Bump in the Night (Mary and Bright #6)

Chapter One

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

The steady drum of rain against the window glass worked to soothe Inspector Gabriel Bright’s nerves as he joined his wife in their suite.

The carriage-style clock on the mantel in their bedroom softly chimed the midnight hour.

They had just gotten in from attending the opera.

It was something he liked to treat Mary to every few months, for she adored it so much, and though he found it beyond dull and usually fell asleep during one—or both—of the performances, he never failed to accommodate her.

That was what a man in love did for his spouse.

“I trust you enjoyed the performances tonight?” he asked as he shrugged out of his tailcoat then tossed it in the direction of a leather winged-back chair nearby. Though the garment landed on the chair, it slipped to the floor with a whisper.

“I did. The comedy made me laugh, but this particular rendition of MacBeth brought out so many emotions. The actors involved were truly talented.” As she spoke, his wife stepped out of her satin slippers. “I appreciate that you purchase opera tickets for us to enjoy.”

He yanked off his cuffs and collar. Though he threw them in the direction of a bureau, they didn’t land there and instead fell to the floor as well. “You are always welcome. I adore spending the time with you no matter what we do.”

“As it turns out, I feel the same about you.” When her lady’s maid appeared in the doorway to the adjoining dressing room, Mary smiled. “You may retire, Beth. I won’t require your services tonight, and it’s late besides.”

“Are you sure, ma’am? I don’t mind.”

Gabriel hid his grin as he toed off his shoes. When his wife declined the assistance of her maid, it was usually a good indication that she was of a mind for some carnal attention.

“I am certain. I’ll ring for you in the morning.” Once the maid departed, Mary firmly closed that door. Then she turned to face him. “I thought you could help me undress.”

“Well, that is a task I take seriously.” For it always ended with them in some sort of coupling.

And Lord knew those times had been difficult to come by with the two children constantly requiring attention.

Not that he would trade his life as it was for anything in the world.

His case load had also been heavy throughout the summer and early autumn, but there had been nothing grand or difficult.

His last major case to solve had occurred a year ago this month, and though he practically salivated for another, he recognized that life had a way of ebbing and flowing.

She chuckled. “I wonder why that is, Bright?”

Excitement twisted down his spine, for she only called him by his surname when she wished to tease… or when she was out of temper with him.

“We both know the answer to that.” He struggled out of his waistcoat then threw it toward the chair. “And let me just say that I’m so damned lucky to have you in my life.”

“As well you should be considering we’ve been married two years this month.” With mischief in her eyes, she settled into one of the winged-back chairs in the room.

“True, so we should celebrate.” With awareness dancing over his skin, Gabriel slipped to the floor and kneeled before her. “Do you remember the first time we coupled?”

“Yes, in that horrible, abandoned place on your brother’s country estate after I was injured when our sleigh…” Her words faded the moment he trailed his fingers over her stocking-covered calf. “Oh! That caught me by surprise.”

“Ha.” At least he could still do that. The subtle violet scent of her perfume started tiny fires within his blood. “I was beset by nerves that night.”

“Why?” The one-word answer was propelled by a whisper.

“I’d escaped a terrible marriage, didn’t know if I wanted to commit to another woman at the time.”

“There was no commitment, if I recall correctly. Just desire.” Her trembles transferred to him, and oddly, that simple, visceral reaction excited him in ways he hadn’t been since they’d first gotten together. “But I understand the sentiment.”

“I’m so glad your surname is no longer Tomlinson.”

“So am I.” Her smile set fire to his veins. “I much prefer Bright.”

“Indeed.” Daring much, Gabriel caressed her other leg. The silk stockings added another layer of need to the play. “We’ve had a stunning marriage thus far.”

“We have, and to think, this union is still in its infancy.” The only sign his caresses affected her was her fingers curling into the folds of her skirting that bunched on the chair beside her.

“However shall me mark this auspicious anniversary?” When she chuckled and encouragement was clear in her lake blue eyes, he pushed her skirting up to her knees in order to caress the silky skin above the beribboned garters.

There was no mistaking the need, the desire in her expression. “I can think of a few ways.” She leaned forward to move a shock of hair from his forehead. “And the children have been abed for hours now…”

“I live for these moments alone with you, sweeting.” Already, his shaft pressed insistently against the front of his evening breeches. “How much do you love me, Mrs. Bright?”

“As if you don’t know.” Yet she tugged on his cravat, urging him closer as his hand went higher up her thigh.

“Mmm, perhaps.” When Gabriel’s knuckles brushed the curls shrouding her sex, she stifled a sigh and he grinned. “What do you want from me tonight, Mary sweet Mary? I will give you the world if you ask.”

“Oh, that is wildly apparent, but tonight? I only want you, Inspector.” Again, she pulled on his cravat and didn’t stop until he leaned into her body.

“Drive me mad with your teasing, make me insane with your carnal torture, show me why you’d choose me again and again should fate ever tear us apart. ”

“That is never going to happen, but if it did, I would fight every force against us to bring you home.” Shoving all thoughts from his mind except what he wanted to do to—and with—his intriguing wife, Gabriel quickly stood.

“Trade me places.” As she did so without more provocation, it took very little effort for him to tug her onto his lap so that she straddled him with the fabric of her gown pillowed between them.

“Ooh, this is promising.” In the anemic illumination from the few candles in the room, need glittered in her eyes. “And much better than the quick couplings we’ve managed over the past several weeks.”

“I quite agree.” Needing to touch her, he skimmed his palms up her legs, over her hips to cup her breasts.

“God, Mary, sometimes this life of ours doesn’t seem real, but then I hear you breathing beside me in the night, feel the touch of your hand in the morning, drink in your smile during the day, and I count myself fortunate all over again. ”

“Thought I adore when you wax poetic, I want the action tonight. Make me fly, Gabriel. I crave the release.” When he lightly brushed the pads of his thumbs over her nipples through the fabric of her gown, her eyelashes fluttered and a tiny sigh left her throat.

“Have I ever failed to comply?” Then he held her head between his hands, claimed her lips in a kiss designed to flirt, to tease, to stoke that hunger flaring between them.

A tiny moan escaped her, and the warmth of that exhale feathered over his lips, fueling another round of kisses.

Her hand was at his cravat again, this time worrying the knot, undoing his valet’s careful precision while Gabriel dragged his lips beneath the underside of her jaw, down the column of her throat, licking the satiny skin as he went.

Every thought flew from his head, for she’d tugged the length of silk from about his neck and pressed her lips to the skin she’d just uncovered.

Truly, he was lost, already drunk on this woman who’d turned his life upside from the very first meeting, and he never wanted to find his way back.

The heat of her, the scent of her, the vibrancy of her in his arms went directly to his head, and as she kissed every part of him she could uncover, he did the same to her, following the bodice of her gown with his lips, licking the tops of those glorious breasts that never failed to enchant him.

A certain frantic hunger crackled between them.

When the need to see her nearly overwhelmed him, Gabriel made quick work of undoing the laces at the back of her silk gown.

As the bodice gaped, he wasted no time in tugging the garment down her body, freeing her arms from the short, puffed sleeves as he went.

The stays only slowed him incrementally, then the soft lawn of her shift provided little resistance as he undid the few buttons on the front and finally pulled it down too until her glorious breasts were bared to his inspection.

“This makes me remember that first time,” she whispered as she peered at him with passion-drugged eyes. She yanked the tails of his shirt from the waist of his evening breeches, and when she shoved her hands beneath his lawn shirt, the heat of her nearly seared him.

God, even more than two years later, he couldn’t have enough of her.

“That night was a turning point for me,” he whispered against her lips as he held those quivering charms in his palms. Over and over again, Gabriel teased and tormented those dark pink buds until she writhed on his lap.

Then it was he who fell beneath the spell, for he encouraged her onto her knees so he could better take a pebbled nipple into his mouth.

It was like this each time they came together, for they were well matched.

“So damned beautiful, perhaps even more so whenever I see you like this.”

“And I am left weak and wanting from your charm,” she whispered, and there was amusement in her tones that disappeared on the heels of a moan when he indeed took one of those buds into his mouth. “It’s rather shameful for a woman of my age, don’t you think?”