He did not know whether to leave Eden where she was or carry her back to her bedchamber. As he was debating with himself, Priscilla poked Eden in the ribs. Then again. Eden would be black and blue by morning if she remained in Priscilla’s bed.
“Up you go, Eden,” he murmured, lifting her in his arms. “Put your arms around my neck.”
She did so, but he wasn’t certain she was aware of what she was doing, since she clearly was not awake. He carried her down to her room, taking care not to be noticed as he made his way along the hall.
All seemed quiet, no one stirring at this late hour.
Well, some guests might be bed-hopping. But any who were would have hopped to their assignations by now.
At least, he hoped so. There would be questions raised if he were caught with Eden in his arms, especially since they were headed to her bedchamber.
In truth, he did not care if they were caught. Perhaps a scandal was the push he needed to shed his Silver Dukereputation and marry. He could see himself happily married to Eden.
In fact, it scared him knowing just how happy she might make him.
Would Eden feel the same?
Chapter Nine
Eden knew shehad to be dreaming, for how else could she be inhaling Connor’s divine musk scent or feeling the strength of his arms around her? If it was a dream, she did not want to wake up from it.
Connor was carrying her down several steps and then along a hallway. He paused a moment to open a door, then strode in and placed her on a bed. She sleepily complained when Connor’s arms were no longer around her, for she enjoyed their protective warmth and wanted more of their rock-hard strength surrounding her.
“Hush, Eden,” he said, his voice deep and husky. “You fell asleep in Priscilla’s bed, and I am merely bringing you back to your own.”
She sat up, but was too tired to open her eyes. “What…?”
Connor sank onto the mattress beside her. “You fell asleep in Priscilla’s bed, Eden.”
She nodded, vaguely remembering. “Where am I now?”
“In your bedchamber. I just carried you in here. Do you need help undressing? I mean… Dear heaven. No, I don’t mean it like that. I’ll loosen the lacings for you and then leave.” As he spoke, he removed her spectacles, which were already falling off her nose, and set them on the small table beside the bed.
He then took out the pins holding her hair in place. Many of them had loosened, and several curls had already slippedfree. He set the pins on the table beside her spectacles. Next, he moved away from her and knelt to take off her slippers. “All right,” he said after doing so. “Can you stand up a moment and turn your back to me?”
Her hair had cascaded down her back and now tumbled over her shoulders as she nodded, but then she curled up on the bed instead.
“No, love. I need you to stand.” His strong, sure hands were on her as he gently lifted her to her feet and began attending to the task of undressing her, his touch exquisite and gentle.
This was the last thing she remembered before drifting off again, this feeling of being safe and protected as never before. This wonderful feeling of Connor’s strong, supportive arms cradling her and holding her up so she would never fall.
She loved this man. She loved being in his arms and wished it could be this way forever.
“Connor,” she murmured, and fell back to sleep while on her feet, knowing she had nothing to fear while he was around.
*
Connor realized Edenhad just fallen back to sleep again by the way her body relaxed against his again.
“No, no, no, Eden. Wake up, love,” he implored.
Her body began to slide down his, setting off responses he refused to acknowledge here and now. However, he had no choice but to hold on to her more firmly in order to keep her from tumbling to the floor. Groaning, he brushed her silken hair aside to give him unimpeded access to her hooks and laces, and was surprised by yet another surge of desire he experienced in the simple act of undressing her.
He was not trying to seduce her. His only aim was to take care of her. She hadn’t been fully awake even whileconversing with him moments earlier, and might not remember come morning that he had been the one to carry her into her bedchamber or put her into bed.
In truth, this rush of desire he felt for Eden was not unexpected. He had been warming to her for quite some time now. However, this ache coursing like a hot stream through his body was more powerful than he had ever imagined.
This was no mere lust, if he wanted to be honest about it. Lust was something temporary, and Connor knew his feelings for Eden were enduring.
