Page 25 of The Winter Rogue
“Did you see what caused her to rear?”Louanne was typically a pretty docile mare.
Her nose scrunched up.“I saw nothing.I think we had drifted toward a ditch or somewhere her footing was unstable.Since everything was covered in snow, she couldn't see the ground.I don't think she cared for that and reared up to get back to solid ground.”She sighed.“Somewhere in all that, I was displaced.”
“I see.Well, Louanne doesn't get ridden a lot since my mother died.She was her mount.It may have been the combination of having a strange rider, the weather, and the uneven terrain.”He shrugged a shoulder.“I suppose we shall never really know.”
Glenn Ivy came into view and the first few snowflakes fell.A rush of relief hit Drew hard.They were nearly home, and Charlie was safe.
A few minutes later, they were in the house and he was striding upstairs with Charlie remonstrating loudly in his arms.Behind him Polly scurried about, collecting things she deemed necessary as she followed behind.When he walked into his bedchamber, Polly and Charlie both protested.
“Drew, you can't put her in your bed!”Polly exclaimed.
At the same time Charlie said, “Absolutely not.Take me to my chamber.”
He ignored both women and promptly installed Charlie in his bed.She wasn't going anywhere.He turned to Polly.“You, out.I shall call if I need you.”
Polly's mouth fell open as she gaped at him in surprise, but turned to leave, a sly smile on her face.Ignoring all of that, Drew turned to Charlie who was on the bed and trying, with little success, to get out of it.She was far too weak from being out in the cold to actually hoist herself from the bed, the way she was trying.
Drew let her struggle for a few more moments until she gave up and flopped back down where he'd put her.Of course, the deep feather topper he had on his bed made it extra difficult for her to accomplish her goal.It was the one luxury he allowed himself when he was not on a ship.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, next to her rounded hip, and leaned over her with one arm on either side of her head.“Now, for once in your life you are going to listen to me, Charlie.You are going to lie in this bed until you are both warm and well rested.I shall not have you catching pneumonia on me.”
“But I'm fine,” she mumbled as her breath hitched and her gaze locked in on his lips.
Good God, he could practically feel her caressing them, the hungry way she stared at him.“I'll be the one to determine when you are fine.”He drifted closer to her as he spoke.“You need rest… and heat…” His words trailed off as he leaned even closer, just as she licked her lips—just a quick swipe of her pink tongue, but it broke his resolve.“Lots of heat.”
His lips captured hers as though they had a will of their own, but he was, without a doubt, on board with their plan.Their tongues tangled as Charlene moaned into his mouth.Drew wanted to devour her, to consume her so they never needed to be apart.Instead, he kissed her.Long and deep.The sensual onslaught had his cock growing hard with the promise of being inside her again soon.
He groaned and pulled away from the kiss.Fuck!This was not what he was supposed to be doing.He was supposed to be taking care of her.Ensuring she was warm.Feeding her.Yes!He needed to get food.
Drew stood abruptly and pulled the covers up over her body.“I'll be right back with some warm broth.”
“Broth?”She stared, a little dazed.
The confusion wasn't from the cold.No, it was most definitely related to their kiss because he felt much the same.
Drew walked out of his bedchamber and found Polly standing in the hall.“Ah.”
She pressed her lips together before looking him up and down.“Did you take the poor girl's clothes off?”
Drew flushed in embarrassment.“No!”
“And why not?She needs to get out of those sodden clothes in order to get warm.”Polly eyed him knowingly.
“Oh, bloody hell.”He smacked his forehead with his palm.“Let me go back inside and do that.”
“I think it's best if I go in and help her out.I have a pot of broth on the stove downstairs.You fetch that and I'll take care of our second patient and make sure she doesn't escape your clutches.”She smirked.“Oh dear, I mean bed.”
Drew huffed out a breath and headed downstairs as Polly pushed past him.
He was an idiot.Where exactly had he lost the thread on taking care of Charlie and not ravishing her?He couldn't be certain.It was somewhere between her gaze focusing on his lips, and her tongue swiping over hers in invitation.
Was it really his fault?He didn't think so.Who could blame him for being so entranced by her?In the end, none of it mattered.He'd kissed her.Again.
Worst of all, he wasn't sure he wanted to stop kissing her.Ever.
Chapter Thirteen
Someonewalkedintheroom, but Charlene couldn't be sure who it was as she was half trapped by her sodden dress.Her heart thudded hard in her chest.Was it Drew returning so soon?Damn!She'd hoped to be naked by the time he returned.
