She had removed her cap, and pulled the pins out of her long tresses to allow her luxurious curls to cascade around her shoulders in a riot of silk. Her cloak gaped open to reveal the partially open neckline of her white, almost see-through shirt. He knew what was behind the cotton material. He immediately hardened as he studied the long length of her legs, deliciously outlined in the gentleman’s long trousers she wore.
Later, he would find out when she had gone through the contents of his wardrobe but right now he had other plans. Taking a step towards her, he felt the thrill of masculine anticipation as she backed up warily. For each step forward he took, she took two backward, carefully facing him until she was close to the door.
Her playfulness only heightened his lust, and the tension that had eaten at him all night suddenly gave way to the tumult of emotions he had withheld. Determined to gain some payment for allowing her to participate in the risks they had taken tonight, Dominic carefully matched his wife, pace-for-pace until, in clear sight of the open doorway, she quickly spun on her booted heel and took off. With a satisfied smile of retribution, Dominic took off after her.
Isobel took the stairs at a most unladylike pace. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied her husband’s dark head as he pelted down the hallway and began to climb the stairs behind her, two at a time. Her blood pounded through her veins as, panting, she reached the top of the stairs. She sprinted down the upper hallway, the door of their bedroom in sight. She was within arm’s reach of the door, when she was suddenly swept off her feet, her husband shouldering the door open as they surged through. They paused long enough to kick the door closed behind them with a resounding thud.
Panting Isobel stared up at the harsh lines of her husband’s rugged features as he tossed her onto the bed. Her warrior was back. All pretence of softness was gone. The glitter of his emerald green eyes through the firelight was thrilling as he loomed over her intently. Quickly snatching off his cloak, he threw it to the floor before leaning forward long enough to pull her knees apart enough to stand between them. Chest heaving, Isobel’s heart pounded as she eyed the lust etched on her Dominic’s face as his eyes hungrily devoured her partially naked chest. Suddenly, she became aware of just how much flesh was exposed as she flicked a look downwards.
The laces were hanging loosely and did little to hold the gaping edges of the cotton material together. One side of the material was clinging desperately to the pink rosebud of a nipple, the other side only partially obscuring the round mound of her breast. The fabric had been wrenched upwards as she landed on the bed leaving the underside of her breasts bare.
Squirming restlessly under his intent gaze, she paused briefly as his hand settled gently upon the soft mound of her stomach. Isobel watched as his roving gaze trailed down her bare midriff to pause at her stomach, questioning. Searching.
He remained silent as he fingered the soft material of the waistband of her trousers before releasing the ties. Once loose, he gave one huge tug before stepping back long enough to reveal her nakedness to him. She could find no embarrassment as she lay before his roving gaze, even feeling so bold as to arch her back wantonly as her body languished under his scrutiny. Within moments he had removed his clothes and thrown her breeches against the far wall before turning towards her on the bed, wrenching her thighs open to allow him to stand between them.
Isobel wasn’t sure what he was planning, but complied willingly when he placed his hands upon her knees, raising them before sliding his hands down her calves to clasp her ankles and drape her legs over the broad width of his shoulders. She gasped with surprise as she watched the rigid shaft of his manhood probe her feminine core before disappearing inside.
Eyes closed she revelled in his possession as she arched her back and sighed with pleasure. Her turgid nipples pointing skyward, she watched as he withdrew only to plunge into her once again. The sight of him possessing her fuelled the delicious sensations deep within until she fought to withhold scream of ecstasy that coursed through her.
Something within her held back from clinging to him and whimpering. Instead, she raised her arms above her head to grasp desperately at the softly luxurious cover beneath her. Lost in the tumult of sensations sweeping through her, eyes closed Isobel gloried in her femininity.
Dominic watched as his wife writhed with sensual delight beneath him. Sometime during their marriage she had become aware of her feminine sensuality, and clearly delighted in the newfound discovery. Nothing she did could surprise him anymore, Dominic thought as he slid into her. For his wife, certainly was no slave to convention.
Smiling through gritted teeth, Dominic fought hard to control the surging of his loins to stretch out the sensual sight of his glorious wife’s delight as long as he could, but the feel of her clamping around him as she succumbed to her climax was just too much for him to bear. With a groan of sheer relief, Dominic plunged into her once more and leant over her as he released himself deep within her.
Shaking slightly from the sheer intensity of his release, Dominic lowered her legs to the bed before easing himself away from her. Carefully he removed the precious documents from the hidden pocket within his cloak, taking a few moments to conceal it in a hidden compartment within the fireplace, before taking his place beside her in the big bed.
“Now sleep,” he ordered with a yawn of exhaustion as he pulled her tighter against him.
“Yes, my darling,” Isobel whispered softly, as dutiful as she was willing to be for the time being, carefully ignoring his snort of disbelief.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sunlight had moved to the far end of the bedroom by the time Isobel awoke the following day. It was clearly early afternoon as the winter sunlight shone brightly through the shutters. Usually a habitual early riser, she stretched sensuously against the soft sheets with a sigh of delight, refusing to feel guilty for her laziness.
She should be shocked at her wilful and hedonistic behaviour last night, but couldn’t find one scrap of regret within her. Instead she felt liberated. For the first time in her life, she felt able to be just herself.
Contentment swept through her as she slowly slithered around to face her husband. Sweeping her wayward hair out of her eyes, she smiled softly as her eyes met the steady gaze of her husband’s. Her contentment diminished slightly when there was no smile in return. Instead, his gaze held hers steadily and firmly.
“What is it?” Not feeling quite so pleased with her world, Isobel slid higher upon the bed, oblivious when the sheet fell to her waist revealing the creamy expanse of her breasts to his scrutiny.
Dominic shifted uncomfortably as he eyed the wonderful bounty she had unconsciously revealed, his manhood immediately springing to life beneath the sheets. Coughing discretely, he carefully averted his eyes to the ceiling, and tried to keep his attention on the issues he needed to discuss with her.
“There is something you need to do now,” Dominic’s
voice was wary but firm. Sweat began to bead his brow as he carefully bent the knee closest to her in a bid to ease the ache in his groin, and the obvious evidence of his growing attraction. Sitting upright he leant forward and braced an elbow upon his knee in a desperate attempt to ease the ache.
Isobel moved to sit beside him, to his relief carefully covering her nakedness with the sheet. “What?”
“Given what happened last night, we now have the evidence that will send Rupert to the Colonies at the very least. It is imperative now that you take every precaution to ensure your safety.” The warrior within him was demanding nothing less than her total compliance.
“What do you think he will do?” Isobel eased back against the pillows, tugging the sheet with her carefully.
Dominic turned to lie on his side to face her, his head propped on one hand as he looked at her. “I am not sure, but he will be a desperate man as soon as he finds out the papers are gone. He will be desperate enough to either attempt to retrieve the papers or seek retribution.” Absently moving the sheet around her, Dominic glanced at her.
Dominic quirked a brow and shot her a wary look. Her immediate ascent was the very last thing he expected from his very wilful wife. “I mean it, Isobel. From now on, no more adventures.” He shot her a hard look and eyed her apparent contentment of the situation with caution.
“Alright, I will be very careful,” Isobel replied softly.