“It can’t be. Still too dark outside.”
“Yes, well…it is more gray than inky blackness.” She snuggled closer, quite liking the heat of his body. “The first rays of sunlight are just starting to peek through the clouds. May I please remove this barrier between us?”
“No.”
“Are you always this grumpy in the morning?”
“Yes. And it is not morning yet.”
“I beg to differ.” She touched his face because it was such a beautiful, manly face. He had the makings of a beard that scratched against her palm as she rubbed it along his jaw. “Did you sleep well? I did. I think I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.”
“I know,” he said with a trace of humor in his voice.
“Oh, did I snore? Move too much and accidentally kick you?”
“No, Syd. You didn’t snore or kick me. You tossed and turned, then finally curled up in a little ball beside me and purred like a kitten. Were you dreaming of me?” he teased.
She laughed softly. “Since you accused me of purring in my sleep, I was obviously dreaming of cats. In truth, I do not recall dreaming of anything. But is this why you placed your arm around me? To quiet me?”
“You weren’t noisy. I did not mind those soft purrs. But I was afraid you were going to fall out of bed since you were shifting around restlessly. Not that I blame you. I was taking up most of the mattress and left you a bit cramped.” He yawned as he now shifted onto his back. The sheet drifted lower as he raised his arms over his head and stretched with a soft, animal growl.
Mother in heaven.
She tried not to gawk at the magnificence of his body. But who could overlook the lean, hard length of him, and that broadchest with a dusting of dark hair across its breadth? His skin was bronzed, no doubt due to his years at sea, and his muscles were a masterpiece of sculptured art.
How could she ever be a match for this man?
That he held onto her throughout the night signified nothing. He only held her because he believed she was going to run away from him.
Yes, this was likely the reason.
He did not trust her and meant to keep her restrained.
If only he knew that she would do no such thing.
First of all, her best chance of helping her father was to marry Octavian and have him make whatever bargain necessary with Sir Henry to keep her father safe. Second of all, sometime during the night she had resolved to seduce Octavian.
No matter what happened afterward, she wanted one night of wantonness with him. He would not fully claim her, for he had made the terms of their pretend marriage quite clear. Losing her innocence would seal their fate and make an annulment impossible. But she had read books on the topic of love and knew there were other ways to enjoy each other without need of that final act.
She quickly shook out of the thought before Octavian caught on to what was going through her mind since he knew her so well.
Too well.
It galled her, but also made her feel good that someone understood her as thoroughly as Octavian did.
Perhaps this was an indication they were meant for each other.
So why was she insisting on having them part ways once she came of age and did not need her father’s consent to marry? Why would she not think of herself first and encourage Octavian tomake theirs a real marriage? Instead, she had made it ever so clear that she wished to maintain a make-believe marriage.
It was her fault that he now carried so many doubts about her. He was not even sure they would exchange vows once they reached Gretna Green.
In failing to agree wholeheartedly to a committed union, she had also given Octavian a way out. What if she wanted to go ahead with their marriage and he decided when standing over the blacksmith’s anvil that he would rather not?
The realization that their time together could be over by the end of the week dampened her spirits.
She was going to miss him fiercely.
This left her feeling miserable, but she masked it with a layer of cheerfulness.
