Taking advantage of her agreeable state, he led her over to the dais.
“Stand here for me, love.” He began to unfasten the hooks of her dress.
Her startled eyes met his in the looking glass. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to show you how I see you.”
He deftly stripped her down to her undergarments. As tempting as she was with her maidenly blushes, her toes curling against the carpeted platform, he had another objective in mind. He crossed over to the line of dresses and selected the ruby satin that had caught his eye from the start. Returning, he helped Gabby into the gown.
Even though the garment was loose on her, its potential was undeniable. The rich hue brought out the fire in her hair, the purity of her rounded blue eyes. The deceptively simple cut showcased the perfect hourglass of her figure. The neckline left her shoulders bare, dipping to a daring vee between her ripe breasts. The vee was repeated at the bottom edge of the bodice, lengthening her torso…and drawing the male imagination to the sweet, feminine place where that arrow pointed.
Holding the fabric together between her shoulder blades to give an approximation of the fit, he said huskily, “Tell me what you see.”
“I suppose…the gown looks well enough,” she said reluctantly.
“Let me tell you what I see, pet.”
His gaze holding hers in the reflection, he ran a possessive hand over her. From the silky slope of her bared shoulder to the plump swell of her breasts above the neckline. He trailed his fingers down the bodice, feeling the quick, shallow surges of her breath. Then he gripped her cinched waist.
“All of this is mine,” he said softly against her ear as she shivered. “Mine only to touch and enjoy. But I want the world to know what a lucky man I am and, most importantly, I wantyouto know your own worth. To know that women look at you and wish they had half your beauty, that men look at you and envy me because I’m the one who will be taking you home. I’m the one who will be making love to you, worshiping your body with mine.”
He brushed his lips against the side of her neck. She let out a shuddering sigh, raising her arm so that her fingers brushed his nape, her head tilting back for his kiss. He obliged her, a heated swirl of tongues. Then he broke off the kiss, nodding toward the mirror.
“Look at you,” he said. “What do you see?”
The imagehesaw dampened his smalls with pre-seed, his heart and cock pounding in unison. They were man and woman, twined together in a pose as old as time. Lost together in the garden of desire.
“I see a woman in love,” she whispered. “A wife who knows she is beautiful because her love is returned by her husband.”
“I want you to be as proud to be mine as I am to be yours,” he murmured.
“I am proud.” Smiling, she turned to face him. “And you’re right. I adore this dress.”
“Good, let’s summon Mrs. Yarwood and have her take your order as quickly as possible.”
“Why the rush?”
“The sooner we’re done here, the sooner I can have my way with you in the carriage.”
His wife lowered her eyes demurely. “I’ll have my gown ordered in less than ten minutes.”
29
In the past,Gabby had dreaded balls because the crush of people made her nervous. The disparaging glances and snickers behind fans had always struck an unpleasantly familiar chord, causing memories to rattle within theHumiliating Experiences I’d Like to Forgetcategory. Being in the public eye put her on edge; when she was on edge, she tended to chatter in a mortifyingly inane manner that increased the withering looks and closing of circles as she passed, thereby feeding the cycle of her anxiety.
Yet tonight was different: Gabby was actually enjoying Tessa’s ball. When the other had asked for decorating advice, Gabby had given a few suggestions. She was happy to see how well the ideas had worked.
The “midnight garden” theme created a romantic atmosphere in the mirrored ballroom, apropos for celebrating Ransom and Maggie’s engagement. Gabby had suggested bringing in large potted plants to create “hedges” at different parts of the room, which provided intimate areas for conversation. The jasmine and gardenia plants did double duty, filling the room with their sweet fragrance. Tessa had even had a small white gazebo constructed in one corner; the champagne fountain was housed within, and guests were clearly enjoying the novelty of entering the latticed structure to have their glasses refilled.
It wasn’t just the ambience that Gabby was enjoying. For the first time, her dance card had been full and not just due to the kindness of her friends’ husbands. She’d twirled on the dance floor with admiring gentlemen, and what made that experience special was knowing that Adam was there, watching with possessive pride. His presence gave her confidence, calmed her, and allowed her to carry on a normal conversation.
At present, she stood in a circle of friends. Tessa was chatting in her animated way with Maggie, Polly, and Emma joining in. The hostess wore a stylish emerald shot-silk gown that brought out the unique green of her eyes. The guest of honor’s dress of bronze velvet flattered her voluptuous figure and lustrous cinnamon curls. The duchesses were both buxom visions, Polly in blue taffeta and Emma in grey Gros de Naples with an overlay of sparkly silver netting.
For once, Gabby felt equal to her lovely companions. Despite the rush order (or perhapsbecauseof the exorbitant price Adam had paid to get the dress made in time), Mrs. Yarwood had outdone herself. The ruby gown exceeded Gabby’s highest expectations. When Nell had completed her toilette, she’d hardly recognized herself. The dress revealed more than she’d ever dared to reveal before…and the improvement wasshocking.
Curves she’d thought too abundant now appeared alluring. Her bare shoulders and the hint of cleavage between her breasts was the right balance between sensuality and decorum. Her coloring, which she’d once believed to be vulgar, looked regal against the deep red satin. She’d found a new jeweler’s box on her dressing table, and when she’d opened it, her heart had stuttered, Nell letting out a low whistle. Fashioned of heavy gold, the brooch had an egg-sized ruby at the center, the peerless gem ringed by flawless pearls.
A brief note had accompanied the gift.For a wife beyond rubies.
