“That’s Colt’s. I recognize the binding.” She disengaged her arms from around my neck. I anchored her waist as she bentover and picked it up from the floor. The leather cover was worn in places and scarred from use. She leaned against me and flipped it open to reveal a row of numbers in Colt’s familiar handwriting.
“It is one of many estate journals.” I raked a hand through my hair, the mood dampened by the reminder of him. We both were enamored of Colt and her pain tugged at my heart.
She held it to her chest and exhaled. “I suppose now that we’re home, your mother will insist I learn about the household at Alton.”
“Are you in a rush to leave me?” I asked, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. It was silly to be so vulnerable over the inevitable. The honeymoon was over and life would continue on, without or without Colt. It was disheartening, but it was my reality.
“No, never.” She turned to look at me and I caught a flash of fear in her eyes until she averted her gaze. “I was simply making an observation.”
“I think you are correct in your assumption. Just because my mother wishes it, doesn’t mean you have to grant her wish. You’re the duchess now.” I slipped my forearm around her waist and nuzzled her soft neck. She tilted her head, allowing me access to the column. I spread kisses along the silky length. It was hard enough to have Colt gone from my life. I couldn’t imagine being out of Lillian’s company for long. Our marriage was still new, and I was growing more and more fond of her every day.
Or maybe it was purely selfishness on my part. I hated being alone. Always before, I had Colt with me, thus I never truly felt alone. He was no longer here. I skimmed my hand up her side, needing to lose myself in her receptive body. She was warm and alive beneath my fingertips and I slipped the buttons of her jacket from their moorings.
She twisted in my lap, her lips playing over mine as she slipped the fashionable wool off her shoulders. “It is even harder to say no to your mother than it is to you,” she said between slow, sultry kisses.
I laughed at her quip, unfastening the waistband of her skirt. “I would like to think it the other way around.”
“Yes, I would imagine you would.” She stood long enough to strip the material off her hips, her gaze never leaving mine. “A prisoner to your every whim.”
“Indeed. That is a very tantalizing proposition.”
“I believe the word you are looking for is unobtainable, not tantalizing.” Nimble fingers unfastened the placard of my trousers before she slipped my cock from my small clothes. The teasing light in her eyes reeled me in.
“We shall see about that.” I nibbled at her bottom lip, my need growing with each caress.
“Yes, we shall see.” She angled her jaw, her mouth pressing against mine. I delved my tongue between her lips, absorbing the heady taste of woman and promise.
The book fell to the floor once more, a reminder of Colt and the past. Lillian was my present, and I owed her my full attention. Even now, she could be carrying my child. The thought both thrilled and frightened me. It was only a matter of time before we had a family. The title had always been bigger than me, which only added to my resentment.
I was a selfish sot. She straddled my hips and lowered herself onto my cock. Jaw slackened, she moaned deep in her chest. Her moist heat encompassed me, her hands seizing my shoulders. I held her passion-glazed stare and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
This was our first encounter with just the two of us since our wedding night. Both of us missed Colt, which made our encounter even more poignant. Sensations built upon oneanother, each press of her lips to mine, adding an extra dimension to our coupling. She rocked her hips, meeting my every thrust.
My pulsed raced with need and I was close to losing what little control I had left. I slipped my hand over her leg, seeking the sensitive flesh at the juncture of her thighs. Her moans grew louder with each caress of my fingertip, her labored breath matching my own.
Head thrown back, she dug her nails into my shoulders. A flush bloomed along her neck to the underside of her chin. She was beautiful in her pleasure, her damp cunny clutching my cock. I gripped her arse and allowed the pleasure to flow through me.
She slumped over me, her hair brushing my face. I splayed my hands on her plump bottom, enjoying the silky feel of her skin against my palm. With each passing day, she’d blossomed like a flower in spring. As her husband, I tried my best to encourage her and bolster her confidence. Her friendship was invaluable to me and I wanted to see to her every need.
My affection for her had grown since our engagement. Was it love, or simply infatuation? My history would say the latter. With Lillian, I would have a lifetime to find out. We were bound together, and even if the lust faded, I would always have her friendship. Unless she grew to hate me because I lacked the ability to love. That was a fate I didn’t dare contemplate, yet it lingered at the back of my mind.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lady Lillian, Duchess of Alton
