Grace panted. “I—I don’t know.”
She was so beautiful and appeared vulnerable. Yet, against all odds, she’d been strong enough to keep the children together. He needed her, to make her his, and, even if she didn’t know it, she needed him in return.
“Grace, let me in. Let me into your life.” Stroking her back, he pressed kisses from the tender part under her ear, down her throat and back to her lips. Her skin was warm, and her small breathy sounds of desire urged him on. Her tongue stroked his frantically, and he moved his hand down her legs, kneading and caressing her. “Grace, my only love, I need you.”
She trailed her palms from his back down over his buttocks. Matt slowly lifted the edge of her skirts, the fine muslin rising as his fingers made a slow path up her inner thighs. She moaned and tilted her hips even closer to him.
If nothing else, he’d pleasure her. But when he reached her curls, she unbuttoned his pantaloons and released his erection.
Thank God for managing women.
He slid Grace back a little more on her desk and slowly sank into her. She was hot, wet, and ready for him. Her legs wrapped around him, and her whole body trembled.
He withdrew, then thrust inside her again. It was as if they were made for each other, and no one else.
Grace tightened around him. Matt smothered her low keening cry with his mouth. She was on fire, and her climax spun out like fine crystal until she shattered, carrying him with her.
Afterward he held her, kissing her hair and temple gently, tenderly, before carrying her to the large leather sofa placed in front of the fireplace. He sat, shifting her to his lap.
Mine.
Even if Grace couldn’t quite bring herself to accept the fact at the moment. If need be, he’d worm his way into her life until she could no longer deny she was his.
Matt didn’t know how long she sat cuddled on his lap, her head against his shoulder, pretending to sleep.
Innumerable minutes passed before she opened her eyes. “I have failed.”
Surely she could not have thought of another reason to keep them apart. “What do you mean?”
Her worried countenance was only inches from his face. “I had every intention of telling you we could not go on. That our loving each other wasn’t enough, you would never be able to cope with the children. As it is, I am still not sure this is a good idea.”
Finally. He resisted the urge to smile. He’d made some progress. “I’m not going to lie to you. I thought about it all of yesterday, last night and to-day. Grace, I just couldn’t see past having a future that didn’t include you.” He lightly kissed her hair. “It was serendipity that my sisters and I and your brothers and sisters were all going to the Park at the same time, not to mention Daisy getting loose.”
Grace shuddered. “As much as I love that dog, I could happily throttle her at times.”
Matt chuckled. “They are all like that when they’re young.” He placed his palm on her cheek, she nuzzled into it. “I’ve never had brothers. I rather enjoyed it.”
“What about the girls? How many sisters do you have?”
“Four. Louisa is the same age as Charlotte, Augusta is fifteen, Madeline, twelve, and Theodora, eight.” He barked a laugh. “It was touch and go with Theodora and Mary, but they worked it out rather quickly. Charlotte and Louisa already act like they are the best of friends. There will no doubt be squabbles, but nothing we can’t manage.”
Grace raised wide, horrified eyes to his. “Eleven children.”
He smiled and kissed her again. “In addition to whatever we will have.”
How could he remain so calm? She got up and stood before him, fists on her hips. “How do you propose are we going to manage eleven children?”
“If we want to be together, we will find a way.” Matt reached out, wanting her soft warmth on his lap again. “We shall also have my stepmother’s help.”
Grace shook off his fingers and began pacing the room muttering to herself, then stopped in front of the window, her back to him. “I don’t know. How do I know you won’t tire of my brothers and sisters and send them off to school?”
Wiping a hand over his face, Matt studied her. She was right to be concerned. Although they had the deepest physical attraction he’d ever experienced with a woman, and they appeared to agree on most issues, she didn’t yet know him well enough to completely trust him. “I would want to send the boys to school. I think it’s a good experience for them.”
She whirled around and glared. “Not when they are so young. I’ve heard stories about even the best boarding schools. They need to be old enough to know how to deal with the problems.”
When Matt reached for her hands again, she whipped them behind her.
He stifled a groan. This was not what he wanted to be doing with Grace, but they may as well have the conversation now. “Walter is not that young. He should already be in school. I agree with you about Philip, he is not yet ready.”
