Chapter Twenty-Seven
Violet woke cocooned in Rhys’s embrace. Morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, as the curtains had been left open.
At some point last night, they had gathered up their clothes and raced upstairs stark naked like naughty children, only to fall onto Rhys’s big bed and make love again.
She snuggled back, her bottom rubbing against his hard cock.
She smiled at the rumble that emanated from his chest.
His hips rolled against her, and a hand slid from her arm down her body, slowly trailing his fingers till he found that lovely spot between her folds that ached for his touch. “Good morning.” His lips kissed behind her ear.
“Good morning.” She gasped as his fingers delved inside her in a slow slide. Lord, he seemed to understand exactly where to touch to drive her wild. She lifted her knee to give him better access, and he worked two fingers in and out of her sex while his tongue licked a wet trail down her neck.
“I love waking up with your luscious body soft and warm next to mine. So wet for me already? Do you need this sweet pussy filled? Or will you come all over my fingers?”
Those fingers thrust more aggressively, and she couldn’t hold back a mewl of pleasure. But she definitely needed more. She turned her head to kiss him. “I want you inside me,” she demanded against his lips.
“As you wish.” His fingers disappeared, and he supported her leg with one hand as the head of his cock nudged at her entrance.
Then, in a slow slide that had both of them moaning, he filled her.
He took his time driving into her over and over.
His hands roamed over her body, caressing her breasts, sliding up her throat to cup her cheek, keeping her lips on his as he plundered her mouth, his tongue licking into her mouth in the same rhythmic stroke of his cock.
This was heaven, being wrapped in his embrace, his lips on hers, their breaths mingling in soft sighs and moans as he made love to her.
The delicious tension in her core pulsed and grew with every slide of his cock.
She gripped his buttocks with one hand and arched, pressing herself against him, allowing him to stroke deeper.
“God, yes.” She cried out his name as her orgasm rolled through her.
Rhys grunted, his thrusts became jerky as he pumped faster, harder.
Then he froze deep inside her with a low shout as he followed her over the edge.
She smiled as he pumped languidly a few more times before pulling out.
He liked to stay inside her for as long as possible; not that she was complaining.
She turned to face him and sought his lips for a slow, sweet kiss.
“You, sir, are too good at this; you make me want to keep you in bed indefinitely.”
“That’s the idea, sugar.” His eyes were clear as a summer sky this morning. No clouds lurking, just humor and simmering heat.
“Why do you call me sugar?”
He slid a finger down the slope of her nose. “Because of the copious amount of sugar you doctor your tea with.”
She huffed. “It’s not that much. Is it?”
Rhys chuckled. “It’s excessive but, like you said, you deserve happiness. If it makes you happy, I will be glad to buy you all the sugar in England.”
She grinned at his indulgent tone. No one would guess at the huge heart that beat beneath his chest. Perhaps that was why he safeguarded it so closely behind his tough exterior.
Could her heart be won with the promise of all the sugar in England?
Yes. She had only needed this strong, clever man and the promise of a sweet cup of tea to lure her heart out of hiding.
The last year had destroyed every expectation of what she thought her life would be like.
But it wouldn’t destroy her. She rubbed her hand over her belly as the babe within fluttered.
I promise to give you a good life. She would build a new idea of what the future could bring.
Something more hopeful, something sweeter.
Rhys’s hand moved next to hers. “Is it moving?”
She nodded and moved his hand to the left, where she had just felt the flutter.
He rubbed little circles over the spot, and the baby responded with a small kick. “Amazing.” Rhys’s voice was full of wonder. “Do you think the babe can hear us in there?”
“Perhaps? I’ve never really thought about it.”
His brow furrowed. He opened his mouth but didn’t say anything and then snapped it shut. But he continued to rub circles over her belly.
Violet stretched. “I probably should go home. My staff will be worried. Perhaps you and Max want to walk me home? Or perhaps we can walk to the park first?”
“How about breakfast first, then a walk? I don’t have bacon, but I could probably put together thick slices of bread slathered with jam.”
“Sounds perfect.”
*
Four days later, they returned down Brook Street from Hyde Park in what had become a habitual morning walk.
March winds had blown in early spring weather.
A brisk, cold breeze blew her cloak open and threatened to tease out pieces of hair from under her bonnet.
The pavement was wet from rain the night before, and her shoes were damp from walking through the wet grass in the park, but Violet didn’t care because her hand was held warm in Rhys’s grasp, his fingers threaded with hers.
Max trotted next to her on the other side.
The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, teasing them with its elusive warmth.
She took a deep breath and marveled at the happiness that filled her chest.
They turned into Hanover Square. “Will you come in for breakfast?” she asked.
Rhys shook his head. “I must meet Zeke this morning about neighborhood business.” He tugged her to a stop and bent to kiss the tip of her nose. “I will come see you later.”
She smiled and nodded.
“Violet!”
They both turned to find the Duke of Lavensham striding toward them, his expression as dark as a thundercloud. Next to her, Rhys stiffened. Oh dear. Violet dropped his hand and dipped into a curtsey as the duke came to stop in front of them. “Good morning, Your Grace.”
The duke’s glare bounced back and forth between her and Rhys. “I came to see you this morning to address the troubling rumors I have heard about you. I can see clearly that they are true.” The last word came out in a hiss of contempt.
Violet raised her chin to look the duke directly in the eye. “I have no idea what you are speaking of. I am simply out for my morning walk.”
“You little hussy. My son has been in the ground for barely a month. The utter disrespect you are showing by whoring yourself with this man. I am putting a stop to this immediately.”
He reached out to grab her arm, but Rhys was faster, grasping the duke’s wrist. “Touch her and die,” he growled. He stepped in between them, and his hand tightened, pushing the duke back several steps before letting him go with a sneer of pure contempt.
Max let out a menacing bark, snapping his teeth in warning. The duke looked over at the dog. “Is that my dog?”
“When you mistreat things under your care, they get taken away,” Rhys said. He vibrated with barely controlled rage.
“Who are you?” the duke demanded.
“Someone who knows your secrets.” His voice was soft and menacing. “Do not think you have the right to come near her.”
Violet had no doubt that Rhys would kill the duke right here in the square for insulting her. Or that the dog would attack. She put a staying hand on Max’s head.
“Gentlemen, this is all a terrible misunderstanding, fueled by gossip.” She put her other hand on Rhys’s arm.
“He is my father-in-law; he may come by and see me whenever he wants. But I must insist you be civil, Your Grace. As you can see, I am clearly in mourning.” She gestured down at her black dress.
“I have not done anything to tarnish your son’s memory.
I think perhaps we should have this visit another time.
” She curtsied again. “Good day, Your Grace.” Then, with her head held high, she walked past the sputtering duke.
Rhys and Max caught up to her in just a few strides. His hand gently grasped her elbow. “You should have let me kill him,” he muttered darkly.
“I thought it would either be you or the dog.” She bit down on her lip and glanced up at him as they continued to walk toward her house. “Is he still there?”
Rhys glanced over his shoulder. “No, he is storming off down the street.” His eyes narrowed with a gleam of something dangerous. “He can’t speak to you like that. I will pay him a visit.”
“Rhys, I cannot afford to alienate him. He still controls the purse strings. I need him to care for me and my baby.” The truth of what her mother had said to her earlier in the week was stark this morning.
She hadn’t wanted to hear it, but the duke had the power to be generous with funds or to impoverish her.
When they arrived at the house, she stopped to look up at Rhys. His eyes were devoid of warmth, his expression icy. “I have to go meet with Zeke,” he said.
Taken aback at his clipped tone, she stepped back. What had happened? “Um, all right. I will see you later.”
He shook his head and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I just remembered I told Matthew I would work at the club tonight. Come on, Max.” He turned on his heel and walked off down the walkway with the dog trotting after him.
What was the matter with him? She trudged up the stairs to the front door. Perhaps he was simply angry about the duke’s behavior. The whole incident had been very unpleasant and in full view of the neighbors. She sighed. She would let both men calm down.
The door opened, and Hodgins stood back to usher her inside. “My lady, the duke was just here. I must warn you, he was having a fine fit.”
“Yes, unfortunately, we bumped into him on the street. He and Mr. Seaton had an altercation.”
Hodgins’s eyes widened dramatically.
“I think perhaps I will go put my feet up and rest a bit. I’m sure things will blow over once both men have time to calm down.”