Page 96 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“We’re going to make love everywhere: in the forests, in the rain, in every room, every building.” He skimmed his hand along her side. “I love you, Minerva.”
“I shall never tire of your saying that.”
“Good. I intend to say it every day.”
“I love you, Ashe. I can’t believe how much. I didn’t know it was possible to love this deeply.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, and she allowed everything she felt for him to bubble up as passion consumed them in a conflagration that she feared might leave them both scorched. How was it that there could be so many various sensations coming together to create a marvelous journey into pleasure?
As they touched, kissed, stroked, caressed, the fire that had always been between them built, higher, wider, stronger. Their movements became frenzied, their needs overwhelming. When she thought she would go mad with wanting, he plunged into her, hard, deep. Her body closed around him, held him tightly.
Lifting himself above her, he gazed down on her, pumping into her with sure, steady, hard thrusts. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she dug her fingers into his buttocks, holding him close, urging him on. Every inch of her felt as though sparks were shooting from her. Their bodies became slick. Their moans and groans echoed around them.
The sensations built, tightened, then exploded. Fireworks burst behind her eyes as she cried out his name, heard him growl hers as he threw his head back with a final thrust.
Then he stilled. His breathing as harsh and heavy as hers. With a satisfied smile, he kissed the tip of her nose before rolling onto his side and bringing her flush against him.
“It’s magnificent with light,” she said breathlessly. “When I can see everything.”
He chuckled low. “I should have a mirror installed above us for you.”
She nipped at his nipple. “Maybe we’ll just go to the Nightingale one night.”
“If you like.”
“Might be interesting.”
“We’ll go on the anniversary of your first visit.”
She trailed her fingers along his chest. “Will you show me your private collection of photos sometime?”
“I burned them.”
Rising on her elbow, she stared down on him. “Why?”
“Because I no longer needed them.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “They helped me deal with the images of carnage that I couldn’t get out of my mind. I thought that if I could replace those images with perfect lines, I could conquer the nightmares. But it didn’t work until you. As I told you, thoughts of you silence the horrors. So I had no need to keep the others.”
“I should have liked to see them.”
“I can re-create them with you as my model.”
“If I pose for you, you must pose for me. Tit fortat.”
Grinning, he threaded his fingers through her hair, held her head. “My daring and wicked wife. Is it any wonder that I love you?”
Then he brought her down, captured her mouth, and plundered.
Wasn’t love grand?
Epilogue
Several years later
STANDING on the sixth step of the stairs that led into the foyer, Ashe stared at the door through which he’d watched his parents leave. It was odd that the older he got, the more he missed them.
He wished they could see how he and Minerva had managed to turn their finances around with investments—and without touching the gift her father had given them for their wedding. It was merely held in reserve in case it was ever needed. Otherwise, since it wasn’t part of the entailment, it would be divided among their children.
He wished they could have met Minerva, the rudder in his life. He had not thought it possible to love so thoroughly. There were times when the depth of his feelings for her scared the hell out of him. He’d hold her all the more tightly.
