Chapter Fourteen #2
“I would like nothing more than to be free of those concerns but asking your friend to intervene on my behalf is too much.”
“I do not agree. He is a powerful man with powerful connections. We would be foolish not to at least ask for any assistance he can provide.”
As she thought about what he’d said, she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth.
Aubrey tapped on her chin with his fingertip. “Don’t hurt that lip. It’s one of my favorite lips in the entire world.”
Maeve released the lip from between her teeth.
He framed her face with his hands and kissed her gently.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything.
There is nothing that could happen, nothing at all that would change how I feel about you or how much I want to make our marriage work.
You have become the most important person in the world to me, and you must believe me when I say I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and happy. ”
“You’re very kind.”
“I’m not being kind. I’m being a selfish bastard, because if you’re happy, I’m happy. It’s that simple.”
“What do you think your friends really think about you marrying the Irish housekeeper?”
“I’m sure they can plainly see how very pleased I am to be married to you, and that will be enough for them.”
“After spending the afternoon with them, I begin to see why you care so much for them. They are just like regular people. If you did not know of their titles, you’d never suspect they held them.”
“I’m glad that you were able to discern that.
They are very humble people, who are not at all impressed with themselves, unlike many of the people you will meet this summer who are extremely impressed with themselves.
” As he spoke, he began the task of unbuttoning her yellow shirtwaist, enjoying each inch of creamy skin he uncovered.
“It’s going to be a late night. Shall we take a rest? ”
Her brow arched. “Will this rest involve sleeping?”
“How suspicious you are, wife.”
“I have come to know you quite well, husband.”
Her teasing words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had a wife. He was her husband. And she was absolutely perfect for him in every way.
“What is the matter?” she asked after he had stared at her for a full minute.
“I’m continuously amazed that you agreed to marry me and that I get to spend my life with such an extraordinary woman.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Nelson.”
“I adore you, Mrs. Nelson.” He kissed the back of her neck, pulled the pins from her hair and watched her glorious hair cascade down her back. Then he began to quickly remove his own clothes and followed her into their bed where she welcomed him into her outstretched arms.
Every time they were together this way, Aubrey felt as if he’d come home from a long journey to the place he was always meant to be.
He could look at her exquisite face for hours on end and never grow tired of the view or of the way he felt when she gazed back at him, seeming equally enamored.
He wanted to ask her if she felt the way he did, but something continued to hold him back from posing the question.
Perhaps it was the fear he sensed in her.
He had reassured her every way he knew how, but still he could see her wrestling with concerns she kept from him.
It was a lot to expect of his new wife that she take on his mother, sisters, illustrious friends and Newport society all at once, but the woman who had defended herself against a violent man and escaped to a whole new country wasn’t one who would be easily cowed.
He was counting on her inner strength to help propel her through the summer of social obligations.
Anxious to quiet the thoughts that swirled through his mind, he placed his hand on her face and kissed her, intending to actually allow her to get some rest. But one kiss became two and her eager response had him forgetting all about sleep to indulge in pleasure so profound he often felt as if he’d consumed half a bottle of scotch after being with her this way.
His head spun and his heart beat faster than was probably healthy. He could barely breathe from wanting her so desperately. “Tell me you feel it, too.” He uttered the words between urgent kisses and then remembered he hadn’t planned to push her to reveal her feelings.
“Feel what?”
“Everything. Every single thing there is to feel when we’re together this way.”
As he watched her contemplate what he’d said, he felt as if his entire life was on the line along with any chance he had to be happy. For without her, he wouldn’t be happy. He already knew that much for certain. “I feel it, too.”
Relief flooded him, along with gratitude and love. So much love. “Maeve, I—”
She drew him into a kiss that smothered the words he’d planned to say. Had she known what he would say and didn’t want to hear it?
For the longest time, they only kissed, arms wrapped tight around each other, his leg between hers as their kisses became ever more desperate.
Until Aubrey broke the kiss to stare at her once again.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.
” The statement surprised her as much as it did him because it was acknowledgment that as much as he’d loved Annabelle, it hadn’t been like this with her.
He was a heel for even having such a thought, but he couldn’t deny the truth of it. As much as he’d loved Annabelle—and he’d truly loved her—what he’d felt for her paled in comparison to his feelings for Maeve.
“I still can’t believe that this has happened,” she said.
“Believe it. It’s the very best thing to ever happen to me.”
“Me as well. I have been so afraid of what would become of me, especially if Mr. Farthington’s family tried to find me, and then there you were to fix everything that was wrong.”
“I’ll always fix what is wrong, sweet Maeve. You only have to tell me what you need and I’ll see that you get it. Whatever you want you shall have.”
“I want to be safe. That’s the only thing I need.”
“You’re safe with me. I would kill to protect you.”
“Please don’t say such things!”
“It’s true.”
“Aubrey, please don’t say that. I can’t bear the thought of such a thing.”
“Shhh. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking about what happened with Mr. Farthington. This is Newport. Things like that don’t happen here. You’ve nothing to worry about.”
As he said the words, he could only hope they were true, but he meant what he’d said. If it came to it, he would kill to keep her safe.