“Me composing music to sell?” He saw her intake of breath.
“Absolutely.”
She reached up and touched his face. “Will you tell me more about your past? What has hurt you so?”
He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. Smart Cordelia. She always managed to find the one spot she shouldn’t.
* * *
Cordelia watched him carefully. His face went from relaxed and open to closed in the blink of an eye.
He hadn’t told her all that worried him about his past. Not even close. That much was clear. As much as she wanted this relationship for herself, she wanted it for him too. He needed someone he could trust, love, someone who would accept him.
And, in time, she wanted to be that person. She knew now that her job would be to give him space and time to trust and she’d wait. Because that was what he needed.
She reached up and lightly pushed him off her. As he rolled to the side, she followed. “Well then, tell me what it is you do want.”
His brows came together as he stared at the darkening sky. “I want to find my future. A place I belong. In the past few days, I’ve realized I’ve been living in the past.”
She nodded, her hand trailing down his body. She touched him in all the ways he’d touched her and was pleased to watch his breath quicken, feel his heartbeat speed up. “And how can I help you?” she asked, placing a kiss on his neck.
He pulled her face into his hands, looking deep into her eyes. “Help?” he stared at her even as her hand moved lower across his abdomen. “You are my future.”
She kissed him again, their tongues tangling together even as her hand met the hard ridge of his manhood. Pulling back, she looked down. “Oh.”
He cocked a brow. “Oh what?”
She licked her top lip. “I’ve no idea what to do. You’re going to have to direct me. I am a very apt student.”
He gave a quick bark of laughter. “I’ve every confidence.”
His fingers pulled at the laces of his breeches and he eased them down revealing the hard length of his masculinity. Without a word, she wrapped her hand about his hard length, testing the girth, the softness and hardness of his length. “Oh. It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
He made a choking noise. “Most women do not think that.”
Her fingers carefully worked up and down his length. “Really? What a fascinating instrument.”
He placed his hand over hers, showing her how to work the length. “I’d question if that was a compliment from any woman but you. I know you love fascinating instruments.”
She laughed a little, getting the feel of the movement, the way he liked her hand to slide over his skin.
As she worked up and down, she could feel his body tighten. “Now tell me,” she whispered close to his ear. “What do you want from me? What is it you want for terms?”
His eyes popped open as his hand once again came over hers. “Wicked girl. Are you taking advantage of me?”
She smiled. “I do want an honest answer from you. I’ve made a rather particular list.”
He moved with her. “I want a little girl who sits next to you at the pianoforte.”
That answer shocked her and her very sure fingers stuttered.
“I want you to give our children the patience and love I see you give to your family now.”
Her heart stuttered and her list suddenly seemed…silly. “That’s such a lovely thought. My answers were so selfish. I…”
He shook his head. “You have a gift, Cordelia. You’ve every right to protect that, in a world that would try to make you hide it away.” Their hands still moved together. “What I want is to live here and I want to start a new life.”
She nodded, tears coming to her eyes as his hips pushed up into her hand. “I want to give you that new life.” She blinked away the tears, snuggling deeper into his side. “We’ll move into the cottage at first,” she said close to his ear. “Just the two of us.”