“Well . . .” Laura linked her hands behind his neck and leaned into him, enjoying the spark that leapt in his eyes. “I’m very fond of the fellow who loves his dog, as well as the one who understands numbers. The one who makes me laugh. But most of all, I love the one who touches me just so.” She stretched up, sliding her body over him. “Who kisses me”—she pressed her lips softly against his mouth—“in all those different ways. Who knows just where and when and how to turn me into a wanton.”
“This fellow must be a man of many talents,” he murmured, moving his hands down and pressing her pelvis more firmly against his.
“He is,” she agreed solemnly, sliding her hands beneath his jacket.
James made a low noise, half laugh, half groan, and pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “God, I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you. Will you forgive me?”
“After all those presents you sent me? How could I not?”
“Did you like them? I have more; I was too embarrassed to send them all.”
Laura nodded. “I loved them. Especially the books.”
He grinned. “I knew that would be the thing to win you, if aught would.” He took her lips in a long, deep kiss, then raised his head to gaze intently into her eyes. “Did you mean it? Tell me the truth. I can bear anything but that you lie to me.”
“The truth about what? That I love you? That I’m not in love with Graeme?”
He nodded. “Either. Both.”
“I love you.” Laura placed her hands on either side of his head and said firmly, “Not Graeme. I love only you. I will always love only you. And if you ever run from me again, I will track you down and make you rue it.”
“Good. For if I ever left you, it would mean I had lost my mind.” He lifted her up, kissing his way down her throat, repeating, “I love you. I love you. God help me, Laura, I love you.”
Laura laughed in a throaty way that made every nerve in his body sizzle. “Perhaps you could show me how much.” She sank her fingers into his hair.
His lips had made it down to the tops of her breasts. “I plan to.”
“Wait.” Laura wriggled out of his grasp.
“Laura . . .” he protested as he let her go. “You said—”
“I said . . .” Laura stopped his words, placing her finger over his lips. “I want you to make love to me.”
“Then—”
“But not here. I mean to make a long, slow time of it.” Her other hand trailed down his chest, fingers teasing at the waistband of his trousers. “I want to see you, to touch you everywhere,” she whispered into his ear. “I want you to undress me and kiss me and give me your complete attention.”
“You have that, believe me.” James bent and swept her up into his arms, starting for the door.
“James! There are people out there. You can’t carry me off in front of everyone.”
“Can’t I?” He cocked an eyebrow. “I’ll just tell them my delicate wife fainted from all the frightful events.”
“And what about that mess you made?” She waved vaguely toward the fireplace. “You ruined your mother’s china dogs, you know.”
“For which everyone should thank me.”
Laughing, Laura reached down to open the door, then laid her head upon his shoulder and let him carry her away.
chapter 44
Their lovemaking was everything Laura had asked for, and more. They undressed each other, coming together in slow, delicious kisses in between removing this article of clothing and that. When at last they lay naked on the bed, James made a long, languorous exploration of her body, kissing, caressing, awakening every nerve, including some Laura wasn’t aware she possessed.
She reveled in his touch, in the way his mouth traveled over her skin, teasing and awakening. He murmured endearments as he kissed her, as if now that the dam had broken, they could not be contained. “Beloved,” he termed her, and “my love.” “My heart.”
And those words from this contained man were as wonderful, as pleasurable as his caresses. She returned his passion, stroking his arms, his back, his chest, emboldened by his love. This, she thought, was heaven—to have him, hold him, kiss him without the concern that she would violate some unknown barrier.
James was open to her and she to him, and whatever happened in the future, whatever disagreement or irritation or pain and loss, they would have this shining perfection at the heart of their marriage. And so, when at long last he came into her, Laura cried out at the intensity of the sweetness, the complete union of their selves.