Her eyes flashed as she leaned closer to him and let theblanket fall away, exposing her breasts. He was captivated by their perfection and abruptly found that whatever they had been discussing was suddenly moot. When she laid a gentle hand on the front of his trousers, he found his mind was wiped clear of any memory at all. “I promise I will make it worth your while, Your Grace,” she purred.
He could feel his cock respond immediately. With his chest heaving, he glared at her. “I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were a devious vixen.” As more blood pooled in his manhood, he hissed through his teeth. “And thank God for it.”
CHAPTER 18
Lexie stretched the next morning and inhaled the heavenly scent of eggs and bacon. If she had to hazard a guess, Dominic was cooking, although it might not be a full English breakfast. With the limited supplies he had at his disposal at this hideaway in the East End, she doubted that he had that sort of luxury currently at his disposal, but she was glad for anything that he might offer, because she had spent the night with him and that was all she could truly ask for.
She smiled and wiggled her toes, if just to ensure that she hadn’t passed away the night before from all of the pleasure Dominic had showered upon her. After a second round of lovemaking, he’d heated some water for a hip bath and by the time he assisted her with that, they had managed to tumble back into the bed for a third round.
Her body was definitely letting her know what had happened, and she loved every moment of it. Every twinge told her that she belonged to Dominic, every knowing glance he shot her way told her that he belonged to her. She was confident that their marriage would be a successful one. It wouldn’t be full of lies or deceit. They would enjoy companionship, desire, and althoughshe knew it wouldn’t be perfect all the time, the tough days would make the good ones that much sweeter.
“Someone is happy this morning.”
She raised her arms above her head and smiled at Dominic as he carried a plate to the bed and sat it down beside her. “Breakfast in bed?” she asked with a teasing lift of her brow.
“I might be a scoundrel, or perhaps a villain to some, but when it comes to you, I am your humble servant.”
She laughed, finding it so easy to do with him.
She kept the coverlet about her breasts as she sat up and accepted the offering. “I’m impressed, Your Grace. You can cook.”
“I have learned to take care of all my own needs through the years as Avalon. It would certainly cause a bit of tongues to wag within the gang should I move about with a valet at my side.”
“Indeed,” she concurred. She took a bite of the fare and closed her eyes with a slight moan. “It’s delicious.”
He leaned forward and gave her a kiss. “So are you.”
She gasped in mock outrage. “Sir! You are entirely too bold with your tongue.”
He waggled his brows at her. “And you love it.”
She wrinkled her nose in return. “Yes. That I do.”
He kissed the tip and then moved away from her. The moment he did so, there was a knock at the cottage door. Immediately, he was on alert. “Stay here,” he ordered firmly.
“I can’t really go anywhere at the moment.” She gestured to her state of undress.
He frowned slightly, and then said, “We will rectify that issue momentarily.” He left her alone and went to answer the summons.
Lexie forgot about her tempting meal in favor of the sudden visitor. The hunger that had rumbled in her stomach fading with the concern that something was amiss.
However, when Dominic returned a short time later, there was no apprehension on his expression. “It was Amos’s son,Devon. He came to tell me that he is a new father of a baby daughter.”
Lexie’s lips curved in a broad smile. She had no idea who Devon was, but if he was anything like Amos, she knew that she would like him. “How wonderful! Did he call a name?”
“Annalise.” Dominic said nothing more and the look on his face seemed almost perplexed. “I never thought I would be envious of another’s happiness but I find myself in the position of wanting that sort of outcome for myself when I had never allowed such a possibility to cross my thoughts before.”
She loved that he was opening up to her like this. It gave her further hope that their marriage would not only survive but thrive. “You will make a wonderful father someday. I have no doubt of that.”
His mouth kicked up in the corner. “I believe you are right, because I have picked an exceptional woman to become a mother.”
Her breath caught, abruptly pulled into the strong emotions that his statement invoked.
Feeling that the air in the room had become thick with the words neither of them yet had the courage to express, Dominic cleared his throat. “Finish your breakfast and I will procure you something to wear.”
I love you.I love you.
I. Love. You.
