Page 20 of A Lady's Christmas
“Look at me, love.” With his weight on his forearms, he brushes his finger across her cheek.
Eyes open like the warrior queen she is, she stares into his eyes.
He thrusts through.
A short cry escapes her, along with one tear.
It takes a herculean effort to stay still while her body adjusts to him. Capturing the tear on his finger, he kisses her. “Tell me when the pain eases.” There’s no hiding the strain in his voice. His body wants to move more than breathe.
“I want you to move, Theo.” Her fingers dig into his back.
Easing out, he presses in again and they both moan. Thrusting again and again, his body is on fire with so much wanting and waiting, that it takes an effort to be patient and wait for her pleasure. It’s only his desperation to see her come and hear her cry his name that holds him back.
She wraps her leg around his, allowing him to push deeper. Her moans and cries are like the finest symphony in his ears. “Theo. Oh, Theo.” Her core pulses around him as her nails bite into his flesh.
The base of his spine tingles and his legs shake. As soon as her pleasure ebbs, he thrusts hard and fast before pulling out and spilling his seed between their sweat-slicked bodies.
Pressing kisses to her face, he whispers words of love.
She smiles softly. “That was much better than women say. I wonder why no one speaks of the pleasure.”
“You’re adorable.” He laughs. “It’s all men speak of.” Shifting away earns him a mumbled complaint. He caresses her cheek. “I’m just going to get a cloth to clean us up, love. I’m not leaving you.” He would never leave her, but he wouldn’t talk of forever now. Tomorrow, when they are both clearheaded, he will ask her to marry him.
Once he cleans them both, he wraps his arms around her and breathes in the warm scent of Gwen. “You are the most spectacular woman, Gwendolyn.”
“Thank you for tonight.” She sighs.
ChapterTen
It’s nearly eleven o’clock when Theo wakes to an empty bed. He searches the room, but he’s alone.
Once washed and dressed, he walks down the hall to knock on Gwen’s door and make sure she is all right. The door is open, the room empty, and a maid is cleaning.
“Where is Miss Carter?” His voice is harsher than he intends.
Ella, the maid, is a girl of perhaps sixteen. Brown curls push out of her white bonnet and her gray eyes are wide as she gives a trembling reply, “The ladies left almost an hour ago, Your Grace.”
“Left?” He lets the word swirl around his mind. It’s not possible.
Ella nods. “To London, sir.”
Storming down to the foyer, Theo calls, “Lamb!”
After a moment, the butler appears from the servants’ door under the stairs. “Your Grace?”
“Why did you let her leave?” Theo paces around the large, round table in the foyer. The urge to smash something is strong, but he spares the vase filled with hothouse roses. “I need my horse.”
Lamb cocks his head. “The ladies had always planned to return to London today. You didn’t mention that you’d like for them to stay longer. I assumed you made your goodbyes at the ball last night.”
His panic is acute. How could she think he wanted her to leave before he woke? He calms his mind. “I need my horse, Lamb.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Lamb signals for the footman standing near the front door. “Joe, please go and inform the groom that His Grace needs his horse saddled and brought to the front.”
Joe runs to do as he’s told.
“Your Grace?” Robert Geldman’s calm voice and demeanor are incongruous with how Theo feels. He looks around, taking in the mood and situation. “I see that you’re in a hurry, sir, but I noticed something in an old ledger, and I think you’ll want to see it right away.”
“Is it that important?” It takes an effort not to snipe, but his voice still comes out annoyed.
