“I love your determination,” he said with a grin as he helped her discard it. His mouth captured hers in the very next second as he pulled her to him so her heart met his. Running his hands over her hips, he wrought several sighs from her lips before lifting her slightly and setting her down on the bed.
Leaning back, Viola looked at the man she’d married and found herself staring in wonder. His chest was more defined than she remembered from when she’d helped Florian pull a lead ball from his shoulder. The scar was a redder hue than the rest of his skin and so small it was barely noticeable at all.
“You’re the handsomest man I’ve ever seen,” she told him honestly.
His chest rose and fell as he stared back at her, almost daring her to avert her gaze as his fingers dropped to the placket of his breeches. Diligently, he worked the fastenings to loosen the fabric until, with one swift movement, he pushed his breeches and smalls down over his hips, all the way to the floor, where they joined the rest of the discarded clothing.
Nothing in the world, not even a million pounds, could have made Viola tear her gaze away from her husband’s splendor. “Oh my,” she murmured as she took in the lean musculature of his legs and...
Swallowing, she scooted back on the bed. Because Henry Lowell was the very definition of masculine perfection.
“My experience isn’t exactly—”
“Hush, Viola.” He climbed onto the bed, and the mattress shifted beneath his weight. “None of that matters anymore, so please rid your mind of it if you can and focus on this instead.” He bowed his head and licked his way along the entire length of her body with such thorough dedication that thinking of anything else became utterly impossible.
“The way you respond to my touch is thrilling,” he whispered close to her ear while making her moan with the softest caress of his fingers.
“Henry.” She drew him closer, spearing his hair with her fingers and needing... simply needing... something more.
His mouth met hers in a fierce caress as he settled between her thighs. And as he joined his body with hers, Viola welcomed the powerful sensation. Sharing herself with him so completely made her feel whole for the first time ever.
“I love you,” he assured her, pausing for a moment to meet her gaze.
“As I love you,” she replied, and then sighed as he started to move. This was the closest thing to perfection she’d ever experienced in her life. She clung to Henry and matched his movements, pushing herself toward the unknown until every sensation her body experienced collided and burst on a wave of euphoric pleasure. And as it did and she started to tumble, a guttural growl was wrenched from his throat right before he collapsed beside her.
Breathing heavily, he pulled her against him and simply held on. “You amaze me,” he told her after a while. His fingers trailed along her hip, sparking a new desire. “You are far more passionate than I ever dared to imagine.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said with a teasing lilt to her voice.
Without warning he rolled her toward him and kissed her deeply. “Not at all, my darling. It is yet another thing for me to love about you.” A wicked gleam lit his eyes. “Because it makes me think you might enjoy this as well.” Upon which he showed her precisely what he had in mind while she in turn wondered how she’d ever find the will to get out of bed again.
Chapter 25
Unfortunately she was forced to do so when she and Henry awoke to the sound of loud banging. Groaning, Viola reached for Henry, who was already climbing out of bed.
“Must we respond?” she asked him while savoring the splendid view of his naked backside. They’d made love until dawn and she was both achy and exhausted, though in the best way possible.
“It might be important,” he told her while throwing a shirt over his head. Another bang sounded and Henry put on his trousers and left the room without bothering to continue dressing.
Viola sighed. She desperately wanted him back in bed with her so they could explore each other further. But when he returned to the bedroom a few minutes later, his expression told her that this was unlikely to happen.
She sat up and pulled the sheets around herself. “Who was that?”
“Officer Ericson. He wants to give us an update.” Henry came to sit on the edge of the bed. He took her hand in his. “I’ve admitted him to the library, so he’s waiting for us to join him.”
“Give me ten minutes to get myself ready,” Viola said. She moved to get out of bed, but Henry held her in place.
Leaning toward her, he pressed his mouth to hers. “I should probably put on my hose and shoes as well,” he murmured against her lips.
“And stop kissing me or we’ll never get out of this room.”
He released her with a grin and Viola went to gather her clothes.
“I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, Mrs. Lowell,” Officer Ericson said when she and Henry arrived in the library.
“No need,” Viola told him sincerely. “My husband and I are both anxious for any information you can provide. You did the right thing, coming here. Would you care for some tea or another refreshment?”
“No thank you. I do not wish to stay longer than necessary.” He waited for Viola to sit before lowering himself back down to the armchair he’d risen from when she’d arrived. “Regarding Miss Olivia Jones. Both her parents confirmed that the man she was seeing was indeed the Duke of Tremaine, though he would have been the Marquess of Bremferrol back then.”
