“Not one single bit.” I beamed. “None of their business what we get up to in here. For all they know, you’re helping me prepare for the trip.” I paused. “You know ...boningup on all the details.”
Nicky groaned. “Ky, you’re not helping.”
“No?” I folded down the sheets and patted the space next to me in the bed. “Come here, and I promise I’ll do my best to be more helpful.”
When he didn’t move right away, I let the sheet covering me slip down a little, exposing my breasts, which had swelled fuller in the early months of my pregnancy. It was my favorite part so far about being pregnant.
And I was pretty sure it was Nicky’s favorite part so far, too. His eyes darkened as he took me in, and the tip of his tongue darted out to run over his lips. I knew I had him now. I only had to reel him in.
Keeping my hooded gaze trained on him, I lifted one hand to cup the heaviness of my breast, sighing. And then I circled the wide nipple with my thumb, shivering as it went hard and began to ache with pleasure.
My husband shed the rest of his clothes with alacrity, and there was no doubt as to his interest. Crawling up the mattress to me, he gently knocked my hand out of the way.
“Let me do that,” he rasped.
I acquiesced, lowering myself back to the mattress. Nicky’s large hand followed, palming me as he stared in fascination at the reaction of my nipple to the touch of his fingers. He gave it a pinch that was just the right kind of rough, and I hissed out my approval, my eyes closing as I arched my back, hungry for more.
When his mouth closed over the throbbing peak, I cried out, and Nicky laid a soft hand over my mouth.
“Shhh,” he reminded me. “Voices carry, remember? I still need to be able to look those people in the eye in an hour.”
I reached down between us and stroked his stiff sex. “Oh, really?” I was breathless. “Let’s see how quiet you can be when someone’s hand is in a particularly sensitive place.”
The sound Nicky made was strangled, but it was admirably restrained. He grinned down at me. “Years of training, sweetheart.” He bent his head to cover my lips, kissing away any smart comment I might have made in response.
His lips trailed down my neck to return to my breasts, even as his fingers wandered lowered. He smiled against my skin at finding me eager and ready for him.
“Why is it that with each day that goes by, I only want you more?” Nuzzling me, he glanced up into my face. “There never seems to be enough time or enough ... of this.” His fingers slide over my slick flesh, making me gasp and buck against his hand. “The moment we’re finished, I find myself craving you all over again.”
“I feel the same way,” I murmured. “I think that’s love, sweetheart. It’s because we were made for each other. We’re two halves of a whole ... in the best way possible.”
Nicky raised himself over me, nudging my legs apart wider, his eyes steady on mine as he slid home, joining our bodies on a wave of pure rapture. When he spoke, his voice was low and rough with need.
“And now we’re complete. Whole.”
As the train rocked over the landscape of England into Wales, we were just that—whole. Complete. Satisfied, for now.
Although maybe not as quiet as some of us could have been ... but that was all right. In the end, it was Nicky’s moan that reverberated against the walls, which gave me something to giggle about for the rest of the afternoon.
And even though he promised revenge, I wasn’t worried. After all, his kind of revenge was the sweetest form of torture.
“Princess Ky! Over here, please.”
My eyes slid to Nicky’s, the smile on my face growing wider. He’d teased me before our marriage that even though we’d been given the titles of Duke and Duchess, the people would still call me Princess Ky. It wasn’t at all correct, since I hadn’t been born a princess and would never become one; the closest title I technically bore would have been Princess Nicholas, had the Queen not bestowed the dukedom of Kendal on us, making my official name Kyra, Duchess of Kendal.
However, we’d both been pleasantly surprised that following the wedding, the press and the people we’d met had called me by my proper title of Duchess. It was only here in Wales that we were hearingPrincess Kyused frequently for the first time.
I moved over to that side of the crowd, greeting the schoolchildren who were waiting so patiently. Many of them were clutching handfuls of flowers, and I made sure to accept each one and thank the giver. When my arms were full, Lady Marjorie, who here was serving as my de facto lady-in-waiting, discreetly took the flowers from me. They’d be removed to the residence where we were staying, and the nicest bunches would be quietly donated to a local children’s hospital.
It was our second full day here in Wales. We’d been greeted warmly at the train station when we’d arrived, and our hours since had been filled with visits to a couple of farms, to playgrounds, parks and a couple of organizations that helped to feed the hungry. We were now on our way into a school that offered innovative early education to children from low-income families.
We were running late, as we’d been scheduled to be inside ten minutes ago. But the crowds outside the school had been waiting since early morning to see us, and neither Nicky nor I were going to disappoint them.
I was working one side of the road while Nicky shook hands on the other. Harold and Lady Marjorie hovered at either of my elbows, neither of them moving from my side. Thus far on the trip, our protection officers had been vigilant, and as far as I knew, no threats had been received. Nicky and I were both thoroughly enjoying ourselves; we’d discovered that we loved this particular part of Great Britain, from the wild countryside to the warmth of the people.
“Princess Ky.” A small hand tugged at my skirt, and I looked down to see wide blue eyes gazing up at me imploringly. Without hesitating, I dropped to my knees, taking the little girl’s hand.
“Hello! What’s your name, darling?”
