Epilogue
Two years later…
Cordelia stroked her fingers through Johnathan’s sandy brown hair as Nathaniel told him a story. Their son’s eyes drifted closed as sleep claimed him. She smiled and placed a kiss on his forehead.
He appeared angelic in his sleep. His lips were slightly parted, and his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. This was her favorite part of being a mother—simply enjoying her child. And she and Nathaniel made a habit of it.
Every night, they tucked Jonathan in together. Some nights she sang to their son while Nathaniel sat nearby. Other night’s Nathaniel told stories as they stood beside the crib. At seventeen months old, it was doubtful Johnathan understood the stories, but he clearly enjoyed them.
And she did too. Watching her husband and son filled her heart, near to bursting. But not only when he slept. Johnathan was the center of their lives, whether or not he was asleep.
When he woke, his blue eyes would be full of merriment and mischief. His laugh would fill the nursery and his tiny footfalls would patter down the halls, bringing life to the house and no end of joy to her and Nathaniel.
She glanced at her husband and smiled. It still amazed her she and Nathaniel had created another human. A perfect little boy all their own.
“He favors you more each day,” Cordelia said.
Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. He nuzzled his face into the crook of Cordelia’s neck. “Let’s make another one.” He kissed the curve of her shoulder. “A daughter with your dark hair and striking eyes.”
Cordelia turned in his arms, her gaze finding his. “That is not how it works. You do not get to decide what we will have or how the child will look.”
“Very well, then we will keep trying until we get a little dark-haired blue-eyed girl.”
“And what if all we have is sons? Or daughters that do not favor me at all?” Cordelia could not help but tease him.
He grinned. “Then we can say we had fun trying.”
“You are incorrigible.” She swatted his arm playfully. His answer came as no surprise to her. Nathaniel had kept his promises. He’d been faithful and no longer overindulged in vices, but he was still a rogue with her.
As it happened, she rather liked him that way.
He nipped at her earlobe, then whispered, “Come to bed, love.”
“Only if you promise to ravish me.” She gave a saucy grin.
He swept her into his arms, cradling her. “I hope you do not plan to sleep tonight.” He carried her from the nursery, his strides long and fast. “Because I am going to ravish you from now till sunup.”
Cordelia delighted in his proclamation, her body warming all over at the mere thought. She worked to loosen his cravat and open his shirt as he carried her. Finding his clothes unmanageable, she started on her own.
By the time they reached the bedchamber, she had them both disheveled. Nathaniel set her on her feet, then captured her mouth in a passionate kiss. When he slid his hands to cup her bottom, she wrapped her legs around his hips.
“Take me.” She whispered as she tugged at his remaining clothing.
Nathaniel laid her on the feather bed, his body covering hers. “Patience, love.” He trailed kisses down the column of her neck as his hands worked to free her breasts. Cordelia arched and moaned with pleasure as he suckled her nipple, his fingers exploring her cuny.
“I promised you ravishment, remember?”
She shook her head and thrust her hips up, greedily taking what she could. Desperate to ease the ache between her legs.
He stroked the moist petals between her thighs, then circled the nub of her sex with languid movements before sliding lower to bury his face in her cuny. She writhed against his mouth as he licked and suckled her tender flesh.
“Please, Nathaniel. I need to feel you.” She begged, even as she held his mouth firm against her sex. He licked harder, faster, and when she thought she could take no more, he flicked his tongue over her clit and slid his finger into her cuny.
Cordelia’s body let go, her climax bursting forth as she cried his name and held him close. Her entire body trembled with the force of it.
He lifted his head to meet her gaze. “I am not through with you, wife.”
“Good.” She sighed as she spread her legs further, allowing his hips to settle between her thighs. She was not done with him, either. He’d promised her all night, and she was rather looking forward to it.
