disrespectful cotton weaver will pay for this insult.”
CHAPTER 8
K aterina woke suddenly as the late afternoon sun began slanting
through the window across her face. She felt warm and
comfortable… and nude; completely naked in bed with her astonishing husband.
She took a moment to admire his handsomeness: his dark brown hair, nearly as
dark as hers, his finely chiseled face, almost angelic in its symmetrical proportions, his flexible lips, which felt so wonderful pressed against hers, his beautiful silver eyes, now closed in slumber, long lashes resting on his cheeks.
He's glorious, and he's mine; my savior, my lover, my husband. He sacrificedhimself for me.
His eyes opened, showing their lovely, misty color, and the corners crinkled
as he smiled at her.
She smiled back shyly.
“Did you rest well, sweet girl?” he asked.
She smiled a bit wider. “Yes. I feel very good. You?”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Excellent. Are you sore?”
“Where?” she asked, her cheeks heating as various interpretations flitted
through her mind.
“Everywhere.”
Katerina took stock of herself. “I think my back is a little better.”
He gave a brief nod. “Good. Your belly?”
She pressed against the bruises. “It hurts, but not as much as yesterday.”
“And here?” His fingers trailed through the hair at the apex of her thighs.
Her face heated. “Sore. Quite sore.”
His boyish half-grin turned regretful. “Not surprising. You were rather hard
to deflower.”
Katerina studied the eyelet pattern of the bedspread. “Sorry.”
He lifted her face with one finger under her chin. “It's the way you were made, love. I just hated hurting you.”
Every time he opens his mouth, he says something even sweeter. “I didn't mind, honestly. I have a pretty high tolerance. It wasn't the worst thing I've felt.”
“I can imagine,” he replied grimly. “And now, are you hungry?”
At the mention of food, her stomach gurgled loudly. “Yes, I am. Famished actually.”
“Me too. I have an idea. Shall we see if my parents would be interested in having us for dinner?”
Parents? Oh, dear. What will Julia think about all this? “Will they be upset?”
“About what?”
“That we married without telling them,” Katerina explained.
Christopher shook his head. “I doubt it. Mother wanted us together. She
understood the urgency. She'll explain it to father. All will be well, love. You're a Bennett now.”
Katerina smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
“Then get dressed. You look lovely, but it's rather much for going visiting.”
She laughed, startled to notice it felt a bit rusty. It had been so long since she'd been comfortable enough to laugh . Scrambling stiffly from the bed, she lifted her chemise and examined the stained fabric with a frown. “This is disgusting.”
“Yes,” he agreed, grimacing at the sight of it.
