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Emma couldn’t describe the feelings inside her heart as Charles wrapped his arms around her. Feeling his warmth, and his heartbeat against her cheek, she finally released a string of tears that she’d bottled up inside her. Not only because of their disagreements and Charles’ accusations, but also because of her mother.
All this time she had tried to stay strong, but she could no longer continue the charade. She was filled with grief over her mother, and the only person she needed at that moment was her husband.
She was overwhelmed by his presence, even more than she had ever imagined she would be, and she held on tighter to him. Her emotions spilled out onto her cheeks and she sobbed softly in Charles’s arms, feeling safe and secure for the first time in a very long while.
The tension in her shoulders began to ease as he tenderly stroked her back and she drew in a deep breath. There were many things she wished to say to him at that moment, but as she gazed up into his deep and intense eyes, words did not seem to matter.
“I’m glad you came, Charles. I was not certain you would,” she said.
Charles wiped the tears from her cheeks and cradled her face. “There is nowhere in the world I would rather be, Emma.”
Her heart began to pound in her chest as Charles leaned in closer to her and their lips touched. She froze. She had not expected him to kiss her, but she did not protest in any manner. Charles had not kissed her on the lips in a very long time.
As he pressed closer and held her even tighter, she realised that he had never kissed her like this. She tilted her head up and moaned as he deepened the kiss by tasting her with his tongue. Her world began to spin uncontrollably around her.
Emma wrapped her arms around his shoulders and returned his tender kiss. She had been waiting for this moment her entire marriage. Her whole life, in fact. It was a kiss she had imagined as a young girl, even before she was set to marry Charles. It was a moment that had occupied her dreams and it still lingered in her heart.
Every woman deserved to be kissed in such a way, and now she finally had experienced it for herself. It was overwhelming, yet welcome, and Charles’ mouth against hers fit perfectly.
Their kiss simmered down, and although such a public display of affection would be frowned upon by society, she did not feel a shred of guilt. Her heart was filled with love and adoration, and she gazed up at Charles.
“You do not know how long I wished for you to kiss me in such a way,” she whispered up to him.
“Much too long,” Charles said. “And I apologise for that, my dearest Emma. I have been absent not only in body, but in heart as well. I have not been fair to you, to our family, and it pains me to think that I hurt you. Not simply by my absence, but for the way I treated you while in your presence.”
“Charles—”
“I am aware that I am not the easiest man to be saddled with, and it takes an immensely strong woman, such as yourself—”
“Charles,” Emma said and placed her hand over his mouth. “I understand you wish to pour your heart out to me, and I sincerely wish to do the same, but it is neither the time nor the place.”
When Charles frowned, Emma motioned to behind her. “We are not alone, and your words should not be overheard by those who are not deserving of them.”
“I have other words that are specifically meant for his ears,” Charles growled.
“Charles, I hardly think now is the time for that.”
“Now seems the perfect time,” Charles said and marched towards Joseph.
Emma followed closely behind, grabbing his hand in the process. “Charles, please...”
She feared her husband would do something drastic, but she was also glad he wished to give Joseph an earful. The rake deserved it.
As Emma glanced at Joseph, he stared at Charles with wide eyes.
“Charles,” Joseph said, attempting to act innocent. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question,” Charles said.
“I am not certain what you are implying, but I was looking for you. I wanted to discuss...” Joseph’s voice trailed off as he briefly glanced at Emma, and he cleared his throat. “I wanted to discuss the textile business and—”
“And how I wish to purchase your half.”
“Perhaps we ought to speak of this privately,” Joseph said.
Much to Emma’s surprise, Charles placed his arm around her shoulders and said proudly, “I do not keep secrets from my wife, and anything you wish to say to me, you may say in front of her as well.”
“This is preposterous. You cannot expect me to discuss dissolving our business relationship in front of your wife.”
Charles practically snarled and stepped towards Joseph. “You will address her appropriately.”
Joseph’s jaw clenched and he glared at Charles. “My apologies.”
“And while I have your attention, I wish to make it perfectly clear that I do not wish to see your face again. Not anywhere near Emma, my family, my children, or her family, for that matter. I do not wish for you to skulk around my property if I am not there, and especially not around my wife.”
“I...I, Joseph stuttered.
Charles glanced at Emma, urging her to speak. Emma drew in a deep breath and then let fly everything that had been haunting her. “I am not yours to pursue, Joseph. I am happily married to Charles, and that is not going to change. Your attention is not welcome, nor is your presence here. The mere fact that you kept pursuing me knowing I’m married is truly disgusting. You are despicable and I suggest you leave Mill Grand House as hastily as possible, before my father decides to you shoot you in the face with his hunting rifle.”
Emma felt truly proud of herself that she had finally spoken her mind. She had not held her tongue as she had been told to do most of her life.
Joseph stared at Emma in shock and turned to Charles. “You allow her to speak to me with such disrespect?”
“You are the only one who acted with disrespect and continue to do so. Now leave, before I use that rifle on you myself.”
Joseph backed away and shook his head.
Charles offered Emma his arm and together they walked back to the manor house, her heart practically bursting with pride.
And love.
***
EXCITEMENT COURSED through Charles’ veins in a way it never had before, as his fingers slid between Emma’s. His steps were hasty as he walked to the side entrance of Mill Grand House and led Emma along the hallway.
It was mid-afternoon and it was quiet downstairs in the house. Charles led his wife up the western stairwell, which led directly to the adjoining bedchambers he and Emma shared when visiting Mill Grand House. The faint sound of children’s laughter could be heard from the other side of the house, and however desperate Charles had been to see his children, Emma was his top priority. He wished to tell her how much he loved her, but he needed to show her as well.
Of course, they’d been intimate before, but he’d never possessed these urgent desires previously. He was sincerely grateful that he had been given the chance to make things right with Emma. Losing her was his greatest fear.
As they entered their chambers, one of the maids was still inside, and Charles quickly dismissed her.
“That will be all,” Charles said simply. “Please do allow us our privacy.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the maid nodded and obediently left the chambers.
Charles locked the door and turned to Emma, who breathed heavily in front of him.
“Charles, I—”
He didn’t want Emma to say another word. So, he approached her, took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. She squeaked in surprise, but soon their mouths devoured one another’s as the heat rose inside him. Emma moaned softly against his mouth, which only made him want her more.
Emma pulled away, their lips barely touching. “Charles, this is not the time.”
“That is odd. I cannot think of a better time,” Charles said, his lips trailing down her cheek towards her neck.
“The children...”
“Are taken care of, I am certain.”
“It is mid-afternoon...”
“I believe Sarah was conceived in the afternoon.”
“Charles, wait,” Emma said, her voice more urgent than before.
“What is the matter, my dearest Emma?”
“Nothing is the matter. I am merely afraid—or overwhelmed, rather.”
“Why?”
Emma exhaled slowly and slid her hands down Charles’ shoulders. “I have never felt this way, and the intensity I feel in my body is both exhilarating and daunting.”
Charles cocked his head as he slid Emma’s sleeves down her shoulders, revealing her porcelain-smooth skin. “Perhaps you ought to leave the overthinking to me, my dear.”
Emma chuckled and drew in a breath. She reached her hands up to undo his tie, then reached for the buttons of his shirt and began to slowly unbutton them. His skin tingled as her hands slid underneath his shirt and began to stroke him.
Charles leaned in and kissed her again, with more urgency and hunger than before. Peeling the clothes from their bodies, Charles urged Emma towards the bed.
“Charles,” Emma said, pulling away from him once more.
“What is it, my dear?”
“I have so many questions,” she said, panting heavily.
“Perhaps at a later time?”
“What will become of my father if my mother were to pass?” she asked.
“Let us not think of that now,” he said.
“If not now, then when?”
Charles stopped and stared at his wife. He would have to answer her question or she was not going to be able to focus on what they were doing.
“He can live with us if he wishes,” Charles said and kissed her again, hoping to temporarily silence the questions coming from her lips.
This time, she wrapped her arms around him and he scooped her up. Charles approached the bed and set Emma down. She fell back against the soft coverlet and grabbed Charles’ shoulders, urging him on top of her.
This was the position they utilised during their infrequent couplings. It would be fast, cold and impersonal. Not today. Today he would love his wife with everything he had.
He slid down her body, his mouth searching for her breasts. He cupped the soft flesh and kissed her hard nipples. Emma moaned as her hands grabbed fistfuls of the duvet.
Charles’s hands slid down her sides towards her thighs, and she stared at him with desire-filled eyes. Charles maintained her gaze as his fingers found their way to Emma’s most intimate place and gently slid inside.
Emma gasped and her lips quivered as she continued to stare at him. Charles had not seen her alight with such desire before, and he could not believe that it had taken him so long to do this. Pleasuring his wife was not something that had featured on his list of priorities, but gazing upon Emma as she was filled to the brim with passion was bliss at its finest. He was captivated by how her body moved, the expression on her face, and the tilting of her hips. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Emma gasped and arched her back suddenly, releasing the bedcoverings and reaching for Charles’ erect cock. Sensations of deep satisfaction filled him as she stroked his shaft. He moaned with approval, realising he hadn’t been touched in such a way before, yet this was the way he ought to feel while being intimate with his wife.
Emma urged him to come closer, and as he settled between her open thighs, much to his surprise, he slid his cock straight inside her warmth. He gasped and clenched down hard on whatever control he had. The feelings pulsating through him were so intense, he didn’t want them to end.
He leaned down and kissed Emma on the mouth, loving the way she strained up for more. As he began to move his hips, she gasped and wiggled beneath him, making the pleasure even more intense.
His thrusts were slow at first, as he savoured every single moment between them. Every breath, every gasp, every part of her.
Emma raised her leg, allowing the heel of her foot to rest on Charles’ lower back, granting him deeper access to her. He couldn’t stop the feral groan that was ripped from his chest as he began to move fast, deeper and more urgent.
Emma’s moans were intermingled with his own as the built-up desire finally exploded. He groaned loudly as he pulsed his seed deep within her.
This moment felt nothing like the previous times. This was the beginning of a new chapter for both of them. He would be present and not shy away from his responsibilities of being a father and a husband.
“Charles?”
He glanced down at his wife. Her brown hair formed a halo around her face and her eyes were intently focused on him. “I love you, Emma.”
She brought her hands up to his face and raked her fingers through his thick hair. “And I love you, Charles. I never imagined I would hear those words from your mouth. It feels wonderful.”
They stared at one another for a long moment, their naked bodies entangled as one. Then he began to worry.
“We ought to get dressed,” Charles said, pulling away from the warmth of her body.
“Charles?” Emma asked and he gazed at her.
“Yes, my duchess?”
Her eyes were intently focused on him, but she wasn’t speaking. He detected a hint of sadness within them.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Emma shook her head and wrapped her arms around Charles’s neck. “Would you lay here with me for a while, please?”
A shot of love coursed through him at seeing Emma so vulnerable and in need. And he wanted nothing more than to give her what she truly wanted.
“Of course, I would. Nothing would give me more joy and more pleasure,” he said. “Well... almost nothing.”
Emma giggled when he winked as her, then shifted to lay beside her.
He wrapped his arms around her, and as her warm breath softly caressed his neck, he knew there was no better feeling in the world than having the woman he loved beside him.