He would not have wanted her to speak the truth.I stayed so I could love you as long as the world allowed. How awkward if she had said that. One did not speak of love when the end was in sight. Yet what she had said instead had been an insult to him. To what they did share.
She grabbed the shawl and draped it over her nightdress. She walked out to the bedchamber. She pressed the door’s latch. It did not move.
She laughed to herself, ran to the dressing room, then returned to the door with a hairpin in hand. Half a minute later, she stepped out of her chamber.
She had never visited his apartment, but she knew where it was. The movements of the servants had told her that much. She trailed past other doors until she arrived at his. She tried the latch and it gave away.
The first chamber served as a sitting room. She gazed around its darkened space, but he was not there. There was another door, and light leaked through the crack where it was ajar.
Suddenly it opened fully and he strode through. He halted when he saw her. The light behind him illuminated his white shirt, but shadows formed the rest of him.
“Did you wear that shawl to remind me that my own stupidity entangled me in this business?”
“I wore it so I would not be indecent if a servant came upon me.” She let it drop.
“What the hell do you want?”
Still angry. Still insulted.
“You, of course. That is the real reason I stayed, and also the best luxury.”
He came to her with two taut strides, grabbed her, and pushed her against the wall. No talking then. His kiss almost devoured her while he pulled off her nightdress. His holds and bites gave no quarter. She released herself into the rough pleasure and instinctively gave back what she got from him until desire cried all through her.
That only drove him harder. He lifted and turned her and bent her over a fat arm of a divan. He grasped her hips and thrust into her hard. Then harder yet, again and again. He did not lead her to her heights but forced her there in a furious taking.
When she was on the brink, already tasting the fulfillment, so hungry for it she thought she would die, he stopped.
“Tell me again why you stayed.”
She barely found her voice. “For this. For you.”
He thrust deeply. She gasped. The finish beckoned again, tantalizing her.
“Again. Tell me again.”
“For you.”
He filled her over and over until the exquisite trembles when they joined became a tremor that shook her essence.
* * *
He rode the release until its end. He did not know how long he stood there or how his legs supported him. Finally, he found half his mind.
She did not move while he pulled off his clothes. She looked lovely and erotic with her long legs parted and her bottom raised. His blood attempted to stir again, but accepted defeat for a while.
He lifted her and carried her into the next chamber, put her on the bed, then dropped next to her.
“If I hurt you—”
“You did not hurt me. I do not think you would allow yourself to do that.”
She had more faith in him that he did. Seeing her in his chambers had raised a sharp edge in the anger that had sent him back here after their argument. Even her words had not softened him.
I stayed because of you. He drew her closer, into his arms.
She turned and laid her head on his chest. “You should get better locks.”
“Would it matter? I expect those who can work locks can work all of them.”
