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"Cleo," he gasped, biting down gently on her earlobe

She arched beneath hi her brsts into his sweat-slick chest He followed his bite with a kiss, his tongue licking and laving

She let go then, surrendered,flash of pleasure and pain

Her vision grayed at the corners and she wondered if she had perhaps died, the feelings shuddering through her too great, too powerfultoointo a puddle as he moved a last ti hireat lethargy stole over her Even in that htsthat he cared about what she wanted enough to take such precautions for her

The bed eased fro, she lifted her head and searched for his shape, s when he soon returned He settled back down beside her, spooning his body to hers

She lay utterly still as her body’s pleasure ebbed But still a lingering pleasure rened to her back Her husband

It felt right Everything about this felt right He brushed the hair from her shoulder His chest lifted with a deep inhalation behind her He’d be asleep soon

Slowly, Cleo returned to herself It had coh so her mother’s ainst her storow accusto

Chapter Twenty-seven

Cleo woke sprawled in the middle of an e if she’d been in this position all night, ned and tangled up with Logan

He wasnow, but the bed beside her still radiated his war She rolled onto her back A slow sht Pleasurable heat suffused her There was no regret Only an anxious eagerness to do it again

The pale light of dawn crept through the crack in the heavy tapestry drapes In the back of her hter color and in daain, she hopped fro herself Accustos--she arranged her hair in a loose chignon Satisfied that she was presentable enough to ee and face the world, she stepped from the room into the chilly corridor with a buoyancy of spirit she hadn’t felt in years Perhaps ever

Striding down the corridor, she passed a servant who looked decidedly nervous when she caught sight of Cleo The woaze skittered from Cleo down to her feet Cleo hoped she didn’t look that inti Certainly in time the household staff would warm to her

Still focused on her feet, the et past Cleo Frowning at her odd behavior, Cleo continued down the hall

The sound of low voices reached her ears just as she rounded the corner Everything slowed then

As if she wereto a stop on the worn-thin runner Her gaze fastened on her husband standing practically nose-to-nose with the ripped her shoulders

The girl eeping Again With Logan’s hands on her, the sight did nothing to stir Cleo’s pity Tears were often used in order to an’s face was syetic as he ret? She couldn’t hear Perhaps he wasproe si swept over her Anger but so more A myriad of ean’s cheek as if she had every right to touch another woers to caress his face so tenderly

Cold rage washed over her Hu she wanted to lash out At hi from, after all--the very man she’d wanted to protect herself from Someone who took what he wanted and then stomped all over her as she were dirt to be trod upon

He was the type of pain she’d wished to avoid And still he had found her The ave herself to him, it had happened He crushed her

She pressed the back of her hand to her feverish cheek and inhaled She’d never be so foolish again He could have whatever village girl he wanted He could have every single one of theain

As if to solidify this decision, Cleo held her ground, forcing herself to watch as Mary stood on her tiptoes and pressed her asped--too loudly to reure away He whirled around, his gaze zeroing in on Cleo, his gray eyes alert as a hawk, intent and alive in that way that always curled her toes and melted her resolve Now it only left a sour taste in heras she settled her hands on her curvaceous hps and swayed where she stood, her eyes flashing with triuan took a step in her direction, reaching for her "Cleo--"

She shook her head and stepped back swiftly "No"

It was just a word but she put everything into it, conveyed all her anger, all her hurt and disappointle utterance

His eyes flickered with so, an emotion she couldn’t identify, and she knew he understood Whatever they’d had, however close they’d co, she raced back to her bedchamber He was there, after her before she could consider a better place to flee Not that any part of this castle belonged to her Not that she could escape hiht the door before she could sla to put distance between the as wild and desperate as a cornered anih to placate her "It isn’t what it looks like--"

"Said the husband to the wife," she h the air "And you claimed you didn’t want everyone to think our union was contentious?" She laughed harshly, dizzy frohts "What an idiot I ain your dalliances And after last night?" She squared her shoulders "I want my own room Either this one or another I care not I refuse to share a bed with you again"

His face tightened with frustrationand so thatwere slipping away here, dying for good