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Page 392
for fear of bringing Brian upon them again made the waves of sensation radiating from his shaft more piercing. Twice he needed to seize Joanna's hips and hold her still lest he come to a premature climax. The third time he tried to quiet her she struggled against him, too near her own orgasm to care or understand, and that set them both off.
Later, when Geoffrey regained enough strength, he carried Joanna to bed. "You need not fear for me this time," he comforted, drawing her to lie against him. "My father is more tender of me than you wish to believe." Joanna stiffened and began to pull away, but Geoffrey laughed and held her tight. "I tell you, he desires me as a scribe and to do the accounts and suchlike. He has battle leaders enough. Dammartin and the count of Holland are with him."
Joanna sighed and relaxed. She really knew that Salisbury would not endanger Geoffrey needlessly, and it was useless to be angry and weep because men were men. "Will you truly have a care for yourself? Truly?"
"Am I of such great value to you then?" Geoffrey asked lightly, warm with pleasure, sure this time she would say outright that she loved him.
"Better the devil I know than one unknown, who might be worse," Joanna replied matching his tone.
Shock kept him still. Nothing seemed able to wring an avowal of love from Joanna. In the past when he sighed that he loved her, Geoffrey thought bitterly, she replied with kisses. Now that he asked openly for an answer, she jestedor did she? Had she spoken the truth? Was he only the "devil" she knew, dear because he was safe and familiar? If he had not won her to love in near half a year of marriage, could he hope he ever would win her? Geoffrey's lips parted to ask plainly, to demand an answer, but Joanna had slipped into sleep.
Grateful for the reprieve, he murmured softly, "I am a fool. I know she loves me. I know it." But there was no assurance in his voice and, if he hoped to win a half-conscious response from Joanna, he failed in that too.

 
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