Across the Ages: Book One Ch. 03

She took a deep breath as she walked out, catching Blake in the midst of removing his trousers. She blushed and promptly made to hang her dress in her wardrobe to avoid staring at his tight, tan behind. After removing her tiara, she undid her hair and her dark brown locks fell in waves over her shoulders. She held her breath as she turned around, praying that Blake had now donned some kind of clothing, or praying that he hadn't. She wasn't sure which she preferred and that made her blush even more.

He was standing with his back to her as he tied his undergarments. They were loose and short but somewhat pant-like, probably an English fad. With a fluttering heart, she sat on the bed once more. He turned around as he removed his shirt, smiling when he saw Rene's wide-eyed stare. He threw the shirt on top of the chair with his other garments, never letting his eyes leave hers.

As he sauntered towards the bed, her eyes traveled up and down his nearly naked body. She had seen men in the village that worked shirtless but never up this close. 'Handsome' seemed far too plain a description for the man that made his way towards her. He could easily rival both the world's greatest warrior and heaven's most beautiful angel.

His tan skin glinted oddly in the candlelight as though part of the sun was contained within him. He had broad shoulders and very muscular arms, no wonder he had been able to carry her so easily.

Rene's eyes moved of their own accord, pausing at his perfectly sculpted chest before they continued downward. She had never seen a man's abdominal muscles so defined when he was at rest. This man embodied power. Her hand twitched with the sudden urge to reach out and touch him. She stopped herself at the last moment, but the desire to run her long fingers across his warm skin did not abate.

Blake stood directly in front of her now. She firmly stared at his feet but slowly her eyes began to wander up his firm claves to his solid thighs. He was pure lean muscle everywhere she looked. Without thinking, she glanced at his undergarments. Her mouth dropped open in shock and she sucked in her breath. Regaining her self-control, Rene forced herself to look up into his face.

He was smiling like he usually did, one side curved up a little higher than the other. His cheekbones were well defined and matched his chiseled jaw line flawlessly. The green of his eyes looked much darker now that his brow held them in shadows. It made him look a bit devil-may-care and yet his eyes sparkled with satisfaction. He was thoroughly enjoying the way she eyed him greedily.

His pupils had been large and attentive as he watched Rene look over his uncovered body. Something deep within him growled to be released, but he pushed it back down. Blake knew he was pushing the limits. He had only known this girl a week, hardly knew anything about her. She was a princess that was being forced to sacrifice her life for her kingdom. He was her protector and protect her he would. It was just an overwhelm sense of protection that he was feeling, that's all. But then again, she was so beautiful.

Her porcelain skin stood in contrast to her brunette hair as it trailed down her back and across her chest. When she looked up at him with those big brown eyes, his breath caught in his chest. There was a golden ring around her irises that glimmered in the low light from the candles and brought out the lighter tones in her hair. A fair pink rushed to her cheeks, coloring her pale face. Her full, pouting lips were slightly parted as she breathed shallowly.

Blake ran his large fingers through her hair and imagined what it would be like to kiss those plump, pink lips in a moment of unrestrained passion. She trembled at his touch and leaned into him as he stroked her cheek dreamily. Shaking his head at his own weakness and frustration, he spoke a bit more commanding than he intended.

"Lie down on the bed and pull the covers up to your waist." She jumped at the sound of his voice. In comparison to his gentle touch, it was extremely gruff. Rene pushed herself back onto the bed and pulled the blankets up over her legs.

Blake's chest was heaving as he walked to the side of the bed and sat facing her. His hands seemed to quiver as he reached beneath the blankets on either side of her body to grab her nightgown. Rene progressively arched her back as Blake slowly pulled the sleek fabric off of her legs, over her stomach and let it pool on her breasts. Their eyes met for a minuscule moment and their breathing became heavy. Finally, Blake gritted his teeth and forced himself to look down at Rene's now exposed middle. He nearly cursed out loud and his fists clenched instinctively.

Yes, there was a bruise; and a large one at that. It would probably grow and darken over the next few days, which was saying a lot because it was already the size of his palm. The spot where the heel dug in was clearly visible and he prayed there wasn't a broken rib.

Rene lay still and silent as he examined her painful side. Once again, his eyes were scrutinizing her with the concentration of a well-trained physician. Her labored breaths continued the more he looked at her body. He had been careful not to touch her skin when he pulled up her gown and he was not touching her now.

With a sudden onset of chills, she realized she was shivering with anticipation. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted to feel his strong hands on her skin. She wanted him to hold her and not let go. She had to be going crazy. This man was her bodyguard! She was leaving tomorrow to marry the Prince of Spain! This was madness and it had to stop. She was playing with fire.

Fire. Oh god, his fingers felt like fire when they touched her skin. Blake looked to her face for a moment before he applied a gentle pressure on her side. She winced, but remained tacit. He soothed the pain by laying his hand across the large bruise. Blake had strong, hard-working hands and there was a delicious roughness to them. With both of his hands around her waist, his fingers could nearly touch in the back. It made Rene feel extremely small and venerable; she was caught in a explosion of unfamiliar emotions now.

Her earlier resolution was gone. Blake made her feel warm and beautiful and desired. It dawned on her that desire had been what she'd seen in his eyes before and a thick heat began to radiate from within her core. It spread across her skin, making it oversensitive to his touch. She wanted him. Blake didn't look into her eyes, but she could see it; he wanted her too. His voice was much softer when he spoke this time and there was a certain huskiness to it.

"I think you'll be fine. No broken bones at least." He swallowed firmly as he pulled her night gown down over her stomach. The flimsy garment showcased her large breasts perfectly, allowing him to leisurely trace their curvature with his eyes. He swiftly stood and made to put out the candles. It was going to be a long torturous night if he let himself think like that.

Rene watched as he ran his fingers through his hair as a habit of his frustration. Blake was resisting what he felt as hard as he could, and she knew she needed to do the same. But she didn't know if she was strong enough to withstand him when both her body and mind screamed at her to do the exact opposite.

"Will you stay?" she asked as he stoked the fireplace one more time.

"Only if you wish me to, Princess."

"I do."

"Then yes, I will stay." He extinguished the last candle on the bedside table and looked at her seriously. Without another word he turned down the blanket on his side of the bed and clambered in beside her. She smiled at him, her eyes glowing with gratitude and longing. With a sigh, she rolled over on her side and hugged her pillow.

Rene instantly recognized that she would much rather have her arms around his heated body and had to stifle a moan at that thought. But regardless of the relationship with her father, she had a duty to the people. If she was going to proceed as her father wished, not because he wanted her to but because she had to; she might as well do it with what dignity and grace she could muster. She resentfully forced herself to fall asleep without another look to the knight in bed beside her; but once she did, he was a reassuring presence in her dreams.

Blake laid awake until her breathing steadied and her body relaxed. Then he carefully wrapped his arm around her tiny waist and pulled her close. She was so soft, so warm and so sweet. He laid his head next to hers, inhaling the scent of her freshly washed hair. The overwhelming fragrances of vanilla and jasmine filled his senses and he was lost in a scent that was uniquely hers.

Blake smiled to himself in his forbidden moment of indulgence. When he kissed the back of her head, the silkiness of her thick hair tantalized his lips and made him revel in all that she was. Signing in resignation, he allowed himself to fall asleep with his strong and capable arms around the most beautiful girl he had ever held.