Page 168 of Rogue of My Heart

“It could have happened to anyone,” she added primly.

“Indeed, it could have,” he agreed. She had obviously been waiting for him to argue her point, but when he didn’t, he could tell he had her at a loss for words.

“I’m relieved you’re unharmed.” He set his hands about her waist.

“Up you go.”

Without a sidesaddle, Albina was forced to sit astride. Unfortunately for Michael, this caused her dress to ride up to her calves, and he was faced with the creamy curve of her bare leg. How many countless times had those long limbs been wrapped around his waist?

He swallowed heavily and returned to his horse. His manhood was already swelling with the delights that he recalled so vividly. As he swung up into the saddle, he had to wince slightly.

Not until he was settled did he turn back to Albina, only to find that her hazel eyes were alight with a similar inner turmoil. Hope mixed with fear and caused him to say abruptly, “Are you ready?”

When she nodded, he urged his horse into motion, and prayed that his mount didn’t sense the tension in his body and toss him onto the ground.

Albina’s heart was pounding. That heady sense of desire had returned with a vengeance. Just that single glance from those fascinating chocolate eyes, and she was reduced to a puddle of nerves.

Perhaps hope was not lost after all.

When they pulled up into the Beauley Hall courtyard, the stable master came running toward them. “My lord. My lady! What happened?

Was there an accident?”

“We are well, Mr. Epperson, although I cannot say the same for my phaeton.” Michael said as he dismounted.

“I will make immediate arrangements to have it retrieved, my lord.”

“Thank you. You’ll find it on the side of the road about a mile or so toward the village.”

As Mr. Epperson ran off to the stables, Michael walked over to Albina to assist her down. Her fingers trembled as she set them on his strong shoulders, relishing the feel of those muscles rippling and bunching beneath her fingertips as she slid down to the ground.

She was still unsteady as he set her on her feet, her knees threatening to buckle, either from the scare of the earlier incident, or because of Michael’s hands upon her waist she wasn’t sure. But either way, he slid an arm around her legs, and lifted her into his arms. Two stable hands returned at that moment to lead the horses away as they went inside.

It had been years since Albina had been cradled against her husband’s chest. And while she enjoyed the feel of the heat emanating from his body, his arms around her, she still had that niggling doubt in the back of her mind…

The entire staff was in a tizzy when Michael carried his wife over the threshold. They immediately thought something was wrong with their mistress. He assured them all with a curt explanation that things were fine, and ordered a warm bath for both of them. While he wouldn’t have minded sharing a tub with Albina, for it would certainly be the quickest way for them to heat up, he refrained, carrying her to her chamber instead.

But as Michael sat Albina down, he was reluctant to let her go. Even though he was leaving a trail of water wherever he went, leaving a small puddle on the floor of her room, he wanted this moment to linger. Her clothes were plastered to her body, giving him a generous view of the curve of her breasts and the indentation at her waist.

* * *

But he knew all of those hills and valleys of her body without even looking. He’d tasted her and caressed her to the point he knew her as well as he knew himself. That had never changed. Nor the fact that he still wanted her.

“Albina…”

He could tell when her mood shifted, changed. Instantly, that wall was right back up between them. “Where did you go today?”

He clenched his jaw. “I had something to take care of.” He knew it was vague and it wasn’t a good enough answer for her, for he saw her visibly retreat even further back into that shell of distrust and uncertainty.

“I see.” She turned her back on him, and it was all he could do to resist the urge to shake her, to make her believe she never had anything to worry about when it came to his devotion to her. But why should she trust him when she didn’t even trust herself enough to know that he had never stopped loving her?

When Helen arrived to assist her mistress, it gave her the perfect opportunity to dismiss him. “I should get out of these wet clothes before I catch a chill.”

“I suppose I should do the same,” he said stoically. “I’m sure you would be distraught if I came down with a fever, and I shouldn’t wish to upset you if that should occur.”

With that, he turned on his heel and left, nearly slamming the door behind him.

Albina sat in the tub until the water cooled to the point she would start shivering again if she remained. She reluctantly got out and pulled on the robe that Helen had left for her. She’d dismissed her maid earlier, not wanting to have an audience to witness her tears.