Sparks lingered in the air.
Her body sizzled with his every touch.
“Silky,” he murmured, his fingers sliding through her long tresses as he eased them aside.
“I brushed out the knots,” she said for lack of a more clever remark.
“I noticed.” He emitted a soft growl watching the curls tumble over her shoulder and come to rest atop her bosom.
She licked her lips. “I usually braid my hair.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
So was she, for she never would have experienced this bit of intimacy with Octavian otherwise. There was something quite exciting about him standing behind her, big and masculine. Would he wrap his arms around her if she leaned back ever so slightly to rest against his chest?
“Do you want me to help braid your hair once I am through unlacing your gown?” he asked, his voice deep and resonant.
“Um…” Fashioning a simple braid was something she always did before donning her nightgown and slipping into bed. She did not ever bother with anything intricate, just a loose plait down her back to keep herself from accidentally yanking her hair whenever she turned in her sleep.
But leaving it long and loose, available for him to touch, was so much better. “No, not necessary.”
She would never braid her hair again, not while she shared a bedchamber with Octavian.
Once again, she felt his warm breath against her neck as he worked to unfasten the row of hooks along the back of her gown and untie the last of the lacings. “All done,” he said finally, his voice unmistakably husky.
“Thank you.” She ached to tip back the slightest bit and encourage his embrace, but she could not bring herself to do it. What if he stepped away instead of drawing her into his arms? The gown was loose and already slipping off her shoulders, soshe let it fall further and held her breath in the hope he might do something.
She was scantily clad.
Were men not aroused by this? Several books she had read on the topic indicated this was quite an effective seduction tool.
He muttered something unintelligible and stepped away.
Syd shook off her disappointment, quietly removed the gown, and then carefully set it aside so that it would not wrinkle. But she was not discouraged, for she still needed to remove her corset. Could she tempt him with that? She did not know why it was suddenly so important to wring as much as she could out of this intimate moment.
Perhaps because she did not believe this make-believe marriage would ever work out. Even if they stayed married, would they live together? Share a bedchamber? This was so unlikely. She needed to acquire blissful memories before they parted ways.
They were on good terms at present.
He had just admitted that he was not averse to her.
Why not seize the opportunity before she riled him again?
She turned away from him while removing her corset.
That garment laced up the front so she did not have difficulty removing it. However, she would need assistance tomorrow when doing it up because getting the laces through the eyelets was not nearly as easy to do as pulling them out.
She felt Octavian’s scorching gaze on her all the while.
The man had eyes that could burn into her soul.
She sighed as she set the corset over the chair atop her gown. “It is easier if I sleep in my shift, don’t you think?”
“Easier for who?” he muttered. “Yes, fine.”
He walked to the other side of the bed and removed his boots and shirt while she slipped in between the sheets. When he settled beside her, she realized the bed was not quite as big asshe had first imagined. Octavian sank onto the mattress, causing it to dip on his side.
“Oh!” She rolled right into him.
