Page 118 of A Night of Desire with a Duke
"Yes. Yours. The one where it all started."
He stood, lifting her with him, carrying her to the bedroom with the same urgency he'd shown five years ago. But this time, there was no hesitation, no fear. Just the perfect synchronization of two people who knew each other completely.
"I love you," Catherine said as he laid her on the bed. "I loved you then, even though I didn't know it. I love you now, knowing everything. I'll love you forever."
"Forever isn't long enough," James replied, covering her body with his. "But it's a start."
What followed was both familiar and new. They knew each other's bodies perfectly now, knew exactly how to give pleasure, how to tease, how to satisfy. But being here, in this place where it all began, added something electric to their connection.
"Do you remember," James said at one point, "how shocked you were when I..."
"I wasn't shocked! I was... surprised."
"You nearly levitated off the bed."
"It was unexpected!"
"But good?"
"You know it was good. You're still smug about it."
"I'm smug about many things involving you and beds."
"Just beds?"
"Walls. Desks. That memorable occasion in the carriage."
"James!"
"What? We're married. We're allowed to be adventurous."
"We have been rather adventurous."
"We could be more adventurous."
"What did you have in mind?"
He showed her, and Catherine discovered that even after five years, her husband could still surprise her.
Later, much later, they lay tangled together, rain still pounding against the windows but softer now, the storm beginning to exhaust itself.
"I miss this," Catherine said quietly.
"What?"
"Just this. Us. No interruptions, no duties pulling you away, no small voices calling for mama at dawn."
"You wouldn't trade them though. The children."
"Never. They're the best parts of us. But sometimes..."
"Sometimes you miss when it was just us?"
"Is that terrible?"
"No. It's honest. I miss it too." He pulled her closer. "That's why I planned this. We needed to remember who we are together, separate from everything else."
"Who are we?"
