Dominic looked at her with a smile on his face and warm eyes that made a thrill of excitement run through her.
Percy grabbed Selina’s hand and looked up at her. “Mom,” he said.
Selina’s breath caught in her throat, and tears sprang to her eyes. Dominic had said that Percy had called her mom, but she had not believed it, not until now. She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “You may call me that, if you wish.”
Percy grinned up at her in response. “Mom,” he said again.
After a few more minutes, Percy grew tired. Dominic picked him up in his arms, and Percy’s head leaned against his shoulder, with his eyes closed. Selina fell into step beside Dominic as he carried his son back to the manor.
They went upstairs quietly so as not to wake Percy. Dominic put Percy in his bed. When his son was safely tucked under the blankets, Dominic grabbed Selina’s hand and led her out of the room.
She smiled up at her husband. “That was a wonderful idea,” she said.
“I should have taken him out to the observatory years ago,” he said. “As soon as he started to show an interest in the stars.”
“Better late than never,” she said. “And once you get it fixed up for him, he can enjoy it that much more.”
Dominic leaned down to kiss her forehead gently. “You are right,” he whispered.
Selina closed her eyes, feeling a tingle of happiness from the kiss. Every day since Selina had returned, Dominic had been careful to give her small gestures of affection, like holding her hand and kissing her forehead, even as they spent the day with Percy. If the little boy minded Dominic showing more affection to Selina, he was not showing it.
Selina appreciated the effort Dominic was putting in to be more open with his emotions than before. It meant a lot to her to know that he was trying. “I should go to bed,” she said. “Good night.”
As she turned to go, he caught her hand in his own. “Oh no, you don’t,” he murmured. “We are going back to our room tonight, my wife.”
“Our room?” Her voice was breathless. By the time they got back home a week ago, it was almost morning. Selina had gone to her room and fallen asleep straight away out of pure exhaustion. He had not objected, and she assumed they would still keep separate bedrooms.
“Yes,” he murmured. “I do not wish to live a separate life from you. You may still keep that room as a private sitting room. But I want you to sleep in the same bed as mine. Perhaps tomorrow we can move your belongings over.”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
He grinned. “Excellent.”
They went into Dominic’s bedroom together. As soon as the door was shut behind them, Dominic turned to his wife. “I have been longing for this all day,” he murmured. He gathered her in his arms. “Truthfully, I have been longing for this since you came into my bedroom and started to undress in front of me.”
Selina giggled, even as her cheeks reddened at the memory. “The room was completely dark! You barely saw anything.”
“I saw plenty after I turned the light on. Enough to know that I wanted you more than any other woman.”
She bit her lip. “I admit, I found you quite handsome from the start. I am happy I fell into bed with you instead of anyone else.” She giggled. “Although perhaps it would have been better if the circumstances were less scandalous!”
He grinned. “I would not change that day for the world.”
She shook her head as she looked up at him. Even though they had confessed their love for each other, she still felt a little uncertain about the future. What if they fell out of love? What if his feelings for her faded away?
Now that she was faced with these fears, she could understand why he had been so scared himself. But if he could be brave, then so could she.
He cupped her jaw gently to tilt her face up to meet his. “I love you,” he whispered. “I want to spend tonight showing you just how much I love you. Do you want that?”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. “I want you, Dominic. All of you.”
He groaned softly and leaned down to claim her lips with his own. He was incredibly, unbelievably tender with her. He moved closer, so their bodies were pressed up against each other’s, and he reached behind her to unlace her dress. It fell into a heap on the ground.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are,” he said huskily, as he kissed her cheek, and then her neck. “You consume my thoughts and fantasies. I fear I will go insane without you by my side.”
“Do you mean by your side or in your bed?” she teased.
“Both,” he whispered earnestly. “I want as much of you as you are willing to give me.” He pressed his lips against hers, firmly, before pulling back to undo her corset and toss it to the side. “Get in the bed.”
