Slowly, she rose to her knees and leaned in for a tender kiss.
“You can do better.”
“Not on this tapestry, I can’t.”
He rose to his feet and kicked the eyesore into the corner. Then he held out his hand. “Come.”
She eyed him with suspicion as he helped her rise. “You need to rest.”
“Rest isn’t good after a bump on the head.”
She raised one brow. “Whatisgood?”
“Activity…as I recall.”
She yelped as he lifted her from the floor.
“Focused study.” He set her down on the bed. She raised her eyes—faint sparks of desire lit the large brown orbs floating in white.
“You’re right.” He caught her chin. “Lying down might not be a good idea. But exercising ‘mouthal’ ministrations might be just the thing.”
He watched in fascination as the resistance melted from her features.
“While your wellness is mygraveconcern…I do believe the latter would do.”
He cupped her breast over her bodice as he lowered to his knees. “Lift your dress, Lady Rayne.”
She hiked her skirts up over her thighs.
“I do love when you’re compliant,” he murmured.
“Just remember”—hands came to rest on his shoulders—“I never promised to obey.”
He twisted his lips—half smile, half sneer. “Then I shall make obedience your ambition.”
His tongue swept her cleft, and she groaned deep in her chest.
“I think,” she gasped, “you’ll have no hardship.”
Tomorrow, the real work would begin. Work he’d take to heart with the same conviction he’d worked in New York.
And, this time, he had a greater reason to succeed.
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Seventeen
Julia studied her mysterious husband from her place opposite him at a long, ancient table of carved black walnut.Finally, a dinner together. A chance to converse…and later, maybe more.
For six days, she’d barely seen him. Every morning, he’d gone out to the mines. And, every evening, he’d returnedaftershe’d taken to bed.
She’d listened to the slosh of the water as he washed off the grime. After he was clean, he’d crawled into bed, kissed her brow, and immediately faded into a deep slumber. Twice, she’d awoken early enough to ask how things were proceeding, and twice, she’d received the same answer.
“I’ve much to learn.”
As forherdays, she and Mrs. Wheeling were still taking inventory and had yet to hire permanent staff. She’d felt it more important that they tend to the needs of the neglected farm where the Wheelings resided first.
By placing her own comfort last, Julia meant to prove by example that the estate would be nurtured and respected from here on out. Though she hoped the improvements could be finished soon, as she dearly wished to turn her attention to the small chapel at the center of a grouping of farms hardly large enough to call a village but close enough to remind her of Southford.
