Nick decided his fun was over and made to leave. “I’ll leave you to it and keep an eye out.”
“You do that,” Douglas told his back.
“Nick!” Julia called out to him and then again extended her left arm and wriggled her fingers at the other man. “We’re getting married,” she announced, this time the pride in her voice was unmistakable and Douglas felt…
He felt…
He had absolutely no idea what he felt as it was something he’d never felt before.
Nick had turned at her call and his face lit up for a brief second before he continued to walk away.
As they just about lost sight of him, he yelled out, “About bloody time!”
This made Julia laugh and Douglas found it an immensely pleasant sensation to have her body shake with laughter while pressed against his.
He dipped his head to hers and kissed the laugh off her lips.
“About that seduction,” he murmured against her mouth.
She lifted her hand to touch her fingers lightly against his face, her eyes holding his and, slowly, she smiled.
And that was it, he was seduced.
* * * * *
Julia woke some time later feeling deliciously sated. Her body had a languorous feel that was a heady type of exhaustion that had nothing to do with tiredness and everything to do with happiness.
She was tucked up against Douglas’s left side, her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest and his fingers were lazily stroking the area just above her bottom.
“You awake?” she mumbled, her voice husky with sleep.
“Mm,” was his answer.
She stretched slowly, arching her back which pressed her torso into his side and her bottom into his hand. He stopped stroking her and his hand flattened against her, smoothing down and around to cup her backside.
She shifted and lifted herself up on her elbow to look down on him.
The draperies were open and moonlight was spilling into his bedroom. She could see his face in shadowed relief and she allowed herself a moment to think of what a brave man he was. He had survived an abusive childhood and created, all on his own, the masterpiece that lay before her.
She couldn’t help herself, she smiled with pride.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“I’ve no idea,” Douglas replied, watching her, his eyes heavy-lidded, his hand moving on her behind.
“Have you slept?” she asked, twisting around to see the clock on his bedside table and noting it was not nearly as late as she expected.
“No,” he answered.
Her head swung back to him.
“Why not? You must be exhausted.” He had to be after all that had happened that night. She was.
“No, Julia, I’m anything but exhausted.” And his hand tightened on her bottom.
She let out a little, happy laugh even as her body reacted to his words.
“If this is my future, you’ll wear me out in six months, a year tops,” she told him.