Chapter Eight #2
“Perhaps.” Angelica peered at the statue. “Eros was Aphrodite’s son, correct?”
“Indeed.” With a low chuckle, Caleb brought her into his arms. He held her loosely in the position one might when preparing for a waltz. “Ready for our dance, Duchess? After all, you’ve dressed for the part.”
“So have you, and might I say, the tailcoat and golden embroidered waistcoat in this setting is quite attractive.” The low pitch of her voice sent shivers over his skin.
“Whatever it takes for you to notice me, eh?” Did that make him seem too desperate?
“I have always noticed you, Caleb. Noticed and dreamed.”
This time, the shiver went through his shaft, hardening it.
“There are still many dreams to reach, I think.” Then he set them off, circling about again and again, twirling in front of the statue.
“From what I can remember from school, Eros fell in love with the beautiful mortal Psyche, much to his mother’s dismay.
Because he was so besotted, he eloquently spoke of her so that Zeus was moved enough to grant him his wish of possessing her. ”
Angelica huffed. “Sounds like a man. Showing possession from one to another.”
“Never change, dearest,” he whispered against the shell of her ear. “Not all of us are pricks like Tittleford.” When he straightened and kept on with the waltz, he grinned. “Eros brought Psyche to Zeus, who gave her a cup of ambrosia, the drink of immortality.”
“If Eros loved her with all his heart, why didn’t he ask Zeus to make him mortal? Perhaps she had no desire to be of the gods, especially when her mother-in-law was jealous and unpleasant toward her.”
“Fair points.” Caleb shrugged, and wished they could debate gods and goddesses for years. “As the story goes, Zeus joined Psyche and Eros in eternal marriage, and one assumes they were blissfully happy.”
“Everyone assumes that from fairy tales and myths.” Angelica snorted. “Happy endings are difficult to come by in real life. That’s, perhaps, the horror of it all.”
You poor thing.
Protection for her welled. “If I were an author, I would write tales closer to the truth.”
She sighed. “Then people wouldn’t want them. There’s no escape.”
“Or they could relate to the characters.” He winked.
“Regardless, Eros and Psyche had a daughter during their union, who they named Pleasure.” Again, he held her close to his body.
His shaft twitched with renewed awareness.
“Knowing the gods, Pleasure no doubt walked among the humans teaching them the gifts of her name that are found within sex and intimacy, for why wouldn’t she when her parents loved each other to distraction? ”
“I knew you were a secret romantic.”
“How can I not be when you are on this earth and in my arms?” Caleb drew them to a halt but kept her close.
“Such gammon.”
“No, such truth. I am the most fortunate of men because you’ve chosen me.” It was nothing but honesty. He stroked a hand up and down her back. “Men—and women—were never meant to go through their time on this mortal coil alone.”
“Yet you and I will be exactly that when we’re forced to part.” Her voice broke on that last word.
“No. I don’t accept that.” With a ball of emotion in his throat, he cupped her cheek. “There is a future for us, sweeting. We must believe that.”
She trembled, slid a hand up his chest. “How can we when I’m married to a monster? And if he finds out about you and I?” Her swallow was audible.
“Then we shall make certain that he won’t.” Instead of continuing the conversation, he claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. Oh, there was so much that he still wanted to do and experience with her, but their time together was running short.
I can’t think about that now.
When she wrenched away merely to breathe, she fumbled at the buttons of his tailcoat and then shoved it from his shoulders. “I understand what you’re feeling perfectly, but I want far more kisses than this.”
“You shall have them.” He shrugged out of the garment, didn’t care when it fell to the ground.
Just as quickly, he shed his waistcoat, tossed it to the grass without a care.
“I believe it’s time for a little scandal.
” His cuffs, collar, and cravat soon followed.
They were certainly making intercourse in the woods a habit this week.
“It’s only a scandal if we’re found out, Caleb.”
“Perhaps I’ve corrupted you.” His fine lawn shirt gaped open, and the ambient coolness in the air wafted over his exposed skin. “You weren’t like this for all the years I’ve known you.”
“Honestly? I couldn’t stand not touching you any longer, and I’m not growing younger. I didn’t want to go to my grave never knowing your touch, your… love.”
If he hadn’t already been tip over tail for her, he would have lost his heart to her in that moment.
“Ah, Angelica, how I adore you.” Then he caught her in his arms. He kissed her as if his life depended upon it, bent her nearly backward over his arm while gliding his lips along the column of her throat, followed the low bodice of her gown.
“Every time we do this, it feels as if I’ve finally come home, but to a place where I’ve never been.”
His chest tightened. “You are that for me as well.” His hands were at her hips, fisting her skirting and drawing it upward, and when he glanced his fingers over her skin, she shivered and heat consumed him.
“Oh, fate is so unfair sometimes.”
“It is, but I’ll catch you if you fall. Always.” It was a promise he could easily make and keep, for she was his everything, his very reason for living, for trying hard to keep his position with the duke so he could watch over her.
In the space of a few heartbeats, he was lost in the glory that was the duchess. And he never wanted to find his way out of her welcoming affection and love. Regardless of the reality that was rapidly coming abreast of them.