Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

C harles could barely contain himself. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this much energy coursing through him. Ever since his talk with Nora, getting back to Sarah was his first priority. There were things that needed to be addressed at the estate first, but as soon as those issues were taken care of he left in the next breath.

Sarah sat looking at her husband, her eyes were wide in shock. He brought a hand up to his hair and winced. His must have looked atrocious, his hair hadn’t seen a brush in days, and there was scruff on his cheeks.

“Charles, what has gotten into you?” She asked as the carriage pulled away from her sister’s home.

“You.” He said quite simply.

Sarah scrunched her face. “Me?”

Charles nodded. “Of course. Well, you and some much needed sense.”

Sarah offered a small smile. “And where did this much needed sense come from?”

“My sister.”

“Ah. It seems your siblings are putting more work into this marriage than either one of us.” Her voice dipped and she lowered her eyes. The rush of adrenaline seemed to have settled within both of them, leaving them in an cumbersome silence.

Charles moved to sit next to her on her side. His size didn’t make it easy, but she shifted as far over as possible so not to be squished by him.

“No. You tried, Sarah. You tried so many times, I see that now. I was the one who stifled our marriage. I saw it as a means to an end, something to quiet any rumors about my family, but what I didn’t count on was…” His voice trailed off as he looked into her eyes.

She licked her lips and held her breath.

“I did not count on my falling in love with you.”

Tears gathered in her eyes.

He took her small hands into his. “It’s true, Sarah. And that truth terrified me.” His eyes focused on their joined hands.

His eyes squeezed shut as he took a deep breath. He knew this moment was coming, that the grand gesture of showing up to bring her back wouldn’t be enough. Nora pointed out that Sarah was a lover of words. She could spend reading the written word and get lost in its stories. Actions were one thing, but she needed words.

“None of this is easy for me to talk about.” His voice came out gruff. “You must understand, I’m a man of action, not words. I don’t know how to tell you about my life, or how to open up about my past. It does not come as easily for me as it does for you.” He opened his eyes but focused them on the floor of the carriage. “I know only know how to do things.”

Sarah slipped a finger and pulled his chin up so she could look into his eyes.

“You love me?” Her voice whispered.

He shook his head. “Very much, I’m afraid.” He felt lighter saying the words, but her expression gave him pause.

She sat silent for a moment, searching his face. With a nod to herself she leaned forward.

“Then show me.” She said with an raise of her eyebrow.

Surprise flooded his system. “What?” He cocked his head to the side.

“You said you are a man of action. So show me how much you love me.”

His eyes searched hers. Could she really accept him so easily after all that had transpired between them?

He cradled her head in his hands and tipped her head back to take her mouth.

She leaned into his kiss as his tongue pushed into her mouth. A moan escaped her mouth as his arms reached down around her to pull her closer.

The carriage hit a bump that jostled them apart. Both were breathless as Charles reached around and situated Sarah so that she was straddling his lap.

Charles looked up to his wife and was transfixed on the most beautiful woman he ever saw. Here in the carriage, separate from the outside world she let her instincts control her and she never looked more beautiful.

Her eyes became heavy with lust as her cheeks flushed from their kiss. She pressed her hands into his chest as she leaned down to capture his lips in another bruising kiss. He pushed up against her sending an electric shock through his body.

Her hips pushed down against him causing a delicious friction. Heat began to pool in his core as the bumpy carriage ride assisted in their movements.

Charles clawed at her skirts, pulling them up, so he could touch her.

“I’ve missed your touch.” His words formed over their kisses. She ran her fingernails against his scalp, moaning when his body quivered under her touch.

“Your soft skin.” His lips found her throat and sucked causing Sarah to gasp.

His hands reached under her skirts and found her hot and wet. “I’ve missed you.”

He plunged two fingers inside of her. Her back arched at the intrusion before nestling into his neck as his fingers worked in and out of her. Her hips moved against him faster and faster as the gathered heat began to melt his core and turn into molten lava.

“That’s it, darling.” He cooed into ear, knowing how much she liked the pet name.

Her whimpering against his neck proved it was still a favorite of hers.

Charles felt as if his body was going to explode. He needed more than this and by the way his goddess of a wife was moving against him, she wouldn’t last much longer..

Charles started frantically moving, trying to lift her and her skirts, all the while trying to undo his trousers.

“What are you doing?” Euphoria had slurred her words and made them soft.

“I’ll be damned if you come over my hands and not my cock.” He raised her just enough to undo his pants and reveal himself.

Hovering above him, Sarah looked at him cautiously. “How do I…”

Charles grabbed her hips and slowly lowered her down on to him.

Sarah’s head fell back as her eyes rolled to the heavens. She felt as if the man had completely filled her up. There was no her, there was no Charles, they were no longer two separate beings. It felt as if they were forever entwined, no one could tell where she ended and he began. And it was perfection.

Her hips bucked against his and she screamed. Her vision blurred as she continued to ride his thrusts. The carriage hit another bump seating her to the hilt. She screamed out in ecstasy in unison with Charles’s own moan.

She squeezed her eyes shut to concentrate on the intoxicating sensation growing within her. The tension continued to build with each thrust of her hips.

“You’re so tight, Sarah. So perfect.” The words tumbled from Charles’s lips as he kissed her neck. One arm steadied her while the other massaged her breasts. His lips moved down her throat leaving little bite marks in his wake.

Sarah’s head began to swim in her euphoric state. Her breaths were shallow puffs of air as the tension knotted in her stomach. Her legs began to shake from effort, but she needed more of him.

Her grip tightened around his neck as she continued to ride to her limit. Her head once again flew back as she screamed his name.

Bursts of color exploded behind her eyes as her hips slowed their movements. Charles was close after her, thrusting a few more times into her shaking body.

Her body lost all sense of strength and form as she melted into his body. Sweat trickled down her cheeks and into the tangled mess that was her hair. She could only imagine what she looked like, a heap of loose clothing, knotted hair, and a flush faced.

She felt a kiss on her forehead and she smiled into Charles’s chest.

“I love you, Sarah.” The vibrations from his voice rumbled against her cheek. “I may not know how to always say it, but I will always show you. I promise.”

Sarah lifted her head to look up into the sparkling green eyes she’d come to love.

“I love you, too, Charles. We’ll find a way to make this work. Together.”

She took his gigantic hand in hers and reveled how his enveloped hers.

“I have something to show you when we get home.” Charles spoke into her hair.

Sarah shifted to remove herself from his lap and Charles held her down.

“Ah. I didn’t say you could move. I like you here like this. My wanton wife.” He said with a wicked grin.

Sarah blushed. “Charles, what if someone sees us?”

Charles looked out the window to the passing scenery. “Who will see us? Besides, let them see what a happy Duke looks like. I’m sure they will be astonished.”

Sarah giggled. She rarely saw this side of Charles and her heart squeezed at the thought that he truly had made it his mission to be more open with her.

Charles rested his hands on her still shaking legs. “Oh,” he grimaced. “Right. You’re such a slight little thing, this may be uncomfortable.”

Without much effort, Charles lifted her and brought her legs together so she sat with her legs across his lap.

Amusement danced in Sarah’s eyes. “And I forgot just how strong you are.”

Charles nipped her neck. “I’ll gladly remind you of my manly strength any time you’d like.”

Sarah laughed and swatted at his chest before sobering. “Truly, Charles. Can you have changed this much in only a few days?”

Charles shrugged with an easy smile on his face. “I think I have been changing ever since you almost knocked over Samuels to get to me the night Eli left you. I just didn’t realize it and when I did I did my best to shut you out.”

Sarah dipped her head. “Careful, Your Grace, I think you’re starting to express your feelings.”

Charles pinched her side and she yelped. “It seems you have changed me more than I would care to admit.”

Sarah rose her chin. “I am not ashamed of that accomplishment.”

After their laughs died down, Sarah looked at Charles intently.

“You said you had something to show me at home?” She asked.

Charles’s eye brows rose. “Right! I almost forgot. Yes, I worked on something while you were away and I’d like to show you.”

The carriage slowed down and Sarah saw the familiar woods that lined their estate. Charles helped her off his lap. He tried helping with her hair, but his big hands were more in the way than helpful.

The carriage halted outside their residence and Charles helped Sarah out.

“I wanted to have you close your eyes as soon as you got out of the carriage, but Nora suggested I wait until you were upstairs.” He offered.

Sarah stood looking at her husband. From the shock of his appearance at her sister’s home, to him throwing her over his shoulder, to their time in the carriage, she never really got a good look at her husband.

He was standing in front of her with boundless energy around him. Her once formidable husband was literally shifting his feet, waiting expectantly for her to take his hand so he could lead her inside. He looked younger, freer, happier, and it warmed her soul.

She slipped her hand in his and allowed him to lead her into the house and right to the steps.

They passed Samuels and Mrs. Bates, who both looked relieved and happy to see her. She managed to dip her head in acknowledgment before Charles hauled her up the steps.

He turned and placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes closed and he took in a deep breath.

“Sarah,” he said as he opened his eyes. “I am sorry for the way I treated you in the beginning of our marriage.” His words were genuine but seemed rehearsed. Sarah rolled her lips to stop from smiling too widely. He was not a man of words and what he wanted to say obviously meant a lot to him.

“Even though our marriage started out as somewhat of a business deal, you have broken down my walls and made a home in my heart.” His words were rushed and a slight pinkish tint colored his cheeks.

Still, he persisted. He took her hand and led her to the first door, his mother’s study. He opened the door and ushered her in.

“You are my family now and that means what happens to me, happens to you and even more so, what is mine, is yours. These rooms should always have been yours. I hope you like them.”

Sarah couldn’t take her eyes off of her husband. “Was that rehearsed?”

Charles pursed his lips. “Nora may have helped me.” He shrugged carelessly. “I’m trying.”

She rose onto her toes and kissed him. “Thank you, Charles. Thank you for coming for me, for trying, for…”

It was then her eyes saw the room they were standing in. Bright pink curtains and ruffles adorned the windows while the room was painted in a soft pink color. Pink satin pillows sat on pink ruched chairs, while pink linens covered the end tables by the doors.

“Oh my.” Sarah said, her eyes wide with shock. “This is… pink.”

Charles laugh echoed off the bare walls. “I figured you’d enjoy the idea of our study’s matching.” His wink set of a fit of giggles within Sarah.

“You can change it if you want. You can do anything you want. It’s all yours.” He gestured to the room. “Everything is yours. I’m yours.”

Sarah smiled as she looked back up into his eyes. “That’s all I ever wanted, Charles.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up in a twirl. “Then it is me you shall have.”

She leaned in and captured his lips in a soft kiss.

At last, the pieces of her life fit together. There was no more push or pull for control. Sarah and Charles were the perfect blend of the eternal romantic with a giant heart and the cautious businessman who protected his family.

Together, they would balance the scales of love in their favor.

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