Page 30 of Lady Elizabeth's Winter Stranger
“That’s…wonderful,” she whispered.And it was.The momentary discomfort didn’t count against the wonder of him filling her emptiness with his love.
When he shifted back, she couldn’t muffle a disappointed whimper.She pressed up to prolong the contact.“Don’t go.”
His laugh was husky.“I’m not going anywhere.You’ll like this.”
She did.For a rapturous interval, his body rocked in and out of hers, launching her on a glorious flight to the stars.It was like when he’d touched her between the legs, but better.She panted, as she strove to attain some goal that lay just out of reach.Every time he slid fully inside, she verged closer to that peak.
Until on a blast of heat and light, she crossed the last barrier and soared free.The explosion of ecstasy outmatched anything that she’d ever imagined possible.She cried out his name, as she wallowed in transforming sensation and her body spasmed around him.He gave a grunt of approval and kept moving, until he shuddered in her arms and lost himself inside her still-quivering body.
Tom kissed her thoroughly, then rose on his elbows to stare down at her with eyes that shone with love.“I adore you.”
Elizabeth touched his face, noting how his expression had changed since they’d mated.She could tell that he, like her, had touched paradise tonight.They’d experienced bliss together, just as together they’d advance into their new life.This was a love that would endure.“I love you, too.”
He pulled free and rolled to his side, wrapping his arms around her and nestling her back against his chest.Tom’s love surrounded her.It was the best feeling in the world.
Or perhaps the second best.She rested against him, her mind awash with memories of what had just happened.It seemed a gift beyond measure that they could do that again and again.She smiled into the candlelit room.
Behind her, Tom’s rough breathing eased.The quiet interval had Elizabeth’s eyelids drooping.Drowsing in her magnificent lover’s arms was sheer delight.The night’s discoveries came thick and fast.
She was almost asleep when Tom murmured into her rumpled hair.“You called me Stanton.”
“Hmm?”
“When we made love, you said my name.Not Tom.”
She shifted a little but kept her eyes shut.“I was carried away in the moment.”
“I liked it.”
“I liked what you did.”
Male satisfaction tinged his grunt of amusement.“I’ll do it again, once I’ve caught my breath.”
On a shiver of anticipation, she curled her fingers over the hand that spread across her midriff.“Ooh, yes, please.”
With a weary laugh, he pressed a kiss to her crown.“You’ve married a man who can’t get enough of you.”
She bumped her rump back against his stirring rod.“I approve.”
His next laugh sounded like he was more awake.She was also losing interest in sleep.Who wanted to sleep, when a passionate man lay beside her, ready and willing?Not Elizabeth Morley-Bridges, Viscountess Fairchild, that was for sure.
“I’ll be gentle.You might still be tender.”
She laughed and turned around so she could see him.“I’m tender.And grateful and overwhelmed with what we just did.I’m starving for you.And I love you more than words can convey.”
His eyes glowed with a joy that warmed her to the heart.“And I love you, Elizabeth.Let me show you how much.”
And he did.
Epilogue
Hyde Park, London, Christmas Day, 1820
The park wasn’t as snowy as last year, and so far they hadn’t had to rescue any stray urchins from the top of an oak tree.But the scene was similar enough to last Christmas Day for Elizabeth to relive the magic of her meeting with Tom and the wonderful changes that had taken place since then.
“I was so angry and upset when you found me,” she said, cuddling into his side the way that she’d shamelessly cuddled all those months ago.Her hand hooked around his elbow and their boots made a satisfying crunch on the new snow along the path.
It was their first visit to London since their wedding.They’d enjoyed a passionate honeymoon in France, before settling down to their new life on Tom’s beautiful estate on the Dorset coast.
