Page 216

T HE FIRST THING Maddie was going to do once she recovered completely from her ordeal would be to learn how to swim.

She’d become a swimming champion. She’d learn to swim forwards, backwards, and whatever else people who swam did.

Never again did she want to experience the absolutely frightening sensation of being dragged down and suffocating while freezing water flooded her nostrils and mouth.

And next time she went to Hyde Park, she’d wear only one layer of petticoats.

Sod fashion. Her clothes had been so heavy she’d barely kept her nose above the water.

In her bed, she shivered despite the fact a log fire blazed in the stove, two thick quilts covered her, and she’d drank enough hot tea to have significantly lowered the tea supply of her country.

Earlier in the receiving house, she hadn’t had the energy to reassure Hector and tell him she didn’t blame him, too stunned by fear and cold.

Although the way he’d shouted and moved on the boat had terrified her.

His eyes had been too wide, and his breathing had been so shallow she’d worried he might have fainted.

He’d swatted her hands away when she’d tried to calm him.

He’d kept shouting he didn’t want to die.

Then the boat had gone upside down and the cold.

..Lord, the cold. The shock from the icy water had been her worst enemy at that moment.

Saint Martin’s summer her foot. The Serpentine had been freezing.

Her lungs had turned into icebergs. Breathing had been difficult, and panic had nearly killed her.

She shivered again at the memory of her lungs hurting and cold water filling her mouth.

The house was finally quiet after her mother had suffered from a fit of hysteria upon seeing her two daughters soaked and shivering. Mother had behaved as if she’d been the one about to die.

Anyway, Maddie preferred to be alone in her silent room than surrounded by her shrieking mother, and even Verity needed rest. Gosh. Ernest had looked like he’d wanted to murder somebody. That somebody being poor Hector.

She reclined on her pillow and closed her eyes. Peace and quiet, finally. No, there was a tapping noise from the window. Then a soft thud. She propped herself up and peered in the semidarkness, having left her oil lamp burning. Was the exhaustion playing tricks on her mind?

Another tapping noise came. She craned her neck to look at the window, the very window Hector had broken years ago.

“Maddie?” Hector’s deep voice came muffled through the glass.

She sagged in relief. “Hector.” She pushed aside the covers and padded to the window. “My goodness.” She hurried to open it since Hector held himself up by gripping the ledge. A swift gust of wind swept through the room. “What are you doing?”

“May I come in?”

“Please.” She stepped aside, clutching her nightgown.

He leapt through the window and hurried to close it, muttering something about her having frozen enough for one day. The golden light from the lamp shone upon him.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I...I climbed your wall.”

“Yes, I gathered that much.”

He removed his flat hat. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, but I needed to know how you were faring.” He swallowed hard. “Your mother didn’t allow me to see you, and I didn’t want to argue with her. She seemed rather upset. Understandably so.”

She wasn’t surprised. “I’m doing well. Just tired.”

He bowed his head in a formal manner. “I won’t disturb you any further. I hope you might forgive me one day.” He turned around to open the window, but she stopped him.

“Hector, wait. I’d like to say something, but first, please be a dear and lock the door, just in case.”

He did as told and faced her again, his head hanging over his chest. “You can tell me whatever you wish. Don’t hold back your words on my account.

I deserve your anger. It’s the second time you nearly died because of my actions.

Unforgivable. If you don’t want to see me again, just say the word and I’ll disappear. ”

“Good gracious, I don’t want you to disappear.” A warm, fluttering feeling lit her chest. “I’m not angry, and there’s nothing to forgive.” She shivered again. Would she ever be warm again? “Why don’t you sit with me for a moment?” She sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her.

He shuffled forwards and sat on the edge of the bed, but his eyes shone with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry, Maddie.” His voice cracked with sobs. “I don’t know what happened to me. I panicked. I wasn’t on the boat with you anymore but on the raft, scared and alone. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Oh, Hector.” She hugged him. He rested his head on her shoulder and shook, stifling his sobs.

“I’ve never thought, not for one second, that you meant to hurt me.

I understand what happened to you, darling.

You couldn’t know that being on a boat would trigger your fear.

After what you’ve been through the boat was a stupid idea. Don’t blame yourself.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her closer. She caught a whiff of his scent—citrus with a hint of mint. So refreshing. His warm body fended off the chill. She caressed his hair and hugged him until he stopped shaking.

“Your skin is cold,” he said, raising his head. “Why are you so cold?”

“I’m having trouble keeping myself warm.”

“Let me help. It’s the least I can do.”

She was about to ask him what he wanted to do, but as he started to undress, her silly question was forgotten.

Who cared about his intentions? He removed his shoes, socks, trousers, and shirt until he stood naked in front of her.

The light from the lamp kissed his skin.

If getting naked was his strategy to keep her warm, it worked because her face already grew hot.

He tucked her under the covers and slid into the bed beside her.

“You aren’t shy now,” she said, shivering but not from the cold.

“No, because we aren’t going to make love. Come here.” He opened his arms, and she willingly went into them.

Immediate warmth seeped into her as she rested her head on his chest. His arms and legs held her, and he caressed her back in slow circles. His body enveloped her in a warm cocoon.

“I nearly killed you all. I’m so sorry,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her temple.

“Shush. You’ve apologised enough. Besides, we’re fine. You took me to the shore. You saved me.”

“You’re too kind. I was the one who put you in danger to start with.” He rubbed her neck and back.

“I’m not kind.” Her eyelids became heavy as even her toes began to warm. It felt so good to be held and warmed by his strong body.

He kept caressing her, rubbing warmth into her stiff muscles. One by one, her limbs thawed, releasing a delicious exhaustion. She couldn’t keep her eyes…

She woke up in his arms. The oil lamp didn’t burn anymore, and even the stove had exhausted the wood and coal. But she was nice and warm, snuggled against him. She stirred, and he moved as well.

“Do you need anything?” he whispered, kissing her cheek. “Tea? Another cover?”

She blinked. “Is it morning?”

“Not yet. Not even dawn.”

“Then I want to stay here in your arms.”

“I’m more than happy to hold you.” He pulled her closer.

Her thin nightgown let her feel his warm skin against hers. And more than that. His hard shaft pressed against her belly, sending a shot of liquid desire between her thighs. It wasn’t her fault if her hips rolled and rubbed against him of their own accord.

“Maddie.” He stiffened, which was a good thing. “What are you doing?”

“Getting warm.” She slid a hand between them and reached down, heading for his glorious—he took her wrist, stopping the happy trip of her hand.

He swallowed hard. “If you touch me now, I won’t consider myself responsible for my actions.”

She rocked her hips again. “Will your actions involve your lips on my body?”

“You need to rest.” He scowled at her, the scoundrel.

“Interesting answer.” She freed her wrist and resumed travelling down all his delicious muscles. His thighs were as hard as steel, and his buttocks as firm as leather.

“Maddie.” His plea didn’t hold any confidence.

When she closed her hand around him, they both groaned. She ran her hand up and down his length, feeling his whole body grow tense. His breath fanned over her cheek as he panted.

“You’re killing me,” he whispered.

“I want you, Hector.” She twined her leg with his and guided his shaft towards her wet entrance.

He let out a low growl that would have scared her in other circumstances. “Maddie, you need rest.”

“I need you. Please.”

He grabbed her hips with rough hands and pulled her closer. She spread her legs more widely to accommodate his build as her core pulsed in anticipation, but he didn’t move. His muscles were taut and ready, and his chest heaved with heavy breaths, but he didn’t thrust forward.

“I’ve hurt you twice.” He gripped her hips more gently. “Are you sure you want me?”

“Yes.” She pushed herself towards him to show him how much she needed him.

She bunched her nightgown up until her bare skin touched his. He growled again. The tip of his shaft touched her throbbing spot, and she couldn’t repress a moan.

“Hector, please.”

“It’s going to sting,” he whispered, kissing her lips with a light brush of his mouth.

“I don’t care.”

“You might not like it.”

“I need you. Don’t make me beg again.”

“You must tell me if it hurts though.” He inched inside her, and yes, he was right.

The foreign sensation of being stretched burned her tender flesh, but the need of him overcame the pain, and she got wetter.

“How do you feel?” He remained still.

“I’m fine. You may go deeper.”