it when Adam was in control. At least in this. She felt safe, even with the hint of fear that accompanied him. It was what made him impossibly alluring.
“You taste sweet. As sweet as can be,” he said before kissing her again.
She arched into him as his hands began to roam over her body. She wanted him to touch her everywhere. Wriggling on his lap, she felt something hard beneath her bottom.
“Easy, sweetheart,” he said, and chuckled as he kissed her throat. “You’ll be the death of me.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“Far from it. In fact, I think you should—” The coach stopped, and Adam cursed softly. “Bloody wedding breakfast.”
“Couldn’t we simply tell the coachman to drive around a bit longer?”
At this, her husband laughed. She loved the sound. For such a serious man, that simple sound changed him completely.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he said again, the endearment falling easily from his lips. “I am sorely tempted to do just that, but we’ve caused enough scandal as it is. Besides, when I claim your body, I would rather not be rushed. And once you understand why, you will be grateful I exercised some measure of restraint at this moment.”
He gently set her on the seat beside him, and they smoothed out their clothes.
“Thank heavens I didn’t muss your hair,” he said as he opened the door. A flustered footman assisted her down. It must have been clear to the young man what had been going on inside, and that was why he hadn’t dared to open the door.
Adam and Letty now entered their home for the first time as husband and wife. She had hoped to feel suddenly in command of Chilgrave, yet it didn’t feel as though anything had changed inside of her. She still felt like a guest who would eventually be asked to pack up her valise and leave. But that wasn’t going to happen. She was here to stay. This was her new home. She and Adam had a few moments to collect themselves in an adjoining drawing room, where she hastily sipped from a glass of champagne before they entered the dining room to greet their arriving guests.
The dining room was decorated with lilies and orchids, lending the feel of a garden to the beautiful dining room. The table was laden with a dozen small bridecakes, and the scent of oranges filled the air. Mrs. Oxley had outdone herself, offering a host of other dishes for the guests and champagne poured into slender flutes.
“Heavens,” Letty whispered at the sight of the festive spread.
Adam smiled fondly. “Though she can be grumpy, Mrs. Oxley does love weddings. I can only imagine how thrilled she was to finally be the head cook at one. Usually she volunteers to cook for the villagers nearby when weddings occur there.”
“That’s lovely.” It delighted her to know that the servants in her new home were so caring and kind.
Adam retrieved one of the bridecakes and cut out a tiny piece. He held it out with his fingertips.
“I wouldn’t want you to miss this,” he said. The intimate gesture made a low heat burn in her belly as he placed a small bite of cake between her lips.
“It’s quite good,” she said as she swallowed the sugary bite. “You should have some too.” She reached for the cake, but the sound of guests arriving halted her. Adam offered her a soft smile when he saw her disappointment.
“We’ll have plenty of time for that later.” They met their guests, and she did her best to embrace her new role as Countess of Morrey. As Adam’s wife.
She and Adam split apart to better greet the guests. She still snuck glances at him every few minutes, and she was delighted and a little shocked to see that he was watching her with the same interest.
At one point, Adam was surrounded by a group of tall, rakish men. She knew them to be the League of Rogues, and she giggled at the sight of him. Whatever the men were telling him must have shocked him to his core. He looked suddenly as though he’d lost his footing and ran a hand through his hair, murmuring a reply to the group that made them all burst out laughing.
Audrey and Gillian now stood next to Letty. “What the devil do you think they are talking about?”
“I’m afraid to know,” Gillian replied as she noticed her husband was among them.
Audrey sighed in disappointment. “It makes one very angry that one cannot simply transform