A Lady's Prerogative Page 27

  He felt like a groom.

  ****

  Stepping into the church, Natalie nearly collapsed in relief at the sight of her fiancé standing at the end of the aisle.

  She was also glad to see her brothers were not lined up behind him with pistols pointed at his head.

  If he showed, she had half expected he would be attired in his normal unrelieved blacks. And although he looked handsome enough in those, she was oh, so pleased to see him dressed for this occasion. He looked more handsome than any man she’d ever known.

  His chiseled features were strong and sturdy, his eyes honest and true. As she stepped toward him, holding onto her father with one hand and her bouquet in the other, her doubts returned, for he looked grim.

  Her feet felt leaden as she approached the altar.

  And then he smiled at her.

  Not a wry smile, or a condescending smile, or even a smile of laughter. She’d seen all of those over the past few weeks as they’d attended balls and parties and all sorts of ton events together. This smile was different.

  This smile spread a warmth from the top of her head, through her breasts, her abdomen, and down to her toes. This smile was one she’d not experienced before.

  It was love.

  The power of it nearly sent her toppling to the floor. Her father grasped her tightly, however, and kept her from making a fool of herself. She looked again into Garrett’s eyes and marveled at what she saw. He looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from him.

  Leaving her father, she allowed Garrett to take her hand in his, and together they turned to face the bishop. Her senses hummed as she inhaled the scent of his masculine cologne and felt the warmth of him beside her. Her knees weakened in relief. She’d not been mistaken after all!

  The priest spoke of how the two would become one. And she felt at one with him. The distance she’d felt before was gone. She felt as though she was in a dream, a wonderful dream, as he slipped the wedding band on her third finger. When he’d slid it all the way on, he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there as well. The congregation sighed, seeing such a sign of what was surely a love match.

  And in the blink of an eye, they were man and wife.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  By the time the newlyweds departed the large formal wedding breakfast, with kisses and hugs all around, the sun was high in the sky. The weather held all the promises of an Indian summer day.

  Garrett helped Natalie into his elegant town coach, and they waved together as the driver signaled the horses. Natalie sat beside her husband with his arm draped behind her. They were alone.

  Finally.

  As the carriage drove away from the throngs of well-wishers, Garrett reached across her and closed the curtains.

  And then his lips were on hers, and his arms clasped about her fiercely. Pausing only to whisper endearments, he gasped her name in between kisses. “Natalie,” he said, “my dearest, my love.”

  She could not hold back tears of happiness. With each drop that fell, Garrett kissed away the pain. He seemed to understand that she’d not been certain of anything. “You knew all along, didn’t you?” But it wasn’t really a question. Taking a few deep breaths and placing a hand upon her hair, he pressed her head into his chest. “You knew.”

  She pulled her head back and tilted it to gaze into his eyes. “Knew what?” she asked, knowing the answer. Knowing what he was going to say, but needing to hear it nonetheless.

  “You knew that I loved you,” he said. “You knew that I needed you…And you were courageous enough to face the world for both of us.” His hands cradled her face as he looked at her in awe. “I have been such a fool, thinking all along that I was protecting you.” He kissed her eyes, her forehead, her nose. “But in the future, dearest wife, will you allow me to do the protecting?”

  With both hands in his hair, Natalie pulled his face down to resume where his kisses had left off. She inhaled the fragrance of his skin before flicking her tongue out to taste it. “Of course,” she said. But she could not help herself. “My lord.”

  Garrett growled.

  ****

  Upon arriving at his townhouse, Garrett informed the servants no formal dinner would be required that evening. He would ring for them when necessary. Without delay, he led his countess upstairs to the suite they were to share. He’d had the furnishings and wall covering in the main suites completely done over in the past month. It was not that they were outdated or worn, but they’d belonged to a history he would not claim.

  He’d ordered her chamber made up of periwinkle blue, gold, and yellow. The brocaded walls were a subtle golden hue in an intricate floral design. The curtains at the windows and over the bed were light blue and yellow with a matching counterpane. The carpeting a darker blue. He’d done it especially for her.

  Natalie’s young maid awaited her, having arrived earlier with her mistress’s trunks and clothing. Garrett bowed formally to his wife and told her he would return in half an hour’s time. He could wait no longer.

  Exiting through the adjoining sitting rooms, he entered into the chamber he’d made his own as well. With darker blue tones, it was luxuriously appointed, but simple, less opulent. William Castleton had decorated it far too ornately for his tastes, and Garrett felt pleased with the change. For the first time since inheriting, as he stepped into the room, he did not feel a clenching in his gut. He felt satisfaction that he’d taken control of what was now his.

  Garrett heard Marcus in the bathing room drawing a bath. He welcomed the modern plumbing. Such a convenient luxury, he was sure Natalie would appreciate as well. Wasting no time, Garrett washed and changed into his dressing gown. The sun was still high in the sky, but he and Natalie were not going to wait.

  Exactly thirty minutes from the time he’d left her, Garrett knocked twice on the door to Natalie’s bedchamber before pushing it open. When he peeked around, he caught sight of her standing timidly before a mirror.

  She was an angel—his angel.

  His breath caught as he took in the silhouette of her long slim legs, rounded hips, trim waist, and sweet perfect breasts. Her unbound hair fell to her waist. Some of the strands matched the gold in the room perfectly. She is mine. When his eyes finally met hers, he was amused to see her all-too-familiar blush.

  Looking over at Sissy, she said, “You may go.”

  Sissy smiled impishly and then, curtseying, disappeared from the room. Garrett closed the door to the sitting room behind him and walked barefoot across to her. At last.

  As dismissive as she’d been with her mother, in regard to her wedding night, Natalie was surprised at the butterflies that attacked her when Garrett returned to the beautiful room he’d had prepared for her. Good heavens, but she felt nervous—a little frightened even. Garrett wore a black dressing gown of silk, tied at his waist. It reminded her of the night she’d gone to his room to apologize. Her eyes fell to his feet. He was barefoot. He did not wear any slippers.

  Was he naked beneath his robe?

  Most likely.

  She swallowed hard and then met his gaze.

  It burned with a combination of tenderness and passion. Ah, this must be how a husband looked at his wife. A tremor of satisfaction shot through her.

  “Does it bother you?” she asked. “Living in this house, the house where he lived?” She gestured around her. They hadn’t yet discussed her discovery of earlier this summer. And despite having decided to forgo dinner and retire to their bedchambers, she would stall him with some conversation.

  Garrett glanced around the room and shrugged elegantly. “It did, at first.” He looked so beautiful. He was newly shaved and his hair appeared to be freshly washed. When she caught a hint of his fragrance, her breath hitched and an ache settled in her breasts.

  The warm look in his eyes told her he understood exactly what she was doing and was going to be patient. “I notified the crown that I am not the true son of William Castleton. My lawyer even searched
the records for another heir.” He grimaced. “There is no one. If I do not retain the title, it goes into escheat. The crown declared me the heir based on the fact that I was born while Hawthorne and my mother were legally married. With nobody to contest”—he shrugged—“it is mine if I wish to keep it.”

  Natalie moved away from the bed and then sat on the loveseat near the window. Patting the spot beside her, she gestured for him to sit with her. “And do you? Wish to keep it, that is?”

  Joining her, he took one of her hands in both of his. “I had not thought that I would.” He massaged her palm with his thumbs. “I’d thought to divest myself of everything that reminded me of him…but I have changed. Living at Maple Hall this summer, I have come to recognize a connection I have with it—a sense of responsibility for it. God knows it will cost a fortune to rebuild, but perhaps that is why I have been allowed to prosper. Perhaps I was destined to take over the land and add value to the estate, to my legacy.” He smiled sheepishly at her. “For the families who have worked the land for generations. For the people of the village who depend upon it for their livelihood…For our children.”

  Natalie blushed. “You spent most of your childhood there,” she said. “You have some good memories then?”

  “I suppose I do.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “And this summer, I have had some success in obtaining the goodwill of the tenants. The tides appear to be turning. The estate can be prosperous. It will be prosperous again.” He looked into her eyes. “I have you to thank for a great deal, my love. You believed in me, when I didn’t believe in myself. You were so brave. You fought me. You fought for me.”

  “And I,” she said, “am grateful to you as well.” She lifted her free hand and placed it over his. “You loved me enough to set me free. You gave me something to fight for. You were not chosen by my father or my brothers. You were not handed to me on a silver platter. You gave me choices.” She laughed shakily. “I have missed you so much, though.”

  He watched her with the intensity she relished. “I have realized something,” he said. He had an odd look on his face as he dropped down on one knee before her.

  “Oh, Garrett,” she said. She would not cry. She would not.

  His hands still grasping hers, Garret’s gaze never wavered as he stared up at her. “Will you, my dearest Natalie…What is your middle name?” he asked with a frown. “How is it I do not know your middle name?”

  “The bishop said it during the ceremony,” Natalie teased.

  Garrett became serious again. “I did not hear a word he said. I could only look at you in amazement. Amazement that you were marrying me, that you would take such a risk to be with me.”

  “Josephine,” she said. “It is Josephine.”

  He paused, seemingly content to gaze into her eyes. And then, “Natalie Josephine Spencer, will you make me the happiest of men and consent to be my wife, the mother of my children, my countess?”

  She released his hands and placed both of hers on the sides of his face. “Oh, Garrett, yes,” she whispered. “And I have wanted to tell you something.” It had bothered her for some time now. “When I met you in the park last spring, when I failed to speak to you and then ran away, do you remember?”

  Furrowing his brows, Garrett nodded. “It is no matter, love, I understand. I understood then—”

  “But no, you didn’t. You thought I did not wish to speak with you. In fact, I did. But I was nearly late returning home, and my father had threatened to send me to Scotland if I didn’t follow his rules. If you can imagine! He would not have, really, but I was in so much trouble already. I just wanted you to know that.” Her eyes were earnest now. “I wanted to know you. Even then. I truly did.”

  “I was a brute,” Garrett said with a tender smile.

  Touching his lips, she nodded. “You were. But I just wanted you to know…”

  “I do,” he said against her fingertips. “And now…”

  The next thing she knew, he placed one arm under her knees, another around her back, and lifted her into the air. He spun her around twice before laying her on the bed and climbing in next to her. And then his mouth covered hers.

  The hunger that had gnawed at them both for so long unleashed itself at last.

  The belt on his dressing gown loosened, and Natalie took advantage to let her hands roam over his chest freely. His skin felt warm and smooth and muscled. She combed her fingers through the black hairs on his chest as his hands caressed her, slowly, leisurely. Her arms, her waist, her thighs. He covered her with his body. She arched her back to be closer to him and he groaned.

  Pushing himself up, he sat back on his knees and watched her. Why had he stopped?

  Without looking away from her face, one of his hands trailed down her leg and then grasped the hem of her nightgown. He slid it up, past her knees, her hips, her shoulders. She raised her arms and allowed him to pull it over her head.

  Completely naked, she ought to feel embarrassed. She ought to move her hands to cover the place between her legs, to cover her breasts. But she did not.

  Instead, she removed his dressing gown.

  He was hard contours where she was soft. As he moved to lie atop her, the muscles under his skin rippled. He urged her legs apart and settled himself between them. She was acutely aware of the rigidity of his manhood pressing against her. Ah, yes. His hands explored her while she arched and twisted in approval. His mouth trailed along her skin with as much enthusiasm as his hands. Her trust in him complete, she joyfully surrendered her person to his onslaught.

  This was her husband. This was Garrett. Yes.

  Letting her knees fall apart further, she set her heels upon the mattress. Finally, Garrett reached between their bodies to touch her, there. Yes, there. His fingers explored and drew lazy circles around her opening. This caused her to want to draw him inside. She was all too aware of an emptiness that only he could fill.

  And then he shifted so his sex poised to enter. Reaching down, she wrapped her hand around him and squeezed very lightly. He was all silken hardness. Holding himself above her with his arms, Garrett gazed down at her with half-closed eyes. “If you keep touching me like that, this isn’t going to last very long,” he said hoarsely.

  She gave him one more gentle squeeze and then removed her hand.

  And then he pressed himself inside her.

  She let out a whimper. For she’d experienced a flash of pain when he’d pushed through her barrier. Hearing her startled cry, Garrett stopped moving and kissed her eyes and temples gently. He would wait. “Oh,” Natalie said softly.

  He pulled himself back out and before she could move, pushed himself in again, this time deeper. But he still hadn’t entered fully.

  “Oh,” she breathed again.

  Once more, he withdrew and then entered her completely with one firm stroke.

  “Do you want me to stop?” he asked softly. “Tell me if we need to stop, sweetheart.”

  “Oh,” Natalie replied, feeling an overwhelming tenderness. “No.” And she pushed up with her hips, as though she could bring him deeper. He required no further encouragement.

  His movements were long, and deep, and oh, so satisfying. She allowed his rhythm to guide her own. It was the ultimate surrender. She would have permitted him to do whatever he wished while she clung to him wantonly. Garrett, my husband. Her head fell back as he pressed his face into the side of her neck, both of them nearly panting.

  The waves of pleasure building inside her were not so unfamiliar this time. She knew what was coming, and she welcomed it. She focused on his movements, how he seemed to have become an actual part of her physical person. He moved himself inside of her!

  “Oh,” she cried out as the sensations engulfed her. “Garrett, please.” She clenched her inner muscles around him as his thrusts grew more powerful and more intense. The raggedness of his breathing increased as did the pace of his strokes. Her entire being overflowed with his passion. It was as though he would touc
h the innermost core of her body. A place only she and God knew existed.

  And just as Garrett pressed forward with one last thrust, a surge of ecstasy pulsed from her loins to every inch of her skin. Good heavens. Garrett! Good heavens!

  Garrett let out a guttural moan and held himself rigid. As awareness returned, she felt a heat deep inside. Awestruck, she absorbed the sensation. That must be his seed.

  “My God, Natalie.” His entire body relaxed now. He felt heavy upon her, but she welcomed his weight. They were still joined. His face was buried in her neck, her legs loosely wrapped around his thighs and waist. She felt his hot breath against her skin.

  He pressed a soft open-mouthed kiss onto her shoulder. “How have I come to be so lucky? You are amazing—so brave, so beautiful—my angel.” She felt boneless as he trailed more kisses around her ear. “I love you,” he said softly. And then he lay still as well.

  “Thank god I didn’t marry Cortland,” she said in wonder and felt Garrett chuckle. His face lay on the pillow beside her. She turned and studied him.

  He was delightfully mussed. A droplet of sweat trickled down his brow. She could not resist and leaned forward to taste it with a flick of her tongue.

  “You are quite pleased with yourself, then? For changing your mind?” His eyes danced with merriment as he watched her response.

  Natalie narrowed her eyes as though in deep consideration. Finally, she stifled a yawn and answered, “Well, it is…a lady’s prerogative…”

  Garrett leaned over and kissed her. She could feel the smile stretch across his lips as he murmured into her mouth, “Minx.”

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  A word from the author…

  I’ve been a writer all my life but never actually completed a manuscript until autumn of 2014. I’ve worked in numerous fields, even owned businesses, but nothing ever panned out for me. My default job was bartending. With my days free, something finally clicked and I figured out that I could write books.