Chapter 9
WALKING AROUND FOR most of one’s life expecting the Davenport demons to devour one’s soul was an oppressive weight to carry, Alex knew. He worried about it because this had been his burden from the moment he was old enough to understand about good and evil.
And old enough to know the difference between devils and angels.
Davenports were devils.
Yet, he was standing in his bedchamber fortunate enough to be holding his very own angel in his arms. Tulip even looked the part, clad in white silk and studying him with her big, innocent eyes and breathtaking smile.
He worked to untie the tapes and lacings of her wedding gown, a lovely confection of silk and lace that now slipped off her shoulders and was about to slowly and sensually slide down the length of her body.
The two of them were halfway undressed, and he now purposely put out the candles so that the only illumination filtering into his bedchamber was the moon’s delicate glow.
She looked so beautiful in this silver light.
He had expected to spend their wedding night sleeping on a pallet on the floor while she took the bed, but Tulip surprised him.
She was having none of it. “It does not feel right to start our marriage off by separating us.”
“Then you are all right with having me share the bed?”
She nodded. “And I expect you to deliver on the promise of a wedding night.”
He laughed, for he was achingly eager to oblige.
Too eager because he had wanted her for so long, and now she was his.
Fire surged through his blood in anticipation, but he kept himself in control because Tulip had never done this before.
He was experienced and knew how to pleasure her.
She was willing only because her cousins had told her that she ought to accept him. There was no unbound passion or urgent need of fulfillment on her part. Not that he minded, for she had never done this before and had no idea what would happen.
The burden was on him to ensure she would like it.
His only hesitation was that he had never bedded a virgin before.
How fast should he go when claiming her?
It could be said that this would be a first for both of them.
“Why did you put out the candles?” she asked. “We are now mere shadows to each other.”
“This is for your sake, to heighten your pleasure.” He wanted her to rely on senses other than merely the sense of sight.
“How will it be heightened if I cannot see you? Is there something I should not see?”
“No, Tulip. I have nothing to hide. Nor would I try to conceal anything from you. But your other senses are brought forward in the darkness and this will make for a more fulfilling experience for you.” He had very few scars and women liked his body.
“I want you to be aware of me in every way, to know my scent and the taste of me, to recognize my touch and the sound of my voice. The same as I wish to know yours.”
“That deeper sense of recognition? Like wolves when they partner? Did you know they mate for life?”
“Yes,” he said. “This is what I wish for us.”
Once familiar with him, he hoped she would learn to trust him and be reassured by his presence.
He hoped there would be this very recognition and acceptance.
It was important for her to feel happiness and security in the warmth of his touch.
He wanted the same for himself, hoping they might work their way into each other’s heart.
If they could bond in this way, then theirs would be a good life and a good marriage despite any obstacles that might be thrown in their way.
“Your ties are loosened, Tulip,” he said with a husky rasp to his voice. “Take off your gown. Shall I help you?”
“Yes, please.” She laughed lightly. “Silk slides rather easily, doesn’t it? It is already pooling at my feet.”
“It is a sensual fabric.” He placed an arm around her hips and then bent to untangle her feet from the gown. Once free, he set the gown carefully across one of his chairs before attending to himself.
He removed his shirt that was the last of his clothing except for his trousers.
Since he was already aroused, he thought to keep those on because he wasn’t certain how Tulip would respond to the sight of his maleness when she had no idea what was to happen next or whether she would like the act of coupling.
He could see she was already shy because she had placed her hands over her chest despite the lack of light beyond the silver streaks of moonlight.
She wore only her thin chemise, a garment of the sheerest gossamer, and she was quite conscious of its thinness.
“You don’t need to hide yourself from me,” he said softly. “That’s why I put out the candles. It is enough for us to have shadowed glimpses of each other.”
The mere outline of her body aroused him.
Even in the darkness, he could see that she was beautifully shaped.
Round in all the right places.
Lovely curves.
Yet, slender in aspect.
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the lips. “Tulip, we do not need to do anything until you are ready.”
She moaned lightly. “I am ready. I want this. I’m just not certain what this is. But my cousins told me I should trust you.”
“And do you?” He placed tender kisses along her neck and shoulders, lingering kisses and gentle ones as he next nudged the chemise off her shoulders to bare more of her soft skin. His fingers grazed her bosom and he felt her slight shiver.
“Yes, I trust you,” she said and leaned toward him.
“Good, love. I promise you will like this.” He pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her long and slow.
She slid her hands up his chest and placed them to rest on his shoulders, clinging to them while he kissed her. “Your skin is hot,” she said, running her hands along the muscle and sinew of his arms once he had ended the kiss.
“Because I am eager for you.”
I burn for you.
Gad, he was on fire and aching to be inside of her.
“May we light the candles now? I would like to see your body.”
“Not yet, Tulip. Be patient. You already know the look of me. It is the rest of me I want you to see first.”
“So you’ve said. But how am I to do that?”
“Use all five senses, not merely your eyes. It is so easy to forget everything else and just rely on that sense.”
“Oh, I see. I am to put my ears, nose, hands, and lips to work?”
He chuckled. “Yes, I want you to remember the rumble of my voice, the scent of my skin, the contours of my body, and the taste of my mouth on yours.”
“Interesting.”
“It is something I learned as an investigator. One’s eyes can often deceive. It is best not to rely on that sense alone. I will light the candles afterward, I promise. Then you can inspect me to your heart’s content.”
“All right, I’ll wait. I understand what you mean about my recognizing you beyond seeing your face or noticing the way you walk.
You have a confident stride, by the way.
A bit of a swagger. I’m sure your superiors found it arrogant.
But now that you are their superior, they can have no quarrel with it. ”
He smiled and caressed her cheek again before wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sure I will still offend people. Becoming a duke hasn’t changed me all that much. In truth, it is more of a burden. I enjoyed my work for the London magistrate.”
“Gory and Julius will forever be indebted to you for solving her uncle’s murder.”
“And you? What are you thinking about me right now?”
She released a soft breath. “I’m thinking that I like the way you are holding me in your arms. Your hands feel nice on my body.
They are big and rugged, but you are always gentle when you touch me.
Is our talking like this a part of your seduction plan?
You are also caressing my arms. Is that on purpose, too? ”
“Yes and no. I just like touching you and holding you, but I also want you to be comfortable with me. This is your first time with a man.” He wanted to make it an unforgettably good memory for her.
Time was his ally.
They had hours until dawn to enjoy each other.
Hours to explore each other and deepen their bonds.
The wolf and his mate.
This is what he wanted, that innate knowledge of each other branded into their memory.
Would she believe him if he murmured, I love you?
It was quite possible he felt this already, but dared not tell her yet.
Tulip was never going to believe him.
He hardly believed it himself because he had experienced so little affection in all his years, and yet had fallen so hard and fast for her.
For now, it was enough that she knew he had chosen to marry her.
His choice, he had told her.
She did not have to know it had been his fervent desire from the moment she first careened into him on Chipping Way.
They had not even been properly introduced.
He had no explanation for it, only that he knew she was meant for him.
One look at her, and he was lost. His life would never be the same again.
When she had careened into him a second time in Lady Fullerton’s garden, he realized they were fated to be together.
It was their destiny.
He had to have her.
“Let me unpin your hair,” he said, his voice still husky and rasping.
Tulip assisted him with the pins. “Oh, it is a mess.”
As moonlight fell upon them, he wrapped his fingers in her dark curls and caught his breath as those wavy tresses tumbled down her back and over her ample bosom. “No, love. It’s beautiful. You are beautiful.”
He led her to their bed, watching for any sign of hesitation as he slipped the chemise off her and then removed his trousers so that they would both be completely bare under the sheets.
If she wasn’t ready, he would wait.
They could talk all night if this was all she wanted.
It would leave him in agony, but he would survive.
Despite their rushed wedding, she seemed determined to overcome her shyness and commit to their marriage.
She did not hesitate to open her arms to him once he had settled her onto her back on the mattress.
“What happens now?” she asked, sounding decidedly uncertain.