Epilogue
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
Berkley Estate
B riar sat in the reading room attached to her bedchamber, reading her book or at least pretending to. She daydreamed about Julius just as much now as she did before they wed. She could not be happier. Now that she had found love, her life had a renewed sense of purpose. Julius loved her, and she was letting herself be loved. What was the purpose of life without love? The door opened, and her husband appeared.
“There you are, my darling,” Julius said as he walked over to Briar and kissed her on the cheek. “Our guests have started to arrive.”
Julius had sent out invitations for a hunting party at Berkley Estate. He was convinced that enough time had passed for their scandal to be upstaged by another. Apparently, Lady Randolph had been having a torrid affair with Lord Winston behind her husband’s back. Her child was born with an affliction and did not speak, which understandably caused Lady Randolph regret. The lady was convinced the child’s affliction was retribution for her sin of adultery, and in contrition, she confessed all to her husband, who promptly filed for a divorce. Briar’s scandal seemed minute in comparison.
“Who has arrived so far?”
“The Duke of Devonshire, Duke of Mandeville, the Earl of Lonsdale and their respective families.”
“Lovely.”
“They are resting, so we will see them at dinner this evening.”
“Indeed.”
Julius reached over and took the book from Briar’s hand. “We have some time before dinner.”
“You are insatiable.”
“Perhaps,” Julius said as he ensured the door was locked.
He returned to Briar and fell on his knees in front of her. He loosened the bow on her slippers and removed them from her feet. Julius slowly trailed his hands up her hosiery, his hands dangerously close to her hot flesh. She gave a soft gasp, and their gaze locked as he slowly peeled each hosiery away. He gently raised her to her feet and brushed his lips to hers before he deepened the kiss, long and leisurely. He broke the kiss, and Briar cupped his face and pulled him close. Her kiss was hard, then soft and then hard again. Julius’s lips set off a wild need in her, and they quickly undressed between kisses.
Julius lifted her and sat on the sofa with Briar straddling him. She reached down and wrapped one slender arm around his cock, and he grew even harder in her hand as she stroked him. He found the apex of her thighs, then her slippery, throbbing nub and matched her strokes. She writhed against his hands, lost in pleasure until she could bear it no more. She was bold and insistent, guiding his rigid shaft into the heated core of her body. She eased herself down, taking him in before she arched her hips and thrust as their bodies joined as one.
“I love you dearly.” She whispered in a breathy cry.
“You’re my everything.” He groaned.
He swallowed her helpless cry with a kiss as they both found release. She collapsed against him, and he cradled her. All was right with the world.