Page 136 of Stardust Child

“Less than an hour ago,” he said reassuringly. “I’m sorry, little owl. Juste wanted to send a messenger, but I thought I’d surprise you. Next time I’ll let him.”

She nodded, burying her face in his chest. It wasn’t just the hour’s delay. Suddenly everything she needed to say to him bubbled up all at once and it took everything she had to keep it from bursting forth in an avalanche, all the fear and misery she had hidden for so long. But not yet. He had only just come home. It could not be too much to ask, to have a little happiness first.

“I guess I would do the same,” she said, when she had swallowed it all down, and lifted her head to try to smile. “I love you. So much.”

“I love you.” His kiss was rough with apology. “Now tell me what you’ve been up to, while I was away.”

“Sir Ortaire came back,” she said, which was surely the most important of Tresingale’s recent events. “Did they tell you? He brought back seventy-six people from Meinhem.”

“Yes, Juste told me about it in the baths. We brought back two from Nandre.” His expression darkened. “A boy and a girl. Everyone else is dead. But we will speak of that tomorrow. What else?”

“Magne…Magne arrived,” she said, shaken. Davi had said over two hundred people had lived in Nandre. All of them were dead? “He has been repairing your clothing. Duke Ereguil says he’s touched.”

“Touched?”

“Simple, I guess?” Ophele was not entirely sure of the definition of this condition. “But he is very good, you’ll see tomorrow. You have to be nice to him.”

“Hmm.” Remin rumbled noncommittally.

“Duchess Ereguil said there’s a purpose for everyone under the stars, and his is to care very much about your clothing,” she said, and won a smile.

“I suppose someone should,” he conceded, and listened as she told him about her study of the problem at the docks, the progress of Jacot’s lessons, the vast quantities of harvesting, pickling, and preserving underway, and how much help Sir Auber’s family had been, settling the refugees. There, at least, Ophele felt proud that everyone had done their absolute best.

“What about Leonin and Davi?” he asked. “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes, but I can’t tell you until we’re all together, they made me promise,” she said, at peace with the agreement. It had all been much friendlier once they had agreed among themselves what House Andelin’s hallows were meant to be. “Oh, and Master Didion and I finished choosing the décor for the upstairs, and your dressing room. We were talking about mine, and he said you told him six times that you didn’t care.”

“That is true. What did you pick?”

“Pink carnations,” she replied, and burst into giggles as he tickled her vengefully. “I have to tell you about Lady Houvrin’s parlor, don’t let me forget. Master Didion showed me a design for your room that was all leather chairs and forest green and these huge cabinets on the front and back wall, for your jewelry and belts and that shoulder harness you like to wear. The leather one. So everything can be put away and tidy. And you need more jewelry, everyone says so.”

“Who’s everyone?”

“Magne, Adelan, Leonin, Master Didion, and Lady Verr,” she said, ticking them off on her fingers. Magne had been so shocked at the lack that Ophele had undertaken a quiet survey. “Lady Verr said that most gentlemen wear a different chain every day, and a tall man can carry off even a very heavy one.”

“I’m sure she did,” he said, looking displeased. Ophele had to admit he was a little unreasonable on the subject of Lady Verr. “What is your opinion?”

“Well…you said I should wear what I like,” she said. “I am sure you would look splendid, but your onyx chain is so heavy, it can’t be comfortable.”

“Perhaps Tiffen will have ideas,” Remin mused. “The chains are like your fine gowns, wife, cumbersome if I want to actuallydoanything. Though, if you want to know the truth…”

His black eyes gleamed, and the fingers that had been gently stroking over her back moved over the meaningful curve of her backside.

“I prefer you like this,” he murmured, bending so that his lips tickled her ear. “All the way home, like a vision, I kept seeing my wife’s breasts.”

It was amazing how just the look in his eyes could make it hard to speak.

“I kept looking for you,” she breathed, insinuating her body against his and letting her fingers drift down the ridges of his abdomen. “When I woke up, I was reaching for you.”

“I’m here now.” His breath caught as she began to stroke him. It was so thrilling to see him respond to her, fierce creature that he was.

“I see,” she whispered, and bent her head to bite his stomach and watch him twitch. He was already swelling, heating and hardening against her palm.

“You can squeeze a little harder,” he said, sounding breathless. “And stroke—oh, stars, wife, yes—”

It was intoxicating. Her breath came faster, and she felt an echoing throb between her thighs as she caressed him, long strokes, squeezing him to make his thigh muscles twitch. He had been showing her how to please him and it had been embarrassing at first, but shelovedseeing this look on his face, when he lost himself in pleasure.

“You’re going to…finish me,” he groaned, thrusting into her hand. She could feel the deep, heavy pulse of him against her palm.

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