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“When do you leave for the honeymoon?” Jemima was asking when they reached the door. “We wish to come and say goodbye first.”
“Tomorrow,” Luke declared, passing her pelisse into her hands.
“Come, love, he wants to be rid of us,” Noah said, taking her arm.
“Why?” she asked as her husband led her out of the door and down the path toward their carriage.
“Ha! Do you not remember our own wedding night?” Noah said, making Jemima laugh as Luke closed the door.
Annie smiled as she placed down her wine glass, watching as Luke leaned on that closed door, staring at her for a long moment.
“I thought they would never leave,” Luke said in a deep voice.
“You had to chase them out.” Annie gestured to the closed door. “Is it not a beautiful house, Luke?” she asked, turning in a circle in the middle of the hall and admiring their new home. It was not what she had expected. Upon the declaration of their betrothal, the Earl of Wells had gifted them a new house.
It was a great kindness and one that left Annie in awe as her eyes danced along the marble floors and up the spiral staircase at one end, reaching to a skylight set high in the rafters of the white ceiling, flanked by cherubs. The banister curled in gold leaf, and the steps were lined by a red rug, travelling all the way down to the bottom of the staircase where Annie now stood.
“Something tells me you are looking for a tour.” Luke’s voice was much closer than she had expected it to be. Her smile took over as he moved his lips from her ear down to the crook of her neck from where he stood behind her, kissing her softly. “Or are you staring up at the staircase in wonder of where it might lead?”
“Perhaps,” she confessed in a whisper.
“Wonderful. Shall we begin our tour with the bedchambers?” Luke said with mischief and hurried for the stairs, taking her hand and leading her away. She laughed as she followed him.
“What of the staff? Will they not know we are retiring already?”
“Ha! I am sure they expect it of newly wedded couples by now, Annie.” He pulled her higher up the stairs.
As they ran, Annie could not contain her excitement. It made her body tremble and her heartbeat race. She followed Luke all the way up the stairs, passing two floors until they reached the top floor. There, they hastened together down a bright white corridor, bordered on both sides by busts made of white stone.
Annie tarried a little, agog at the beauty of it all. She had never known a house like this, and after all the economies she and her mother had had to make over the recent months, it was foreign to her to see so much money before her.
“You can admire the house later, love. I wish to admire you first.” Luke pulled on her hand a little more, making another giggle fall from her lips just as they entered a chamber.
Annie couldn’t help admiring the chamber still. It was vast, with such a large bed pushed against an ornate white and gold wall that it dominated the space. Pristine white curtains made of damask hung from the bedposts, making the space seem somewhat ethereal.
As Luke closed the door, Annie turned to face him. She had longed for this moment as much as he had, and she was ready, even though her hands shook a little. It was clearly something noticed by Luke, for he hurried toward her and took one of those trembling hands, lifting it to his lips and kissing the back. That kiss lingered, his lips toying with the nerves beneath her skin and making her hand tingle.
“There is no need to be nervous with me,” he whispered to her, despite them being the only ones in the room.
“I know,” she said softly. “I am excited.”
“Thank god for that.” He moved toward her, about to kiss her, when his lips suddenly froze in front of hers. She practically whimpered, wanting that touch. He smiled a little, noticing that whimper before he spoke a little more. “I want this to be something we’ll always remember, Annie. If at any time you are not ready for something, just tell me.”
“I will.” She nodded, though, in truth, she didn’t think she would want to stop anything. Since she had known Luke, the thought of sharing his bed had thrilled her. The prospect of marital duties no longer seemed to be something of a chore that she had once thought it would be. Luke made it all seem alluring and exhilarating. “I love you,” she said quietly, reaching up toward him.
“I love you too.” With these final words, his lips closed over hers.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood there, kissing, but it was so passionate that she lost track of time. They held onto each other for dear life, her hands clinging to his tailcoat and moving into his hair. His own pulled at her waist so that her body was pressed completely to his, arching into him, then his hands moved softly over the curves of her hips, teasing her with the lightness of that touch. She moaned into that kiss, wanting something that was firmer. That sound seemed enough to take things further.
They still kissed, their tongues battling together, as Annie was backed up toward the bed. Luke reached for her gown and began to undo it behind her back. Once the laces were undone, it fell to the floor between them. She stepped out of it as she continued to move back. Next came the corset and the chemise, until she was only in her stockings. When they reached the bed, she fell against the mattress, tumbled there by Luke, who stopped kissing her to smile down at her.
“Do you trust me?” he whispered.
“You know I do.”
With those words, he gave her one quick kiss, then stood beside the bed, looking down at her. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel nervous under that gaze, only love.
He moved his hands to her stockings and began to lower them slowly, teasingly, placing soft kisses on her thighs and calves as he slid them down. Once she was free of those stockings, he moved his kisses back up her leg, startling her when those lips met her hip. Remembering what they had shared before, that same wetness pooled between her legs, ready for him. When his lips met her centre, she moaned aloud, clutching at the bed covers beneath her.
