Page 55 of Desire and Discipline
“Yes.” She went back up on her toes for another kiss.
Unable to hold back any longer as emotions surged through him, he brought his arms down around her, pulling her tightly against him. Their kiss deepened as he swung her around toward the bed, and he could feel her laughing at his reaction, but he did not care.
He could not remember having been this happy since… since before Marianne died. And his first wife would not have wanted that. She would want him to be happy.
Diana made him happy again.
Lifting his head, he looked down at her directly in the eyes.
“I love you.” Though he’d expressed the sentiment in flower arrangements, he had not said the words aloud to her until now.
Her lips curved up, eyes sparkling like happy diamonds.
“I love you, too.”
“If this is what cropping my cock gets me, you can do it any time you want.”
Laughter followed them down onto the bed as they rolled until he was on his back, her straddling him. He ran his hands up and down her sides, brushing her breasts and hips as she hovered above him.
“Are you saying you’re going to try to trap me into marrying you often?” she teased, the wet heat of her body teasing his tortured tip.
“As often as I need to.” He grinned up at her. He had no doubt that she would be given ample opportunity to punish him in the future. Something about her brought it out in him.
“I think once will do the trick.”
He did not get an opportunity to respond before she sank down on top of him, making him groan as he thrust upward into the pleasurable haven of her body. She had probably done that on purpose, ensuring she had the last word. He did not begrudge it to her.
Moving atop him, slowly at first, she smiled as their gazes caught. His hands slid up to cup her breasts, massaging them, pinching her nipples, and making her sigh with pleasure as her pace began to pick up. Oliver gave himself over to her, body and soul, moving beneath her, letting her use him as she pleased until she cried out, her cunt clamping down around him. Only then did he let go of the reins of his own pleasure, moving beneath her, her body rubbing against his, until he also reached his explosive climax.
When she fell atop him, her body molded to his, he stroked his fingers down her back as they caught their breath.
His lady. His future wife.
Suddenly, the future looked so much brighter.
10
2 MonthsLater
Diana
“I cannot believe you’re marrying a marquess,” Amanda, Diana’s youngest sister, said, dark eyes bright with awe. Her hair was still in braids, denoting her age, but they’d been decorated with flowers, and her dress was the fanciest she’d ever worn, thanks to the Marquess’ deep pockets. Out of Diana’s entire family, Amanda was the happiest to take advantage of his generosity. Her parents were grateful but also worried over abusing his good nature—which, of course, meant they never would.
Amanda did not have the same hesitations, but in that case, Oliver was more than happy to play doting, rich brother-in-law and indulge her relentless litany of requests. Diana was starting to worry she was going to become spoiled.
“Me, either. How am I supposed to top that?” Margaret huffed, though she smiled as she said it. Truthfully, Diana’s new station would only elevate Margaret’s own status in theton, and the Duchess of Windham had also taken Diana’s younger sister under her wing. Her prospects for her third Season had improved greatly.
“Well, there are eight dukes now in need of wives and heirs,” Amanda pointed out. “A duke ranks higher than a marquess. And they’re all young and handsome.”
“Amanda,” Diana’s mother scolded, looking slightly aghast at her youngest’s plain-speaking or perhaps her lack of sympathy. “They all recently lost their fathers. Marriage is surely not immediately on their minds.”
“It should be. They are all going to need heirs. Besides, I heard some of the old ladies talking. They’re plotting to get the dukes all married off as soon as they’re out of mourning.” Amanda’s chin went up stubbornly.
“Amanda, donotcall them old ladies where anyone can hear you. Please.” Mother rubbed her temples, a sure sign she was starting to lose her patience. Seeing that, Amanda sighed and nodded.
“I know, Mama. But no one here cares.” She waved her finger around the room, which was full of Diana’s sisters and Evie, who grinned widely at Amanda. The two of them were already getting along famously.
Evie and Anthony had been the first to know about Oliver and Diana’s engagement, upon their return from investigating the deaths of the current dukes’ fathers. They had been thrilled with the announcement, which was only a little dampened by the unsettling news that their investigation had been inconclusive. Most of the witnesses present had been drunk themselves, though they all agreed that the dukes had been both inebriated and several had been foolishly playing around with a small barrel of gunpowder.
