Page 30 of The Duke and the Widow
Rosinamovedaboutthehouse, directing everyone on where to place the greenery they had all gone out to collect. They used the greenery to make wreaths, garlands, and kissing balls, complete with mistletoe.
Lily and her husband, Alex, Viscount Callan, came to stay with them for the holidays, so the house was full of love and laughter, especially with the boys home from school.
William and Walter couldn’t contain their excitement when they found out she had agreed to marry their brother, and she believed it might make them reconsider their decision to return to school. They had agreed to keep the boys with them long enough to procure a special license and marry right away, with the boys in attendance.
Once they dropped the boys off at school, they consummated their marriage in the carriage, which still made her skin heat and dampness pool between her thighs when she thought about that particular encounter, their first as husband and wife.
“Sweetheart, you should be taking it easy,” James said, taking a few kissing balls from her hand as she was attempting to hang them.
“Duke, we have at least seven months to go, and one can hardly tell I am increasing. You will have plenty of time to encourage me to rest.”
He hung one of the kissing balls where she had been working. “Well, you have only just started keeping your breakfast down again. Besides, it’s my job to keep you both safe.”
“I tell Lily the same thing,” Alex cut in, coming back for more decorations to hang.
“And I allow you to carry me about, no matter how ridiculous it is,” Lily responded.
It was a relief that Alex and James had become fast friends since it enabled Lily and Rosina to see each other as often as they could, and they would have their babes around the same time.
“Sister,” William called to Rosina, “can we have some of the gingerbread? Everything is hung up like you asked.”
She grinned at them both. “Certainly. Thank you for your help.”
James and she had agreed that they would give the boys a grand Christmas since next year they would have a new babe join the family. They wanted this one to be special for the boys and focus on giving them all the love and attention they could handle, especially while they still wanted it. They were becoming more independent by the day, and it was only a matter of time before they’d beg to go to their friends’ homes for holidays and breaks.
Later that evening, they enjoyed a Christmas Eve feast fit for the king himself, then gathered in the drawing room together to sing carols. The fire roared in the fireplace, and on the mantle were three candles that the boys lit. One for their mother, one for their father, and one for Ryan. She had cried and clutched the boys to her when they told her what they wished to do. It was something they had done to remember their parents each year since their passing, and it touched her heart that they thought to do the same for Ry. It could have been at James’ suggestion, but she would never ask.
She pressed the keys of the pianoforte as everyone sang along, the candles on the mantle catching her eye. Almost immediately, she glanced over at her husband and found him staring back at her. All the love in the world shone in his expression.
There wasn’t a day since they married that she regretted allowing herself to love him. It wasn’t the same as what she felt for Ry, nor was it better or worse, or stronger or lesser. It just was. She loved James with her entire heart and everything she had, and she was also thankful for the time she had to love Ry. She realized that both loves could be true.
Her family had been ecstatic and astonished to find out that she had wed the Duke of St. Albans. They weren’t certain about referring to him as “James” the first time they met him, but he’d used his haughty duke tone with them, and that was that.
They would all arrive in a few days to spend some time together as one big family. Her mother wrote that she was bringing a few gifts for the boys, as they had been welcomed into the family as if Rosina had birthed them herself. James and his brothers deserved to have a bit of family who adored them to make up for what they had so tragically lost. She supposed she did, too.
Her heart overflowing with happiness, she mouthed, “I love you,” to her husband, whose gaze was fixed on her.
Once the evening had ended, everyone went upstairs to bed. The boys were excited about Christmas morning and what surprises might wait for them.
Rosina blew out the candles on the mantle, knowing the boys would relight them tomorrow, and turned to find her husband standing in front of the closed door.
“You have that look in your eye, Duke.”
“Whatever do you mean?” he asked, giving her a coy expression. Then he slinked over to her like a lion stalking his prey.
She laughed and folded her arms across her body. “You know exactly what I mean.”
He grabbed her and pulled her tight against him, walking her backwards towards the fire. He pulled one of the kissing balls from behind him and held it over her head.
Grinning at him, she clutched the lapels of his coat and pulled him to her, then took his lips in a searing kiss. She would never tire of kissing her perfect husband. Even if it was scandalous to do so in their drawing room when they had guests in their home.
He scooped her up and crouched to the floor with her, laying her before the fire. Raising her skirts to bunch at her waist, he moved his fingers against her slit, knowing he was driving her to distraction.
“I wish to kiss you here.” He lazily circled her nub with his fingers.
“You don’t need a kissing ball to do so.”
He said nothing further and shifted so his head was between her legs, licking and sucking at her pearl, while he sheathed two fingers inside of her cunt. It didn’t take long before she was bucking and moaning, pushing herself against his face to ride the last wave of pleasure.
