“There is something that I must tell you,” she whispered.
“Hmmm,” was Victor’s reaction as he placed a kiss on her neck.
“I believe I am increasing.”
Victor stilled as her words penetrated the passion-filled fog in his brain. He then rolled her on her back so that he could look into her eyes. “You are expecting our child?”
“I believe so, I have not…well…not since…”
He understood what she was trying to tell him but couldn’t voice; that she’d ceased having her courses and her face was a lovely shade of rose.
Pride and excitement filled him, and Victor bent and took her lips again. A moment ago, he was exhausted from their exertion, now, he wanted to take her again, but gently and lovingly.
The very idea awed him. Victor had anticipated a child from their intimacies. He just hadn’t comprehended the overwhelming pride and excitement of knowing his child was growing within his wife.
His hand slipped to caress her breast, which he had noted had become fuller, but he hadn’t given a thought to why.
Charlotte was going to have his child.
Victor came over her, kissed her deeply then joined his body with hers once again, and slowly they merged, rose and crashed into oblivion together.
Chapter 27
Victorstretchedandopenedhis eyes. Sunlight flooded the room Charlotte used as her art studio but stopped just before it reached the bed. How long had they slept? He couldn’t remember the last time he had taken a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Not since he was a child.
Charlotte burrowed further beneath the covers, her bottom wiggling against him. If she kept moving in such a way, he would wake her in the most pleasant way. While intriguing as the idea was, he could not continue to lie about in bed. There was still estate business he needed to attend to this afternoon. Besides, there would be more time for intimacy after they retired tonight. In fact, since he had first made Charlotte his, not a night went by that he didn’t join with her. Never had his urgings and desire been so strong and continuous.
Perhaps if they didn’t share a bed it would be different.
Victor rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling. Even if she returned to her former chamber, he would follow her in there. He just needed to be with her, near her, have her in his arms, which led to other physical activity. He had never wanted a woman as constantly as he did his wife.
Would it ever change? Certainly, desire should have lessened by now.
Charlotte rolled in her sleep and her head came to rest on his chest and a leg over his thigh. Maybe the cause for his constant state of desire was because of the way she slept with him.
That wasn’t it. He never gave her a chance to fall asleep and drape herself across him in this manner. He barely gave her a chance to become comfortable in bed before he was kissing her. Victor’s need for Charlotte was insatiable.
He was content simply lying here holding his wife, but he couldn’t remain, and as much as he hated to leave her, Victor pulled himself away, got out of bed and tucked the blankets around her. He dressed and quietly let himself out of the studio, closing the door behind him. Charlotte would not want one of the servants to come upon her in this state.
On his way to the library, he stopped off in his chamber and ducked into the bathing chamber. He grinned back at the paint-stained face in the mirror.
Charlotte brought out a part of him that he hadn’t even known existed. Joy and playfulness. She would make a wonderful mother. However, he would need to wash away the colors before he presented himself downstairs and tossed the equally stained shirt on the floor.
He returned to the chamber just as Charlotte stepped in, her hair mussed, paint still on her face, a shy smile and gentle blush came to her cheeks. He would need to love her in the same manner again. Once she was over her shock at the intimacy, she had let go and cried out in the end. He was very lucky indeed to have such a passionate wife.
“I need to repair my appearance before I see to the menus,” Charlotte announced. “I cannot believe I slept as I did.”
“You are not used to such activity in the afternoon.”
Her blush deepened. “No.” She looked away and entered the bathing chamber and into her room. Though Charlotte no longer slept in there, she did use it for her clothing and treated it as her dressing room. She was shrugging out of her shirt and Victor lounged against the door simply watching.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Shouldn’t you repair your appearance before anyone sees you?”
He grinned and returned to his own room. Charlotte was not comfortable being unclothed around him unless she was in the throes of passion. In the cold light of day, with no passion shimmering between them, she kept Victor from viewing anything that was not proper. The door to her chamber thudded shut as soon as he entered his own. Maybe one day she would be more comfortable around him. He simply needed to give her time.
Chapter 28
Charlottestifledayawnbehind her hand. Why was she always so tired of late? Was this what carrying a babe did? And she was famished. These were questions that she should have asked the midwife but hadn’t. She had just wanted confirmation of her condition.
