everything. “When I’m inside of you… It’s as though the secrets of the universe are in my grasp. You are my why, my how… You are the last person I think of when I fall asleep and the first thought in my mind when I wake up. And in between, I imagine your scent on me. I picture you growing large with my child.”
She grasped the sides of his head and dragged his mouth to hers. A thousand minutes passed before either came up for air.
“I always feel safe knowing you are protecting me,” she whispered breathlessly.
“I didn’t protect you last night.”
“But I knew you would come. I never doubted you would save me.” She touched his chin, staring into his eyes. “And you did.”
“Thank God.”
“All the while I provoked you, I was doing my best to convince myself you weren’t the one. And then you’d go and do something incredible. Like trying to teach me to protect myself or throw me onto a horse and beat up dozens of villains without so much as blinking.”
“I am not a duke or even a lord,” Stone reminded her grimly, but she was already shaking her head.
“You said that when you are inside of me, you know the secrets of the universe?”
“Are you mocking my attempts at poetry?” He tried to joke at his own sentimentality, but she stared at him intently.
“When you are touching me, I feel worshipped. Having you inside of me, all of your strength, all of your person, trembling in my arms, I might as well have been crowned queen.”
She brushed his hair away from his face. “I love the way this piece of hair constantly hangs along your jaw. Do you realize that even unshaven and wearing traveling clothes, you still manage to look incredibly handsome? This…” She plucked at his shirt. “Looks better on you than the most expensive tailored clothing looks on any other man.”
“I’ll wear tailored clothing for you.”
“And I’ll wear nothing for you.” She grinned. “But we need to be quiet or we’ll wake up Emily.”
“I love you, Mrs. Spencer.” Stone kissed her again. “And we’re running out of time.”
Unwilling to waste even another minute, he trailed his mouth between her breasts, gathering her skirts in his fist as he did so. She parted her knees, and he settled himself between her legs.
“Then love me now, Mister Spencer.” She arched her back, her hands fumbling at the fasteners of his trousers.
“As you wish.” He found his way home. “And with all my heart.”
Epilogue
Two Weeks and Six Days Later
Tabetha stared into the looking glass on her vanity, candlelight flickering behind her, and inhaled a slow breath. The last three weeks had been the longest three weeks of her life. Not that she didn’t enjoy planning parties and decorations and being fit for an entirely new wardrobe—one that was far more colorful and stylish than the one her mother had made up for her earlier this spring, one that was not intended for a debutante but for a newly married lady.
In fact, to be perfectly honest, she’d relished in all of that.
But she had not relished having her mother’s secretary, the most determined Mrs. Crabtree, chaperone her everywhere.
Good lord, the woman had even followed her to the retiring room.
Her betrothed had only managed to get her alone long enough to kiss her senseless five times. Crabtree was never far off. Each time they’d been interrupted, Tabetha had been left feeling frustrated and achy.
Had Stone had an easier time of it? She imagined how he had no doubt alleviated his frustrations and the thought had her squeezing her thighs together.
One more night.
She glanced at the bed, knowing one more night of tossing and turning awaited her.
Cursed Crabtree!
Even tonight, the night of their prewedding ball, the woman had trailed her worse than Stone ever had.
Although he had managed a single kiss—a single toe-curling, hair-raising, most frustrating kiss.
Tabetha untied the knot of her braid and dragged her brush through the long strands again. She’d sent Emily away for the night, feeling excited, scared, and happy but also a little melancholy.
Even Archie had abandoned her tonight, for her mother of all people!
She had to admit that everything had been beautiful. Her mother had made certain the ball was a most memorable event, sparing nothing as far as flowers, food, and champagne. Not even Rachel Somerset’s disparaging comments about the groom’s lack of title had bothered her.
How could they, when jealousy laced the supposed insult?
And Stone--who had appeared even more