Page 87 of His Wicked Secret
Her maid grinned. “Everyone did. It was as clear as a summer sky. But I suppose even Lady Society can’t see into everyone’s heart.”
She and Gillian laughed together, the sound warming her in a way she would never forget. Gillian squeezed her in an embrace and then went to rescue her husband from Charles, who was trying to swindle him out of an extra slice of cake.
“You know… Now that you’re married, you ought to watch your figure, old boy,” Charles nodded at James’s trim waist. “Wouldn’t want Gilly to think you’re getting soft, would you now?”
“I beg your pardon?” James sputtered.
“Oh yes. You’d best hand me that slice, so you aren’t tempted. There’s a good man.” Charles deftly stole the cake and ducked under a footman holding a tray of biscuits as the two nearly collided, then vanished into the hall. Audrey saw him present his brooding servant Tom with the slice. The young man forced a smile as he took the cake, and Charles slapped him on the back.
Audrey’s eyes narrowed as she studied Tom’s behavior. There was something going on with him, possibly more than she’d suspected earlier.
The question was, was there cause for alarm?
* * *
Long after theguests had left and the St. Laurent household had settled down, Audrey took Jonathan’s hand and led him to his bedchamber.
He opened the door and scooped her into his arms.
She laughed and curled her arms around his neck. “Careful! What are you doing?”
“It may not be the official threshold, but I still wanted to carry you over it to our bed.” He strode over to his bed and set her down with care.
“I’m not fragile,” she reminded him, then winced. “Well, not usually.”
“I know. But you are precious to me, and I want to treat you as I would anything I value more than my own life.”
Audrey giggled. “Oh dear. If you act like this when I am with child—”
“You will tolerate it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Because I won’t be able to help but treat you without the utmost care.”
Audrey ignored this and started working on the buttons of his waistcoat. He struggled out of his coat as she reached for his trousers.
“Lie back and let me savor this,” he suggested.
She lay back, her heart pounding as she removed her slippers and stockings and slid her gown up to pool at her hips. He kissed his way up her thighs, and she moaned and closed her eyes when his mouth reached her mound. The climax that followed was intense, and she sighed in an abundance of pleasure as he covered her body with his and entered her. She removed his shirt, and her legs curled around his waist, tugging his trousers down farther as he rode her.
“Jonathan,” she whispered his name.
“Yes?” He clasped her hands in his and pinned them against the bedding, their bodies fused together.
“Don’t stop that thing…the thing you’re doing with your hips…” She moaned as he circled his hips deeper and new waves of pleasure built.
“Your wish…is my command.” His mouth took hers, their lips dancing fiercely against each other. They soon came together, sharing the same breath, and the beating of their hearts became one steady drum.
“How did I ever become so lucky to make you mine?” Jonathan asked with a boyish smile. He rolled their bodies so that they faced each other side by side, their limbs still entwined.
Audrey trailed a fingertip down his cheek. “You sawme.That very first day we met I could tell that you didn’t look at a lady, a sister of a viscount, or even money. You saw only a woman.”
“That’s true,” he admitted. “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. But it only got better as I came to know you.” He brushed his thumbs over her lips. “And I have a feeling that spending the rest of my life as husband to Lady Society will never be dull.”
“It had better not be.” She grinned at him and kissed him once more. “I am quite a troublemaker, aren’t I?”
“Trouble indeed,” he agreed. “And worth it, my darling. Worth it all.”
