To Pleasure a Lady (Courtship Wars)

“Yes,” Arabella replied, smiling serenely as she slipped her hand in his.

He interlaced their fingers as they mounted the stairs and negotiated the corridor to the lord’s apartments. A soft glow of lamplight greeted them as they entered his bedchamber, while the covers on the massive bed had been turned down invitingly.

Marcus closed the door behind them, shutting them inside.

“Alone at last,” he murmured huskily, drawing Arabella into his embrace. “I thought this day would never arrive.”

“I know,” she said fervently although her gray eyes danced with love and laughter. “You should be proud of yourself, my lord. You succeeded in winning our wager, just as you predicted.”

“Oh, I am. And I am impatient for our wedding night to begin.”

Arabella slid her hands up his chest and began to untie his cravat, her smile seductive and mischievous. “We celebrated our wedding night weeks ago, if you recall.”

His blood heated dangerously at that alluring smile. “Not formally. We weren’t wed then.” His gaze trapped hers. “But now we are. Now you are mine,” Marcus added softly.

“Yes,” Arabella agreed just as softly. “And you are mine.”

He saw so much tender emotion in her eyes that his heart turned over. “I’ll never let you go, wife.”

“Wife…I like the sound of that, husband.”

“So do I.”

They undressed each other slowly, taking the time to kiss and caress frequently. When they were both naked, his gaze locked with hers.

“No regrets?” Marcus asked.

“None whatsoever. I know our marriage will be blissfully happy.”

“I intend to do my damnedest to make it so.”

“I have no doubts.” She stepped into the circle of his waiting arms, her eyes radiant with love as she gazed back at him.

The sight made his breath catch and his heart thud. He had never expected to feel anything so powerful, so deep, for any woman. But he had no doubts, either, that his feelings for Arabella would last a lifetime. The love inside him was painfully strong; hunger and desire a sweet ache.

“So,” Arabella remarked teasingly, reaching up to twine her arms around his neck, “do you intend to show me what a marvelous husband and lover you are? I seem to remember you boasting about your amorous skills more than once.”

The words were an unmistakable challenge, one that Marcus couldn’t resist.

With a low laugh, he caught Arabella’s hand and pressed a tender kiss to her fingers, a solemn promise of loyalty and love. Then he led her to their marriage bed and drew her down, eager to begin their future together.