‘Then you don’t have to.’
‘Don’t say that. We should wait until you’re completely recovered and you’ve got all your strength back. Then we can—’
He didn’t get any further as she kissed him. She moved so quickly that he barely had time to react before her lips were pressed against his, and she wasn’t gentle about it either. On the contrary, she was rough, as if she were determined to show him just how recovered she was. It was the fiercest, most potent kiss he’d ever experienced, so unexpected and mind-spinning that it rendered him utterly powerless to do anything but kiss her back. And then she pulled away and stared up at him, hands gripping the front of his shirt as her eyes blazed a challenge and that was it, he realised—he was lost.
The next few seconds were a frenzied blur. He was vaguely aware of reaching for her, of catching her up in his arms as her own curved around his neck, until her feet were trailing along the floor and they were both stumbling towards the bed. And then his clothes were being discarded, scattered in all directions at once, and her nightdress was being pulled over her head, and they were lying side by side, only not quite side by side. He was lying half on top of her, one of his legs draped across hers while he kept his weight on one arm, trying to keep from crushing her.
‘Mmm...’ He kissed her again, one of his hands smoothing a path over her stomach and up her ribcage until he found her breast and cradled it. ‘Mmm.’ He slid his tongue inside her mouth as he drew his thumb across the bud, swallowing her moan of pleasure. She was a perfect handful, he thought, even more perfect than he’d imagined, and if she moaned like that again, she might just unman him before they could get any further...
‘Tell me...’ He broke the kiss. ‘If you change your mind. If you want me to stop...’
‘I will...’ she arched her back as his hand slid downwards again, curving gently around her hip ‘...but I won’t.’
‘But if you do...’ He almost growled the words, needing her to know she could trust him, before he moved downwards, placing his mouth where his hand had left off.
‘Oh!’
She cried out as his lips closed around her nipple and suckled. It was beyond any shadow of a doubt the most seductive sound he’d ever heard. It made him feel an even greater need to hurry, although he didn’t want to rush her or do anything before she was ready. Which meant that he was going to have to think of something powerfully un-seductive to hold himself in check, though frankly it was a wonder he could still think at all when all the blood in his body appeared to have sped straight to his groin.
Flags again?
‘Sebastian...’ She placed her hands on either side of his head, lifting his mouth back to hers, her breathing fast and erratic. ‘I want you.’
‘I want you, too.’ He rolled on top of her, nudging her legs apart and settling his body gently between her thighs. ‘But it might hurt at first.’
‘I know.’
He smiled. ‘You know a lot.’
‘I know that I trust you...’ her eyes were wide and intense ‘...and I can’t wait any longer.’
There was only one way he could think of to reply, holding her gaze as he pushed inside her. She gave another gasp, one that sounded like pain this time, and he stopped at once, counting to ten as he tried to remain completely still. He was only part way sheathed. Maybe if he pulled back, it would...
‘No.’ She moved beneath him suddenly, as if she’d sensed his retreat, pushing upwards until he was fully embedded.
‘Hen...’ He couldn’t even finish her name, pressing his face into the curve of her neck and breathing heavily as they both lay completely still for a few seconds.
She felt so, so good, her body moulded against his, her inner muscles clenching around him so tightly he could have groaned aloud. She was his, his wife, his Henrietta, and she fitted him as if they were made for each other. And then they both started moving, pressing together and pulling apart in an awkward and then less awkward and then almost flawless rhythm. He wouldn’t have believed the feeling could get any better and yet it did, so close to perfection that he didn’t think he could hold on for much longer. He tried stopping, pushing himself up on his arms to cool them both down, but her breasts were slick with a sheen of perspiration and one of her legs was around his hip and there was nothing he could do. He sank back into her, thrusting one last time before he found his release.
‘Sebastian?’
It took him a few oblivious moments to realise that she was speaking to him.
‘Are you hurt?’ He rolled quickly away from her.
‘No.’ She placed a hand on his chest and gave a low laugh. ‘Stop worrying.’
‘Says the woman who collapsed due to nervous exhaustion.’ He fell on to his back, raking one hand through his hair. He could still feel his own heartbeat, beating so hard it felt like a drum inside his chest. It was no wonder. The last half-hour—he hoped he’d at least lasted that long—had been the most intense experience of his life. He had a feeling it might take him the rest of the night and then some to recover.
‘Well, I’ve learned the error of my ways.’ Henrietta laid one arm across his chest and rested her chin on top. ‘That was as good as any medicine.’
‘It didn’t hurt at all?’
‘A little at first, but then I forgot about it.’
‘Good.’ He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight. ‘Although I still don’t think the doctor would have approved.’
‘The doctor isn’t a newlywed.’
‘True.’ He laughed. ‘And given the circumstances, I think he would have understood. You’re hard enough to resist at the best of times, but in a nightdress it’s well nigh impossible. I thought that the first night I met you.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes. I remember being particularly taken with your ankles.’
‘These ankles?’ She kicked her legs up in the air behind her.
‘The very same.’ He regarded them thoughtfully. Exhausted as he was, the sight was irresistible. ‘I haven’t given them nearly enough attention tonight. Here.’ He sat up, turning her over until she was lying on her back with her legs draped across his lap. ‘I hate to be neglectful.’
‘Sebastian...’ She giggled as he ran a hand gently across her calf.
‘Don’t tell me you’re ticklish?’
‘No, it’s just...’ She drew the bed sheet across her waist. ‘I’m naked.’
‘I noticed. So am I.’ He bent her knee and pressed kisses all the way down to her ankle. ‘You know, I’ve never been seduced by a woman before.’
Her mouth dropped open. ‘I did not seduce you!’
‘I beg to differ. I offered to go to the taproom and let you recover in peace.’
‘All I did was kiss you.’
‘There was no all I did about it. There are kisses and then there are kisses.’
‘And the way you’re kissing my ankle right now would be?’
‘Definitely the latter.’ He pressed his lips to each of her toes in turn before putting her leg down gently. ‘But you’re right. It’s too soon.’
‘I never said...’
‘But it is. I’ll just have to dream of your ankles. Now close your eyes and I’ll tuck you back in.’
‘Oh, all right.’ She snuggled against him as he lay down beside her again, hoisting the blankets up to cover them both. ‘I suppose I did seduce you a bit, but you were going to seduce me at some point, weren’t you?’
‘As soon as possible, yes.’
‘That’s all right then.’ She smiled and yawned. ‘I only sped things up a little bit.’
‘I hadn’t worked out all the details yet, but it was going to be very romantic.’
‘How nice.’
‘You would have enjoyed it.’
‘I’m sure. Did I spoil things, then?’
&nb
sp; ‘What do you think?’
She laughed and snuggled closer. ‘Sebastian?’
‘Yes?’
‘Do I really have to spend the whole day in bed again tomorrow?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Good.’ She pressed a sleepy kiss against his chest. ‘Because I’m looking forward to it now.’
* * *
Henrietta lay back against the pillows and stretched her arms above her head, feeling like the cat who’d got the cream and was basking in sunshine to boot. As horrified as she’d been by her sickbed appearance the previous day, she was starting to think that perhaps having Sebastian as a nurse wasn’t such a bad thing, after all. All things considered, she would be perfectly content to lie in bed all day long. Not only was he extremely attentive, but his methods of keeping her there were surprisingly pleasurable. She didn’t think there was a single square inch of her body that he hadn’t kissed that morning, though he’d paid particular attention to her ankles, she’d noticed.
She supposed she ought to feel embarrassed by some of the things they’d done, but instead, every time she looked at him, she felt a fresh flurry of stomach tingles. They were beyond friendship now, quite a long way beyond, and, although neither of them had mentioned love, they had a new kind of relationship. One based on honesty, affection, respect and undeniable mutual attraction. And if that didn’t feel like quite enough, a tiny voice at the back of her mind argued, it was still better than a lot of marriages.
No, she had no regrets, she decided, watching the ripple of Sebastian’s shoulder blades as he drew a knife across his cheeks and frowned into the mirror on the dresser that had given her such a shock. None except that she hadn’t been able to persuade him to keep the beard, but he’d claimed it was too itchy, promising to compensate in ways that made her imagination run riot.
‘There.’ He put the knife down and rubbed a piece of cloth over his face. ‘All done. What do you think?’
‘I think I miss my husband.’
‘Ah, I forgot, you like pirates.’ He placed his hands on his hips. ‘I’ll just have to save that look for special occasions. Now, am I allowed to get undressed and come back to bed?’
‘I don’t know.’ She tapped a finger against her bottom lip. ‘I would say yes, but I thought I was supposed to be recovering?’
‘That was yesterday.’ He was already removing his trousers. ‘The doctor’s given you the all-clear today.’
‘Oh, yes.’ She giggled. ‘He said I looked quite invigorated.’
‘I hope you didn’t tell him why.’
‘No, although he did tell me I was most fortunate in my choice of husband.’
‘And you agreed?’
‘I might have.’ She glanced at the window. ‘What’s the weather like outside?’
‘Wet and cold.’
‘No more snow?’
‘Not at the moment.’ He gave her a quizzical look. ‘You sound disappointed.’
‘I am a little. Part of me was hoping we’d get snowed in.’
‘That sounds blissful.’ He jumped on to the bed and climbed on top of her. ‘Although I thought you wanted to get back to Feversham as quickly as possible?’
‘That was before I discovered what we could do indoors.’ She smiled provocatively. ‘Besides, if we were snowed in, then it wouldn’t be our fault, would it? A delay would be out of our control. And we’d have to fill in the time somehow.’
‘I see.’ He nuzzled the side of her neck. ‘You wouldn’t be trying to seduce me again, would you, Mrs Fortini?’
‘No. It’s your turn.’
‘Challenge accepted.’ He grinned wickedly and dived under the covers.
‘Sebastian?’ She let out a squeal of surprise. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Ankles.’
She laughed at his muffled reply and settled back against the pillows again. Only it wasn’t just her ankles he was kissing, she realised quickly. It was her toes, too, and her calves and the backs of her knees, the insides of her thighs...
‘Sebastian!’ She thrust her hands under the covers, grabbing his shoulders. ‘You can’t!’
‘I can.’ His hands wrapped around her waist, pinning her down again.
‘But what are you doing?’
‘It’s much better if I show you.’ His head appeared from beneath the covers, one eyebrow raised. ‘Let me?’
She hesitated briefly and then nodded, squeezing her eyes shut as curiosity battled with modesty. She probably ought to protest some more, she thought, only she couldn’t quite bring herself to do it, not when everything he did, every way and place he touched her felt so good, and even better when he slid up the bed and entered her, thrusting gently until she gave a low moan and started to rock against him, too. It was better than the first time, as if they were truly one body, moving together in total harmony.
And then he reversed their positions, holding on to her hips and rolling them both over until she was positioned on top of him, naked and exposed and feeling more powerful than she ever had in her life. For a moment she wasn’t quite sure what to do, but then the sensations seemed to intensify until she was moving to her own rhythm, sliding back and forth, faster and faster until at last she felt a trembling, shuddering sensation in her abdomen as if something had burst inside her, leaving her whole body quivering and shaking. It was a few minutes before she rolled over and came back to herself.
‘You really do like my ankles.’ She stared up at the canopy in wonderment.
He gave a ragged laugh, though she could tell he was staring at the canopy, too. ‘You have no idea.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mornings had officially become Sebastian’s favourite time of the day. He’d woken up in the same room as Henrietta several times while they’d been travelling north, but he’d quickly discovered that waking up beside her, with her face next to his on the pillow, was completely different. Just looking at her while she slept, watching her eyelashes flutter and her chest move slowly up and down made his heart clench with a sense of gladness and contentment. And when she woke up, all tousled and wide eyed... It made it phenomenally difficult to get out of bed, though after two days of so-called rest and recuperation, the continued absence of snow left them no choice but to board the carriage again and head south.
On the other hand, being cuddled up together in a carriage beneath a pile of blankets had its own cosy charm. Henrietta seemed happy, too, which made him even happier. With her arm tucked into his and her head resting on his shoulder, the sense of contentment he’d been afraid might end with the honeymoon only seemed to grow deeper and more intense with each passing mile. He insisted they make regular stops to prevent the coachmen from freezing, as well as to make sure she showed no signs of a relapse, so that it was three days before they eventually came within sight of Feversham.
* * *
It was clear from the moment they climbed down from the carriage that it was going to be some time before he got Henrietta to himself again. The boys were like a litter of puppies, rushing down the front steps to hurl themselves at her legs and jump about with excitement. His own greeting was only slightly less enthusiastic: hugs from Oliver and Michael and a firm handshake from Peter, and then his mother and Lord Tobias were welcoming them back, too, while the Dowager Duchess stood at the front door, smiling.
After the comparative peace and tranquillity of the journey, it was a frenetic half an hour of excitement, naturally succeeded by tea in the drawing room as everyone clamoured to hear about the wedding.
‘Did you really get married in a blacksmith’s shop?’ As always, Michael was the most voluble.
‘We did.’ Sebastian tousled his hair. ‘The blacksmith hit the anvil with his hammer when we said “I do”.’
‘So this means you’re really my uncle?’
‘It really does.’ He reached for Henriett
a’s hand and squeezed it. Even sitting on the chair next to his, she felt too far away. He’d got accustomed to sitting close beside her, to always touching her. Now it felt wrong to be as much as a foot away.
‘And are we all going to live at Belles?’
‘I think Miss MacQueen might have a few things to say about that.’ Sebastian laughed at the boy’s persistence. ‘We haven’t worked out all the details yet, but you’ll be the first to know once we come up with a plan. Right now we’d like to know what you’ve been up to.’
‘We’ve set up a proper stage for our play!’ Oliver bounced enthusiastically.
‘And we painted some backdrops,’ Peter added.
‘That sounds very professional.’
‘I helped to make curtains,’ his mother joined in. ‘It’s become quite a production. Tobias even has a small part.’
‘A good one, I hope?’ He lifted an eyebrow at his uncle.
‘They needed another villain...’ Lord Tobias spread his hands out. ‘Sorry to say, I’m fairly quickly despatched.’
‘No match for Nelson obviously. Another pirate, then?’
‘Napoleon, actually.’
‘Indeed? That sounds...original.’
‘It’s artistic licence.’ His mother smiled serenely. ‘All great playwrights have to bend the truth a little.’
‘Of course.’ Henrietta nodded in agreement. ‘It sounds as though it’s going to be spectacular.’
‘I’m certain of it. They’ve worked very hard, haven’t you, boys? But now it’s time for you to go and clean up for dinner.’
‘Yes, Mrs Fortini.’ Michael looked puzzled. ‘Or should we call you Great-Aunt Fortini now?’
‘How about Aunt Elizabeth? If that’s all right with everyone?’
‘It is with me.’ Henrietta beamed at Sebastian. ‘I think it’s lovely.’
‘Aunt Elizabeth.’ Peter threw his brothers a superior look as they trooped out of the room. ‘I told you so.’
Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer--A Historical Romance Award Winning Author Page 18