Page 75 of The Theory of Earls
“I will never touch what is yours, Maggie. If you wish to start your own bloody orchestra and pension off every ancient accordion player at Covent Garden, I will not object, but please, I prefer they not all practice in my study.”
“My conservatory,” she corrected him with a smile.
“You could buy dozens of pianos and put one in every room of the house. Or you could donate the entire sum to Mrs. Anderson. The money is yours and will stay yours.”
“I feel much better now, my lord.” Maggie took his hand and pressed a kiss to the palm before placing it to cup her cheek.
Welles’s heart contracted painfully in his chest.
“You are a good husband, Welles.”
He blinked, surprised at the compliment. How thetonwould roll with laughter to know the jaded rake Lord Welles would do anything to hear such praise from his wife. “I hope to be.” Voice thick with emotion, Tony brushed his lips against hers, gratified when she attempted to climb into his lap.
“I’m sorry I don’t meet all of your requirements for a husband,” he said into the curve of her neck. “But I can take up horse breeding or something and attempt to ignore you.”
“I suppose that’s something.” She tilted up her chin for another kiss.
As the carriage pulled up in front of his house, Tony helped her out, tucking her into his side before leading Maggie upstairs directly to his room. Since his return, Tony had insisted she sleep next to him at night, claiming he often grew cold without her. It was the most ridiculous of excuses. The truth was he liked waking up with her next to him.
“Daisy,” he called through the door to the maid who was waiting in Maggie’s room. “You’re dismissed for the evening. “I’ll assist my wife tonight.” He shut the connecting door, after assuring his valet he could see to his own needs as well.
“Daisy must wonder why she never has to make my bed.” Maggie’s eyes were luminous in the candlelight, like brushed velvet.
“She will continue to wonder. I grow cold at night without you.” He cupped her face in his hands and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “I’m sorry about Lady Isley and every other woman in the future who may challenge your patience.”
“I know.” Her head tilted as she ran a finger down his jaw.
He spun her around and began to slowly undo the row of tiny pearl-shaped buttons at her back. After the first three, Tony pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her spine, breathing in her scent.
“I wanted you from the first moment I saw you,” he whispered.
Maggie arched her back against his mouth. “When I played the piano at Gray Covington and made a complete ass of myself?”
Three more buttons, and the dress spread out across her naked shoulders. “No. Before. At dinner the first night.” He kissed along her collarbone, feeling her ripple of surprise.
She drew in a sharp breath as his teeth grazed across her shoulder. “At dinner? I barely said a word to anyone. Aunt Agnes had admonished me to be silent.”
“Yes, but Isawyou, Maggie. And when you arched over the piano,” he began to untie her stays, “I decided Iwouldhave you. I thought of nothing but tasting you. Burying myself in you. Savoring you as one does a fine wine.”
A quiver shot through her as the stays fell free. “I think myself much more common. Like scotch.”
Tony chuckled, sinking his fingers into her hair, pulling at the pins until the dark brown strands fell streaming over her shoulders. His hands reached around and cupped her breasts, carefully rolling her nipples between his fingers until she moaned. His cock hardened at the sound, throbbing painfully in response.
One hand slid down between her legs, feeling how soft and ready she was, though he’d barely touched her. “When I saw you again, hiding in the wisteria, determined to escape the attentions of Lord Winthrop, I had already decided to make you a most indecent request.”
“Younevermeant to allow Carstairs to have me,” she said.
“Nor anyone else.” His fingers moved against her, listening to the delightful sounds she made. He pressed the length of his cock against her buttocks.
“Why?”
“Because you’remine,” he whispered, turning her face to him.
39
Margaret woke and immediately stretched out her arm, surprised to find the other half of the bed wasn’t full of gorgeous, muscular male. She sat up and looked toward the open door of her rooms.
Only Daisy’s plump form could be seen busily laying out Margaret’s clothing and bath towels. Steam floated around the maid in a thick mist.
