Page 92 of Unbound Duchess

Laurence’s answering smirk was handsome and mischievous as he laid her gently down on the bed, but Ellen frowned in confusion as he then moved from her side to the foot of it.

“I am not going anywhere,” he promised, catching the fear in her eyes. “But this is not going to be like before. No hurried flurry of passion. I want this to be perfect for you. I want to show you how perfect I can be for you.”

The fluttering butterflies in her stomach settled at once, and she propped herself up among her pillows as she sat on the bottom of the bed and pulled her foot into his lap.

“There will be days where I want to walk that line with you,” he told her, gently loosening her right shoe from her foot. “There will be days when I want to hear you beg for release several times over before I give it to you.”

Heat laced through Ellen’s lower belly at his words, and she said nothing as Laurence smoothed his hands up her leg, then slowly dragged her stocking down and away from her foot. She gasped and began to tremble as he pushed the heel of his palm into the instep of her foot, the touch releasing pressure and making her relax.

“Today, however,” he rasped, moving to her left foot. “I only want to bring you bliss.”

“Mmm,” Ellen whimpered, her lashes already trying to flutter shut as he massaged her left foot as he had her right; the touch was heavenly.

“I want to show you that your beast can be just as gentle as he can be feral,” Laurence rasped, heat filling his green eyes as he slid his palms smoothly up her legs to her hips.

Ellen moaned and trembled as she felt his bare hands squeeze her hips, then gasped as he suddenly gave her a sharp tug that brought her closer to him. He snagged the front of her dress with the crook of his finger and sat her up, his mouth meeting hers in another passionate kiss.

“Have you two—oh. Oh, my…”

Madalene’s voice cut through the air, startling Ellen and making Laurence snarl as they both turned to find her standing by the now open door.

“Oh. Um…yayyyy,” Madalene offered awkwardly, grinning madly as her eyes offered an apology for the interruption.

Ellen laughed as she dropped her suddenly red face into her hands, but Laurence did not find her timing amusing.

“I think it is time you go visit our cousins again, Madalene,” he snapped as he glowered at her. “For a week.”

Ellen peeked through her fingers, her eyes darting from her annoyed, scowling expression to her sister-in-law’s overly joyful one.

“A week, yes,” Madalene agreed, taking a retreating step toward the door. “And the cousins. They would love to have me, I am sure.”

Ellen pressed her lips together in a smile as she waved goodbye to Madalene, while Laurence snarled at her to go.

“So glad you two spoke!” Madalene said in a quick farewell before she shut the door with a loud thud, followed quickly by her muffled instructions to the servants that they were not to be bothered unless called for.

“Oh, my God,” Ellen giggled into her hands.

“We will thank her for her meddling later,” Laurence retorted, moving to her back. “For now we have more important things to attend to.”

Ellen’s giggle died in her throat as Laurence’s lips found her neck. Her lashes fluttered shut as she felt the delicious familiarity of his teeth and lips grazing her sensitive flesh, and soon, Madalene’s brief interruption was entirely forgotten.

“I did not take the proper time to admire you the last time we were together,” Laurence murmured against her throat as his hands slid down to the ties of her dress. “Allow me to remedy that.”

Ellen’s breath hitched as Laurence loosened her first gown, then her corset, pulling each away with a tender touch that left her trembling and warm until she was bare. Laurence then shifted to her side, and with one hand at the nape of her neck and the other on her lower back, he kissed her lips softly as he lowered her back into a supine position.

“There you are,” he rasped, his dilated gaze filled with hunger as he rose and looked down at her. He stood by the side of the bed, still fully clothed, and with reverence, ran the fingertips of his right hand from the hollow of her throat to her navel.

“Such beauty,” he breathed, his gaze roaming continually over her bare form. “Such perfection.”

Ellen trembled. Not just with desire, but with vulnerability. The last time he’d seen her naked was so different. She was bruised and still in shock. His touch had been to heal as much as it had been to provide pleasure. Now though, the bruises were gone, and the only thing that dazed her was the sight of her handsome husband staring down at her.

She reached for his hand and curled her fingers around his own, stopping him just as he traced over her navel.

“I want to see you, too,” she whispered, no longer afraid to hide the longing in her voice. “I want to see my husband.”

Laurence’s answering smile was instant and wicked.

“Say that again,” he said, his husky voice taking on a commanding tone. Ellen’s loins quivered at the sound of it.