She poked him in the chest. “I agree. Despite you being an accomplished lover, I find myself in need of a patron who wants to come to see me. And bed me,” she threw at him.
“No doubt you already have one picked out.” Robert opened the front door. He was surprised at how little he cared. With a curt bow he left her.
“I have several,” she called after him and slammed the door.
As he walked down the steps, Robert tucked his brass-topped cane beneath his arm, pulled on his gloves, and shoved on his hat. He entered the street, strangely light, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. What a fool he’d been! Women were such romantics. They thought love was at the root of everything. Might he be in love with Kate? He found more and more that he wanted to be with her. And his urge to make love to her was becoming impossible to bear. Butdammit! It wasn’t unreasonable to desire a beautiful woman who was sleeping down the corridor, was it? He defied even a monk not to be continually bothered by it.
He accepted that he and Kate had been fighting a war and the prize was his freedom. A man had to keep a cool head, or he’d find himself turned into an obliging lap dog, with every shred of his masculinity gone. But somehow, as much as he wanted to return to his old life, something stopped him. He had no taste for cards at his club, despite knowing friends would be there. With a shake of his head, he raised his cane to hail a hackney, the option after an excruciating night was to return to his cold bed.
Robert woke. Or was he still dreaming? A soft body nestled beside him. He caught the fragrant scent of damask roses and his heart, and another part of his body leapt.Kate.
Not pausing to question it, he responded before she changed her mind, gathering her warm, enticing curves close. He whispered in her ear, “You have forgiven me my abhorrent behavior, then.”
Her sweet breath touched his cheek. “If you’ve forgiven me for slapping you.”
“I deserved it,” he said diplomatically. “May I light a candle?”
She paused. “All right.”
After candlelight flooded the room, he stared at Kate. If this was a dream, please let it continue. She wore a saucy, almost transparent nightgown of black lace. It was something he would expect Anastasia to wear, not his innocent little wife. She did look enchanting in it. Her sun-kissed curls flowed over her shoulders reminding him of Titian’s paintingVenus of Urbinowhich hung in the upper gallery. Venus was naked, and Robert was rocked with a very strong desire to remove the garment, pretty as it was. “Where did you get that nightgown?”
“I saw it at my modiste’s the other day. She was making it for someone else. I persuaded her to sell it to me.”
“I’m very pleased you did. I didn’t know you were out today. Did you take your maid with you?”
She gave a quick shake of her head.
He tried to summon annoyance at her continued lack of propriety in the hope that he could hang on to some perspective, but failed as his blood surged, and his heart pounded. Right now, he didn’t give a damn. And rather than appearing apologetic, Kate’s green eyes defied him, while her white teeth nibbled her plump lower lip, inviting him to kiss her.
Robert lost his breath, his groin tightening. “You are so lovely,” he said gruffly. His gaze traveled from her nicely shaped ankles up to where her breasts thrust against the whisper-thin material. Her skin was like polished porcelain in the candlelight. Her delicate bones and slender body made him want to shield her from all hurt while horribly aware that he’d been the one who’d hurt her most.
*
“I feel beautifulwhen you look at me like that,” Kate whispered.
“You’re trembling.” Robert trailed a finger down her arm. There was something in his eyes she hadn’t seen before. She recognized desire, but there was a softness, too, as if he really looked at her and didn’t just lust after her.
“A little.”
Kate released the breath she had been holding. She had been afraid he would turn her away.
Robert framed her face with his hands. “I promise never to hurt you, Kate. If I have in the past, I’m confoundedly sorry for it.”
“Oh, Robert!” Kate sighed as the tension leached from her limbs. Only a little apprehension remained for what lay ahead.
*
Robert bent tokiss her, tasting her full lips. How he had wanted to do this and know that she wouldn’t fly out of his arms at the slightest provocation. He drew away the lacy fabric of her nightgown and uncovered a breast, bending to kiss a nipple. Her skin was soft and fragrant. She sucked in a ragged breath and clutched his shoulders. Aware she was nervous, his tongue gently teased a nipple, turning it marble hard. Her delighted gasp stirred a corresponding delight in him, but it was so much more than desire. His heart swelled with joy. It was an emotion like no other he’d ever experienced. It stunned him, enveloped him, and he almost pulled away in fear of it.
“Kate.” He groaned and ripped the fragile lace as he pulled it over her head. “I’ll buy you another,” he promised. “Just like it. One for every night of the week.” He rained kisses over her soft throat. “I want you so much.”
“I want you, too, Robert,” she said, her voice a mere whisper.
He groaned. “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you.”
“I think I wanted you, too.”
He smiled. “And you still do. Despite everything?”
