Page 78 of Return of the Viscount
“I understand that it’s shocking. You’d never know it to meet her. Her father wanted to be rid of her, thought she encouraged young men, and there were whispers that she’d done even more than that.”
“Oh, Michael, how terrible for you to hear such things. I don’t like your father very much for repeating them.”
“He’d never been a man who could be satisfied with a decent life. He always wanted more—more excitement, more money, more respect. You don’t achieve respect behaving as he did. As for my mother ... I don’t know how immature she was as a young woman. But she became a wonderful mother, and tolerant of my father, at least in front of us.”
He seemed as if he might say more but simply thinned his lips and stared unseeing across the room. Cecilia could only be amazed at how serene and uncomplaining his mother was compared to her own, when the lady had obviously come down in the world.
“I know I wanted all my inheritance for my control of the earldom,” she began slowly, “and I understand that you don’t want my dowry because of the things your family has been through. But, Michael, what if you used some of the dowry to purchase an officer’s commission?” When he frowned, she went on quickly. “You would earn more money for your family, and I’m sure the connections would help the various enterprises you’ve begun investing in.”
“Thank you, but no. I am content with the life I’ve made for myself.”
She nodded, hoping that making the offer would help her feel better about what she owed him and his family. And also, she almost hoped the whole conversation would put him in a bad mood.
But apparently not, for suddenly he braced his weight on the rim of the tub behind her, then dipped the fingers of his other hand in the soap bubbles floating before her.
She inhaled swiftly. “Michael, surely you can have a bathing tub sent to your bedchamber.”
“But there’s one right here.”
She couldn’t stop staring at his hand as if mesmerized. He made slow circles in the bubbles, coming ever closer to her breasts.
“I could scrub your back,” he whispered.
She tipped her head back and stared up at him, feeling like she couldn’t breathe deeply enough the way his eyes gleamed down upon her. Her body seemed to be coming awake, as if the memories of his lovemaking had lain dormant all day and were now fanned hotly to life by the sight of his eagerness to have her.
He suddenly stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. “What the hell; I could just get in with you.”
Shocked and panicky, she surged to her feet without thinking, “No, no, I’m done, it’s all yours.”
As water sluiced down her body, he laughed and wrapped her in a towel, swinging her into her arms and toward the bed.
“I see how eager you are,” he whispered even as he nuzzled her neck and kissed her there. “I’ll have my bath later, and maybe I can persuade you to join me.”
He set her down on the edge of the bed and began to pat her dry. She felt silly and embarrassed and hot with the desire she felt for him, the desire she could no longer deny.
And then he kissed her, tipping her backward and coming down over her body, exploring her mouth deeply, luring her tongue into his own. With a moan, she gave up trying to pretend she could keep him away from her. He was a man, with a man’s needs, and she was his wife. She wrapped her arms about him and kissed him back with a fierce urgency. She moaned as he began to lick the water from her skin, trailing down her body. She cried out when his tongue teased her nipples, and she could have gloried in that forever, but he kept moving down her body, exploring her belly, spreading her thighs.
She stiffened as he knelt at the edge of the bed, staring right at her—there. She came up on her elbows. “Michael, what are you—”
“Relax,” he interrupted. “I was in such a rush to have you last night, I didn’t explore.”
“Oh, that’s all right. It’s not necessary.” She heard herself babbling, even as she trembled with expectation and curiosity and desperation. “In fact, it’s been a long day. You must be tired.”
He chuckled against her belly, then he said nothing as he moved lower and pressed an intimate kiss between her thighs.
Her hips jolted beneath him, and she covered her mouth to stop her cries. She should stophim,but she was overwhelmed and stunned, shocked by the fierce pleasure of his tongue licking her, eveninsideher. She existed in a haze of rising pleasure, shuddering, desperate for the joy she knew awaited her. And it came so suddenly, pouring over her, leaving her gasping and languid beneath him.
He straightened up and leaned over her, grinning.
“You look proud of yourself,” she whispered.
“Oh, I am. There’s nothing to compare to pleasing one’s wife.”
She couldn’t help smiling at his silliness, even as a secret place in her heart thrummed with a hint of sadness.
He removed the rest of his clothing as she scooted back into the center of the bed. Crawling on all fours above her, he kissed her over and over until she almost begged him to come inside her. He eased between her thighs and gently claimed her. She gasped in awe at how wonderful it felt to have him deep inside her, as if he could be a part of her forever.
“No pain?” he whispered against her mouth.
