“I do not think this wise.”
“All in the name of research,” he whispered as he barely brushed his lips across hers, reveling in their warm softness.
“Research,” she repeated as she rested a hand on his chest and touched his cheek with the other. “Research is often essential.”
“Indeed, it is.” He pressed closer and kissed her gently, giving her time to push him away if she wished. Never would he force anything on her.
To his delight, she didn’t push away. Instead, she leaned in and opened to him with an urgency that almost made him groan. He dropped the pages and slipped his arms around her, cradling her ever tighter. Her welcoming mouth, her tongue dancing with his, the way she pressed against him made him reel with the need to lower her to the floor and show her the height and depth of the pleasures they could enjoy together.
She clutched him closer, digging her fingers into his back as if she would rip his clothes away if given half the chance. Then, without warning, she pushed back and turned her face aside. “Matthew,” she said in a breathless whisper. “That is quite enough research.”
He wanted to throw his head back and roar his frustration to the world, but he didn’t. “Fortuity.”
With the back of her hand pressed to her mouth, she stole a glance at him, as if afraid of what he might say.
“Please be my wife in every sense of the word. I need you, Fortuity.”
Eyes wild and chest heaving, she remained silent, her gaze locked with his.
“You are mine, my little wren, as I am yours. Surely you know by now that I truly love you?”
“You do not mean that,” she whispered, her eyes suddenly glistening with tears. “You cannot possibly mean that.”
He slowly shook his head, unable to understand why she refused to believe him. “Tell me why you think that. In our month of marriage, have I done anything to make you believe I do not want this union to be real? That I do not wish to be a true husband to you in every sense of the word?”
She pressed her lips together and gave a quick shake of her head, looking away to avoid meeting his gaze.
“I was a damned fool, Fortuity. A lazy, damned fool.” He gently turned her face back to his, willing her to hear the wordsof his heart. “I adored being with you so much that I grew not only complacent but feared if I made the mistake of making myself vulnerable once again that I would regret it.” He huffed a soft, mirthless laugh. “If you hurt me, my little wren, I could not survive it, for I have found more joy and contentment with you than I ever knew existed. Baser needs are easy to satisfy, but what you give me is priceless and rare. If I ever lost it, I know it would be my undoing.”
She trembled with hitching little gasps. “I should write that down,” she whispered. “That was marvelous,my lord.”
“Do you remember what I told you I was going to do the next time you addressed me asmy lord?”
She pressed closer, slid her hands up his chest, and buried her fingers in his hair. With an intense look deep into his eyes, she nodded. “I do indeed,my lord.”
He crushed his mouth to hers, backed her up, and pinned her against the wall. Her heartbeat pounded against him through their layers of clothing. After thoroughly plundering her with the promised kiss, he lifted his head. “I am a man of my word.”
Running her hands up inside his jacket, then undoing his cravat with amazing speed, she smiled up at him. “I am glad you are a man of your word.” She stretched and nibbled kisses along his throat, making him groan. “I read about doing this in one of Serendipity’s books she always kept hidden from Mama. Is it true what they said about it?”
“What did they say?” Another groan escaped him as he returned the favor and kissed a trail down the curve of her neck to her shoulder as he made quick work of the buttons and ties at the back of her dress.
“Oh my. Itistrue what they say.” The warmth of her breath tickled his throat. “I find it most…stirring.”
“Indeed.” Struggling to control the urge to rip away her gown, he gently worked it off her shoulders and pushed it to the floor.
“You have me at a disadvantage.” She tugged at his jacket while attempting a sternness that failed.
He shed his jacket and waistcoat, then ever so slowly turned her and untied her stays. Her corset soon hit the floor and joined the gown puddled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her chemise, stockings, and slippers.
“I suppose it is too late to ask this now, but…” She eyed him with her bottom lip caught between her teeth, almost cringing.
“What, my darling?” Gads, if she stopped him now, his bollocks and member would surely incur permanent damage.
“Will you be able to dress me as easily as you have relieved me of my clothes?” She tipped her head at the door and arched her brows higher. “I am not comfortable with the prospect of having to summon Anne to my office to dress me. The servants will know what we…” She bounced a sterner nod at him. “You know what I am saying.”
“I do.” He stretched and secured the door’s latch. “Thank you for reminding me to lock the door, because I do not wish us to be interrupted.”
She narrowed her eyes as if threatening to deny him.
