Page 68 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

“So… you do want me to make you scream, then?” he asked, all innocence.

Bunty cracked open one eye. “Well, obviously. What are you waiting for, Christmas?”

Ludo gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. “Certainly not, love. I am yours to command. So… prepare yourself.”

He flung her skirts over her head and wondered how his heart could contain everything he felt as Bunty laughed, and then squealed. She laughed louder still when he pressed a kiss to her stomach, then blew a wet raspberry against her skin. She squirmed and wriggled, and Ludo stared down at her in wonder.

“I love you,” he said, serious for just a moment. “And this will be the best Christmas ever.”

Bunty shook her head, smiling up at him, her dark eyes filled with adoration.

“No. Only the first of many best evers,” she said.

Ludo nodded, seeing the certainty in her eyes and believing it.

“Our first best ever, then. The first of many,” he said.

Bunty nodded, and he moved up the bed to kiss her tenderly.

“I love you too, by the way,” she said, stroking his face. “In case you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t,” he said, because he knew now, because he believed he was loved, and wanted, and belonged. “But don’t ever stop telling me.”

He kissed her again, long and slow, and then sat up, staring down at her with a devilish smile.

“Now then, where was I?”

“Making me scream?” Bunty suggested.

Ludo nodded gravely. “Ah, yes. Husbandly duties. Let’s see if we can melt all the snow on the roof, shall we?”

Ludo settled back to his work and, whilst they might not have melted all the snow, he certainly made his wife scream, and laugh, and love him all the more.