The Black Diamond (Black Diamond 2)

Chapter 6

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Pembourne's iron gates disappeared in the distance, the sun an orange glow on the horizon.

"At last," Aurora sighed, leaning back against the carriage seat. "Freedom."

Julian chuckled, crossing one long leg over the other. "An ironic proclamation. Most people would refer to marriage as confinement, not freedom."

"Are you one of those people?" Aurora inquired, feeling not the least bit threatened.

"I was once. Now? I think not." One dark brow rose in amusement. "Given your smug expression, I suspect you already knew what my answer would be."

"I did. Not because I'm smug, but because you're hardly a man who would commit himself to a life he expected to be confining."

"True. Nor are you a woman who would agree to marry such a man."

"Also true." Aurora smiled. "I suppose we both crave the same things."

"We do. What's more, we will. I'm counting on it."

There was no mistaking the suggestive gleam in Julian's eye, the husky note in his voice.

Aurora found herself wishing the journey ahead were not quite so long. Or, given that it was, that the message Julian was issuing were not quite so explicit or quite so effective.

Silence hovered—thick, charged.

Excruciating.

"Lady Altec must be racing about Devonshire with her news by now," Aurora blurted at last, unable to withstand the escalating tension.

"You're nervous," Julian stated in that same unbearably seductive tone.

"No, I'm searching for a topic of conversation."

"Don't." Julian yanked the carriage curtains shut, then swung across to sit beside his bride.

"Don't what?" Aurora managed. "Don't be nervous? Or don't search for a topic of conversation?"

"Either." He tipped her chin up, wrapping one red-gold tress about his forefinger. "We've waited an interminable fortnight—not to mention an unending day—for this." He brought the tress to his lips, savored its texture with his mouth. "Finally, finally, the wait is over."

"Not yet," Aurora reminded him, staring at the tanned column of his throat, her heart slamming against her ribs. "Polperro is still hours away."

"Exactly." Julian lowered his head, kissed her neck, the curve of her shoulder, the hollow behind her ear. "And I intend to make the most of every heated moonlit hour."

Aurora's eyes widened. "You're not suggesting…?"

"Indeed I am." He feathered kisses across her cheekbones, the delicate bridge of her nose, nibbled lightly at her lower lip. "Did you really expect me to wait hours longer? Never, soleil. I've been on fire for you from the instant we met, burning to be inside you. Now my ring is on your finger. And nothing is going to stop me from making you mine."

"But, Julian…" Aurora struggled for sanity. "In a carriage?"

"Um-hum." His tongue traced her lip. "Shockingly unconventional, wouldn't you say? A closed carriage, a cramped seat. Nothing but you, me, and the ecstasy of our joined bodies becoming one." He kissed her deeply.

"What if the driver should…"

"He won't." Julian was tugging pins from her hair, tossing them haphazardly to the carriage floor. "No one will." His molten gaze bore into hers, lush with promise. "No one will see how abandoned I make you. No one will hear your cries of pleasure. No one but me." He tunneled his fingers through her hair. "Adventure. Excitement. Passion. Everything I promised you. Say yes."

Aurora shivered, excitement flaring deep inside her.