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Jo bit on her knuckles, but he placed his lips against her ear and whispered, “I want to hear you scream.”

His thrusts became more forceful, his finger more insistent, his lips played with her earlobe, then moved on to her neck.

She couldn’t contain it any longer. Her passion spilled out in a fiery cry as she came, her muscles contracting, spasming around his hard cock.

Richard hastened his pace and, a few moments later, pulled out with a growl, spilling his seed against her buttocks.

He rolled off the bed and came back with a towel. After he cleaned her up, she turned to him with a grin. “Armor?”

He looked forlornly at the used animal-skin sheathes by the bed. “They need washing. Or else I need to procure about twenty more. Apparently, three is not enough for a night of pleasure.”

Jo hid a smile. “And morning.”

She scrambled off the bed and went to take her morning ablutions. She came out of Richard’s dressing room in one of his shirtsleeves. She hadn’t even unpacked her clothing yet. Had someone unpacked for her? She had a slew of servants now. But she hadn’t even been to her room, or anywhere really, except for Richard’s bedchamber since she arrived.

“So, do you want to break your fast here, or finally see the breakfast room and the rest of the house?” Richard asked.

Jo smiled, walked up to her half-clad husband, and ran her hands up his chest before kissing his neck. Husband. She liked the sound of that.

“I am afraid I can’t eat with you today,” she said, and he frowned at her.

“Why not?”

“I am already late for rehearsals.”

Richard groaned and nuzzled her shoulder. “Is that how it’s going to be?”

Jo chuckled. “You married a working actress, what did you expect?”

He looked at her, his mouth turned down in a pout. “A honeymoon, at least.”

“I am sorry, my lord,” she said softly. “Not yet.”

Richard growled, then picked her up and twirled with her in his arms. Jo giggled as she held on to his neck tightly. He let her go but not before planting a demanding kiss on her lips.

“Why can’t I seem to get enough of you?” he asked before he drew away.

Jo looked at him forlornly. “Perhaps for the same reason I can’t.”

He caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “And why is that?”

She shrugged before playfully biting his thumb. “Love.”

* * *

Richard insisted on escorting her to the theater. Before he left, he reminded her that they were to attend the Countess of Supe’s ball later that evening. And that was the main reason Jo spent the entire day worried and out of sorts.

Everything else was going splendidly. The rehearsals were lively, and Selena was in a good mood. Everyone was congratulating Jo on her advantageous if hasty marriage. She wasn’t worried about Mick anymore, because Garrett, as always, was attached to her side.

But the thought of facing hundreds of aristocrats in a ballroom, while being introduced as the new viscountess, paralyzed her.

Richard didn’t seem worried at all when he’d imparted that bit of information to her. On the contrary, he’d seemed quite pleased with himself that he would get to introduce his wife with all haste.

Jo supposed she should have been happy that he didn’t mean to hide her away from others’ gazes as if ashamed, but she wished he was at least a little worried about how society would react to that bit of news.

He didn’t seem the least bit worried. And that was why Jo was surprised to see Richard saunter into the theater a few hours later.

He was wearing a deep scowl, and he didn’t even acknowledge Jo’s presence at first.