Page 46 of The Scarred Lyon

His warm breath against her neck made the simmering flame within her roar to life. He kissed her.

There was no slow undressing now; Augusta swiftly unbuttoned the fall of his trousers and pulled them and his drawers down his muscular legs. Duncan stepped out of them and kicked them aside. She turned, and Duncan unbuttoned her gown as he laid warm kisses along her shoulders. The gown pooled at her feet. She removed her undergarments and quickly tossed them aside.

“My God, you are absolutely stunning,” Duncan marveled, taking his time to gaze at her from her toes up and back again.

Augusta moved closer, reached up, and touched his face. “And you are stunning. In all ways.”

They kissed again, inching closer to the bed.

“Lie down,” Augusta commanded.

“As you wish, Your Grace.” Duncan tapped his chin. “‘Taking the reins?’ Are you intending to ride me.”

“For all its worth.” Augusta climbed on the bed, straddled him, then rose high enough to grasp his shaft.

Duncan moaned.

Heavens, had she said that aloud?

She plunged downward, taking all of him, reveling in the feel of him inside him. “I want to stay just like this, for the rest of our lives.”

Duncan could not agree more. He placed his hands on her hips, then caressed her soft, silky skin. It had been a long time since he had been intimate with a woman, and he had the distinct feeling this would eclipse all his previous encounters. Deeper emotions were involved, a growing love that would only be solidified by consummating the marriage. Duncan waited for Augusta to move, but she stayed still, eyes closed, as if she were creating a memory. Stay like this forever? Joined in the most amorous way possible? “I absolutely agree,” he murmured huskily.

Augusta’s eyes snapped open, and she met his gaze. Her eyes were ablaze with passion. She was glorious. A slight movement of her hips had him moaning. She smiled satisfactorily. Then Augusta pulled upward and plunged down, causing another breathless moan to escape his lips.

Her pace quickened, then slowed, then she found her rhythm, and Duncan thrust upward to meet her frenzied motions. She threw her head back and laughed, the pure joy of it caused Duncan’s heart to soar. Her hair fell about her shoulders, and it took no time at all for her to reach her peak.

“Keep going,” Duncan growled. “Come for me again.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and sat up so they faced each other. He caressed her breasts, and they moved as one. Their breathing was ragged, and they rose together with the tide, crying out in near-simultaneous release. Duncan and Augusta held each other close for several moments. Then Duncan kissed her deeply.

“Ready to go again?”

Augusta laughed. “Oh, yes. Again.”

“And tomorrow morning, after I see Patrick off. We will have trays of food brought to us later.”

“And perhaps in the afternoon?”

Duncan chuckled. “Insatiable.”

“With you? Yes. Forever.”

Duncan was filled not only with love but also with hope. The future looked bright, indeed.

And five days later…

“Your Graces!” one of the maids said as she entered the sitting room. “The carriages are here!”

Augusta was already out of her seat and hurrying toward the door when the maid said, “Your wrap, Your Grace!”

“Of course.” The maid then assisted Laura with hers. “Please send for His Grace. I believe he is in his study.”

“Frederick has already gone to fetch him, Your Grace.”

Augusta took Laura’s arm as they headed into the great hall and out the front door. Augusta’s insides were in knots. She had hardly slept the past two nights, waiting with anticipation to see her son and friend again. So much had happened.

As soon as Reese was assisted from the carriage, he pulled away from Pricilla and ran straight into Augusta’s outstretched arms.