She heard the door to his dressing room open and a flare of light came as he lit a candle inside the small space. The sounds of his rummaging did not last long and the light moved toward the door, growing brighter. He reappeared, carrying the candle.
Sara stared up at the canopy, averting her eyes, unwilling to let him see the questions she knew would be visible in them. He blew the candle out and settled back in the bed, once again closing the curtains and settling the covers back over his body.
Their breathing filled the silence, Sara lying there stiff and awkward. Her heart thudded in her ears, the knowledge that a man with whom she had just shared indescribable intimacies with was lying not two feet away from her in the same bed.
His muttered oath broke the silence and the mattress shifted. “Lie on your side facing away from me,” he instructed. Seeing no alternative, she complied. He fit his body along her length, draping his arm over her waist and tucking his legs beside hers, virtually wrapping his body around her. Immediately Sara felt warmed and comforted. Safe.
Relaxing, she took a deep breath. “We didn’t—”
He saved her from voicing it. “No. Not quite.”
“Oh.” She thought for several moments. “Is that why you are displeased?”
“What?”
She rushed on. “I know men are controlled by their animal lusts and dislike it greatly when they cannot fulfill their mating. You left so quickly—we can do it next time, I promise. We don’t have to wait for me; I don’t wish for you to be displeased or angry with me.”
“Sara.” His deep voice cut her off. “Who told you all that?”
She swallowed. “My mother.”
“Well rest assured I am not an animal. I have manly desires, yes, but I can control myself. Would I have preferred to fully make love with you tonight? I cannot deny it. Yet I am not the only person to consider in this equation; your comfort and pleasure are paramount to the experience as well. You did not displease me in the slightest. Quite the opposite, in fact.”
“Oh.” A thrill raced through her at his confession.
“And I left because I changed into clean smalls. When a man spends his seed, it leaves a mess. I did not want it to get on you.”
“Oh,” she repeated. “Thank you.”
“Now relax and go to sleep. And don’t talk about displeasing me again. If I ever am, you will be able to tell.”
She felt a warm kiss fall on her shoulder and he rested it there for several moments. A smile spread across her face, one so joyous that she was glad he couldn’t see it.
He wasn’t displeased with her. Quite the opposite, he said.
She fell asleep quickly, worn out from all that had happened during the day, the smile still on her face.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
* * *
Nathan inhaled deeply and grimaced as he turned his head on his pillow. Exhaling, he lifted a hand to scratch his chest before lowering it to rub the base of his semi-hard cock. Wakefulness had interrupted a very pleasing dream of his bed companion, a dream in which he had exercised more control than he had last night. It hadn’t been an embarrassment, not by any means, but he still had not performed the way he had planned; that sort of introduction to the carnal pleasures had definitely not been on his agenda.
But that could easily be rectified. He would introduce her to the skills of his hands as well as the delight of waking up being pleasured. A smile tugged at his mouth as he felt himself harden completely even at the thought of touching her again. He hadn’t lied; she had not displeased him last night. He could not remember the last time he had felt so sated, and they hadn’t even fully consummated their adventure. As soon as she was able, he would rectify that as well. But for now . . .
He rolled onto his side and reached, his hand seeking her warm, soft curves. When it found nothing but cool sheets, his eyes flew open.
She wasn’t there. Nathan lay very still for several moments, ears straining for sounds coming from the dressing room or lavatory. The prolonged silence merely confirmed that she in fact had left the entire suite, not just the bed. Disappointment lumped itself in his chest and he scowled, pushing it away and sitting up. Opening the bed curtains, he swung his legs over the side and sat there, squinting against the sunlight. A glance over his shoulder at Sara’s side of the bed deepened his scowl; not only had she straightened the covers as best as she could around him, but he had just committed the despicably maudlin deed of referring to it as her side of the bed. One night with the woman and he was already growing sentimental about it.