“Yes,” she said breathily. “I’m perfect. You’re so perfect.”
He shook his head and lifted himself to look down at her. “I think I’m the one meant to be uttering sweet compliments in this moment.”
“We don’t need any more words right now. Just love me.”
“Always, Amelia. Always.”
They moved together, her hips rolling with his, like a dance they’d practiced only with each other. Nothing existed beyond them now. There was no townhouse, no deathbed watch, no aunt trying to steal their future—only them, only this—and Amelia had never felt so complete. Like she’d finally found herself. She understood who she was meant to be and what she wanted.
A simple life of joy, family, and love. Now she had everything.
The tension in her body built, the tempo of their lovemaking changing. Her muscles tightened, and the tingling bliss in her body spread like a fire across her nerve endings. She threw her head back, arching into him to get closer, to chase that sensuous tingling, trying to catch something elusive just under her skin.
“Don’t stop,” she begged.
He groaned into her neck. “Never.”
It was there, just on the horizon, a sunrise, the dawn after a long dreary night, shimmery and beautiful, and when she closed her eyes she could see it. She was there, all glorious light and color. She cried out, her body tightening all over with stunning bliss that held her in the heavens of sensation until she could no longer breathe, and then she floated, weightless, before lazily sinking back into her body. Graham ground his hips, growling like a wild beast as he spent himself inside her. She held him, gripping his wide shoulders with a smile pressed to his sweaty chest.
This was better than her first time experiencing an orgasm. The release was so much greater because he was there with her, surrounding her, and inside her. She blinked at her canopy,silver specks floating in her vision, and took an exhausted, deliciously full breath.
He moved to the side of her, taking his slick, hot skin away, and she pouted. He kissed her lips and pulled a blanket over their cooling bodies.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, brushing her tussled hair out of her face.
“Like I could fly.”
He smirked. “Like you could fly?”
“Yes, like I could leap from that window, and the magical feeling in my body would lift me up, and I could soar among the stars.”
“That’s how I feel when I look at you.”
Amelia cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb along his stubbled jaw. “I know once we leave this room, nothing will have changed, all our problems and fears are right outside that door, but with you, I know I can face anything.”
“Together, we can face anything. Together, we will make the most of living.”
Chapter Forty-Four
They had twowhole days of peace. They suspended all engagements. Visitors came knocking and were efficiently turned away. Flowers filled the drawing room, Amelia and Graham’s room, and Sam’s room. They made love as much as they could.
Her brother still lived, but there was no change in his condition. He did not move or respond to anything they did or said. Dr. Sloan monitored him closely, but it was more like Sam was an experiment gone awry, not a patient. Amelia kept her distance from the odd doctor to keep from scratching his eyes out.
They’d just finished breakfast at Sam’s side on the third day after the wedding, when Mrs. Keen came to inform them that Amelia’s aunt and cousin were downstairs and would not be turned away. Mr. Crest was with them, along with another unknown man. Graham sent an urgent message for his own legal counsel to come at once. Then he took Amelia’s hand, and they went downstairs to confront her aunt together.
Before entering the drawing room, Amelia requested tea for the visitors. She did not want to appear inhospitable and distressed, like her aunt claimed her to be. The more composedshe was, the more crazed her aunt would become. She steeled herself and put on her most benign expression as she stepped into the room.
“Aunt Ruth, Cousin Nelson, who are your friends?”
Mr. Crest introduced the stranger as Dr. Williams.
“How do you do, Dr. Williams?” Amelia asked politely.
“Very well, Lady Amelia,” Dr. Williams said. “Why don’t we cut straight to the heart of the matter? I’ve been summoned to oversee some concerning questions about Lord Alston’s state of health and your wellbeing and mental state.”
Amelia wanted to roll her eyes at the sheer audacity of her aunt to bring a doctor here to question her sanity, but didn’t. Appearing contrary wouldn’t be in her favor.
“Indeed. I’m sure you will find everything as it should be. Dr. Williams, this is my husband, Mr. Graham Blakewood.”
