An Unwanted Wife

Chapter 7

She locked the door behind them saying it'd be best if a servant didn't enter. She bit her lip. "James, I need help. Can you unbutton my dress?"

His eyes went momentarily wide. "I'll do it, but you know we're only sleeping. You need rest."

James felt the need to say the other words aloud, not sure if it was for her benefit or his own. She nodded, then turned around. First, he moved her braid off to the side. It was in disarray, having come undone as she hit her head. After sliding the dress off her shoulders, he offered to brush her long, auburn hair.

Lauren asked. "Why?"

"It's tangled." He explained. "Would you rather I ring for a maid?"

"Not with you in here." She sat on the bed crossing her arms over her chest, feeling suddenly shy.

"Then, let me do it."

"All right." She caved, not wanting to see Sally's expression when realising James was spending the night.

He smiled, took the hairbrush off the dressing table, and moved to sit behind her. She scooted back, her pert bottom bumping into his groin. James emitted a groan at the contact. "Lauren!"

She glanced back. "What?"

His smile was a wry one, as he shook his head. "Don't start, minx. You're astute enough to know what that little movement does to me."

She looked at him, smiling. "Did I do something?"

He moved one arm quickly around her waist, hauling her up against him in a swift, fluid motion. Her breath caught in surprise, feeling his erection now firmly pressed into her bum.

"Oh, I see." She smiled. "That'd help to distract me from the pain in my head."

"Lauren, no." He growled, as he began removing pins from her hair. When the task was done, he brushed it carefully avoiding her injury. It fell to her mid-back in soft waves, smelling of jasmine and reminding him of their first night in Almack's garden. "There's something I need you to know."

His voice was quiet and serious. She looked at him over her shoulder, her brows furrowing in worry. "What is it?"

"All those weeks we were apart, I never so much as kissed another woman. Not once. Suffice to say, you've ruined any hope of me wanting someone else."

She smiled. "That's fair. You're the only man I ever wanted, James."

"I will ensure that feeling never changes for you." He ran a finger down one cheek and kissed her, moving his hands to hold her face. "Time for bed."

"I need to change out of my shift into a nightgown."

"Fine." A muscle in his jaw twitched once. "Hurry."

Lauren quickly moved off the bed and took one of the new negligées from her wardrobe. She stepped behind the changing screen without James seeing it. The red gown had thin straps in front over her shoulders which criss-crossed her back. There were pieces of fine lace over her breasts and another piece falling across her hips. She wore no under drawers, as it have would be longer than the negligée. It left nothing to the imagination, skimming the tops of her thighs in length. Even as the silk felt luxurious against her skin, Lauren felt naked. She came around the screen to find James sitting on the edge of her bed having just removed his boots. As he looked up, he uttered a hiss making Lauren bite her lip in anticipation.

"You ready?" She asked. He stared at her when she came out from behind the screen for a full minute not speaking, as she moved to turn down the covers on the bed and started to lay down.