Page 46 of His Darling Duchess
He had been waiting for this moment for so long. The passion he had felt for Aurelia had been burning within him, yearning to be unleashed. He had held back, not wishing to pressure her or cause her any discomfort. But now, he sensed that she was ready, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Finally, there was a knock at his door. He strode over and opened it eagerly, revealing Aurelia standing there, wearing only a thin robe over her nightgown, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders.
"Aurelia," he breathed, taking her hand and drawing her inside. "I've been waiting for you."
"I know," she replied softly, a shy smile crossing her lips. "I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about you."
He pulled her into his arms, feeling her warmth and softness pressing against him. His lips found hers in a fierce, possessive kiss, his hands roaming over her body. She moaned in delight, clinging to him, soft and pliant.
"Aurelia," he murmured against her ear. "I have not asked, but... do you know what to expect, of the marriage bed?"
She flushed, but met his eyes steadily when he drew back to look at her. "I do. Mama explained it to me. And she said... it will not hurt if I trust you, and if... if I love you, it will even be pleasant."
Rhys almost stopped breathing, staring at her. "And do you?" he croaked finally, his throat so dry he could barely get the words out. "Love me?"
"Of course I do!" She stared at him as though he had just asked an entirely silly question. "I adore you!"
"Oh, Aurelia." He pulled her closer, raining kisses on her brow, her cheeks, her closed eyelids. "You are everything," he whispered against her lips. "Everything."
She smiled at him, arching up on her toes to kiss him. "Then show me," she breathed.
For the first few moments after she woke, Aurelia couldn’t quite fathom where she was. The light falling in through the window was coming at the strangest angle, her bed was firmer than shewas used to, and there was something extremely hot lying across her stomach.
Slowly, as she came more fully awake, she realised the light was wrong because it was late afternoon rather than morning, neither the window nor the bed was her own, and the hot bar on her stomach was in fact her husband’s arm. He lay sound asleep beside her, face turned towards hers on the pillow, dark hair tumbling across his brow. Face relaxed with sleep, he looked much younger - and so incredibly handsome he stole her breath away.
She gazed at him for a long moment, admiring his strong profile and the wide, sensuous curve of his lips. She reached out and traced the outline of his nose. He stirred slightly, eyelids fluttering, but did not wake.
Sighing, she eased herself out from underneath his arm and sat up in the bed, her back against the headboard. She wasn't sure how she felt. She had known it would be good, better than good even, but had never expected that the experience would be so life-changing she would never think of herself in quite the same way again.
Rhys stirred, his eyes opening, coming to alertness instantly in a way she suspected he had learned as a soldier. Seeing her lying beside him, he smiled, slow and satisfied.
"Good morning, wife," he murmured.
"It's afternoon," Aurelia said, a little pertly. "But good afternoon."
He laughed, reaching out to pull her against him. "The best afternoon of my life, waking up with you beside me."
She felt a little flutter of warmth in her chest, and smiled. "I enjoyed... earlier," she admitted, not sure how to put what she meant.
"I'm glad. You are not sore?"
She was, a little, muscles she had never used before aching in an unfamiliar way. Rhys must have seen the truth in her expression, because he kissed her just once, slow and lingering, before releasing her and sitting up.
"You should take a hot bath, have a good soak. I will have Harris summon your maids."
Aurelia nodded, grateful for the suggestion. As Rhys rose from the bed, she noticed the muscles in his back rippling beneath his skin. He moved with such grace and power, it was impossible not to be drawn to him.
As she watched him dress, Aurelia couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. They had been married for more than a month now, but it was only in the past few hours that she had truly felt connected to him. Before that, they had been two strangers forced together by circumstance. Now, she felt as though she had found her soulmate.
Rhys turned to her, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "What are you thinking about?"
Aurelia hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I feel as though I've wasted so much time, not knowing you as well as I do now."
He paused, his boots dangling from his hand, looking at her seriously. "We have the rest of our lives to come to know each other. Do not regret that we took the time to ease into this marriage slowly; I do not. I should forever have regretting rushing you, though."
He was right, she knew, and the remark was just one more piece of evidence of the goodness of the man she had found herself so fortunate as to marry. Smiling to herself, Aurelia snuggled down into the plush pillows of the Duke's bed and waited for her maids.
Chapter Twenty
