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“Shh...” He lifted his torso away from her, bracing up on those bulging arms, the hard, thick length of him nudging deliciously deeper within her.
Twin tears escaped. They ran down her temples into her hair. “You wouldn’t take my calls. I tried so hard to reach you. If not for the baby...”
“Shh. I didn’t know, didn’t understand. I thought it would be better for you if we didn’t see each other again.”
“Liar.”
“I swear it, Gen. It’s true.” He bent his head, kissed her on either cheek and then at her temples, his wonderful, pliant lips brushing the tracks of her tears. “And we do have this.” And then he took her mouth in a kiss so sweet and gentle—at first. Until it went deeper, became a tangle of tongues, a nipping of teeth.
“Now,” she whispered against his lips. “Now, please...”
And at last, he gave her what she craved, sinking into her slowly, all the way.
She stared into his eyes as they began to move together. He didn’t look away. He held her gaze endlessly, as the pleasure washed over them.
It lasted the longest time. She reveled in every stroke, every sigh, every aching, perfect moan.
Because he was so right.
No matter, all the questions. All the secrets, the pain, the terrible loss and even the lies.
They did have this. And it was glorious. Raw and simple and marvelous.
Together in this, at least, they both were set free.
Chapter Six
“I was wondering...” He held her close. They had turned off the lights.
“Mmm?” She floated on a gentle sea of satisfaction.
“Would you like some kind of wedding trip?” He kissed the top of her head.
She pressed her lips to the hard curve of his shoulder. “Maybe, sometime...”
He stroked her hair. “That’s not very specific.”
“Honestly, for now, I would just like to stay here, at Hartmore, to settle in, work with Eloise in the gardens, spend time with my new husband...”
He guided her hair behind her ear. “Fair enough. But remember, if all this domesticity starts driving you out of your mind—”
“It won’t.”
“Fine, but if it does, let me know and we’ll plan a holiday somewhere.”
She put her hand against his cheek—on the safe side, the unscarred side. “I’ve been thinking about the West Wing roof.”
“How romantic.”
She kissed his square jaw. “Listen.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“None. I remember you told me a couple of years ago that you’d pushed Edward into commissioning a structural survey of the West Wing...”
“I did, yes.”
“Last year, you said the survey uncovered exactly what we’d expected. There’s extensive roof damage, right?”
“That’s right.”
“So, then. I think we need to move on that and have the roof replaced. I’m more than willing to see it paid for out of my inheritance.”
He made a sound that might have been a chuckle. “So you think you’ll make the West Wing roof your wedding gift to Hartmore?”
“That’s a perfect way to look at it, yes.”
“Very generous, but that won’t be necessary.”
“But Rafe, if we need the roof...”
“We do. And the repairs will begin in November, when we close the house to the public for the winter. The work is projected to take the whole winter. As it turns out, the survey revealed that the entire roof needs replacing—both wings and the central block. So we’ll be doing just that, with extensive structural and interior repairs required in the West Wing.”
“You’ve already arranged to replace the roof...the entire roof?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Rafe, I’m...”
“Speechless?” He was definitely teasing her. “That’s a first.” For that, she bit his shoulder. “Ouch!”
She kissed the spot she’d bitten. “I know how to be quiet when I should.”
“Of course you do.” He said it way too fast to be sincere and she was tempted to bite him again.
But she decided to be nice and let it go. “I admit I’m used to thinking of Hartmore as barely struggling along.” So few of the best country houses were privately owned anymore. They simply cost too much to run and keep in good condition. Most had been put under a trust or in the care of one historical society or another. And there were rules for historic buildings in England. Hartmore House was a Grade I listed building, a building of highest architectural and historic interest. That meant the new roof would be required to match the style and materials of the original as closely as possible, as would repairs inside. It all added up to enormous outlays of cash.
