“Not soon enough,” Godric growled, and the raw need in his voice sent a bolt of desire straight through her. “I have been patient all day, wife. I have smiled and made polite conversation and pretended that I was not counting down every second until I could have you alone. I refuse to wait any longer.”
His mouth found hers again, swallowing whatever protest she might have made, and Nora found herself surrendering to the inevitable. Her own hands went to his coat, pushing it off his shoulders with far less finesse than she would have liked but with a great deal of enthusiasm.
By the time the carriage finally rolled to a stop in front of Godric's estate, they were both quite undone, their clothing askew and their breathing laboured. Godric peered out the window, then turned back to Nora with a grin that was equal parts sheepish and unrepentant.
“We may have gotten slightly carried away,” he admitted.
“Slightly,” Nora agreed, trying in vain to smooth down her hair and straighten her gown.
Though her actions seemed pointless because the moment the carriage door opened; Godric swept Nora up into his arms with an ease that made her gasp. He somehow managed to get through the front door as well, with her still in his arms.
“Dear, I think you can put me down, now. What would the staff say if this was their first sighting of me?” Nora whispered, flustered.
“They are not here to have any opinions, not that it would matter. I ensured they would not be present while I dedicated some time to show you how incredibly devoted, I plan to be for the rest of our lives.”
Heat pooled in Nora’s stomach and she blushed, her cheeks feeling sore from the weight of it.
“I like the sound of that,” she admitted with a coy smile.
“I thought you would.”
As they ventured past the entrance hallNora was struck by the significance of the moment. This was her home now. Not Cecil's house, not her father's estate, but hers and Godric's. A place where they would build their life together, where they would create memories and, she hoped, eventually raise a family.
The area was utterly empty, so clearly her husband had not fibbed when he said he had sent the staff away. Godric paused for a moment, looking down at her with such tenderness that it made her heart ache.
“Welcome home, Duchess,” he murmured.
“Home,” Nora repeated, testing the word. “Yes. This is home now.”
Godric kissed her softly, sweetly, and then began to carry her up the grand staircase. They did not make it very far before his mouth found hers again, before the kiss deepened and Nora's arms tightened around his neck as passion flared between them once more.
Somehow, they eventually made it to the master chambers. Godric kicked the door shut behind them and crossed to the massive four-poster bed, laying Nora down with a gentleness that contrasted beautifully with the hunger in his eyes.
“I have dreamed of this,” he said, his voice rough as he began to remove his cravat. “Of having you here, in our bed, with nothing between us but honesty and love.”
Nora watched him, her heart racing as he shed layer after layer of clothing. When he reached for her, she went willingly, allowing him to finish what he had started in the carriage and carefully unlace her gown.
He took his time, his fingers reverent as they worked, pressing kisses to each new inch of skin revealed. By the time her gown finally pooled at her feet, Nora was trembling with anticipation and need.
“You are exquisite,” Godric breathed, his hands skimming over her chemise. “Perfect in every way.”
“I am far from perfect,” Nora said, though her voice was unsteady.
“Perfect for me,” Godric clarified, pulling her close. “Which is all that matters.”
He lifted her back onto the bed, following her down and bracing himself above her. For a moment, he simply looked at her, his eyes roaming over her face as though committing every detail to memory.
“I love you,” he said, and the simple honesty of it brought tears to Nora's eyes. “I will love you until my last breath and beyond. You are everything to me, Nora. Everything.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, reaching up to cup his face. “So much that sometimes I can hardly breathe with it.”
He kissed her again, his hands roaming over her curves hungrily as he relearned her body. Nora felt herself yearning for more of his touch, barely able to fight the hunger growing within her. Her mind was hazy, but the pleasure guided her kike an instinct.
As his hand trailed down from her breast to her stomach, her legs fell open immediately to receive his touch. Moans left her lips as his fingers found her wet folds and she wrapped her arms around him, wanting to feel as much of him as possible.
His muscles felt taunt beneath her touch, his skin smooth besides the trail of dark hair over his chest that sank lower and lower, the ends of it disappearing into his breeches.
Godric too his time to ensure her pleasure, murmuring words of love and devotion against her skin as his fingers stroked her deeply. She could feel them exploring her secret place, could feel him get closer and closer to scratching the itch she had endured for weeks. He worshipped her with his hands and mouth until she was writhing beneath him, desperate for more.
