She swallowed hard. “I-I can explain.”
“I’ve been waiting for the truth.” He folded the washcloth and pressed a clean side against her vagina.
She sucked in a breath at the coolness against her heated skin.
“I’ve been waiting for you to trust me.” He rubbed ever so slowly and gently. “Luciana.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Leo watched as one emotion after another flitted across her face—shock, fear, worry, shame, regret. How had she ever hoped to succeed with this deception when her face gave everything away?
Alarm skittered through his chest. It had taken him less than a week to figure out she was not Lady Tatiana. If her lies were exposed at the royal court, the king would have the perfect excuse for executing her. “I need to know everything, so I can protect you.”
She winced. “Aren’t you angry with me?”
“Well, let me think. I have a brave, beautiful, formerly virginal wife who can somehow miraculously touch me and make love to me, but she’s not very good at lying.” His mouth twitched as he continued to stroke her with the washcloth. “Do you think I should be angry?”
“I—” She moaned. “I can’t think at all when you do that.”
His hand stilled. “Tell me everything, so I can figure out what to do with you.”
She blinked. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m not sure what to do. I’d like to tease you until you climax again, but should I use my hands or my mouth?” He heaved a sigh. “Tough decision.”
Her mouth fell open.
His gaze shifted to her mouth. “Or maybe I should enjoy the sweetness of your lips.”
“You mean more kissing?”
“Not exactly.” He glanced down at his cock, then back to her mouth.
She looked down, then back up, her eyes widening. “Ar—are you serious?”
He nodded.
She glanced down once again. Her head tilted as she bit her lip.
“Luciana?”
“Yes.”
“So you admit that’s your true name?”
“Oh.” She sat up. “Shame on you. I was distracted by your…”
“Cock.” He rubbed the washcloth against her clitoris. “You’re easily distracted.”
Her eyes glazed over. “Is this an interrogation technique?”
He smiled. “Maybe.”
“Mmm. Then I’ll make a full confession.” She closed her eyes briefly. “I asked you to call me Ana, so it would feel like you were marrying me instead of my sister.”
“Then you really wanted to marry me.”
“Yes, I did.” She reached out to touch his cock.
His breath hissed. “Luciana.”
“Is this allowed?”
“Hell, yes.”
“Ah.” Her hand circled him. “It’s softer than I thought it would be.”
“Not for long.” He gritted his teeth as she gently squeezed.
“How do you know my name?”
“I read the letter you hid in the—” He stiffened. By the Light, she’d turned the tables on him and was now interrogating him. With a snort, he took her hand off his cock. “You’re a clever one.”
Her eyes twinkled with humor. “We’ll have very clever children.”
“True. Will you tell me more while we eat?” When she nodded, he lifted her off the table and gave her his discarded shirt to wear. While she put it on, he slipped his breeches back on.
She talked, confirming most of his suspicions, as they unloaded the basket of food. She and Lady Tatiana were indeed twins. Their mother had died after giving birth to them on a night when the moons embraced. They both shared the gift of seeing the dead.
“Where is your sister now?” he asked as he refilled their goblets with wine.
With a sigh, Luciana sat at the table. “She passed away after she was poisoned. Father was bringing her to the convent on the Isle of Moon, since he knew from his correspondence with Mother Ginessa that we had a gifted healer there.”
Leo drew a chair close to her and sat. “Didn’t your father correspond with you?”
She shook her head. “I was raised as an orphan for nineteen years. I never knew I had a father or sister until they arrived.”
“I’m sorry.” He set a piece of cold roast chicken on her plate. “It must have been lonely for you.”
“No, not at all. I was raised with four other girls who became my sisters.”
“The ones you correspond with using seals?” He bit into a slice of chicken.
Her eyes widened. “You know about that?”
He nodded as he chewed and motioned to the easy chair where she’d hidden the letter.
She sighed. “I miss them so much. We were all raised as orphans, but now I wonder if they actually have family like me.”
He drank some wine. “So you agreed to risk your life for your father when you had just met him?”
She nodded and took a bite of cheese. “He tried to talk me out of it. He’d already lost Tatiana, so he didn’t want to lose me. But how could I send him away, knowing he would be executed if he failed to follow the king’s order?”
“You’re incredibly brave.” He refilled his goblet. “I’m sorry you lost your sister before you were able to meet her.”
Luciana smiled. “Actually, we’ve become good friends. Her spirit followed me here. She’s the one who drew the arrow in the sand for you to see.”