Page 41 of Wicked Designs
“Stop…please. I beg you… Let me alone…” Godric’s stomach churned in response to the helplessness that underlay her tone. She was dreaming and he hoped to God it wasn’t about him.
“Emily?” He moved over to touch her shoulders. She flinched, and struck out at her unseen assailant. “Emily!”
“I’ll die before you touch me!” she snarled. Godric almost released his hold on her but he wanted to wake her from that dream.
“Emily, it’s Godric. Please wake up…” He wrapped his arms around her and slid her across the bed more fully into his embrace.
“Godric…”
“Yes, it’s me. You’re safe.” He kissed her lips, trying to kiss her the way she had him in the study. He wanted to promise her that no harm would come to her. Those long dark lashes flared out on her cheeks as she opened her eyes. “Emily? Are you awake?”
“I am now… Why…” She stared confusedly at his mouth; her little tongue darted out to lick her lips.
“You were talking in your sleep. Who were you dreaming about?”
“Blankenship. He haunts me even in my dreams.”
Godric exhaled in relief.
“Did you think I was dreaming about you?”
“After my recent behavior, I feared you might be.” The admission filled him with concern. In the darkness of his room and the warmth of her body in his arms, he wanted only the truth between them.
“You would never really hurt me, Godric, I know that now. But I won’t surrender to you.” Emily paused as if a plan had occurred to her. “I could compromise, though.”
Godric was genuinely surprised. “Your terms?”
“I can promise not to escape between the hours of ten in the evening to six in the morning. That way you and your friends will have your beauty sleep with no fear of disruption.”
“Beauty sleep? Why, you little…” He pinched her waist and she offered a mock indignant gasp. “And you expect me to agree? What do I get in return?” His hand slid lower down over the curve of her hip. He relished the breathless sigh that escaped her mouth when he tightened his grasp.
“You get sleep and I promise an escapeless eight hours. That is a fair bargain,” Emily said.
He groaned. “And an escape-filled sixteen hours.”
“Well, if you insist on being a pessimist that’s not my concern.”
Godric shifted closer, pressing against her. “Sleep with me every night. Promise that, and I’ll agree.”
“And by ‘sleep’ do you mean innocent and harmless sleep?”
The mischievous gleam mixed with moonlight in her eyes fascinated him.
“Hmm…yes, but if you want things to change, I’m ready to oblige you.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Emily murmured, yawning, her fist covering her mouth. She tried to roll onto her back, but Godric rolled her so that her body spooned up against his. He buried his face in her hair, the scent soft and floral as a garden. The long ago day when he’d first seen her returned—the woman kneeling in the garden, flowers ringed around her, a butterfly dancing about her head while she weeded. Godric’s lips twitched. He felt like that butterfly, seeking the comfort of her presence.
“I can’t believe I’m allowing this…” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Give me time and you’ll never want to leave.” He kissed the soft skin on the nape of her neck and she sighed, almost entirely asleep. Godric wanted her so badly, but he kept control and counted backwards from a hundred in Greek.Ekato, eneida enia, eneida okto, eneida efta…
CHAPTER 8
Godric was having the most wonderful dream. Emily lay curled up in his arms, finding warmth and protection from her nightmares. He had rarely slept with his former mistress, Evangeline. While she was a wicked temptress in bed, she was an awful partner to lie next to at night. She kicked, snored and stole the covers too frequently for him to enjoy the experience.
His dream was too real and perfect. There was nothing carnal about the act, only the comfort of Emily’s body entwined with his. Her face was pressed into the groove between his throat and chest, her body halfway on top of him, lounging asleep with that feline grace only women possessed.
The coils of her hair were a russet waterfall against the pillow, and sunlight slid down the waves in enticing patterns. One of his arms curled around her waist, keeping her close. In this world Emily was his. Shebelonged to no one else, and he didn’t have to share her with the world.
