Page 56 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Chapter Eighteen

Hudson left hisbride fast asleep on the bed. She’d looked like an angel lying there as he’d kissed her brow. Mrs. Little had given him a fond smile and bid him goodnight, telling him she’d see to the new missus.

He cut through their dressing rooms to his bedchamber, wondering if he would ever see Mia in her bedchamber again. He didn’t regret marrying her. He wanted to give her the freedom to reach her full potential as an inventor. If, along the way, she wanted more from him, he would happily give himself to her. Until then, it was enough to be her friend and know she was safe.

Shucking his clothes, he left them on a chair and then downed a brandy, allowing its warmth to soothe him. Mrs. Little had seen the bed already turned back so he blew out the candles and slid beneath the bedsheets. Everything had gone well today. The ceremony was beautiful and the wedding breakfast sumptuous, thanks to the organization of the female St. Clairs. They already adored Mia and he saw his bride had blossomed in the week they’d been engaged, thanks to the new friendships she was forming with her sisters-in-law.

He breathed in deeply and let the breath escape slowly. He’d done the right thing and yet here he lay, alone in his bed on his wedding night, wishing his wife were here beside him. He didn’t want to push her but he certainly intended to share a few kisses with her during the week they were to stay at Meadowbrook. If those kisses led to more, he certainly wouldn’t mind. If they didn’t, he had the self-discipline to stop at that—and hope one day Mia might long for a deeper physical connection.

Closing his eyes, he hoped to get more than his usual three or four hours of sleep. Old habits died hard, though. In his days before he became recognized as a St. Clair, he had worked up to twenty hours. Little time had been devoted to sleep. He supposed his body had gotten used to it. At least since he slept so little, he usually accomplished much more than others since he was up by four and had put in a full day by noon. He felt himself drifting off, Mia’s image in his mind.

Hudson awoke first to the scent of rosemary. Then he realized a warm body nestled against his.

Mia...

Had she grown fearful being in a new place? It didn’t seem like her. She had an adventurous spirit and curious nature.

Then why had she come to his bed?

His body reacted to her presence, something he couldn’t contain. His arm was about her. Her cheek rested against his heart, one palm flat against his bare chest. His heart began beating faster and faster. He feared its pounding would wake her. She stirred and he knew she no longer slept. He remained still, wondering if she would slip from his bed and return to her own.

“Hudson?” she asked softly.

“Yes?”

She sighed. “I suppose you are wondering why I am here.”

“Mia, I told you that you weren’t required to come to my bed.”

“I wanted to. I wanted you.”

He couldn’t move. Her words paralyzed him. She wanted him.She wanted him!

“I thought we had agreed—”

“We did. I’ve changed my mind.”

“You said you would find a husband—children—a distraction from your work.”

Her thumb began rubbing back and forth across his chest slowly. He swallowed.

“I don’t think so anymore. I believe I’ve devoted too much of my time to my work. I feel I will be better at it if I find more balance in my life and not be so single-minded.”

He chuckled. “And I am to be your balance?”

“Well, in part. That is, if you want a different kind of marriage than what we agreed upon.”

His hand began moving up and down her back, sliding slowly to cup her bottom.

“I am open to negotiation.”

She laughed. “That’s what makes you such an excellent businessman, Mr. St. Clair.”

“I’ve desired you from the moment I saw you, Mia,” he admitted. “You bent over in those amazingly tight trousers.” He squeezed her derriere. “And this plump, rounded bottom called out to me. In fact, whatever happened to those trousers?”

“I still have them. Aunt Fanny would be horrified to know that. They are in a trunk of my belongings that was moved to your rooms.”

He continued caressing her bottom. “I need to see you in them again. In fact, you probably need several pairs.”

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