An Everlasting Amour, page 19
He bent his head and kissed her, his hands coming up to mold her breasts beneath his palms. She whimpered as he flicked the hard nipples with his thumbs. “Tell me you want me, Cleo. Tell me you want this,” he breathed against her neck, kissing a path along the curve of her shoulder.
“Yes.”
That acquiescence was all he needed to hear before he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently and then divested himself of his formal attire. His gaze never once left hers and when he was fully unclothed, he saw the mix of anticipation and a bit of maidenly apprehension in her eyes.
He intended to make her forget the latter as he returned to the bed and gathered her into his arms.
***
Cleo had never been so aware of another person before. Everything Darian said or did was heightened; from the way he touched her to the way he smiled. But when he started to lift her chemise and fully bare her naked body to his gaze, she stopped him with a hand on his wrist.
He stopped instantly and looked at her. “What’s wrong?” He closed his eyes and said huskily, “Please don’t tell me you weren’t being sincere and you don’t want this.”
“No,” she shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just that I—” She swallowed heavily. How could she possibly tell him that she didn’t want him to be disgusted by her size? If she removed this last barrier between them, it wouldn’t just be her body that was exposed to him.
He must have read her indecision, for he cupped her cheek and said gently, “I swear that I won’t do anything to hurt you. We can take however long you want.”
Cleo wanted to cry. He was being so considerate, and yet he had no idea that what she truly feared was that he would turn away in revulsion.
“No, you don’t understand. My body—”
She closed her eyes as he removed her shift and tossed it aside. But it wasn’t until she felt his mouth upon her breast that her eyes flew open with a shocked gasp. “You’re stunning, Cleo. You’re my wife and you shouldn’t ever be embarrassed by how you look.” His hand slipped between her legs and began to stroke the flames of her passion to life once more.
She quickly forgot about her insecurities as he pleasured her until she was crying out his name and clinging to him as she shuddered in his arms. She hadn’t even fully recovered her senses before he was pushing into her. It was rather foreign, having this man inside of her, and she tensed slightly when there was a slight sting, followed by a brief burning sensation, but it was over before it had even began, the friction that he was causing quickly blotting out any discomfort.
As Darian continued to kiss and caress her, it all became too much and her body trembled with ecstasy as he gave a hoarse cry and stilled.
For a moment, they didn’t speak, just attempted to catch their breath. When Darian rolled onto his side, she suddenly felt cold and bereft, but he quickly brought her close so that she rested her head on his chest.
“I wasn’t too rough, was I?”
She shook her head with a smile. “No. It was…wonderful actually.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She could almost picture the answering grin on his handsome face.
They were silent for a time, allowing the contentment to envelop them.
“I love you.”
Cleo ceased to breathe after she uttered the confession. It had sort of spilled out of her, but it was nothing short of the truth. This man had treated her with nothing but kindness and respect since their first meeting, and while they had known each other for such a short amount of time, after tonight she could deny her feelings no longer.
However, she was still afraid that she might have overstepped, but she needn’t have worried for he drew her closer to him and kissed her soundly on the lips. When he pulled back she saw the same devotion in his eyes, and his face blurred behind her happy tears.
“I believe that I might love you too,” he whispered. As his gaze roamed over her face, he added, “In fact, I’m quite sure of it.” He sobered even further. “And I want you to know that you can entrust your dowry to me. My devotion to you is worth more than anything that could be gained at the tables. I vow I won’t lose your trust in me. You were my saving grace. My angel.”
Cleo couldn’t stop the tears now, as they seeped out of the corners of her lids and trickled down her face. “And I will do my best to curb my…eating habits.”
He wiped away the moisture on her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. “How many times must I tell you that your outward appearance doesn’t matter? You are beautiful to me, no matter what size you are. You’re still Cleo.” He kissed her nose. “You’re still my countess.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re still my lovely wife.” He kissed her lips and then his gaze turned positively wicked. “But, if you are that worried about your weight, rest assured I will keep you fully occupied in this chamber where you will get plenty of physical activity.”
As he began to caress her breasts, Cleo sighed with longing. “I think that is rather agreeable, my lord.”
Epilogue
Christmas Day
* * *
Cleo’s husband made good on his promise, and for the rest of Christmas Eve he kept her quite occupied in her bedchamber. From the bath to a private luncheon and dinner, to the evening when they came together in a slow exploration that resulted in a joining that was gentle and tender, Cleo knew that no amount of marzipan could compare to the sweet way that Darian cared for her every need.
And when the morning dawned with the sight of freshly fallen snow coming down outside their window, she knew that she’d made the right choice by taking a gamble on Lord Montreaty. He was everything she could have ever hoped for. Once their nursery was full, she knew that her life would be complete.
She sat at her dressing table after a restorative bath while her husband went on an errand and put a hand to her stomach, dreaming of the time she would feel a new life growing inside, a baby that was born out of the love of his or her parents. She smiled, imagining a son with Darian’s dark hair, or a daughter with those fascinating dark eyes. It could be that next year they would be blessed with their first child. Even if it wasn’t the case, she would continue being happy at Darian’s side.
Cleo headed down to the library dressed in a deep green velvet gown and curled up with a book to await the earl’s return. It didn’t take long before she heard a commotion coming from the front of the house.
Curious, she stood and walked toward the foyer, and gasped at the sight before her. Darian and one of the footmen were struggling to make it through the front door with a massive fir tree.
“What are you doing?” she laughed.
Darian paused in wrestling with the tree and gave her a heart-stopping grin. “I realized that my new bride didn’t have a Christmas tree, so I thought to rectify the situation.”
Cleo’s heart warmed even further toward him. “I see. And do we have any ornaments to decorate it?”
He frowned. “I don’t believe so, but I’m sure we can string something on it to make it appear a bit more festive.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she agreed.
After the tree was in place in the front parlor, Cleo inhaled the sweet, refreshing scent. It was difficult not to believe in the magic of Christmas with something so beautiful and full of nature inside one’s home.
Darian walked over and put an arm around her shoulders and joined her in looking at the evergreen. “It’s almost perfect just as it is.”
“Indeed,” she sighed in true serenity.
“The only thing missing is a wealth of gifts beneath.”
Cleo turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “The only thing I want for Christmas is standing in front of me.”
He smiled. “Then, on that score, my dear, we have everything we need.”
With a kiss, their holiday was complete.
Afterword
I’d like to thank you for purchasing this book. I know you could have chosen any number of stories to read, but you picked this one and for that I am humbled and grateful! I hope that the romance captured your heart and added a smile to your day. If so, it would be awesome if you could share this book with your friends and family and post a review! Your feedback and support will help improve my writing and help me to continue growing as an author. You can find all my links on my website - authortabethawaite.wix.com/romance
Cheers! xo
Tabetha Waite, An Everlasting Amour
