Chapter 24
Julian’s heart hammered against his ribs as he closed the door to their bedchamber and loosened the buttons of his jacket, setting it on the back of a chair.
The small townhouse that he had called home for the past few years, since his brother had married and Julian had left the house he had grown up in, was nothing particularly extravagant, but when they had walked up to the front of it, Verity’s face had broken out into that soft smile that he both enjoyed and anticipated.
“I promise I will find us something better, once… once my debts are paid,” he said, but she only placed her hand over his and looked up at him with affection in her gaze—affection that nearly broke him.
He had lifted her in his arms and carried her over the threshold and into the house, past his gaping butler and approving valet.
Now it was just the two of them in his bedchamber—their bedchamber—the fire lighting the room, dancing over the shadows of the few pieces of furniture, sparse furniture that he would ask her to improve soon enough.
“Welcome home,” he said, and she nodded, the silence thick, broken only by the soft crack of the fire and Verity’s shallow breathing.
The soft, pale pink of her wedding gown gleamed in the firelight, her eyes wide with a mixture of nervousness and determination that made his chest tighten. This was it. Their wedding night. The beginning of something he’d never thought he’d want—and now couldn’t imagine living without.
“Are you nervous?” he asked, his voice rougher than he intended.
Verity nodded, her fingers playing with the edge of her sleeve. “A little. Is that foolish?”
“Not at all.” Julian crossed to her, careful to move slowly, giving her every chance to change her mind.
The truth was, he was just as nervous or even more so than she was.
He might not lack experience with women, but he had never been with a woman he cared about so much.
His wife. The woman he would spend the rest of his life with.
“We can take this as slowly as you need.”
Her eyes met his, that unique violet-blue that had captivated him from the first. “I trust you.”
Those three words hit him harder than any declaration of love could have. Julian reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I won’t hurt you, Verity. I promise.”
He stepped closer, his free hand moving to the buttons at the back of her gown. “May I?”
She nodded again, her breath catching as she turned, moved her hair away from her back, and he worked the first button free. The intimacy of the gesture struck him anew—this was his right as a husband, but he wanted it to be her choice more than his privilege.
“You’re trembling,” he murmured.
“I’m not afraid,” she said quickly. “Not of you.”
“Then what?”
Her cheeks flushed. “I want this to be… good. For both of us.”
Julian smiled, letting his hand rest at the small of her back. “It will be. I’ll make sure of it. It’s my job to teach you. Remember?”
He worked the remaining buttons free with deliberate slowness, savoring each new inch of skin revealed. When the dress loosened around her shoulders, he helped her step out of it, leaving her in her chemise and stays. The sight of her, flushed and beautiful in the firelight, stole his breath.
“May I?” he asked again, his fingers hovering at the ties of her stays.
“Yes.”
He unlaced her with practiced ease, though his hands weren’t quite steady. When the stays fell away, he drew her to him, feeling her heart racing against his chest.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered against her hair. “So beautiful.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, the kiss gentle at first, then deepening as she responded. Her hands slid up his chest, over his shoulders, and into his hair. He groaned at the sensation.
When they broke apart, both breathing heavily, Julian undid the buttons of his waistcoat, leaving that to the side, but then Verity surprised him by stepping forward and sliding the buttons out of the holes of his shirt.
When she was finished, he pulled it over his head, watching her reaction as she took in the sight of his bare chest. Her gaze traveled over him with such open appreciation that his confidence surged.
“Your turn,” he said softly, nodding toward her chemise.
She hesitated only briefly before reaching for the hem, lifting it slowly over her head. Julian’s breath caught as she stood bare before him, her skin glowing in the firelight, her breasts rising and falling with each quick breath.
“Verity,” he breathed, stepping closer but not touching her yet. “You’re perfect.”
Her blush deepened, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she reached for his hand and took it in hers. “Show me what to do.”
The trust in her eyes nearly undid him. Julian reached out with his other hand, cupping her breast gently, his thumb brushing over her nipple, watching her reaction carefully.
“Tell me what you feel,” he murmured.
She gasped as he repeated the motion. “Warm. And… tingly. All over.”
He smiled, lowering his head to replace his thumb with his mouth. Her sharp intake of breath, the way her fingers clutched at his shoulders, told him everything he needed to know.
As he continued to explore her body with his hands and mouth, Julian felt a profound shift within himself. This wasn’t just pleasure—this was connection, intimacy in its truest form. With each sigh, each gasp from Verity, he felt more protective, more possessive, more… committed.
When she placed more weight onto his shoulders where she held on, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her gently on the sheets.
He removed his remaining clothes quickly before joining her, marveling at how right she looked here.
It was where she belonged—in his bed. With him.
“I want to make you feel good again,” he said, his hand moving lower, finding the heat between her thighs. “Like I did before.”
Her eyes widened. “Yes. Please.”
He touched her carefully, watching her face as he found the rhythm that made her breath catch. When she began to move against his hand, her eyes closing in pleasure, he felt a surge of pride unlike anything he’d ever known.
When they had previously been together, he had been desperate at the fact that he was only preparing her for another. But now, he knew that he would be the only man to ever touch her like this, which brought another surge of desire and protectiveness unlike any he had ever known.
“Julian,” she gasped as her body tensed. “That’s—oh—”
He held her through her release, kissing her softly as she came down from the peak. When her eyes fluttered open, they were dazed but clear.
“Now it’s your turn,” she said, surprising him with her boldness.
He laughed softly. “Not yet. I want to make sure you’re ready.”
He reached for the oil he’d placed on the nightstand earlier, coating his fingers.
“This might feel strange at first,” he warned as he returned his hand between her thighs, this time with more purpose.
She tensed briefly as he pressed one finger inside her, then relaxed as he began to move slowly.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“N-no… the opposite.”
He worked her carefully, adding a second finger, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. When she began to move with him, seeking more, he knew she was ready.
“Verity,” he said, positioning himself above her. “Look at me.”
She opened her eyes, and the trust he saw there made his heart swell.
“I’ll go slowly,” he promised. “Tell me if it’s too much.”
He entered her gradually, watching her face, ready to stop at the slightest sign of pain. When he met the barrier of her innocence, he paused.
“Deep breath,” he murmured.
She nodded, taking a shaky breath. With one careful thrust, he was inside her. Her gasp made him still immediately.
“Are you all right?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her forehead.
“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s… different than I expected.”
He kissed her gently. “We can wait.”
“No.” Her hands gripped his shoulders. “I want this. With you.”
Julian began to move, slow and steady, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. When her expression shifted from uncertainty to pleasure, he increased his pace slightly, feeling her body adjust to him.
“That feels…” she began, then gasped as he hit a spot that made her arch beneath him.
“Good?” he asked with a smile.
“Very good,” she confirmed, her eyes darkening with desire.
As they moved together, Julian found himself lost in the sensation of her—her softness, her warmth, the way her body accepted and welcomed his. This wasn’t just physical pleasure, it was a joining, a connection that went beyond the physical.
When he felt her inner muscles begin to flutter around him, he reached between them, touching her in the way he knew would heighten her pleasure. Her eyes flew open, surprised, then fluttered closed again as she gasped his name.
“Julian, I—oh—”
He felt her climax ripple through her, her body tightening around him. The sensation pushed him over the edge, and he followed with a groan, burying his face in her neck as waves of pleasure washed over him.
For a long moment, they lay together, breathing heavily, still joined. Julian kept his weight on his elbows, not wanting to crush her, but unable to bear the thought of separating just yet.
When he finally moved to her side, he gathered her against him, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “How are you?” he asked, his voice rough with emotion.
She nodded, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. “That was… incredible.”
Julian smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the physical pleasure they’d shared. “It was, wasn’t it?”
She looked up at him, her eyes serious. “Did you mean what you said earlier? About taking things slowly? Because I don’t think I want to go slowly anymore.”
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Is that so?”
“I want to learn everything,” she said, her voice growing bolder. “Everything you can teach me.”
Julian’s body responded immediately to her words, to the desire in her eyes. He rolled her beneath him again, his hand sliding down her body with newfound purpose.
“Then let’s continue your education,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to hers. “After all, we have all night.”
At her answering wicked grin, he knew then that this hadn’t been a mistake.
Far from it.
He had been so worried about marriage, the thought of being committed to one woman for the rest of his life.
And now he wanted nothing more than this.
Than her.
Verity.
For the briefest of moments, the scene in the parlor came back to him, for he knew that when she was no longer distracted, she would want answers to her questions regarding her aunt and his uncle, and the secret that had driven them apart.
But he would worry about that later.
For now, none of that mattered. It was just the two of them, together, and the rest of the world could fade away.
And fade away it did.