One Wicked Winter
Page 26
“She rides out an awful lot, and she always gives her groom the slip. She’s out for hours.”
Edward leaned in and kissed her. “Stop worrying,” he murmured against her lips before drawing back a little. “We’ll speak to Crecy in the morning and see what she has to say, but I promise you, Belle, we’ll keep your sister safe. She’s part of the family now, and it is my duty to protect her as I would my own sister.”
Looking up into Edward’s serious green eyes, Belle could only be reassured. She smiled at him, reaching out a wet hand to grasp at his shirt and tug him closer. Belle pressed her lips against his in a slow lingering kiss.
“You’re really rather wonderful, aren’t you?” she said as she released him, amused and touched by the pleasure in his eyes at her words.
“I love you,” he said, his voice a little rough.
Belle sucked in a breath, unable to respond with any more eloquence that a little, surprised oh of wonder.
“You’ve never said that before,” she whispered, her fears for her sister momentarily forgotten in the light of her own joy.
“Because I’m a damned fool,” he said with a grunt. Edward shook his head and moved closer, drawing her as near to him as the sides of the copper bath would allow. “I love you, and if I’d had a scrap of sense, I would have told you months ago. How you’ve borne with me all this time when I’ve been ...”
Belle pressed a finger to his lips to stop him. “Don’t, Edward. It has been no hardship, I promise you. It only hurts me to see you so troubled when I can do nothing to help you.”
“Nothing to ...?” Edward began, staring at her with such incredulity that she wondered what she’d said wrong. “Are you out of your mind, love? Is this what I’ve brought you to?” Belle frowned, puzzled by the teasing tone of his voice. “You’ve done more to help me that you’ll ever know,” he whispered. “You’ve made me want to live again, to make a life for us both, to make you happy.”
Belle grinned at him like a fool, so hopelessly in love with the man that there were no words to express it. Nothing except, “I am happy, Edward. More than I ever dared to dream of. I love you.”
“Come here,” he said, his voice rough and impatient now as he drew her to her feet, water cascading around her body as he pulled her against him, heedless of his own clothes. “Will you take me in all my dirt?” he asked, cupping her face with one rough hand.
“Oh, yes, how lovely,” Belle sighed, looking up at him from under her lashes.
Edward gave a snort of amusement. “Like that, is it?” he said, his voice rumbling with amusement and desire. “I can’t help but notice that my wife has a rather wicked and lascivious nature.”
“Perhaps,” Belle replied, her face the picture of innocence. “But only for you, Edward.”
“Damn right,” her husband muttered, releasing her for long enough to strip off his clothes. He grinned as he looked up, noting the look in her eyes, and Belle did nothing to hide her obvious admiration. “Will you come and watch me fight, then?” he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Oh, Edward!” Belle exclaimed, as Edward laughed at her excitement. “You wouldn’t object?”
Edward stepped forward and lifted her from the bath and into his arms, looking down at her with amusement. “Well, if I don’t let you, you’ll only scare me to death and create a terrible scandal by climbing a rickety ladder to look in a window or something equally dreadful.” He gave a dark chuckle at the chagrined look on her face. “Oh yes, love, I know you well enough by now. Besides,” he added, lowering his head to kiss her before lying her down on the bed, “I like it when you watch me.”
“You do?” she asked, as he settled beside her, smiling as he kissed a path down her neck.
“Mmmhmm,” he replied, too occupied with nuzzling the soft curve of her breast to form a reply.
“I’m glad. Because I would have found a way to watch you, whatever you said.”
Belle squealed as he nipped at her skin.
“I know, you little wretch,” he said, though his eyes were alight with humour as he continued on his path, painting pictures across her stomach with his tongue until she was breathless. She gave up on breathing at all, holding her breath as he parted the little thatch of curls between her legs and swept over her most intimate place with his tongue.
He looked up at her then, his green eyes dark and heavy with desire. “Show me just how wicked you can be, love,” he said, his voice a caress as he lowered his head once more.
Belle was only too happy to comply, finding no shame whatsoever in allowing Edward to pleasure her. She arched in him, spreading her legs to allow him to do so as thoroughly as he desired, which, as it turned out, was very thoroughly indeed.
The worries and stresses of the day fell away beneath his clever tongue, and the world shrank and contracted until she was aware of nothing but the touch of her husband’s mouth upon her skin.
Belle clutched at the bedclothes, writhing beneath him, gasping and moaning with wanton abandon as the glittering peak came into view. She came with a cry of delight, shattering beneath him as he continued his intimate assault on her senses, until he had wrung every last exclamation of pleasure from her.
He gave her no time to catch her own breath, moving over her with something close to desperation as he found his place, joining them together with one swift stroke.
“Ah, Belle,” he said, his shoulders taut as Belle caressed him, revelling in the play of muscle beneath her hands as he moved. “Oh, love, you feel like heaven.”
Belle replied in kind, murmuring encouragement and endearments until the ability to form words was driven from them both, their bodies too tangled in the pursuit of pleasure to allow room for thought. There was nothing but sensation, the feel of skin against skin, lips speaking more eloquently than words could do now, and both of them knowing that beneath all of it, they were loved.
Clutching at his powerful back, Belle held on tight as Edward cried out, holding her to him so tight that she could do nothing but ride the waves in his arms, rejoicing in his ecstasy just as much as in her own.
Much later, they lay together watching the embers of the fire dying in the darkness, warm and snug in each other’s arms. They were both sleepy, but too happy to leave each other’s company, even to close their eyes.
Edward’s head was pillowed on her breast, an arm and leg slung over her, pinning her to the mattress. He was heavy and she couldn’t move if she tried, and it was heavenly.
“Edward,” Belle said, trepidation at what she was going to say bringing her fully awake.
“Mmm,” Edward mumbled, his voice sleepy and warm as she toyed with his hair, stroking it and not caring that it was dusty still, as his bath had been long forgotten. He smelled strongly of smoke and soot and hard-working male, and she decided to get the words out before she became too distracted by other ideas.
“I have to tell you something.”
There was a pause and then Edward lifted his head, clearly alerted to the serious tone of her voice.
“What is it, love?” and she could hear the worry already in his voice.
Taking a deep breath, she decided there was no point in prevaricating. “I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, there was a silence so profound that all Belle could hear was her own heart beating in her ears.
“Edward?” she said as anxiety flared to life. “Say something, please.”
She could hear him breathing, and it was no longer the sleepy, relaxed sound that it had been moments ago.
“Edward, I’m fit and strong, there is no need to worry unduly.”
He let out a breath, and turned onto his back, pulling her with him. “I know,” he said, his voice quiet. “But I will. I won’t be able to help it. I can’t lose you, Belle. I can’t ...”
His voice wavered and he said nothing more for a moment.
“I’ll take good care, Edward,” she said, searching for his hand beneath the covers and holding it tight. “I’ll do everythi
ng I’m told, you have my word. I won’t take any chances, I promise you.”
She raised her head as he sought her mouth in the darkness. “I know that, love,” he whispered against her mouth as he released her. “And I’m still terrified, but ... oh, Belle, a child. How wonderful.”
Belle gave a laugh of delight, torn between deep relief and such joy that she might easily have cried. “You’re really, truly happy?” she asked.
“I am,” he said, his voice warm and sure and full love as he pulled her closer still. “Happier than I ever thought possible, thanks to you, Belle. My love.”
The End
Crecy’s story will be continued in ‘To Tame a Savage Heart’, out in 2018
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About Me!
I started this incredible journey way back in 2010 with The Key to Erebus but didn’t summon the courage to hit publish until October 2012. For anyone who’s done it, you’ll know publishing your first title is a terribly scary thing! I still get butterflies on the morning a new title releases but the terror has subsided at least. Now I just live in dread of the day my daughters are old enough to read them.
The horror! (On both sides I suspect.)
2017 marked the year that I made my first foray into Historical Romance and the world of the Regency Romance, and my word what a year! I was delighted by the response to this series and can’t wait to add more titles. Paranormal Romance readers need not despair however as there is much more to come there too. Writing has become an addiction and as soon as one book is over I’m hugely excited to start the next so you can expect plenty more in the future.
As many of my works reflect I am greatly influenced by the beautiful French countryside in which I live. I’ve been here in the South West for the past twenty years though I was born and raised in England. My three gorgeous girls are all bilingual and the youngest who is only six, is showing signs of following in my footsteps after producing The Lonely Princess all by herself.
I’m told book two is coming soon ...
She’s keeping me on my toes, so I’d better get cracking!
KEEP READING TO DISCOVER MY OTHER BOOKS!
Other Works by Emma V. Leech
(For those of you who have read The French Fae Legend series, please remember that chronologically The Heart of Arima precedes The Dark Prince)
Rogues & Gentlemen
The Rogue
The Earl’s Temptation
Scandal’s Daughter
The Devil May Care
Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell
One Wicked Winter
To Tame a Savage Heart (June 2018)
The Regency Romance Mysteries
Dying for a Duke
A Dog in a Doublet (January 26, 2018)
The Rum and the Fox (February 23, 2018)
The French Vampire Legend
The Key to Erebus
The Heart of Arima
The Fires of Tartarus
The Boxset (The Key to Erebus, The Heart of Arima, The Fires of Tartarus)
The Son of Darkness (May 2018)
The French Fae Legend
The Dark Prince
The Dark Heart
The Dark Deceit
The Darkest Night (TBA)
Short Stories: A Dark Collection.
Stand Alone
The Book Lover (a paranormal novella)
Interested in a Regency Romance with a twist ?
Dying for a Duke
The Regency Romance Mysteries Book 1
Straight-laced, imperious and morally rigid, Benedict Rutland - the darkly handsome Earl of Rothay - gained his title too young. Responsible for a large family of younger siblings that his frivolous parents have brought to bankruptcy, his youth was spent clawing back the family fortunes.
Now a man in his prime and financially secure he is betrothed to a strict, sensible and cool-headed woman who will never upset the balance of his life or disturb his emotions ...
But then Miss Skeffington-Fox arrives.
Brought up solely by her rake of a step-father, Benedict is scandalised by everything about the dashing Miss.
But as family members in line for the dukedom begin to die at an alarming rate, all fingers point at Benedict, and Miss Skeffington-Fox may be the only one who can save him.
FREE to read on Amazon Kindle Unlimited..Dying for a Duke
Lose yourself in Emma’s paranormal world with The French Vampire Legend series….. Book 1 is a FREE download on Amazon….
The Key to Erebus
The French Vampire Legend Book 1
The truth can kill you.
Taken away as a small child, from a life where vampires, the Fae, and other mythical creatures are real and treacherous, the beautiful young witch, Jéhenne Corbeaux is totally unprepared when she returns to rural France to live with her eccentric Grandmother.
Thrown headlong into a world she knows nothing about she seeks to learn the truth about herself, uncovering secrets more shocking than anything she could ever have imagined and finding that she is by no means powerless to protect the ones she loves.
Despite her Gran’s dire warnings, she is inexorably drawn to the dark and terrifying figure of Corvus, an ancient vampire and master of the vast Albinus family.
Jéhenne is about to find her answers and discover that, not only is Corvus far more dangerous than she could ever imagine, but that he holds much more than the key to her heart …
FREE download
The Key to Erebus
Check out Emma’s exciting fantasy series with hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “An enchanting fantasy with a likable heroine, romantic intrigue, and clever narrative flourishes.”
The Dark Prince
The French Fae Legend Book 1
Two Fae Princes
One Human Woman
And a world ready to tear them all apart
Laen Braed is Prince of the Dark fae, with a temper and reputation to match his black eyes, and a heart that despises the human race. When he is sent back through the forbidden gates between realms to retrieve an ancient fae artifact, he returns home with far more than he bargained for.
Corin Albrecht, the most powerful Elven Prince ever born. His golden eyes are rumoured to be a gift from the gods, and destiny is calling him. With a love for the human world that runs deep, his friendship with Laen is being torn apart by his prejudices.
Océane DeBeauvoir is an artist and bookbinder who has always relied on her lively imagination to get her through an unhappy and uneventful life. A jewelled dagger put on display at a nearby museum hits the headlines with speculation of another race, the Fae. But the discovery also inspires Océane to create an extraordinary piece of art that cannot be confined to the pages of a book.
With two powerful men vying for her attention and their friendship stretched to the breaking point, the only question that remains...who is truly The Dark Prince.
The man of your dreams is coming...or is it your nightmares he visits? Find out in Book One of The French Fae Legend.
Available now to read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.
The Dark Prince
Acknowledgements
Thanks as always to my wonderful editor for being patient and loving my characters as much as I do. Gemma you’
re the best!
To Victoria Cooper for all your hard work, amazing artwork and above all your unending patience !!! Thank you so much. You are amazing !
To my BFF, PA, personal cheerleader and bringer of chocolate, Varsi Appel, for moral support, confidence boosting and for reading my work more times than I have. I love you loads!
A huge thank you to all of Emma’s Book Club members! You guys are the best!
I’m always so happy to hear from you so do email or message me :)
emmavleech@orange.fr
To my husband Pat and my family ... For always being proud of me.