Page 38 of The Lyon’s Paw

“Good.” He breathed deeply, then groaned. “I wish I could tell you how truly magnificent it feels to me.”

At least he was pleased with her. That was something good even if this wasn’t particularly pleasant for her. “I’m glad.”

He moved away, eliciting another groan, then thrust back inside.

It hurt less this time, the pain settling into dull ache that was tolerable.

“Put your legs around me and relax if you can.” Geoffrey slid forward again. “That will make it easier for you.”

That suited Diana. She wrapped her legs over his back, careful not to hit her bad ankle, took a deep breath, and willed her body to relax. Immediately, Geoffrey’s movements seemed easier as he pulled back and thrust forward. He began a rhythm of sorts, that reminded her of the swaying of trees in the wind. Back and forth, easy and graceful. The tingles began to form, down where their bodies joined. Deep within her the pulsing began again, more intense this time. Diana moaned, delighted now with the return of that wonderful sensation.

When he sped up, plunging into her time and again, it was as though he stoked the heat the pulses gave off, spiraling her upward until the bursting stars made her shriek aloud. Her shout was followed almost instantly by Geoffrey’s deep voice calling her name. He strained into her and something warm exploded within her. Then he slumped over top of her, his voice hoarsely murmuring her name. After a few moments, he pulled his heavy body up and rolled onto his back, his arm flung over his head.

Diana sank into the bed, staring up at the blue cloth of the tester, waiting for her breathing to slow. What an amazing thing to have happened. Clearly, married people had much fuller lives than single ones did. She only hoped they could do this whenever they wanted. It would be dreadful if they could only do this with each other according to some sort of schedule.

She glanced over at Geoffrey to find him looking at her, a brow raised as if in inquiry. “Are you quite all right, Diana? You’ve been staring at the canopy for some minutes.”

Giving him a wide smile, Diana turned toward him and rubbed his naked shoulder. “I am fine, my lord. I was just wondering if this…activity is something we need to schedule?”

He frowned and cocked his head. “You think we need a schedule for making love?”

“Well, I don’t know. The household has schedules for all kinds of activities, so I wondered if this one had a schedule as well.” Was he angry at the question? She didn’t know why he would be. She certainly didn’t have any idea.

“If it needs to be scheduled, how often would you suggest?” His lips had puckered, as if trying not to smile.

“I know you are quite busy, so do you think we could manage it once or twice…” she looked at him hopefully, “a day?”

Geoffrey burst out laughing, then pulled her over on top of him, making her shriek and laugh as well. “My dear we do not need to schedule our pleasures. Any time is the perfect time for us to make love to one another. Day, night, the middle of the afternoon.”

“In the afternoon?” That seemed terribly reckless. “If we sneak away to make love in the middle of the day, won’t everyone know what we’re doing?”

“My love, we are newly married.” He chuckled anew. “Anytime we are alone together they will know—or assume—this is what we are doing.”

“Oh, dear.” That was rather disconcerting.

“Do not let it fret you, sweetheart.” He slid his arms around her and pressed her to his warm chest. “Believe me, everyone is thrilled at this, and no one more so than I.”

“Oh, Geoffrey.” She snuggled further against him and sighed. “I love you.”

Stunned, he simply stared at her, mesmerized as the words sank in.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, that is.” She didn’t want to look at him, but she desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

“Diana.” He seemed to struggle to speak, the glib rejoinders that had always naturally flowed from his lips apparently deserting him, leaving him nothing to say except, “Diana.”

“It’s all right.” She turned over in the bed, unwilling now to look at him. “You don’t have to say it back. We are very different people, my lord. We always have been.” But now she needed more than anything to let him know that she had changed toward him. For good. “I’ve simply come to the conclusion now that I can’t live my life with anyone except you.”

At once she found herself seized in his strong hands and spun over to stare into his jet-black eyes. “I love you too, Diana.” Pulling her to him, he kissed her with all the love and passion she could ever wish for. “I have been in love with you since…I don’t know. Perhaps since the moment you fell off Mirabelle. At that instant, I knew I wanted to help and protect you forever. Not to mention you drove me mad with lust every second we were on that horse together.”

“I knew you desired me.” She smiled then laid her head on his chest. “I did know that much about how a man’s body reacts to a woman. But that’s all I thought it was.” She ducked her head against the broad chest. “And I was more than a little desirous of you as well.”

Geoffrey chuckled. “I suspected that too. You suddenly changed from being all prickly, to having more rounded corners to your barbs.”

“Strange neither one of us admitted our growing attraction to the other.” Diana sighed, more content now than she’d ever been in her life. “I’m glad we finally declared our love.” She squeezed him tightly. “Some things simply need to be spoken.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Good morning, Lady Longford.” Joan, Mrs. George’s clerk smiled as she recognized Diana. Then her gaze fell on Geoffrey and that smile wavered. “And Lord Longford, this must be.” Eyes wide, the girl dipped a curtsy and backed up a step. “I’ll tell Mrs. George you are here, my l…lord, my lady.” She glanced back to Diana. “You’ll be happy to know all the gowns are ready to be fitted.”