“Grace, my darling. I cannot speak to her marriage, but, my love, my dear, dear, love. I shall never lose interest in you or the children.”
When she tilted her head up, her beautiful woebegone face wrung his heart. He frowned. “That was the reason you were so cold to me when we left?”
“Yes, but then I decided I would take the love you could give me until you—you tired of me.”
Holding her close to him again, he said, “My poor sweetheart. If only you’d told me.”
“How could I have? I had so many doubts and everything was happening so quickly.”
“I know she meant well.” Matt kissed her. “Yet I can’t help but wish she’d not spoken to you. My love, my parents did not have that sort of marriage, and it’s not what I want with you.” He kissed her temple and vowed he’d show her every day how much she meant to him. Grace and the children. “But my father did with Patience. I could never inflict that type of pain on you.”
“Are you sure? Because if I let down my guard . . .”
“There is nothing more certain. I want you as my lover, my friend, and my wife.”
Matt kissed her gently, deeply, and with all the love he could infuse into a kiss. “I vowed to-day to worship you with my body, and to keep myself only on to you. That is a promise I shall keep.”
He brushed the tears from the corners of her eyes, then took her lips, teasing them open. His tongue stroked hers and explored, slowly building a fire that he wanted to last for the rest of their lives. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“Grace, I’m going to make love to you.”
“Yes.”
He unlaced her gown and found only a chemise underneath. Slowly, he untied the ribbons and pulled her bodice down until the dress hung on her hips, exposing her perfect breasts. He held them reverently before moving his hands down over the indentation of her waist, then on to her hips. The chemise and gown fell in aswoosh. “Your turn.”
Grace untied his cravat and let it drop. She unbuttoned his waistcoat and pushed to remove his jacket. “I need help. This jacket won’t go down.”
“Tug at the sleeves.”
Going behind him, she pulled as Matt shrugged out of the jacket. He drew his shirt off over his head.
Grace unbuttoned the placket of his breeches. They dropped to the floor. He took off his shoes and stockings, standing naked before her.
Her eyes grew round and a small smile appeared to pull at her lips. Reaching out she ran her hands over him. “I love your chest.”
“Do you think you could admire it just as well in a supine position?” Worthington picked her up and carried her to their bed.
Kicking her feet out, she toed off her slippers. “My stockings.”
“In a minute.” He feathered kisses over her throat and down her neck. Her skin warmed and flushed. He caressed her lips with his tongue, teasing until she put her arms around him and captured his mouth. The familiar heat rose between them. He sank deeper into their kiss and Worthington’s senses threatened to scatter. His shaft had been hard since they reached the room, but this was not the time to take her quickly. He wanted to reacquaint himself with her body. His heart raced. Holding her head in his hands, he drove her further into their passion, until Grace was panting and writhing beneath him. Her legs embraced him, pleading for him to take her.
“Not yet,” he managed to murmur.
Worthington’s lips left hers and moved down to her breasts. He held one in his hand while his mouth ministered to the other. Grace shook with need. But his licking and tasting added a layer of pleasure to what she wanted. She cried out and this time he didn’t caution her to be quiet. He left her breasts and traveled over her stomach to her curls. Oh, he hadn’t done that since their first night, and she wanted it. When she moaned, her wicked husband chuckled deeply as she arched into him wanting more.
Grace shuddered and screamed when his tongue stroked and entered her. “Matt, Matt, please.”
“Ah, so that’s what I have to do in order for you to scream my name?”
Matt embraced his need for her. He’d not expected their union to be so strong this soon. Slumping down next to her, he ran his hand over her naked body. This was the lady he was meant to have, to live his life with. His woman, his love. For the second time, he settled her in the place next to him and pulled the covers over them.
Her skin was still flushed and dewed. Grace snuggled into him. “That was different, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “It was different. How it’s meant to be.”
“I like being in a bed with you.” Grace turned in his arms and captured him with her deep blue gaze. “I won’t leave this time. I want to know what it’s like to wake with you next to me.”
