Isobel blinked as he ensured that she was comfortable before he situated himself in the carriage, and she felt adoration to her core. They waved at their guests and yelled words of gratitude as the carriage began to roll away from Graham’s estate.
Finally, it was just the two of them.
Richard shuffled closer to Isobel and held her hand in his, raising it to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, then another to the back of her hand. And then he turned it around and kissed her wrist, making her heart flutter.
“I’ve been waiting to do this for so long,” he admitted quietly.
“To kiss my hand?” Isobel teased.
Richard shook his head, cupping her face with his hands and drawing her closer for a kiss. Isobel’s eyes slipped closed as their lips met, relishing in the flood of emotions welling up in her. Richard’s kisses were slow and sweet, as though he was also savoring the moment.
“To be this close to you,” he whispered when they reluctantly parted for air. “To adore you as much as my heart can muster. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my days caring for you and loving you, my darling Isobel.”
“Neither can I, Richard. I want to share everything good life has to offer with you. I want you to be the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning, and I want the last thought I have before I drift off at night to be about the warmth of our hand in mine. I want all of you.” She told him softly.
Richard sighed, drawing her in for another kiss, this one deeper than the last.
“All of me you shall have. I swear it. My body and soul belong to you, my love. And they always will be.” He murmured into the space between them.
Isobel sighed, need welling up rapidly within her as she stated with heated fervor.
“I love you.”
Richard moaned against her mouth and echoed the sentiment breathlessly.
“And I love you.”
It was getting harder to think outside the fog of need welling up within her, but Isobel could feel herself craving more of his touch, submitting to every caress and kiss, and just as she was worried they would be left in a very awkward situation, the carriage came to a stop.
“We have arrived, Your Graces.” The coachman announced.
“And not a moment too soon,” Richard exhaled, swiftly disembarking the carriage and helping her out of it.
There was a line of staff members who no doubt served the duke and the estate and wished to welcome their new duchess, but Richard barely stopped as he instructed them to disperse for now.
“The duchess is rather tired, so the necessary introductions will be made later.” He stated, leading Isobel by the hand into the house.
“Richard,” she giggled, following him closely.
“Forgive me, my love,” he sighed, not sounding in the least apologetic. “I am on the verge of being consumed by my desire for you. Everything else can wait.”
He pulled her into a room, closed the door, and pressed her against it.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Isobel whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
When they had been in the Gramfield estate, the moments they had shared felt somewhat rushed, as they had been controlled by their desire, working to simply do everything they could for their release. But now that they had the rest of their lives to love and learn about each other, Richard seemed keen on taking his time.
His kisses were deep and wet, tongues mingling together as his hands found purchase on her hips, pinning her to the door. The slow pace of it was melting Isobel’s mind, seizing the thoughts from her mind before they were even formed, and she ran her hands through his hair, fingers tugging on the soft strands.
Richard’s hands began to move, exploring her curves over her dress, dipping down her back to caress a path down her narrow waist to her buttocks, gripping the flesh greedily.
“I want to ravish you,” Richard muttered, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. “I want to swallow you whole.”
Isobel sank her teeth into her lower lip as a loud moan threatened to leave her mouth, shuddering as one of he undid the buttons of her dress.
“You can,” she told him. “I am yours to do as you please.”
“I must have used up all my fortune to have been blessed with you, my lovely wife,” he said earnestly, his hands and mannerisms growing quicker where his words were still slow and soft.
