After a few minutes of drugging kisses he lifted his mouth a few inches from hers. “Don’t you want your gift?”
“What gift?” she sighed.
With a laugh he sat, taking her with him. He put the pretty white box in her hand.
She gasped with pleasure when she opened it and saw the beautiful pair of ruby and diamond bracelets lying on a bed of dark blue velvet.
“They’re divine.” She whispered. She lifted one and studied it. The bracelet was truly exquisite. “I adore them.”
“If you please me, Wife, I might be willing to part with the matching necklace and earrings.”
“I can rise to that challenge.” She gave him a coy glance. “The question is, can you?”
He returned her look with a lewd one of his own. “You’ll have to work long and hard,” he warned.
“Mm. Long and hard. My favorite.”
His hands settled at her waist and he pulled her closer. “My wife is wicked and wanton, and I love it. I’m the luckiest man alive.” He took her earlobe between his lips and nuzzled her.
She laughed and touched his cheek. “Before you show me how much you appreciate me, I’ve a gift for you, too.”
“Do you?” He released her ear and leaned back upon the bed, resting his weight on his elbows once more. She gazed hungrily at the taut muscles of his chest, laid out before her like a feast for the eyes. “Aren’t you going to get me your gift, Izzy, before we move on to what you so clearly have on your mind?” he asked in tone suffused with amusement.
“Nay.”
He frowned. One eyebrow lifted as he waited for her to elaborate.
“Your gift is not yet finished.”
“You had weeks in which to plan!” he pointed out with an indignant laugh.
“Even so, you must be patient.” She shrugged innocently. “I won’t be able to present my gift to you for another seven months, give or take a few days.”
She held her breath, waiting for realization to dawn.
He made an inarticulate sound and bolted upright. His eyes snapped to hers, darted to her still-flat belly, and back to hold her gaze. “Are you...Are we… Will there be a babe?”
She nodded, releasing her breath and laughing in delight as he whooped with happiness, coming off the mattress to lift her into his arms. He placed her on the bed with the greatest of care, then shed his breeches and lay beside her, taking her hand in his.
“Izzy, my love, I can honestly say you’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
“Surely there’s something else I can do for you since I can’t give you your gift tonight?” She pushed him to his back and covered his body with hers. She began to shimmy her way down his chest, intent on pleasuring him in a way she hadn’t done in so long, but had fantasized about for days.
Much to her annoyance he hauled her up against his chest before she reached her destination, so they were face to face. “I never did ask where you learned that particular trick. It was the memory of your skill that convinced me, more than any words you uttered to your father in the study the day of our wedding, that you were no innocent.”
She blushed. “A woman should be allowed to have some secrets of her own, my lord.”
“Isabelle”- his voice oozed warning.
“You are never to call me Isabelle again. I should have had that added into your vows.”
“I can’t guarantee that in moments of extreme exasperation I might not be able to help myself.” He grinned wickedly.
“Very well then,” she heaved a sigh. “I received a lesson.”
His fingers tightened around her arms and though she maintained a calm façade, she thrilled in his possessive grip.
“A lesson? From whom?” His eyebrows drew together as he turned a fierce frown upon her.
“Do you know Maura of Egloshayle?” At his surprised look, she smirked. “Of course you do. Every male who grew up in these parts knew her when they were young men.”
He had the good grace to look sheepish.
“I paid her for advice when it became apparent that Julian wasn’t going to cooperate in the taking of my virginity.”
Utter shock blazed from his eyes. “Izzy! You went to a prostitute for instruction?”
She nodded and clasped her hands primly across his chest.
At his sudden bark of laughter her gaze flew to his face. And then he was overcome, laughing so hard tears rose in his eyes. He pulled her against him, holding her tight. “You are incorrigible!” he gasped.
“I shall take that as a compliment,” she rolled her eyes when he only laughed harder. “I didn’t know what else to do! She gave me a lesson and guaranteed it foolproof to entice Julian to make love to me. Apparently, I was fool enough to ruin something foolproof. I failed terribly and would like another attempt.”
His laughter turned to loud guffaws. “Sweetheart, you didn’t fail, not in any sense of the word, but if the outcome wasn’t what you desired, it was only because you were too good at it.” He continued chuckling when she glowered in mock indignation. “Julian was a fool. He should have taken your virginity and never looked back.” Ram pressed a kiss to her forehead. His lips wandered over her hair. “Did Maura teach you any other “tricks?” he whispered huskily against her ear.
A shiver coursed through her and liquid heat pooled between her legs. Desire flared, hot and potent.
“She may have,” Izzy replied saucily.
“Then as your husband I demand you tell me all the secrets you learned. Remember, you vowed not once, but twice to obey me.”
She slid down the bed again, toward the part of him that fascinated her most. “What if I demonstrate for you, instead?” she murmured, stopping to dip her tongue into the indentations of his navel.
Ram groaned in need and she exulted in the power she held over him like this.
And then she proceeded to teach him everything she’d learned about love.
About the Author
I’m a fan of all historical romance genres, and have been since I snuck my first romance novel by Kathleen Woodiwiss off my mother’s bookshelf when I was 12. I read all genres, but historical romance has always been my great love. While I enjoy a good Regency romp, I prefer darker, grittier stories that torment the characters and force them to grow, and finally earn their happily ever after.
I live in South Florida with my husband, Ian, and a whole lot of cats (more than a dozen, less than 20!) If you have something to say about my story, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me at [email protected]
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