Gerald was not faring any better. His fingers dug into her thighs and helped her movements go deeper and faster, his lips torturing, his moans a constant melody.
She could feel the wave swelling inside her, that sweetness tingling in her mouth. She looked down at him, and their eyes met. His look was so open, so deep, so lost, all control gone. Still locked in this case, her mouth half-open, spelling his name in moans again and again, she moved frantically over him.
“Gerald!”
“Yes, Bella,” he purred. “Let go. I want to see you come undone over me. Don’t stop. Oh, God, don’t stop.”
To see him so overwhelmed, begging her for his release, made her feel intoxicatingly powerful. She looked down at him with half-lidded eyes, her teeth catching her lower lip. She had no restraint anymore.
She moved her body intensely, deeply, faster, grinding against him with complete abandon. Her rhythm became frantic and took him over as well, and he surged up to meet her, his hands making sure she was sheathed deeply on him.
“Gerald,” she whispered, breaking.
“Come on, Bella, I am so close.”
This ignited her, and she completely lost control, her need taking over. Her breath broke. The wave inside her crested into a perfect peak and pushed her over the edge.
“Gerald! Oh!”
With one hard pull, he let go inside her, his head thrown back into the pillows, his body trembling.
For a few moments, they caught their breath. Arabella was unable to sit upright and fell on his chest, only to be wrapped in his embrace. And then she felt him leave a light, chaste kiss on the top of her head.
She looked up, only to find him smiling faintly at her, satisfaction having smoothed his features. In his arms, safe, onthe picnic he had set just to ask for forgiveness, radiant in the night, she felt… complete.
A quiet realization came over her. It was certain and almost startling in its clarity. It wasn’t dramatic or loud. It simply was an undeniable truth.
Arabella was irrevocably in love with her husband.
CHAPTER 24
Wedding Breakfast
The day of the wedding, they had managed to stay inconspicuous in the church. Gerald, of course, had no intention of sitting in the front pews where the family was supposed to sit. These people were not family. He would have loved it if they had done their duty and gone back to their estate to indulge in more pleasurable activities. But the etiquette of the ton demanded that he should attend the wedding breakfast.
This time it would take place at the groom’s house. The viscount that his half-sister was marrying was of no little means and owned a beautiful house in Mayfair. He had the added advantage of being an only child and an orphan. Knowing Cecilia, Gerald was sure that she had chosen Lord Fitzpatrick for those particular qualities.
“I should say,” Arabella broke the silence in the carriage, “but they were surprised to find that Cecilia seemed to care about the groom more than I would have thought.”
“He has all the qualities that Cecilia likes. He doesn’t talk much, he thinks even less, he has money, and no family to meddle with her business.”
“You are being very cynical right now.”
“Am I supposed to believe that Cecilia truly loves her husband?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but she truly seems to care about him.”
They arrived at the house, and he felt as if he was entering a war zone. He instantly became hyper-aware of everything. The fact that this was not his family’s house changed nothing. It was known that Cecilia had Lord Fitzpatrick wrapped around her little finger. Even before marriage, this was now her domain, and he would be a fool to drop his guard.
“Arabella,” he said as he helped her down the carriage, “I think it is needless to say that you do not leave my side at all times.”
“We will scandalize the town if you follow me to the powder room.”
“I think anyone looking at you in this gown would excuse my behavior.”
“Careful, Your Grace,” she smiled. “It is the third time you’re complimenting me since this morning.”
“It seems that I can’t help myself. You look absolutely radiant. I wouldn’t follow you to the powder room only for protection,” he said lowly.
