Page 97 of A Duchess to Unravel
“And your maid,” Rose implored, “Norma, is it? She is recovering well from her wound?”
Theo nodded, relieved to be able to do so. The guilt she’d felt after discovering Norma had been shot while trying to protect her had grieved Theo extensively.
“Quite well,” she replied. “We have given her a six-month paid leave and a cottage near the castle. She has no family, poor thing, but Mrs. Mackenzie and I check on her daily.”
Theo managed a smile as she added, “As does Callum. Who has apparently taken quite a liking to her. They both seem quite smitten with one another.”
It had warmed her heart to visit Norma one day to find the livery man sitting at Norma’s bedside feeding her soup. One look at theway the couple gazed at one another was enough for anyone to know that a seed of affection had not only been planted but was growing quite strongly.
“Pardon me, ladies,” Alistair’s deep voice broke through their conversation.
Theo’s smile grew as she felt Alistair wrap an arm around her waist and drop a kiss to her neck from behind.
“Good day to you,” she greeted warmly, reaching up to cup his cheek.
“Having fun, darling?” He asked, nuzzling into her.
“Oh, get a room you two,” Ophelia muttered, rolling her eyes as she walked away.
Theo waved her off and turned in Alistair’s arms, loving the boldness he displayed at showing her such affection, even with others around.
“I am,” she told him, pressing her palms to his chest.
“Are you certain?” he asked, a playful glint in his eyes. “Ye are not getting a bit tired?”
Theo fought to hide the smirk growing on her face and failed terribly.
“Actually,” she said, forcing a yawn, “I am growing a bit sleepy. Perhaps we should retire for the evening? I am sure our guests would understand, given what we have been through.”
“I am certain they would,” Alistair murmured, sliding a hand to the back of her neck and giving her a gentle squeeze. “Dominic already said he would be happy to take over as Master of Ceremonies. And most of our guests are spending the night anyway. I am sure they will be retiring in their own rooms quite soon.”
Theo’s anticipation grew as Alistair raked his hungry eyes down her body, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
“Excuse us, my darlings,” Theo said, whirling around to face the rest of her friends, “We have grown quite weary in the late hour. Shall we reconvene at breakfast?”
“Of course,” Seraphina answered with a knowing smirk.
“I am sure we will have much to discuss,” Amelia said, giving Theo a wink.
“I shall go find Ophelia,” Rose sighed, looking both bored and disappointed. “We are sharing a room. I believe we shall retire as well.”
Theo paused, worried for Rose and Ophelia. At one time there were five wallflowers. Now only remained two. She silently prayed then and there that they would receive the love orfreedom they wished, and that one day soon they would be as happy as her, Seraphina, and Amelia were.
The moment they reached Alistair’s room, Alistair pressed Theo tightly against him and greedily pressed his lips to hers.
“Whose idea was it to throw this thing?” he murmured between kisses. As he did so his hands worked quickly at the stays of her dress, loosening the ties that held her in it.
Theo’s laugh was husky against his lips as she worked his cravat loose.
“Yours, darling,” she replied, then whimpered as Alistair freed her from her gown, and bit down on her neck.
“Remind me not to have it again,” Alistair growled.
Through their kisses they tore at one another’s clothes, peeling off each bit until they were both bare. Alistair let out a heady groan of desire as he held Theo back just long enough to appreciate her body, then he picked her up, lips coming possessively to hers, and guided her legs to his waist.
Theo’s nails raked over Alistair’s bare shoulders and back as he pressed her tightly to the wall, neither of them patient enough to make it to the bed. They’d barely touched, yet her body was already humming with arousal. She gasped out his name and bitharshly into his shoulder as his already rigid manhood sank in one long stroke into her slick flesh.
A burst of hot-white pleasure filled every pore and vein of her body as they stayed there for a moment, locked within one another. They had made love that morning, every morning, since the physician had cleared Alistair. Every mid-day as well, and often several times at night- but each time felt as if they had spent weeks apart, and that the need they had for another would never slake.
