Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,93
laid her onto the soft grass and came down upon her, tilting his head this way and that as he kissed her. With roving hands, he reached lower and raised her skirts. The sensation of his fingers feathering over her thighs roused her senses and caused a flurry of butterflies deep inside her belly.
Oh, how she needed to be the object of his desire at that moment. She wrapped her legs around him and held him close as he kissed her neck, his hot breath tickling her skin and filling her with need.
“Let’s make new memories,” she whispered in his ear. “I love it here, Seger.”
Her husband recognized the passion in her voice. Sensitive lover that he was, always willing to answer to a lady’s longings, he called up his extraordinary charms.
Clara felt beautiful, as if she were the most important person in the world to him. He had such a talent in that regard. All he had to do was smile suggestively, and she opened to him like a spring flower.
Glancing down with teasing eyes, he unbuttoned the top of her bodice and kissed along her collarbone.
“Tell me what you’d like this afternoon.” His voice was husky, provocative.
“Why don’t you surprise me?”
Her body relaxed and surrendered as Seger unfastened his breeches. A moment later, he was easing himself into her, slowly with grace and control, never taking his eyes off hers.
They watched each other in the twilight as they made love at the water’s edge. It was peaceful by the lake. Clara had never known such contentment, such deep, soul-blazing love.
After a time, his pace quickened, and he closed his eyes. He pushed into her firmly and held himself deep inside—so deep it felt as if he was filling her completely.
A moment later, passions spent, Seger collapsed on top of her. “I think I just gave you everything I had.”
“But I hope there will be something left for later,” she replied playfully.
He propped himself up on both elbows and gave her the rakish grin that always melted her heart. “I’ll see to it. A hearty dinner should fill me up again.”
He glanced at her hair and picked a few crisp, dead leaves out of it. “I’ve made a mess of you.”
Clara laughed.
He fixed his eyes on hers and rolled onto his back beside her, tossing his arms up under his head. “I’m glad you suggested this makeshift honeymoon. It’s been a delight so far.”
Clara rested her cheek on her hand and rolled to face him. “Thank you for bringing me here. I know it wasn’t easy.”
She saw in his eyes that he knew exactly what she was referring to. “No, Clara. It has not been that difficult.”
“But you were thinking of her for quite some time, and you were very quiet a little while ago. You looked sad.”
“Only because I haven’t thought of her in a long time, and that was my own choice. Being back here makes it impossible to ignore the memories, that’s all. And I suppose I’ve finally accepted that it’s time to say goodbye.” He hesitated before adding, “I want you to know that if she miraculously returned from the dead and knocked on my door this very night, I would still choose you.”
For Clara, those words were music to her ears. She dropped her gaze to the matted grass, but there was still one more thing that had been weighing heavily on her mind.
“Do I remind you of her?” she asked. “Is that why you married me?”
Seger leaned closer. “Of course not.” He cradled her chin in his hand. “Clara, look at me. I admit that when I first saw you, I noticed a slight resemblance. Perhaps it’s what made me approach you, but since then I have not seen it. You’re different in every way. I don’t see her when I look at you. I only see you.”
Clara accepted his explanation and reminded herself that even though this conversation about Daphne was painful in a way, it was a good thing. He was being open with her, and that was what she had wanted.
“I understand if you need to think of her,” Clara said. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been here.”
He touched her cheek, then leaned back on his elbows. “You’ve been very understanding. Most women would have slapped my face and stormed off by now.”
She tried to smile. “It means a great deal to me that you are honest with me, Seger, and if at anytime, you want to talk