Page 87 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
And just like Dorian, now that she was ready to accept them, nothing had ever felt so right.
“I love you to,” she said, smiling for the first time. “Dorian, I –”
He didn’t wait to hear what she had to say next. Perhaps a good thing, as it would have been more of the same. More admittanceof love. More words of affirmation. More proof given that she cared for him as he did her.
But the time for words was gone, and with that there was but one thing left to do. Seal it with a kiss because actions spoke loudly and marked beyond a doubt the truth of how they both felt.
Penelope accepted the kiss with open lips and an open heart. She stepped into Dorian, allowing him to pull her close as his lips pressed and opened her mouth, as his tongue dipped inside, as they become one in ways that felt natural and right. His hands held her face. Her hands held his waist. They locked together and through that kiss everything that hadn’t been said, three years' worth, was shown. Love given. Love accepted. Happiness promised.
And as they kissed, Penelope felt the hole inside of her shrinking and finally closing. The purpose she had been chasing, that which she needed to make her life complete, finally found.
Dorian was her purpose. This marriage was her purpose. To live a full life in the arms of the man she loved… what greater purpose could there be than that?
And Penelope could not wait to start. Personally, she thought it was well overdue by now. And from the way that Dorian kissed her, she sensed he was of the exact same mind.
EPILOGUE
“Ihave to admit, I don’t mind that view.” Dorian spoke from over Penelope’s shoulder. He was standing deeper in the room, likely from a position where he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the view as Penelope was.
“It’s even better from here…”
Penelope was standing on the balcony, hands against the railing, her gaze fixed upon the River Seine which ran just beneath her. It snaked lazily through the city of Paris, sparkling from the night’s stars and the many candles and torches which lit the city of love. The city appeared to glow around the glimmering river, taken by quiet, but humming with romantic energy.
It truly was a breathtaking sight, and Penelope doubted she had ever seen something so beautiful. Her heart was full, her body tingled as it had been doing all day, and in the moment she wondered if she had ever been so happy…
“I wasn’t talking about the city…” Dorian spoke in a whisper, and she heard his gentle footsteps on the carpet as he approached her.
“Oh?” she smiled, still not looking back. “And what were you speaking of, exactly?”
His laughter was a deep rumble in his chest, and she breathed in deeply as his hands slipped around her waist and held her to his strong body. Eyes closed, she leaned her head to the side, exposing her neck for him to kiss.
“Perhaps the finest view in all of Paris,” he growled as he continued to kiss her.
“Only Paris?” she pouted.
He laughed. “The entire world? Or should I extend the compliment to the universe? Just to be safe.”
“Better to be safe than sorry,” she laughed softy, and then closed her eyes because those kisses on her neck were so soft and tender and oh how she loved their feel. Just as she loved her husband.
The trip to Paris had been Dorian’s idea – a further sign of how seriously he was taking this marriage. That it wasn’t just words that he offered his wife, but action, proof of his love and how dedicated he was to proving this love every single day.
They had been married for three years but that hardly seemed to count. Indeed, both Penelope and Dorian decided to treat those three years as if they had not happened, choosing the day that Dorian had rode to her home and pronounced his love for her as the official start of their married life together.
For that reason, a honeymoon was needed. And where better to have a honeymoon than Paris?
“We need to be leaving soon,” Penelope said, eyes still closed as Dorian held and kissed her.
“Do we now?”
“Supper, Dorian…” She pretended to try and wiggle free.
Dorian held her tightly. “I am not so hungry.”
“It sure doesn’t feel like it.”
“Not for supper,” he growled.
She laughed and then forced herself from his arms. It was hard to do, and the moment she was free she wanted to feel herself in their embrace again. But Penelope reasoned there was no need and she did not have to be so desperate. After all, they had the rest of their lives to spend together…plenty of time for Dorian to hold me as if he never means to let go.
