She’d thought she’d known what to expect in the coupling between a man and a woman. Now, she was stunned to realize that even with her years of marriage, she’d not had a clue.
Gavin had changed her into a creature of light, emotion, feeling. In his arms, she was the Siren.
Her body hummed from a sense of perfect fulfillment, and she wanted more.
He moved off of her and as a flower follows the sun, she turned to him, pressing her body along his.
His lips brushed her hair. She held him close, her hands on his back as she marveled at the differences between them. He was hard where she was soft and they had fit together perfectly.
Peace filled her being. She was safe with him. She could trust him. She believed in him. She kissed his shoulder. His skin was warm. She could feel the muscles move and flex beneath the smoothness of his skin. His scent set her heart pounding. She ran her hand across the bandage and wished she could heal him with her kiss.
When she shifted, he released his hold. She sat up, folding her legs under her on the mattress.
His gaze followed her every movement. He cupped her breast as if it fascinated him.
“Now what?” he asked, sounding as satisfied and serene as she felt.
“We could break our fast,” she said as his thumb circled her nipple. She looked down the length of his tall body that filled the bed. He was stirring again, and the sight made her proud. Gavin acted as if he appreciated every inch of her.
“Or,” she said, leaning so that her breast rested in his hand, “we could have another go at it. See if there is anything we missed the last time.”
“I wouldn’t mind the practice,” he answered and slid his hand to her neck to bring her lips to meet his.
And practice they did. All that day and the next.
The room at the Clarendon became their sanctuary.
When she mentioned that her body was an old one, a four-and-thirty one, he laughed and called her beautiful.
Beautiful.
Sarah had never thought of herself that way before. Her coloring was too strong, too out of fashion for true beauty—and yet, when she was with him, she believed herself lovely.
What truly amazed her was that when she decided to work on the task of copying the parts of her play for the actors, Gavin sat at the table next to her, helping. He hadn’t been lying to her when he’d said he’d enjoyed reading the play and often asked perceptive questions about the characters.
And through it all, they made love. Delicious, soul-satisfying love.
However, they could not hide away forever.
Besides, they both had much to do. He had to return to his politics and she was determined to stage her play. Gavin encouraged her to do so. He told Sarah he admired her for being herself. Her spirit attracted him as much as her body.
His man Talbert was, of course, dismissed. Gavin had seen to the secretary and had sent letters demanding Lord Rovington’s resignation as Chairman of the Committees on the day of the duel. He didn’t appear to have any remorse over the action. Sarah understood he was the sort of man who would do what he believed must be done.
That meant that someday, he would end their liaison. However, for the first time in her life, Sarah did not want to worry about the future. She wanted to live this day and spend the night in his arms without doubts and fears.
She was now a mistress.
If she allowed herself the time to think deeply on the matter, she was embarrassed. This was the place she had told herself she would not go.
Still, she discovered that she lacked the will to give up Gavin.
And her feeling toward him had nothing to do with the clothes he purchased for her from Mrs. Hillsman or the house he purchased in her name not far from her old home on Mulberry Street and very close to the Bishop’s Hill Theater. No, her feelings ran deeper than gifts.
Because of him, she had security. Because of him, she was living her dream.
She found herself anxiously waiting for the sound of his knock on her door. She adored the weight of his body upon hers and being curled up against his warmth. No matter where he went in the evening, he came to her bed for the night.
Sarah was learning what made him laugh and enjoyed sharing tidbits of her day that would make him smile.
