Page 30 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

“She already is,” he said, knowing it was true.

Though it had been the most mortifying half an hour of her entire life, Odette was endlessly grateful to Lady Blackdown for her little talk. Without the trace of a blush and with a no-nonsense, practical-tone, Odette’s new mama explained what she could expect from her wedding night, and the nights thereafter. When she was done, she embraced Odette and kissed her cheek.

“I have five married daughters, Odette, and each one of them told me my advice was sound. You may rely on it. Besides which Chauncey is a kind-hearted man. You will have no difficulty, I think.”

With that, Lady Blackdown patted her hand and sailed out of the room again.

Goodness.

Still a little dazed, and not a little intrigued, Odette lay back against the pillows and awaited her husband. She must have fallen asleep, for when she woke, Chance was laying beside her, watching her.

“Chance,” she murmured sleepily, reaching for him.

He gathered her to him and she gave a happy sigh at the feel of his arms about her, the warmth of his body enveloping hers.

“Darling,” he said. “You can sleep if you like. It’s been a long day, I know. I’ve arranged for us to go away tomorrow. There is a little cottage by the sea not far from here. It’s quiet and private. We used to go there with Mama, as children, and sea bathe. Too cold for that now, but it’s very beautiful. I should like to show you.”

“A honeymoon,” she said, smiling.

Chance laughed and shook his head. “The first part of our honeymoon. I want you all to myself for a short while, but then, if you should like it, we shall go off and explore together. Paris, Rome, wherever you like. Parties, the theatre… name your desire. Tell me where you want to go, what you wish to see, and we shall see it.”

She sat up, excitement gathering inside her at his words. “You mean it? We can go anywhere?”

Odette had dreamed of travelling. It had been the one high spot of knowing she would marry André, a man who could only ever be her friend. He had promised her they would travel together, that they would have fun and leave his overbearing father behind them.

“Of course I mean it. Your life has been confined, Odette. I do not mean to trap you again with our marriage. I want to set you free, love. Providing… Providing you always fly back to me, though I should very much like to fly with you, if I may.”

“Oh.” She buried her face in his neck, holding on tight, overcome with happiness.

He laughed and held her, one warm hand stroking up and down her spine, unravelling her senses. “There, there, we shall speak of it in the morning. I know you’re exhausted. Go to sleep.”

To sleep?

It was true enough that Odette was exhausted. At least, she had been exhausted. Now, though, the scent of him filled her head, a dizzying melange of soap, musk, and warm, virile male. It was intoxicating. She considered Lady Blackdown’s words and something hot and exciteable squirmed inside of her. Odette pulled back a little, now realising her new husband was wearing only a dressing gown. She glanced down the bed, to see his legs and feet were bare. Oh.

Tentatively, she moved her foot and slid it from his ankle to his knee and back again. Hair rasped intriguingly beneath her toes. How curious. Chance had gone very still.

She looked up at him then, studying his face, noticing the way his eyes had grown so very dark. “I don’t want to sleep.”

“Oh, thank Christ for that.”

She gave a startled laugh as he kissed her, and wrapped her arms about his neck. He pushed her gently down, deepening the kiss. He had kissed her before, but not like this. Before, he had been careful; they had both been too aware of the dangers of getting carried away and so had held back. Not now. Now there was no holding back, nothing to stop them, and the kiss went on and on. Chance’s hands moved over her, slowly at first, gently, but with increasing desperation as the heat between them grew, bubbling up into something Odette had no name for, but gave in to with no regrets.

She gasped against his mouth as he hooked her knee and pulled it up, over his hip. He pressed closer and the touch of that masculine part of him against her most intimate skin was like a starburst behind her eyes. Sensation jolted through her and she clutched at him, staring up in surprise.

“Oh,” she said.

Chance grinned at her. “Like that, do you?”

“Oui,” she nodded, proving her point by lifting her hips.

He groaned, the sound sparking a triumphant blaze of heat and want deep inside her. Before she could do it again he was shrugging off his dressing gown, throwing it from him with an impatient gesture that made her smile. He turned back to her and her breath caught at the sight. She drank him in, cataloging everything she saw with breathless anticipation. Powerful shoulders, strong arms, and a scattering of dark hair over his broad chest. The hair continued on down, drawing her gaze lower. Odette swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as looked her fill. He was beautiful. She did not think she had properly understood the word before, applying it to a pretty garden, or a gown she longed to own. He too was beautiful, though there was nothing soft or feminine about him. His body was a harsh landscape of muscle and sinew, punctuated here and there with scars that told the story of his soldiering days. She would hear him tell those stories one day, the tales that lay behind those scars, but not now, not tonight.

“Touch me,” he pleaded, his voice a rasp of sound that made her skin prickle with awareness. “You cannot look at me so and not touch me.”

Odette did, more than willing to oblige. She had been longing to touch him since that first brush of his lips upon hers. She trailed a finger along his jaw, which was freshly shaven since last she saw him, the skin smooth and warm. She followed the path down his neck, pleased at the shiver that ran over him as she traced the line of his collar bone.

“Odette,” he said, his voice hushed, and she was unsure whether it was a question or a plea, or simply the need to say her name, but she looked at him and found his eyes dark with wanting.