There was a knock at the door and then Matt let himself in. Annie went scurrying away.
And they were alone again—inthisroom, which Willa realized was becoming a bit of a sacred place to her.
He began undressing. Annie had turned down the fresh sheets, and Willa walked over to sit on the bed, very aware of every piece of clothing he removed.
Matt didn’t wear nightclothes.
“When you have a valet, we will have to work out a routine,” she said. Her voice sounded a bit breathless.
“We will.” He walked over to other side of the bed from her. “Tired?”
“A bit.” There was a pause. The mattress stretched between them. “I’m glad we didn’t attend the musicale.”
“We willneverattend one of Dame Hester’s musicales.” He climbed into the bed, pulling the sheet over his hips. “Joining me?”
It wasn’t the bed that was holding her back.
It was the barrier she wore. The gown weighed heavy on her. And this was not how she wanted to be with her husband. Willa took off the gown.
She was rewarded by his smile and a quiet, “Come here.”
It was funny that she’d never known her heart could make a little leap in her chest before. He was going to wish to be intimate again. She would not like the pain, but as her mother said, this was the sacrifice women made. She might try counting backward. She climbed in the bed, and Matt drew her closer to him.
He kissed her. Their lips melded together as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He rolled her on top of him, her breasts against his hard planes, her hips on his, her braid over her shoulder. He was ready for her.
The kiss deepened.
Willa was starting to learn the signs of her body. She was preparing for him, and yet, she was anxious. If letting him hurt her was what must be done—
To her surprise, Matt moved her over to his side, her back against him, his hips curving around her buttocks. “Go to sleep, Willa,” he whispered in her ear.
“But you—”
He shushed her. “Yes, I want you.” He ran his hand over the curve of her hip and down her thigh. “You are lovely, Willa. But it is too soon for you. It will happen between us. I’m willing to wait until it is as pleasurable for you as it will be for me.”
Willa didn’t know if that time would ever arrive.
And yet, it was very nice to be held this way. To feel protected and valued.
When she fell asleep, she dreamed about children.
Matt lay awake watching Willa sleep, a sign that she trusted him.
He moved her braid so that it wouldn’t catch under his body and wake her.
He felt humbled. Today had been fun. His petite wife had a lively intelligence.
Yesterday, at the wedding celebration, Soren had taken him aside to tell him that he was a lucky man. That Willa Reverly would be the sort of wife who would be an honest companion. She would enhance his life, he’d said. “And bring out the best in you.”
“You are telling me this because...” Matt had prodded, a touch offended.
Soren had given him a hard look, an exasperated one. “Because I fear you don’t realize how bloody fortunate you are. You believe your title is a gift to her, and in exchange for the money her father has settled upon you. But the truth is, Matt, Willa is a far better woman than you deserve.”
At the time, with the headiness of the wedding celebration around him, Matt had shrugged off his groomsman’s comments. Although it wasn’t like Soren to give advice.
Now, beside Willa in bed—and remembering her gratitude toward him after she’d finally seen the tarantula or the admiration in her eyes when he handed the kitten over to the child—Matt realized Soren might be right.
The expression on Willa’s face had made him feel heroic.
