Page 34 of A Gentleman Never Surrenders
“Stephen just brought your food, sir. Nice and hot,” Evans assured him before he nodded to the bed. “Constance laid out the mistress’s nightdress for you. Ring if you need us.”
“Good night, Evans.” Owen lowered his wife to the bed and sat down beside her as Evans left and closed the door behind them.
“What time is it?” Milly sat up and attempted to comb her fingers through her hair.
“Late. I’ve only just got back. Jack is in a room down the hall.”
At the mention of his friend, Milly reached out, placing one hand over his, the tender gesture making his heart swell.
“How is he? I couldn’t tell much from your letters.” Her searching gaze called to him, and he leaned over, brushing a kiss on her forehead.
“Better. He will stay here for a time, until I can be assured he won’t fall back into bad habits.”
She nodded and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“That was a very brave thing you’ve done. Mr. Watson is fortunate to have you as a friend.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Jack suffers more than I do. The war didn’t simply scar him; it destroyed him. I feel as though…” His throat tightened and he turned his face away, unable to admit his secret shame. She would despise him for it.
“What? Please talk to me.” She scooted closer and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek on his shoulder. The embrace, so gentle and comforting, obliterated that last barrier inside him keeping his heart safe from her.
“When I see Jack, see how broken he is over what we faced during the war… and I come away with a few harmless nightmares, I can’t help but wonder what that says about me. Is my heart so hard that the things that haunt him fail to haunt me? What sort of man am I, that my spirit is bruised rather than broken? We faced the same men, fought the same battles, our hands coated with the same innocent blood. Why am I not trapped inside the nearest bottle, too?”
Milly didn’t speak for so long that he thought she wouldn’t, but when she finally did, her voice was a delicate whisper close to his ear.
“When I first met you, I believed you were a heartless seducer, bent on securing a fortune.”
He closed his eyes. Her vision of him was black and all too true.
“But I was wrong. So very wrong.” Her voice caught and she paused. “Everything you do comes from a place of love. Love for your home, your friends, even your servants. I never met a man who acts with his heart as you do. The last thing you are is heartless.”
He turned his head to look at her, and a little tear escaped one of her eyes and rolled down her cheek. He brushed a finger over the tear and leaned in to nuzzle her cheek.
“I want to kiss you right now. Would you let me?” he asked.
She nodded, bringing her arms around his neck as he shifted on the bed to face her.
“I’d like you to do a bit more than that, husband.” A little impish smile curved her lips and warmed her eyes.
“Thank God.” He chuckled against her lips right before he kissed her.
Her lips parted and he took advantage, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. She moaned in encouragement and met him kiss for kiss. Her hands dug at his clothes, tugging on his jacket, his shirt, the front of his trousers. Her clothes were a little trickier, and he had to slide one hand beneath her to unhook her skirt before she could shimmy out of it. He was never more desperate to get a woman fully bare beneath him than he was in that moment. Milly laughed, seemingly content to let him struggle with her clothing.
“Lend a hand, sweetheart?” he growled as he wrestled with the ties of her corset.
“Very well,” she said, still laughing but breathless now. The expression lit up her face and her usually austere beauty was now soft and womanly. Her eyes were slumberous and her cheeks flushed to a delicate rose as she embraced their passion. He slowed to a stop, his hands knotted in her shoes as he stared at her in awe.
“What?” she asked, her brows drawing together, and her smile started to wilt at the corners.
“It’s just…” He struggled for words. “You are so lovely it took my breath away.” He meant it. Looking at her actually made him feel a tad light-headed.
Her lips formed an enchanting moue as she stared at him.
“Then why did you stop undressing me?” she asked, still confused.
He began undoing her laces again, this time more sure of himself. When he raised his gaze to hers, he was unable to stop a smug grin.
“I was savoring the fact that you are mine, my wife, mine to take to bed, mine to make love to.” He parted the corset and she raised her arms as he lifted it off her. She was finally down to nothing but a filmy sleeveless chemise. Her full breasts were barely concealed beneath the thin material.
