be obvious.”
Her lush, very kissable lips firmed into a line of displeasure.“Let me rephrase that.Why are you cleaning my body?”
He sighed but continued to clean the dots of blood from her thighs before moving on to his seed which had pooled on her stomach.“I made a mess of you.I'm being polite and cleaning it up.”It's not that he cared about her.Not at all.
“Oh,” was all she said as she laid there and let him finish.As soon as he was done and he'd turned back to replace the basin on the stand, she slipped from the bed and pulled on a nightgown.“Well, thank you…” Charlene’s words trailed off as she stared awkwardly.“For, uh…everything.”She waved her hands as though she'd just grown the pair and had no idea how to use them.
He chuckled softly.
Charlene went stiff and immediately set her hands on her pleasingly ample hips.“What, pray tell, is so funny?”
Drew smiled as he picked up his trousers and shoved one leg in.“You are.I don't think I have ever seen you at a loss for words.”
She growled—actually growled!
He started laughing harder as he tried to shove his other leg in his trousers as she stalked over and picked up his shirt and threw it at him.
“Get out of my room, you unbearable oaf!”
Oh, hell.Drew pulled up straight, having caught the shirt, and looked at her.“Charlie—”
“And I told you not to call me that!”She yelled loud enough the servants at Brookhaven Manor likely heard her.
“You seemed to like it well enough when I was inside you!”he shot back and instantly regretted his jibe.
“Get.Out!”Charlene’s jaw clenched and he could see a small muscle tick in her cheek.
Drew assumed the regret was settling in a little earlier than he'd expected.That wasn’t particularly surprising, but being tossed from her room was.Well, to hell with her.
Without another word, he stalked from the room before his own temper got the best of him.This was not how he'd expected such a pleasant interlude to end.But then again, should he have expected anything less from such a firebrand as Charlie?
Chapter Eleven
Thenextmorning,Charlenerolled over in bed—the bed she'd lost her virginity in.To Andrew Wentworth, no less!
She groaned in utter despair.Why?Why had she allowed that to happen?Heavens knew the man was attractive—that was never the problem with him.It was his overbearing nature.He always knew best.He was just like everyone else in her life, always trying to coddle her and protect her.But that wasn't living life—she wanted adventures!She wanted to be free to go where she wanted and speak to whom she wanted.Society's rules be damned!
And then he’d had the nerve to laugh at her last night when she’d felt so awkward, so unsure of herself and what to say or do.She’d lost her temper instantly and thrown the man out.It was probably for the best, anyway.She didn’t need him getting any ideas about doing the honorable thing.
Charlene went to the window as she had done every morning since arriving at Glenn Ivy.The snow had stopped, and the sun was shining!She smiled.Today would be a good day, she was sure of it.Perhaps she could leave today?If not, she would at least be able to go outdoors.She quickly performed her morning ablutions and dressed, before heading downstairs, dreading facing Drew after the way last night had ended, but she was starving and she had plans now the snow had stopped.
The morning room was blessedly empty, so she quickly grabbed a bowl of porridge and a rasher of bacon before she sat down.She ate as quickly as she could, enjoying the salt-free version of her breakfast.She had just finished eating when Drew appeared.
He nodded.“Good morning, Charlene.”
Her stomach clenched around all the food she'd just eaten and for a moment she thought she might cast up her accounts.“Good morning, Drew.I was just on my way to visit John.”
A pang in her chest had her wanting to rub at the spot just under her breastbone.Why had he called her Charlene?He'd been calling her Charlie almost from the moment of her arrival.As many times as she had asked him not to, he still insisted on using that stupid moniker.Why not now?Was it something to do with…last night?
