Chapter 20
Pearl Diving
Prim woke up with the sun pouring in. She was disoriented and took her a few minutes to realize some irrefutable facts about her situation.
First one, she was not in her room, nor in her bed.
She would never choose this somber shade of blue for her beddings.
Second, she was naked. Totally naked. Memories started flooding her mind.
And to refresh her memory more, there was an arm over her waist. One possessive, strong arm.
Everything poured into her mind at once.
Did she really go to his study and speak to him like that?
And he couldn’t have confessed he wanted her just as badly.
Her back against the door, he grinding against her.
And for sure, he didn’t carry her to his room, on his bed.
His mouth… Oh, his mouth, his lips, his tongue.
Blood rushed to her cheeks as she was flooded with the memory of him filling her, the tinge of pain, the wave of pleasure. And him nuzzling her close, keeping her close, his breath lulling her to sleep.
Now what? Will he be angry at her for his restraint that snapped because she was so audacious? Could things be worse than before? Not just avoiding her but hating her for real?
“I can hear you thinking,” he murmured against her neck.
She jumped up. He propped on one elbow and looked at her with a sleepy smile, looking devastating under the sunlight.
The rays gilded down the planes of his chest and fell down his strong body.
His hair was tousled, probably because she pulled at it so much.
Prim blushed. He looked less like a gentleman and more like a satisfied, dangerous pirate, his blue eyes glinting with mischief.
“Is the morning inspection over?”
“If you don’t want people to stare, you shouldn’t…” she said, vaguely gesturing at him.
His head fell back in laughter.
“I’ll try,” he said before he went serious. “How are you feeling?”
She did feel sore. It didn’t hurt that much when they… But now she was getting the aftermath.
“I’ll ask for a bath to be drawn,” he said.
He got up, and she had one moment to gawk at his magnificent body before he hid it with a robe. He got out and then came back a few moments later.
“It will take a while,” he said and crawled back to bed. “How shall we fill the time?”
“Leo!”
Her voice was strict, but her eyes were eating the little patch of flesh peaking from the dark robe while she looked wistfully at the rest of the robe.
“I got the message, Miss P.J.,” he teased and took off his robe.
“That was not the message!” Prim hid her eyes.
“I should put the robe back on then,” he said, smirking.
“No!” She blurted out.
She covered her mouth, ashamed of her wanton request. His chuckle was brighter than the rays bathing them.
“Lady Mildenhall,” he draws near and kisses her shoulder, “nothing to be ashamed of. Am I not your lawfully wedded husband?”
“Oh, realization finally dawned on you? From besotted suitor to enthralled husband. I hope this will be the end of the fake roles you take on in our relationship.”
He stilled for a moment, but then kept kissing her softly on her neck.
“I’d say that both as a suitor and as a husband, I had fulfilled some of my duties,” he said, and he lightly licked that sensitive spot behind her ear. “Admirably, if I may say so myself.”
“The only consistency is that in both roles you are insufferably smug.”
“You mean confident.”
“Case in point.”
“Admit it,” he laughed, “you like my confidence.”
“I tolerate it. It’s part of my marital obligations.”
His lips trailed down to the curve where her neck met her shoulder. She arched into his touch no matter how she tried to stop herself.
“So,” his voice dropped to a murmur, “that’s what you were doing last night. Such a sense of duty. How very noble of you.” His teeth grazed her skin, making her gasp. “Your sacrifice is noted.”
Prim was sure he was ready to make her tolerate him more when the maid behind the closed door announced the bath was ready. Leo didn’t hesitate. He scooped her in his arms and opened the door to his bathroom.
“Leo!”
“What seems to be the problem? I need a bath too. Last night was rigorous.”
“You can’t just say that.”
“Is it a lie?”
“That is irrelevant!”
The hot water had filled the place with steam. His bathroom was bigger than hers with dark green, elaborate tiles, and a big copper bathtub, obviously custom-made to fit his enormous body. The air was filled with the scent of lemon verbena.
“How?”
“How did I know you prefer this? You think I haven’t noticed how you smell?”
Prim blushed but smiled. But her smile was cut short when he stepped in the bathtub with her in his arms still.
“What is your plan? What are you doing?”
“You still seem confused. I am taking a bath with you.”
“I am sure this is not how baths are taken.”
He settled against the curved back, drawing her to rest against his chest.
“Since you are not sure, let me enrich your knowledge. This is exactly how baths are taken if you wish so.”
She chuckled and leaned against him. Somehow, this, them in the steamy bathroom, in his arms, enjoying the steamy water, was somehow more intimate than what they did the night before.
Without saying anything, Leo grabbed the fresh bar of soap, worked it between his palms, creating a rich lather.
He started from her shoulders, rubbing the skin softly, her long hair pushed aside.
Prim closed her eyes and let go in his care.
His strong hands went down from her shoulders to her arms, her wrist, her hands.
“So, still have strong opinions on how baths are taken?” He murmured in her ear.
“I may be reassessing previous standards,” she said softly.
He chuckled in her ear, the sound as hot as the water around them. His hands moved back to her shoulders, this time taking a path down her spine, to her waist. More lather, and this time his touch started from her neck, down under her arms to the swell of her breasts.
The moment that soft foam, along with his firm fingers, touched her, she fell back on his chest, her body arching. He stayed there till his hand dipped lower to the curve of her waist, the flesh of her thighs.
“I’ll be gentle,” he whispered in her ear as his hand nudged her legs open. “You must be sore.”
Prim let her knees open for him, and he took the soap to gently clean her intimate parts. He was more than gentle, his touch tender, tentative. She was the most exposed with him, but she felt safe.
“My turn,” he said suddenly.
Her eyes popped open and turned over her shoulder. She found him smiling at her, handing the soap bar. He leaned back and smiled that infuriating smile of his.
Prim had two options. One was to stand up and walk away, chased by embarrassment.
The other was to enjoy touching her husband.
Prim was wise. She turned her body in the tub, on her knees between his legs.
She looked at him in his stormy, blue eyes while his look never left hers.
She created lather in her hands and then rubbed his shoulders, down his chest, slowly, thoroughly.
His smug smile dropped, his chest drew deep breaths, his nostrils flared. His hands gripped the edges of the bathtub, his knuckles white. He was on the verge of losing control, and Prim was enjoying seeing him unravel.
“I think I am clean enough,” he growled and pulled her to him for a wet kiss.
It was long after the after got cold, and Prim watched him eat his breakfast. They didn’t talk, they just stared at each other with that knowing look of two people who just enjoyed each other’s taste.
He had ordered the breakfast to be brought to his sunny sitting room, making it intimate.
He was dressed for the day, and she wore a simple gown, with her wet hair in a simple bun
“I must go to London,” he broke the silence.
She nodded, but she couldn’t hide her disappointment.
“I really don’t want to,” he leans to her. “But this is an important bill.”
“I understand,” she said, pouting.
“It’s not that I can tell them ‘I just spent the first night with my wife after a month married because I am an idiot’, now, can I?”
She laughed, the sound bright and unexpected in the sunlit room.
“I suppose that would come as a shock to certain members of the parliament. Given your reputation.”
His look got somber. He got up and went to his dressing room. He came back out with his hat and gloves, but also a wooden box. He set aside his things and knelt to offer her the box.
“I have held onto it since the day you walked into my home as Lady Mildenhall.”
“What?” Prim was surprised.
He opened the box. The most delicate necklace rested against red velvet. An elegant golden chain that ended in an oval-shaped crystal pendant, framed by dazzling, brilliant diamonds. And under it a single teardrop pearl.
“There are many Mildenhall heirlooms in the vault,” Leo said.
Her eyes were still fixed on that simple pearl. Its beauty had captivated her.
“But I thought this would be suited for you. I just never found a good time to give it to you. I think this is a good time.”
He took the necklace off the velvet. He leaned closer, his face near hers, his stormy blue eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.
She felt his fingers at the nape of her neck, deft and sure as he fastened the clasp.
The metal was cool for an instant before warming against her skin.
He let the necklace fall gently against her chest.
Prim touched the pearl that seemed to glow with some inner light, silky smooth, perfect. Her eyes went to his.
“Thank you,” she said. “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever worn.”
A flash of wild satisfaction went over his face. She remembered. Nathaniel’s necklace. How he demanded she take it off. He caught her chin and gave her a deep, claiming kiss.