Page 28 of The Lyon and His Promise
She gazed up over her shoulder and saw how his tawny hair fell rakishly over his brow. “I love you, too, Gyles,” she replied turning in his arms. She pushed back the soft curls that had fallen rakishly over his brow.
The rest became so dreamlike that Josephine surely must have been in a dream. How else could Gyles be about to make love to her in her bed? He kicked off his shoes and took off his trousers before he threw back the covers. My God! He was just magnificent standing there in all his naked glory and she tried to memorize every inch of him until they laid down. Then there was no time to think about anything else than the pleasure they gave to one another.
Minutes seemed like hours and when Gyles finally took her, she swore she had been made just for him. She quickly met his pace and when she felt as though she could hardly hold off on her release, she shattered into a million pieces as they called each other’s name. She swore if she died that very minute, she would have gone to heaven happy. Their lovemaking had been that perfect.
In the aftermath, Gyles held her until she had almost fallen asleep but his sudden movement on the bed told her much. He had to leaveand she could already feel his loss. He kissed her forehead after he had dressed.
“I will see you this afternoon. Dream of us,” he whispered softly.
“You know I will,” Josephine declared holding his hand until she had to let go as he left her room.
She gave a contented sigh. She’d never been this happy in her entire life and she would relish the memory of every moment of this night until they made another memory to replace this one. It would be hard to improve on, since things couldn’t have gone more perfectly!
Chapter Twenty-One
Acommotion downstairshad Gyles looking over to his valet who was in the process of tying his cravat. From the sound of things, whoever had decided to come for a visit was scuffling in the foyer with his butler.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” a voice yelled from below.
Gyles exchanged another look with his valet. “That will be all, Felix. I can finish up myself.”
“As you wish, my lord,” his man replied and then made a hasty retreat.
Gyles barely had time to turn around to head downstairs before his door burst open and Simon angrily strode across the room flinging himself at Gyles.
“You damn bastard,” Simon swore taking a swing but thankfully missing Gyles’s face when he jumped back.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Gyles retaliated. He held back the guilt that perhaps he had been seen leaving Simon’s townhouse last evening.
“How could you?” Simon yelled before he took another swing at Gyles.
Gyles ducked and Simon’s aim luckily went wild again. Clearly Simon’s anger was getting the better of him. He stumbled before regaining his feet. Simon then dove at Gyles sending the two men colliding into a nearby table knocking over the contents.
“Enough, Simon,” Gyles bellowed, and Simon cursed and struggled for another minute before he went to slump into a chair near the hearth.
Gyles smoothed down his waistcoat before going to sit in the chair opposite his irate friend. “I’m barely dressed, Simon, and haven’t even been downstairs as yet. Whatever has you so upset?”
Simon looked around the floor. “I swear I brought it here with me…”
Gyles sighed. “Brought what?”
“That blastedTeatime Tattler,” Simon replied. He patted his jacket and then reached inside for the torn page of newsprint. He handed it over to Gyles. “I trusted you with her, Wickes. How could you ruin all our plans?”
Gyles took the torn page and began reading the latest gossip this morning.
Gentle Reader:
It has come to this editor’s attention that a certain Marquis of W. was seen leaving a curtained alcove at the theater last night with a Mrs. J.B. Inquiring minds want to know exactly if this budding romance will lead to marriage or an illicit affair with the one-day duke. Either way, it will take a miracle and then some for the “lady” to be accepted back among the ton once word spreads throughout England of her latest fiasco. Stay tuned for further details as we learn them.
Sincerely
Samuel Clemens
Editor of theTeatime Tattler
“Damnit,” Gyles swore running his fingers through his hair.
“My thoughts exactly. What were you thinking, Wickes?” Simon muttered in despair. “We had this all worked out and I thought you were on board with keeping Josephine’s reputation intact. Now we have even a new scandal to unravel!”
