Epilogue
Selina smiled as she gazed up at the night sky. A week after Dominic confessed his love to her, she and her little family were at an old observatory, built by the dowager duchess’s late husband.
“I cannot believe this has been on the edge of the property all this time,” Selina said.
“It is hidden by the trees, so it is difficult to see from the manor,” Dominic replied. His hand reached out to clasp her own. “It has fallen into disrepair, but it is still strong and sturdy. I will make arrangements to fix it up properly so we can visit the stars whenever we want.”
“That sounds perfect.” Selina looked down at Percy, who seemed mesmerized by the night sky. There was not a cloud in sight, so he had a perfect view of all of the stars. “What do you think, darling? Would you want this place fixed up so you can visit it whenever you wish?”
Percy nodded excitedly. He pointed up at the sky. “Pretty stars.”
Selina smiled. “That is right. They are beautiful tonight, are they not?”
Dominic turned to look at Percy. “You know, your grandfather loved watching the stars. When I was your age, I would come out with him.”
Percy looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Do you know what his name was?” Dominic smiled down at his son, the warmth and love evident in his eyes.
Percy shook his head.
“His name was Perseus,” he said. He tapped Percy on the nose. “You are actually named after him.”
Percy gasped in delight, his eyes lighting up.
Selina smiled. “That is beautiful,” she said.
Dominic looked at her with a smile on his face and warm eyes that made a thrill of excitement run through her.
Percy grabbed Selina’s hand and looked up at her. “Mom,” he said.
Selina’s breath caught in her throat, and tears sprang to her eyes. Dominic had said that Percy had called her mom, but she had not believed it, not until now. She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “You may call me that, if you wish.”
Percy grinned up at her in response. “Mom,” he said again.
After a few more minutes, Percy grew tired. Dominic picked him up in his arms, and Percy’s head leaned against his shoulder, with his eyes closed. Selina fell into step beside Dominic as he carried his son back to the manor.
They went upstairs quietly so as not to wake Percy. Dominic put Percy in his bed. When his son was safely tucked under the blankets, Dominic grabbed Selina’s hand and led her out of the room.
She smiled up at her husband. “That was a wonderful idea,” she said.
“I should have taken him out to the observatory years ago,” he said. “As soon as he started to show an interest in the stars.”
“Better late than never,” she said. “And once you get it fixed up for him, he can enjoy it that much more.”
Dominic leaned down to kiss her forehead gently. “You are right,” he whispered.
Selina closed her eyes, feeling a tingle of happiness from the kiss.
Every day since Selina had returned, Dominic had been careful to give her small gestures of affection, like holding her hand and kissing her forehead, even as they spent the day with Percy.
If the little boy minded Dominic showing more affection to Selina, he was not showing it.
Selina appreciated the effort Dominic was putting in to be more open with his emotions than before. It meant a lot to her to know that he was trying. “I should go to bed,” she said. “Good night.”
As she turned to go, he caught her hand in his own. “Oh no, you don’t,” he murmured. “We are going back to our room tonight, my wife.”
“Our room?” Her voice was breathless. By the time they got back home a week ago, it was almost morning. Selina had gone to her room and fallen asleep straight away out of pure exhaustion. He had not objected, and she assumed they would still keep separate bedrooms.
“Yes,” he murmured. “I do not wish to live a separate life from you. You may still keep that room as a private sitting room. But I want you to sleep in the same bed as mine. Perhaps tomorrow we can move your belongings over.”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
He grinned. “Excellent.”
They went into Dominic’s bedroom together.
As soon as the door was shut behind them, Dominic turned to his wife.
“I have been longing for this all day,” he murmured.
He gathered her in his arms. “Truthfully, I have been longing for this since you came into my bedroom and started to undress in front of me.”
Selina giggled, even as her cheeks reddened at the memory. “The room was completely dark! You barely saw anything.”
“I saw plenty after I turned the light on. Enough to know that I wanted you more than any other woman.”
She bit her lip. “I admit, I found you quite handsome from the start. I am happy I fell into bed with you instead of anyone else.” She giggled. “Although perhaps it would have been better if the circumstances were less scandalous!”
He grinned. “I would not change that day for the world.”
She shook her head as she looked up at him. Even though they had confessed their love for each other, she still felt a little uncertain about the future. What if they fell out of love? What if his feelings for her faded away?
Now that she was faced with these fears, she could understand why he had been so scared himself. But if he could be brave, then so could she.
He cupped her jaw gently to tilt her face up to meet his. “I love you,” he whispered. “I want to spend tonight showing you just how much I love you. Do you want that?”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. “I want you, Dominic. All of you.”
He groaned softly and leaned down to claim her lips with his own. He was incredibly, unbelievably tender with her. He moved closer, so their bodies were pressed up against each other’s, and he reached behind her to unlace her dress. It fell into a heap on the ground.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are,” he said huskily, as he kissed her cheek, and then her neck. “You consume my thoughts and fantasies. I fear I will go insane without you by my side.”
“Do you mean by your side or in your bed?” she teased.
“Both,” he whispered earnestly. “I want as much of you as you are willing to give me.” He pressed his lips against hers, firmly, before pulling back to undo her corset and toss it to the side. “Get in the bed.”
“Not so fast,” she said. “Last time, you got to pleasure me. This time, I want to do it to you.”
His breath caught in his throat, and he nodded. “I can show you,” he said huskily. “Start by undressing me.”
Selina reached up to untie his cravat. Her fingers brushed against his throat, just as he swallowed. The feeling of it tempted her to lick him, right above the collar.
He groaned. “You are going to be the death of me,” he rasped.
She giggled. “I like hearing the noises you make, and seeing your reactions.”
“Good. I would not be able to hide them from you, even if I wanted to.” He looked down at her, his eyes dark with desire.
Selina discarded the cravat on the floor before running her hands up his arms, feeling his muscles through his suit jacket. He shrugged it off, and her hands slid down to the buttons of his waistcoat. She smiled. “I feel like I am unwrapping a present,” she said. “Piece by piece.”
He chuckled. “I hope I am a pleasant present for you.”
She pressed her lips against his briefly.
“Most definitely.” She felt content, with all of her nerves melting away under the force of her lust. She was very eager to get him out of his clothes now.
Even though she had seen him shirtless before, she could not wait to get his trousers off so she could see what he looked like underneath.
Once his waistcoat was off, she unbuttoned his shirt. Her fingers grew a little clumsy in her eagerness, and he chuckled while he watched her. “Slowly, sweetheart. Go slower. There is no need to rush.”
“But I want to see all of you,” she said.
“Then you had best learn to be patient. You said you wanted to pleasure me. Your pleasure is my pleasure.”
She bit her lip. His words sent heat straight to her core. “Of course, Your Grace. I am at your disposal.”
He inhaled sharply, and excitement entered his eyes. He batted her hands away from his shirt and ripped it off impatiently. One of the buttons went clattering to the floor.
Selina held back a giggle. So much for being patient.
“Take off that chemise and get on the bed,” he said.
“Right away, Your Grace,” she purred.
He grinned in response.
Selina took off her chemise. The air cooled her naked skin and hardened her nipples. They felt painfully sensitive. She crawled onto the bed and stretched out over the soft blankets underneath her.
Dominic got on top of her and claimed her mouth briefly before he trailed kisses over her body.
As his lips brushed against her neck, goosebumps appeared all over her.
Next, his mouth went to her breasts. He briefly licked her nipples, but to her surprise, he did not linger on them this time. Instead, he kept traveling down, to…
Oh.
He nudged her legs farther apart with his hands to reveal her sex. She was slick with desire for him, and he groaned softly as he pressed a kiss against her lower stomach. “You taste so good, sweetheart,” he said. “Absolutely delicious.” He licked her folds.
Selina cried out from the wet heat of his mouth. Pleasure shocked her entire system as he teased the sensitive little bud between her folds, inserting a finger into her, and then a second.
His tongue rapidly flicked over her, tormenting her until she felt pressure building up inside of her. But before she could let go and let herself get lost in bliss, he pulled away. “Not yet, my love,” he said. “When you let go, I want it to be while I am inside you.”
Selina built her lip, feeling excited and nervous all at once. The art of lovemaking was something she and her finishing-school classmates would talk about in hushed whispers in the middle of the night. It was a naughty, forbidden thing, so naturally, all of them had been fascinated by the idea.
But Dominic had already shown her that there was a lot that she did not know about it. It was so much different from what she could have ever imagined.
Dominic must have sensed her hesitation because he stopped what he was doing and moved so his face was right above hers as he propped his weight on his forearm near her head. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Do you wish to stop?”
She knew he would stop if she asked, and she could not help but smile in appreciation because of that. “No,” she said. “I do not want to stop. I am… will it hurt?” She felt so silly for asking, as if she were just a naive, ignorant schoolgirl.
Is that not what I am? Despite everything I have been through, I have never experienced anything like this before.
He looked down at her, a trace of concern on his features. “It will,” he said. “There is nothing I can do to stop that. But I want to make it as pleasurable as I can for you.”
She gave him a hesitant smile and nodded. “I trust you.”
He smiled softly at her. “That means the world to me, my love.” He brushed his lips against hers, and she tasted herself on his mouth. The taste was incredible.
“Spread your legs for me, my love,” he whispered in her ear. “I will go slowly, I promise.”
She obliged, opening herself up for him. Her core ached for him, needing him inside of her.
The tip of his shaft brushed against her entrance, and she whimpered, suddenly needing him inside her, knowing she would feel complete once he was.
He captured her mouth with his own as one of his hands went to her hip, gently angling her to give him better access. Slowly, he pushed inside her.
Even after he prepared her body with his fingers, he still stretched her out. It was painful, just like he said it would be. Selina moaned and whimpered, and he swallowed down her sounds. His body shook with his restraint as he forced himself to stay still and let her get adjusted to his size.
“You are doing so well for me, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. His voice sounded slightly strained. “Being inside you feels amazing. It feels… right.”
Slowly, the pain subsided, and Selina relaxed. She tilted her chin up to kiss him, her tongue sliding into his mouth. He groaned as he slowly started to move back and forth inside of her, thrusting gently, and then picking up speed as he got closer and closer to his own climax.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you so much, my love.”
With a shaky gasp, he came inside her. Selina felt him throb inside her core as his seed poured into her. The feeling of it was enough to send her over the edge, and she closed her eyes and moaned as she shook with her own climax.
For a moment, it felt like time suspended itself. All Selina could think about—could feel—was Dominic. She caught her breath, reveling in the feeling of her husband moving inside her as bliss clouded her mind. His muscular arms were wrapped around her, promising a lifetime of safety and love.
Slowly, he pulled out of her, and Selina winced a little. She felt sore down there—but in a good way. He kissed her forehead. “That was wonderful, my love,” he said, his voice tender.
She cuddled up against him. “Thank you,” she said. “It was perfect.” She looked up at him, smiling. “I love you, Dominic.”
He returned her smile, his eyes full of warmth and affection. “I love you, too, Selina.”
The End?