“A year ago I hoped I would have a second chance to make things right with you,” he murmured before straightening.
Pleased with his remark, she accepted his aid to step out onto the drive. Their carriage had been moved away to the river where the grooms were lounging in the sun. After William had locked the house, Matilda hobbled the first steps, then straightened so the servants would never suspect anything was amiss. Nothing was actually wrong, but her bottom was going to pain her for some time.
William put his arm behind her back, and they strolled along as gracefully as she could manage until they reached the dim interior of the loaned Newberry Park carriage.
There were many advantages of being married to William Ford, but there was one side of their life she’d not anticipated. For the entire journey she had to sit awkwardly to the side, leaning into William to keep the pressure off her tender rear. William allowed it, grinning the entire way home. There was no predicting how two people would get along, but she’d never once imagined she’d have the power to make the bossy William as happy as he appeared to be now.
Seventeen
With the dressing door closed and locked behind William, Matilda could breathe freely. Dinner had been a long and torturous affair with his innocent sisters chattering company. The discreetly placed pillow had not muted the awareness of what William had done to her bottom. It had constantly reminded her that their interlude was not over yet.
William took her hand and led her deep into his bedchamber, stopping when they reached the side of his wide bed. Her heart beat very fast as he turned her around.
His expression had been very serious all night. His manner direct, almost cold. If she did not know his nature so well, she might think he’d forgotten what had happened between them earlier in the day. If she did not know where to look for signs of his arousal, she would think him unaffected.
But he was affected. His restrained bearing was a sign that he was in control of his body and emotions, whereas Matilda was far from it.
She trembled every time he held her gaze, and she’d fought a blush all night long.
He unhooked her gown at the back and had her step out of it, all without saying a word to soothe her or seduce her. He brushed his fingers over the chain about her neck but left it hanging there as he took her hair down, tossing away the pins carelessly.
She had never been undressed in this room, so close to the bed they shared at night. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, anticipating William’s touch eagerly. He gathered and straightened her hair, plaited some of it into a rope, then swept it forward to lie over one shoulder.
A small smile twisted his lips as she faced him again. “Lovely.”
He drew back holding one of her hands and took a good look at her body. She was still wearing her corset and chemise but felt as bare as she was when he dressed her each day. The more she came to know him, touch him, the more she craved to see where his passions would lead her next.
He pulled her close suddenly, slamming her against his hard body. A gasp escaped her at the contact, and she instinctively put her arms about his neck as he embraced her. She held on to him, which she soon concluded had been his plan all along judging by his devilish grin.
He brushed his good cheek against hers, and she shuddered as his evening whiskers abraded her skin. He turned his lips against her cheek and kissed from her jaw to her ear and then proceeded down her throat, only stopping when he reached her pulse. He dragged his tongue slowly across her skin.
She tightened her grip around his shoulders and brushed her fingers up into his hair. A low growl left William, his hands squeezing tighter around her waist.
When he lifted his head, his eyes were two black orbs of unguarded emotion, the same look he’d regarded her with when she’d been holding him down on his sickbed. Desire for her and determination not to lose control.
She grinned at the realization. At last she understood what he wanted—her absolute trust.
She knew him. She was growing to appreciate him. She most definitely trusted him not to hurt her body more than she needed it done.
With that understanding, Matilda accepted him and closed her eyes before she leaned into him.
William kissed her—deep, drugging kisses that made her pant and moan. His hands roamed her back, squeezing and sliding over her skin as if he couldn’t get enough. He avoided touching her bottom, deliberately tracing around the tender flesh, which she appreciated for now.
But she was learning that what would not please others aroused her. Matilda tightened her grip on his hair and kissed him back, flicking her tongue across his until he growled against her mouth. He lifted her and staggered the few steps toward the bed.
He tossed her high, and she landed on her knees on the thick mattress. William followed, crawled across the co
unterpane, and sat on his haunches. He pulled her close enough that her legs straddled his thigh. And in that upright position, he kissed her witless once more, guiding her ever closer to his lap and his hidden erection.
When his thigh brushed high between her legs, touching that secret place that clenched when he stroked her during a spanking, she let out a soft moan and blushed scarlet.
He set his hand to her hips, nudging her closer until she was pressed tight against his hot body. Matilda braced her hands on his wide shoulders as he lifted her chemise at the back and tucked it beneath the material of her corset. She glanced over her shoulder as his hands covered each globe of her tender bottom.
She felt a twinge of apprehension and met his gaze. “You’re going to punish me like this?”
“Most definitely, but you’ll also feel pleasure too. I promise.”
His hand landed hard on her right cheek, and she jerked forward with a gasp into the hard mass of William’s silk-covered thigh. Matilda clutched his shirt as he struck her again, and once more she rubbed against his unyielding flesh.