"I merely seek information."
"Bah. You believe that I would wed you simply for the pleasure of a few kisses?"
"Not for the kisses alone," he mused, "but for what follows upon them. You are possessed of a most passionate nature, madam."
"Sir, this has gone much too far."
"And there is your great curiosity." His voice roughened. "Your appetite for sensuality has been whetted and you wish to experience more of it. The only practical way of doing so is in the marriage bed, is that not true?"
Alice was stunned. "You did it deliberately, did you not? 'Twas all a stratagem. I had begun to suspect as much."
"What did you suspect?"
"That you kissed me and touched me and made love to me until I was breathless because you thought to ensnare me with passion."
"If you think that what you have experienced thus far is interesting, wait until you discover how much more there is to learn of the subject. Mayhap you should keep a pen and some parchment beside the bed so that you can record your observations."
"Oh, you are a demon, my lord." She slammed her cup down on the table. She clenched her hands into fists. "But you are wrong if you think I would have wed you simply to secure more of your lovemaking."
"Are you certain?"
"I do not comprehend your goal in this unpleasant conversation. Nor will I participate in it." She started determinedly toward the door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To my own chamber." She wrapped her fingers around the iron door handle. "When you have emerged from this odd mood, you may send word to me."
"What is odd about a man wishing to know why his wife married him?"
Alice whirled around, outraged. "You are far too intelligent to play the fool, sir. You know full well why I married you. I did so because I love you."
Hugh went utterly still. Something dark and desperate swirled in his eyes.
"Do you?" he finally whispered.
Alice saw the lonely hunger in him and forgot all about escaping to her own bedchamber. She knew the depths of his emotions because she had experienced them herself.
"My lord, you are not nearly so alone in this world as you seem to think," she said softly. She released the doorknob and ran to him.
"Alice."
He caught her up in his arms, holding her so tightly that she could not breathe.
Then, without a word, he untied her night robe and let it fall to the floor. Alice trembled as he put her down on the white linen sheets.
He jerked off his own clothing, tossing them aside in a careless heap.
When he stood before her, Alice drew in her breath at the sight of his heavily aroused body. A torrent of emotion washed through her. She was disturbed, excited, and apprehensive, all at once. She reached out to catch hold of his hand.
"My wife." He sprawled on top of her, crushing her into the bedding.
She glimpsed the aching need and the raw passion in his golden eyes as he bent his head to take her mouth. She knew in that instant that the turbulent gales that howled at the core of his being had been freed at last.
She was lost in the storm of his embrace. It was unlike anything she had yet known with him. This was no slow, calculated seduction. This was a furious ride on the winds of a savage tempest. She was buffeted and tossed about until she could barely breathe.
She was aware of his callused hand on her breast. The instant her nipple firmed, Hugh took it into his mouth. His teeth grazed lightly across the sensitive bud. Alice shuddered.
A ragged groan surged through Hugh's chest. His hand went lower, flattening across her belly, searching out the soft, tangled thicket. She gasped and squeezed her eyes shut when she felt him moisten his fingers in the dampness that materialized between her legs.
And then, before she could catch her breath, he was parting her thighs, settling himself between them. Big, he was so big. And warm. And hard. Alice felt as though she were being swallowed alive. The words of his beautiful compliment came back to her. Sunset before it is enveloped by the night.
Hugh levered himself up on his elbows to look down at her. His features were starkly drawn, his eyes brilliant in the firelight. He captured her face between his strong hands.
"Tell me again that you love me."
"I love you." She smiled tremulously up at him, unafraid. In that moment she could see the secrets of his soul. You need me, she thought, just as much as I need you. Someday I pray you will comprehend that truth.
He surged into her with stunning force.
Chapter 17
She loved him.
A long time later Hugh lay back against the plump pillows and contemplated the embers on the hearth. He was aware of a curious sense of peace. It was as though the dark storm winds that had raged within him for so long had quieted at last.
She loved him.
Hugh savored the memory of Alice's passionate declaration. She was not the kind of woman who would say such words lightly, he assured himself. She would not say them at all unless she believed them to be true.
He stirred and stretched cautiously in the great bed, not wanting to awaken Alice. She was snuggled close against him, her hips fitted neatly into the curve of his body.
Her skin was so soft, he thought. He touched the curve of her thigh with a sense of deep wonder. So warm. And her fragrance was more compelling than the rarest of spices.
She shifted slightly, responding to his touch even in her sleep. He tightened his arm around her when she nestled closer. He had chosen well, he thought. Alice was everything she had appeared to be that night when she had bravely faced him in her uncle's hall and dared to bargain for the future of herself and her brother.
Everything and more. He was the most fortunate of men, Hugh told himself. He had hoped for a wife who possessed the qualities of courage, honor, and intelligence that were so important to him. In addition he had gotten one who loved him with a sweet, hot passion that took away his breath.
"You look pleased with yourself, my lord," Alice murmured in a drowsy voice. "What are you thinking?"
He looked down at her. "That, contrary to your early fears, I was in no danger of being cheated when I paid your bride price. You were definitely worth two full chests of spices."
Alice gave a muffled giggle. "Sir, you are a rogue and an unchivalrous scoundrel."
She scrambled to her knees, grabbed a pillow, and began to pummel him unmercifully.
Hugh gave a shout of laughter as he made a halfhearted attempt to defend himself. "I surrender."
"I want more than surrender." Alice whacked him again with the fluffy weapon. "I want an apology."
He grabbed the pillow from her hands and tossed it aside. "How about a compliment instead?"
She pursed her lips, considering the matter closely. "I will have to hear it before I can determine if it will satisfy me as much as an apology."
"Your breasts are as sweet and round as fresh summer peaches." Hugh cupped one gently.
"That is a very nice compliment," Alice conceded.
"There are more where that one came from," he promised.
"Hmm."
He tugged her down on top of him. She tumbled across his chest, warm and soft and so enticingly female. He stroked the edge of her fine-boned cheek. Memories of the day he had saved her from the robbers in Ipstoke came to mind. He recalled the way she had run to him. As if she had known, even then, that she belonged in his arms.
"Many more," he whispered.
Alice folded her arms on his chest. "Well, my lord, compliments are certainly very pleasant and I shall look forward to hearing more of them, but I think that in this case they will not do."