She broke into a million pieces, right beneath his hands, sending dazzling sparks of white light full of phenomenal current through him as his own climax exploded and shuddered through him.
He sagged over her body, their synchronized and harsh breaths filling the chamber. He wrapped her stomach with his arm and fell on his side, bringing her with him. “God, I don’t think I could ever get enough of you.”
She let out a breathless laugh. “I suppose it’s indelicate of me to express my same sentiment in regards to you.” She burrowed into his chest like a small rabbit, erupting in a host of girlish giggles that banded his chest with… with love.
“Never.” he growled his own laugh before taking her mouth. Thoroughly. He worked his way to her jaw, her neck. “I do believe the Almighty fashioned you explicitly for me.”
“Or… perhaps it was you who was made for me,” she retorted.
His reply was a deep sensual kiss, without censure. Tongues meshing, dancing, flirting with no chance for escape without a sound lashing that left them both breathless.
“You. My lord. Are. Most. Steadfast.” The staccato of short-winded words pelted from her.
He rolled her to her back and laved her left breast with his tongue. He would never get enough of her. She was all fire and life. She brought light into the darkest parts of his soul. Pushed out the harsh memories of the sick, the maimed and wounded, the dead, that ravaged his nightmares of Walcheren.
He worked his way down her body, to the good parts—someone tapped at the door. Sighing, he moved from his target between her legs, and fell back against the pillows beside her, drawing the coverlets over them. “Enter.”
He caught a quick glimpse of Gabriella’s pinkened cheeks as she yanked the coverlets over her head as the door opened.
Her maid peered in with a wriggling Lady Macbeth in her hold. Her excited yaps brought Gabriella’s head out.
“I wished to let Lady Huntley know I’d arrived,” Brita said. “I brought a change of clothes.”
“Her ladyship will be staying in today,” James told her.
Gabriella shot to sitting. “Don’t be so high-handed, Huntley.” Gone was the warmth and his first name from her luscious lips.
“Leave us for a moment, Brita.” The lady’s maid slipped out, leaving a bouncing, whining pup on the floor. James swung his legs over the side of the bed and swooped her up.
She immediately dashed for her mistress, licking her nose, and sending Gabriella into a fit of giggles.
James left the bed and pulled a fresh shirt from his valise, found his breeches, and stepped into them. “You will not leave this house, my dear.”
“All you had to do was ask. It’s unnecessary to behave as a dictator.”
He marched over to the bed, gently took Lady Macbeth and set her on the floor. He then rested his fists atop the coverlets, effectively caging his wife. “Did you not leave this house last evening in the cover of darkness? Did you not realize when we rushed you here after finding Stanford’s dead body that Liverpool was banging down the door at Fitzroy Square? We don’t know if Bentick was after you or Florence Groves. Do you comprehend what I am saying?”
With each question and statement he tossed out, her face grew more mutinous.
“Darling, I am the first person to applaud your independence, but not at your peril. Am I quite clear on this?”
Her lovely eyes filled with tears. “Yes, damn it.” She lifted her chin. “You win. Give me my dog. I shall embrace this prison with my fellow inmates.”
James leaned down and picked up Lady Macbeth and handed her over. “Ryleigh and I are going to meet with Liverpool. We have no idea of the extent of Bentick’s sanity. And there is still the matter of taking care of Miss Groves’ remains.”
“Poor Miss Groves,” she whispered.
James dropped beside her on the bed. “Don’t. There’s nothing to be done about Miss Groves. We aren’t even sure why she was here.”
“Yes, we are. Mabel had contacted her and told her about Hope House.” Her despondency tore at his insides.
He dropped an arm around her and hugged her into his side.
“I’d been expecting to hear from her since the day Rebecca and I brought Mabel here. But Florence never reached out. I was about to send Mabel a note asking after Florence when I received Mabel’s missive telling me I could find Miss Groves at Drury Lane.”
He rose from the bed and went down to one knee, clutched her hand. “Please. Promise me you’ll stay here today. I’ll be as quick as I can. I’m sure the duchess will be along shortly. Will you promise?”
She studied him for a long moment. “Yes, I promise.”
