Page 82 of Winning Her Duke

In truth, the more she thought of a life filled with the pleasure and happiness she felt with Jeremy, the more she considered that option. She would like nothing more than to spend her life doing the things they’d done before and would most likely do this night.

To have a husband who adored her.

She blinked and sighed.

He didn’t adore her. He respected her. He offered marriage out of a sense of honor, not love.

“What put that sadness in your eyes?” Bess asked.

“There is nothing forcing me to make any decisions this minute. There is plenty of time to decide what is best. And I think some rose oil in my bath would be best.”

Bess mumbled a few other things Gia didn’t hear and didn’t think she wanted to.

Gia sank into the warm water and allowed her mind to drift. Whether Jeremy would become her husband, remain her lover, or go back to being just a friend, she wasn’t certain.

Time would tell.

*

When all was quiet, Hale slipped into Gia’s room like a specter and found her at the open window. She cast a look over her shoulder and he felt his body respond to her silent invitation.

“You should be careful standing by this open window, you could catch a chill,” he warned quietly as his fingertips played with her hardened nipples.

She turned to him and lifted up on her tiptoes to kiss him. It was the easiest thing he’d ever done to pick her up with his hands under her arse and carry her to the bed.

He was desperate for her, despite spending the day together in the carriage. It had been a pleasing torment. Slight touches as the carriage swayed. Hearing her voice, feeling the weight of her body as she slept against his side.

As he slid into her warmth he thought again of his earlier dilemma. He wanted this woman more than he should and not just to satisfy his carnal desires. Though she was quite good at that as well.

He didn’t want to have to wait for secret moments to be with her. He wanted to share… his life with her.

As this realization settled over him like a warm blanket, he kissed her, wanting her to feel the emotions that were shifting in him. He wanted her to feel the same.

“Jeremy, please,” she begged for him to give her the pleasure he’d exposed her to a few nights ago.

“Aye, lass,” he promised and thrust in her again, deeper, harder as he reached between them to stroke that part of her that would bring her what she needed.

She cried out his name as she throbbed around him pulling him over the edge to join her in ecstasy.

But unlike other encounters, the joy didn’t dissipate when he and his partner had climaxed. Pulling the counterpane over his sated lover and holding her close pulled a smile to his lips.

“I want this,” he said into her hair.

“Hmm?” she said in response.

“I said I am happy here with you.” While not exactly what he’d said, it was also true.

“Are you sure you wish to stay?” she asked. “I can train Godspell alone if you wish to return to London.”

Did she want him to leave? He couldn’t imagine having to leave her here alone. He wasn’t sure he could.

“I know how much you detest the country,” she went on when he’d remained silent. “Being forced to take in all this fresh air, sweet scents, and quiet? It’s quite cruel, really.” She smiled at her own joke and he joined in, glad he was not being dismissed.

He kissed the top of her head.

“Nay. Perhaps it is the company, or that I have not been here for more than a few hours, but I don’t feel uncomfortable here. There is no sense of overwhelming loneliness when I have you in my arms.”

“I shall make sure you are never lonely during your visit,” she promised.