Reese sat in his coach, rapidly tapping the heel of his boot against the floor in an effort to expel his excess energy. While he waited for Sophie, he mentally rehearsed all the things he wanted to say to her. Wondered if she’d ever realize just how much his chest ached every time he looked at her.
She emerged from Singleton’s house a few minutes later, the starlight gilding her blond hair and illuminating her delicate features. His heart pounded with anticipation as he hopped out of the cab, met her on the pavement, and quickly helped her step into the coach.
He closed the door and turned to drink in the sight of her face. “Thank God you’re here,” he breathed, and before the words were even out of his mouth, she’d climbed onto his lap, her knees straddling him.
As the coach began rolling over the cobblestone streets, their mouths collided in a raw, ravenous kiss. His teeth tugged at her bottom lip, her nails dug into his shoulders. He speared his fingers into her hair and grabbed a fistful of silken strands. She ground her hips against his cock, and he thrust back.
“Reese,” she murmured against his neck, “I need you. I need this.”
Sweet Jesus. He’d never made love in a moving coach before. Or a stationary one, for that matter. But he was definitely up for the challenge—as soon as they resolved one small matter.
Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he looked deep into her eyes. “I need you too,” he said raggedly. “I was trapped in a prison of grief and guilt, sentenced to reliving the torture over and over again. But you walked into my godforsaken life, lighting it up like fireworks. Challenging everything I thought I knew. Reminding me of how it feels to be happy.”
She licked her plump, kiss-swollen lips. “You’ve changed me too. I’ve been living so much of my life in secret—the Debutante Underground, all the nights I spent with you—and I don’t want to hide those parts of myself anymore. I don’t want to apologize for what I believe in or who I love.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He tipped his forehead to hers and ran his hands over the curves of her hips, pulling her closer. “Because I love you, Sophie Kendall. I love your tender heart and your bold spirit. I love the way you nurture and heal everything you touch. And I love that one smile from you can make the darkest night feel like Christmas morning.”
“Oh, Reese,” she breathed. “I love you too.”
“Good,” he said, brushing his lips over hers. “Because I have something to ask you, and I’m desperately hoping that the third time will be the charm.”
“What do you mean?” She leisurely raked a hand through his hair, making him want to purr like a cat.
“I asked you once when we were sitting on the swing in my garden and another time when we were hiding beneath a table.” He traced the low neckline of her gown with a fingertip. “Both times I was refused.”
“Let me guess,” she teased. “You’d like me to make a list of improvements to your garden?”
He tugged one sleeve off her shoulder. “No.”
“Hmm,” she mused. “You’d like me to brew you a pot of tea.”
He slid off the other sleeve. “No.”
She lightly caressed the back of his neck, driving him wild. “Then what do you wish to ask me?”
“I want to know if you’ll marry me,” he said earnestly. “If you’ll let me spend the rest of my days loving you and caring for you. Doing my damnedest to make you smile.”
“Yes.” Her eyes welled as she nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Nothing in the world would make me happier, Reese.”
“Nothing?” He grinned and tugged on the laces at the back of her ball gown.
Her gaze turned soft and sultry. “Well, maybe something.”
He loosened her gown and corset and freed her breasts, staring shamelessly as they bounced each time the coach hit a bump in the road. He teased the rosy tips with his tongue, alternately nibbling and suckling her till she arched her back and moaned with pleasure.
He slid a hand beneath her gown and up the back of her thighs. Squeezed her luscious bottom. Caressed the slick heat between her legs. The temperature rose and the coach windows fogged over. Only the two of them existed, and they were both panting, dizzy with desire.
With nimble fingers, she unbuttoned his trousers and stroked the long, hard length of him. “I have missed you,” she said. “I have dreamed of this—of you—every night.”
He gasped as she positioned his cock at her entrance and writhed against him. “You’re amazing, Soph. I can’t believe you’re here … with me like this.”
“I’m here,” she repeated, taking him inside her tight, hot body. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
He eased in slowly, letting her adjust to the size of him. Her knees on either side of his hips, she placed her palms on the ceiling of the cab and began moving up and down, slow and fast, measured and frenzied. The swaying of the coach and the vibration of the seat felt wickedly erotic. Every time she lowered herself, sheathing him completely, he went a little mad. In the best bloody way.
He grasped her hips and nibbled the taut peak of one breast until she whimpered. Clenched her muscles around him. Cried out in ecstasy.
“Oh God, Reese.” Her eyes fluttered shut, her back arched, and her body pulsed as release shimmered through her, carrying him right along.
Head buzzing, muscles coiling, he came with the raw force and power of a hurricane. Pleasure, pure and potent, roared through his body, mind, and soul, obliterating the grief and guilt inside of him. Washing it out to sea.
He and Sophie floated above the storm, clinging to each other and savoring every surge, until, at last, she collapsed on top of him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she murmured, “I love you.”
He trailed his fingertips over her bare back, soothing her heated skin. “I love you.”
But as she slid her hand from the side of his neck down his chest, she sat up, frowning. “What’s this?”
“Hmm?” His mind was still pleasantly dazed, his body completely sated.
She patted the outside of his jacket. “There’s something hard in here.”
“Oh.” Grinning, he sat up, pulled the object out of his pocket, and presented it to her. “For you.”
“My journal,” she breathed. Once again, her expression turned rapturous as she clutched the book to her gloriously naked breasts.
“I didn’t think it possible to be jealous of a journal,” he said. “But I’ve proven myself wrong.”
“I thought you’d burned this!” she exclaimed.
He shook his head. “I only wanted Singleton to believe I had.”
“Thank you.” She leaned forward and kissed him, warming his chest and completely thawing the frozen center of his heart.
Reluctantly, he pulled away. “We’ll be at Warshire Manor soon. Let me help you straighten your gown.”
He did his best, but it turned out he was far more adept at unlacing than lacing, and after a few failed attempts, all he’d succeeded in doing was making Sophie giggle. Which, he decided, was definitely not a bad thing.
“Stop,” she chuckled, wiping her eyes. “I’ve laughed so much my belly hurts.”
“I never claimed to be a lady’s maid,” he grumbled, even though his heart felt lighter than ever before.
“I should say not,” she teased, circling her arms around his neck. “My gown is falling off, my hair is a disaster, and I’m in an utter state of dishabille.”
He gazed into her bottomless blue eyes. “If it makes you feel any better, I can state with absolute authority that you have never, ever looked more beautiful.” He shrugged off his jacket and slipped it around her shoulders.
She gratefully snuggled into it and pressed a tender kiss to his cheek.
As the coach rolled to a stop in front of the manor house, he took her hand and laced his fingers through hers, marveling at the rightness of it. “How long can you stay?”
“I told my parents I’d be spending the night with Fiona and Gray,” she said, leaping out of the coach and into his arms. “Which means we have all night.”
“In that case,” he drawled, “would you like to go for a walk in the garden?”
“I would.” She flashed him a smile so bright it lit up the evening sky. “How did you guess?”
After stopping in the house briefly to drop off the journal and pick up a couple of lanterns and a quilt, Sophie and Reese slipped out of the back door, joined hands, and strolled toward the garden.
As they crossed the quaint footbridge over the sparkling moat, all the happiness inside her bubbled up and escaped in a blissful sigh. “I’ll never tire of spending time here,” she said. “Especially at night, when everything from the rustling leaves to the fragrant flowers feels otherworldly and magical.”
“This place never felt magical to me,” Reese said. “Not until you came here. You’ve changed the way I look at everything.”
She gazed at his handsome profile, wondering at the physical differences in him. The hollows had disappeared from his cheeks; the haunted look had vanished from his eyes. “How have you been sleeping?” she asked.
“I still wake up in a cold sweat occasionally, but not as often as before.” They stepped up onto the pavilion and paused by the railing to take in the view. Twisted black poplars to one side, pale grey asphodels to the other, and a glimpse of paradise beckoning in between.
“That’s good.” She leaned her head on his shoulder, drinking in his sturdy, solid comfort. “Maybe the nightmares will continue to lessen over time.”
“Maybe,” he mused. “Maybe not. But I think the best way I can honor Conroy and the others we lost is to live each day to the fullest—and to take care of the families they left behind.”
She slid a hand over his muscled biceps. “Have you seen Sarah and the girls recently?”
“I have.” He turned toward her and circled his arms around her waist. “She, Rose, and Julia were here a couple of days ago.”
“Here?” Sophie tipped up her chin so she could meet his eyes. “In the garden?”
“Not exactly. I was showing them a cottage on the edge of my property. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks improving it. The girls seemed to like it.”
Sophie blinked, stunned. “Did they?”
“They ran around the house like heathens.” Reese’s mouth quirked, softening the harsh angles of his face. “Sarah had a difficult time prying them away from the rope swing I hung in the yard.”
“You hung a…” She shook her head, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. “Are Sarah and the girls going to live in the cottage?”
He nodded slowly. “Along with Violet and the babe, once it’s born. Violet wants to return to her old position in a few months, and Sarah was thrilled at the prospect of watching the little one while Violet is working at the manor house. And, selfishly, I’m looking forward to watching my niece or nephew grow up. Conroy’s girls too.”
“That’s wonderful,” Sophie breathed. It felt as though her heart would burst with happiness. “I’m so proud of you, Reese.”
He shrugged. “It took me a while to realize that Edmund wasn’t perfect. That none of us is. I can’t change decisions I’ve made in the past, but I can try to do the right thing now.” He gazed at her, his dark eyes unexpectedly shy. “I was thinking that, since you have a talent for bringing people together, maybe you could help me with a new project.”
“Of course I’m willing to help,” she said, humbled by his trust in her. “What did you have in mind?”
“A regular gathering for soldiers who’ve returned from war—and their families too. A place where they can talk if they want to … and not feel so alone.”
Sophie found herself on the verge of tears again. She placed her palms on either side of his face and beamed at him. “That is a beautiful idea. I’d be honored to play a part in bringing it to life.” Grinning, she added, “I happen to know of an excellent meeting location. It’s booked on Friday evenings, but available any other day of the week.”
“Is that so?” he asked, flashing a wry grin of his own.
“I’ve been thinking about making some changes too,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I’ve been keeping secrets from my family, my friends, even you. Maybe it’s time for the Debutante Underground to come out of the shadows.”
“I understand why you’ve kept the meetings a secret up until now,” he said earnestly. “But I can also see how that would create its own set of problems. Sometimes revealing your secrets releases you from their power … and frees you. Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you.”
“I’ll have to ponder it for a bit, and speak with all the other members,” Sophie said, but she was already warming to the idea. “In the meantime, I think we should head to the garden.”
He picked up the quilt and one of the lanterns, then handed the other to her. “Let’s go.”
They strolled down a winding walkway, past lushly blooming flower beds populated with charming stone statues of woodland animals, sprites, and nymphs. They heard the cheerful splash of the waterfall before they saw it, and when they reached the clearing, Reese set their lanterns near the reflecting pool and spread the quilt on the grass.
“It’s so warm,” Sophie said, frowning at the skirt of her gown, which stuck to her legs like a gauzy cobweb.
“I know how we can cool off,” Reese said. He was already shrugging out of his jacket and pulling off his boots. Sophie gleefully attacked the laces of her gown, and before long, they had both stripped off every stitch of their clothing.
His eyes turned dark with desire, and something like a growl escaped his throat. “You’re gorgeous, Soph.”
“So are you.” To be precise, he looked like a god. Her very own Prince of Darkness. And she never, ever wanted to leave him again.
He moved behind her and slowly removed the handful of pins left in her hair, running his fingers through the honey-colored strands as he kissed the column of her neck. “You’re mine,” he murmured, sending a shiver through her limbs. “Always and forever.”
His wicked hands cruised up her sides, beneath her swollen breasts, and over the curves of her hips. When her knees wobbled, she leaned into him, and he easily scooped her into his arms. “I have another special place to show you.”
He carried her toward the edge of the pool and behind the fall, where they were surrounded by cool rock on one side and clear water on the other. She snuggled against his hard, warm chest as she stuck a toe through the chilly, wet curtain.
He arched a dark brow. “How does it feel?”
“Perfect.”
He shot her a grin that made her belly flutter. “Want to walk through with me?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said, holding on a little tighter. “I want to go everywhere with you.”
Deliberately, he eased his back below the sheet of water, and it sluiced over his tanned, chiseled body, splashing on his broad shoulders and spraying cool droplets on her head. She held her breath as he carried her under the smooth, rushing water. Savored the way it slid over her breasts, down her belly, and between her legs. Sighed when he set her on her feet and pulled her against him.
They moved in and out of the falling water, kissing, laughing, and clinging to each other. And when they both were dizzy with desire, they ran, dripping, back to the quilt and made love so slowly, so sensuously, that hot tears trickled down Sophie’s cheeks.
Afterward, as they lay on their backs, gazing contentedly at the starlit sky above, Reese plucked a daisy, placed it on her belly, and kissed her forehead.
When she giggled, he propped himself on an elbow and looked down at her, love shining in his eyes. “Miss Kendall,” he said, his voice husky and low, “why are you laughing?”
She picked up the daisy, twirled the stem between her fingers, and playfully brushed the petals beneath his chin. “I was just thinking of all the flowers you’ve given me. And now I have one more for the collection in my diary.”
“Your diary?” He shot her a rakish grin and lazily trailed a fingertip between her breasts. “You’re going to write about this?”
“I’ve written about all our nights together,” she admitted. “And I’ve dried and pressed the flowers from each encounter. I have the yellow rose from Lady Rufflebum’s garden and the crown of asphodels. I have the peony bouquet from our night at the lake and the violet aster you tucked behind my ear. They’re all precious to me because they remind me of the way you made me feel. I never want to forget those feelings.”
“I won’t let you forget,” he said earnestly, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I hope your diary has a lot more pages, because we have a lifetime together. A lifetime of feelings … and more flowers than you’ll know what to do with.”
She swept the daisy’s soft petals across the planes of his chest and lower, over the ridges of his abdomen, then shot him a sultry smile. “I feel certain I’ll think of something.”