All he could do was nod and pull her hand up to his lips. He kissed the center of her palm and placed it over his heart. “Do you feel what you did to me?”
Thea’s eyes widened as she realized how quickly his heart was beating.
“Well, if you felt anything close to what I felt, I understand exactly why,” she said.
He pulled her atop him and ran his fingers through her thick hair. “You’re beautiful, Lady Clayton. And now, you are well and truly mine.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
They made love two more times that night and Thea was amazed each time at the things her body was capable of and the things Ewan knew how to do to elicit the responses he wanted. He knew just where to touch, what to whisper in her ear, and when to whisper it to heighten her pleasure. By the time dawn peeked through the curtains, Ewan was fast asleep, and Thea was sore, satiated, and thoroughly unnerved.
He’d called her beautiful. He’d called her Lady Clayton. He’d even said she was ‘well and truly’ his. He’d done things to her body that she had never dreamed possible. In the span of one evening, she had the sinking suspicion that he’d chained her to him thoroughly body and soul. After all, a lady could fall in love with someone who called her beautiful. She could love someone who claimed her as his. But he’d never once mentioned the word love, not even at the height of his pleasure.
Going to bed with Ewan tonight had seemed like the obvious and proper thing to do. They were married and it was their wedding night. But now that the wedding night was over, Thea was terrified that he would leave her for a mistress in London while she’d stayed here alone night after night, with nothing but the memory of his touch. And the thought of Ewan doing the things he’d just done to her with a mistress made a pit form in Thea’s stomach.
She glanced at her husband’s sleeping form. He looked younger, more vulnerable, peaceful. But he was still undeniably handsome with his long eyelashes splayed against his tan cheeks. Thea pushed her palm against her forehead. Dear God, despite her best intentions, she’d done precisely what her mother had done, what her mother hadwarnedher against. Thea had married a man who she felt more for than he did. She was a fool. A complete fool.
As the sun rose, Thea slipped out of Ewan’s bed, grabbed up the remnants of her ridiculous nightrail, and made her way back into her own bedchamber. She shut the adjoining door behind her as quietly as possible and winced when it made a little thump. She glanced around her new bedchamber, which was even more spectacular than the one she’d had when she’d been here as a guest. She pulled a dressing gown from her wardrobe and tied it around her waist before she began pacing the floor, biting her thumbnail and trying to still her growing panic.
She had to regain control of herself and her thoughts. She and Ewan had had a lovely evening. A memorable wedding night. But she could not allow herself to think it had been any more than that. Their marriage wasn’t a love match. She’d do well to remember that fact. She would get started today at the business of being a viscountess. That was her role now and she’d been raised to it. Being a lovesick wife who wanted to jump into bed the moment her husband quirked his finger was decidedlynotin her plans.
She paced in front of the bed for a few more moments, deciding on her course of action. First, she would take a long, hot bath and a nap. Later, she would go and have tea with Phillip.
EWAN YAWNEDand stretched before rolling himself over in the bed and feeling around for his wife’s soft, welcoming body. He patted the space next to him for several moments before realizing that he’d managed to find nothing more than cold sheets. He sat up straight and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
The morning light streamed through an opening in the curtains. He glanced at her side of the bed. Thea was gone. He was alone. She’d obviously slipped back into her room at some point in the night. Ewan expelled his breath and uttered a curt expletive.
Did she regret what had happened between them? Or did she simply prefer not to see him this morning? Either way he didn’t like waking up without her. Regardless of their forced marriage, Ewan couldn’t deny that the attraction between them was fierce. Their lovemaking last night had been extraordinary. Like nothing he’d ever experienced before. The entire evening had gone nothing like he’d expected, but it had been better than his wildest dreams.
Ewan tossed the covers aside and got out of bed. Without bothering to call his valet, Ewan pulled on some clothing and went to visit Phillip. Despite the early hour, he needed a drink. And some advice.
In that order.
PHILLIP,it turned out, was not as keen to drink before noon as Ewan happened to be. But the future duke was more than willing to sit in his friend’s study and lend an ear while Ewan poured himself a glass of brandy.
“Congratulations, Clayton,” Phillip said, raising a non-existent glass in Ewan’s honor.
Ewan raised his own real one in salute and took a drink. “Thank you,” he mumbled.
Phillip arched a brow. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you look a bit … rough for a happily married bridegroom.”
Ewan glanced down at his wrinkled clothing and emitted a short growl. He rubbed at the day-old stubble on his cheeks. “What does it matter?” he grumbled.
“I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” Phillip replied, shaking his head. “Marriage trouble already, Clayton?”
Ewan shrugged and poked out his cheek with his tongue. “Oh, not much unless one thinks one’s wife hating him is trouble.”
Phillip’s brows snapped together. “Why in the world would you believe she hates you?”
Ewan expelled his breath in a long rush. “I ruined her life. Whywouldn’tshe hate me?”
Phillip’s brow remained drawn. “Howprecisely did you ruin her life?”
“Let’s see.” Ewan lifted his glass again and stared at the amber liquid inside. “Thea made it quite clear she didn’t want to marry me, and instead of taking no for an answer, I showed up at her house and compromised her in front of the biggest gossip in the countryside, thereby forcing her into the marriage.”
Phillip’s face remained skeptical. “Youforcedyourself on her?Thatdoesn’t sound like you, Clayton.”
Ewan shrugged. “I kissed her.”
