“Oh, Victor,” she whispered shakily. “I love you too.”
His expression cracked with relief.
Then he kissed her again.
This kiss was slower than before, deeper, filled with tenderness and yearning that made Charlotte’s entire body ache for him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed herself against him eagerly. She could feel his heartbeat hammering beneath his chest.
His hands slid carefully along her waist before pulling her closer still. Charlotte sighed into his mouth, overcome by warmth and desire and happiness all at once. Every touch felt precious now that she knew his heart belonged to her as fully as hers belonged to him.
Victor kissed along her jaw slowly. “My wife,” he murmured against her skin.
A shiver raced through her.
“You have no notion what you do to me.”
Charlotte laughed softly despite herself. “I believe I have some notion.”
“Not enough.”
His lips brushed her neck, and heat flooded through her body immediately. Charlotte clung tighter to him as his hands stroked gently along her back.
“You are trembling,” he whispered.
“So are you.”
“That is because you terrify me.”
She pulled back just enough to look at him. “The mighty Duke of Mulford is frightened of his own wife?”
“You are far more dangerous than any battlefield.”
Charlotte laughed through her tears. “You are absurd.”
“And yet you adore me.”
“I fear I do,” she sighed.
His grin appeared then at last, wicked and beautiful and achingly familiar. “Excellent. I should hate to think I confessed all of that merely to be rejected.”
She smacked lightly at his shoulder. “Rogue.”
He caught her hand immediately and kissed her palm. “ I am your rogue.”
The simple words made her heart swell painfully with affection.
Victor drew her into his arms once more and held her tightly against him. Charlotte rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. For the first time since their marriage began, she felt no uncertainty between them.
Only love. Only warmth. Only home.
“You… have you changed your mind? Because if you haven’t, I think I can come to terms with-” she whispered.
Victor brushed his thumb gently along her cheek. “About children? Yes.” His voice lowered tenderly. “About you, never. I have loved you for longer than I wish to admit, that has not changed, but I do want to have a family with you.”
Emotion swelled so fiercely inside her that she nearly laughed and cried at once. She had convinced herself she must settle for half a marriage, half a heart, half a dream. Yet here he stood before her, offering her everything she had longed for. Charlotte felt so overwhelmed with joy that she scarcely knew what to do with herself.
“You truly mean it?” she asked softly.
“I would not jest about such a thing.”
