Chapter 36

Catherine didn't know who to embrace first. She wanted to embrace everyone at the same time, but that was impossible. Seeing how everyone had exited the carriage, the first person she approached was her husband. Worse yet, he was hurt.

"You are bleeding!" she gasped. "We have to fetch the physician immediately."

"I am fine," Dominic assured her. "Let's get everyone in first and have them settled. Then we'll see what to do with me."

"Reggie! Annie! Rosie!" Catherine had to turn away from Dominic for a moment to greet Reginald and the girls. "We have been worried sick! I am so glad you are all here, safe and unharmed."

"Well, unharmed…" Reginald glanced at Dominic. "You should really fetch that physician, Cate, just to be on the safe side."

"Immediately," Catherine rushed over to Dominic, urging everyone to go on inside. She waited until they disappeared through the front door, then she took Dominic's arm and threw it over her shoulder, helping him walk. "Lean on me, darling. Carefully."

"My, my," Dominic grinned. "Is this the treatment one gets after being shot?"

"Does it hurt?" she asked, looking at his blood-soaked clothes. She could only imagine that it did, but Dominic was far too stubborn to ever admit such a thing.

"Well, maybe…" he said playfully. "You could, erm… kiss it later, after everyone's gone to bed."

"Really?" she turned to him, unable to stifle a chuckle. "You've been shot, and that is what you are thinking about right now?"

"No, no, no," he shook his head. "That is all I can think about right now. Don't think that because I've been shot, you will get away from doing your wifely duties, my dear."

She laughed louder than ever before. "You are utterly mad."

"Remember what I told you before?" he asked softly, leaning over to speak right into her ear. "I am utterly mad about you."

She smiled. "I remember not liking that then."

"And now?" she heard all the love and hope in just those two words.

"Now, I want to keep hearing it over and over again."

He smiled, inhaling deeply. "All right then. Let's fetch that silly physician so he can tell me that I will be fine to bother you for the rest of our lives."

They entered inside, focusing first on settling their guests. Reginald, Annabel and Rosie all asked for a single chamber to sleep in, and Dominic was more than happy to accommodate their wishes. After being apart for so long, Catherine couldn't imagine them sleeping in any other way but all three of them in a single bed.

An hour later, the physician arrived. Dominic was seated in the parlor, still pressing on his wound, which now hurt even less. Catherine did not believe him when he said it. She couldn't imagine it not hurting.

"Ah, Doctor Brown," Dominic greeted the most famous physician in all of London, who charged quite the sum to get up from bed in the middle of the night and tend to a patient who wasn't sick, but actually injured by a gunshot wound. Still, Catherine would not have anyone else treat Dominic. With his family physician all the way in Bath, they had to find someone closer.

Doctor Brown grimaced at Dominic, who was still dressed as a beggar for the purposes of the nightly ordeal. Neither Catherine nor he were in the mood for explaining anything, so she took over.

"We went to a masquerade ball this evening, you see," Catherine spoke confidently, unlike ever before when she was telling a lie. "That is why you see my husband dressed so… inappropriately, shall we say?"

Doctor Brown seemed more at ease after that explanation. "And what happened?"

"We were on our way back home when our carriage was stopped by a gang of highway men," Catherine tried to remember a story from a novel she had recently read. "They asked for our valuables, and we gave them everything, apart from my ring." She tenderly caressed the ring with the fingers of her opposite hand. "We refused to give that.

That is, my husband refused. It is a family heirloom, you see, and very precious to us both. That was when one of the men pulled out a pistol and shot my husband. Our footman managed to startle the horses, who trampled two of the men, while the third one was left behind, and that is how we rushed home, immediately sending for you, Doctor Brown."

Catherine spoke calmly and confidently, but she almost burst into a chuckle upon seeing how shocked Dominic was to hear her weave such a detailed tale regarding their nightly endeavor.

"I see," Doctor Brown nodded, setting his black leather bag down and then sitting himself comfortably in a chair opposite Dominic. "You've had quite the evening, Your Grace."

"You wouldn't believe half of it even if it told you, Doctor Brown," Dominic grinned.

"Now, let us take a look at the damage," Doctor Brown spoke calmly. With practiced hands, he assessed the injury, his brow furrowing in concentration as he inspected the wound.

After careful examination, Doctor Brown delivered good news. "You were fortunate, Your Grace," the man spoke, much to Catherine's relief. "The bullet passed through your side, causing a slightly deep tear at the skin, but it is only superficial damage. No organs were harmed. In fact, if the bullet had a different trajectory, you would have bled out to death."

Catherine gasped at the thought. The possibility of losing this man was too much. She wouldn't have been able to bear it. They were indeed fortunate, all of them, not just him.

"With proper care, you should make a full recovery in due time," Doctor Brown concluded, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Thank you, Doctor Brown," Dominic nodded gratefully. Catherine could see that despite his stoic exterior, his spirits lifted at the news of his fortunate escape. "I am grateful for your expertise and your timely assistance."

"Of course, that is my job, after all." Doctor Brown smiled this time, and Catherine thought about how kind he seemed. "Now, as for cleaning and dressing the wound, that is imperative to ensure proper healing."

"What should we do?" Catherine wondered, as she would be the one tending to her husband with much love and care.

"Keep the wound clean and dry," he advised, his tone firm but compassionate. "Apply a clean bandage daily and be sure to observe for any signs of infection." He finished his instructions, placing all the doctoral tools he had used back in his black leather bag, and proceeding to get up.

He shook Dominic's hand, then he turned to Catherine. "I am certain that His Grace will be fine in no time," he smiled once again reassuringly.

"Thank you so much, Doctor Brown," Catherine gushed joyfully. "I shall walk you out."

"No need," Doctor Brown gestured with his hand. "You have a patient to tend to. I shall gladly find my way out. Good night to you both."

"Good night," Catherine and Dominic greeted him back at the same time, and a moment later, the man closed the door behind him, leaving them alone.

"Come here," Dominic looked at her mischievously, patting his lap.

She waltzed over to him, swaying her hips seductively. She knew what he was referring to, and she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But he was hurt.

"Are you sure?" she asked, lingering above his lap.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life," he grinned.

She sat in his lap, adjusting herself. Immediately, she could feel his manhood rising to the occasion. She smiled back at him as she felt his fingers caressing the small of her back. Instantly, her body erupted into a molten heat that emanated from her very core, spreading everywhere.

"You've been shot, you know," she pointed out.

"Not in the—"

"Dom!" she shouted his nickname, bursting into a chuckle.

"What?" he asked, laughing. "I was going to say mouth."

"Mouth?" she asked incredulously. "That is not what you were going to say. Admit it!"

"I refuse," he laughed. "But if I were shot in the mouth, I would not be able to do this…"

In those words, he kissed her softly, tenderly. She gently kissed him back. There was no feverish longing. There was no explosion. No raw need and yearning. There was pure love, the desire to belong to this man, mind, body, and soul.

"Take me to bed," she whispered into his ear when he pulled away for a moment to lock his eyes with hers.

"Come," he whispered back, taking her by the hand and slowly leading her out of the parlor and up the stairs.

They entered her chamber, which was lit up by a single candle in the corner. The rest of the flickering glow belonged to the sparkling moonlight that dripped like silvery rain through the open window.

He continued to kiss her softly, reverently. And she kissed him back. There was no rush this time. He was everything she had ever wanted. Only before, she was too blind to see that. Or perhaps they needed to prove that to each other first. Now, they had the rest of their lives to relish kissing each other, exploring each other and possessing each other, for she felt that she had known him her entire life.

He slowly took off her clothes, and in turn, she did the same, careful of his wound. He would gasp silently every once in a while. She would look at him, waiting to be told to stop, but she could read the answer in his eyes. She reminded herself to be careful. He laid her naked on the bed, kissing her neck as he positioned himself on top of her. He did it slowly, finding the right spot that didn't cause him pain.

"We can stop," she murmured softly, tenderly. "I don't want you to be in pain."

"I have been in pain waiting for this moment," he grinned in the dark. "Nothing would keep me away from you, my love, not even a rain of bullets."

She chuckled. Tremors passed through her as he continued to kiss her neck, his hand traveling down her breast, cupping it gently. His fingers teased her pebbled nipple, tormenting her, working her into a frenzy of sensations that almost sent her over the edge. His lips kissed hers softly, his tongue exploring the depth of her mouth. She sucked on it gently, smiling as she did so.

His fingers released her nipple, only to travel down her stomach, between her thighs, caressing the soft mound of hairs that kept vigil over her most precious treasure.

"I want you," she surprised even herself with her desire.

He stopped kissing her, lifting his eyes to meet hers. "Cate…" he murmured softly. "I have wanted you from the moment I laid my eyes on you. I… haven't always been able to show it, but I love you. I love you so much…"

"I love you, too, Dominic," she whispered back. "Take me… make me yours…"

She felt his finger dipping into her, tasting her, testing her. It was a slow penetration, just like the last time. But she wanted more. So much more. It was all so deliciously tantalizing.

"I can't wait to feel you," he murmured into her neck, his hot breath spilling on her naked skin.

His finger slid into her, deeper this time. It pushed the breath out of her chest. He sucked it into himself, mingling their breaths. The sensation was drowning her thoughts, making her ravenous for more. But she reminded herself to be careful.

His finger suddenly pulled out of her, and she could feel something else, something harder, larger, the tip of his manhood. She almost gasped, feeling how big it was. But when his eyes locked with hers, she knew there was nothing to fear.

"Tell me if you wish me to stop," he said lovingly.

"Never," she smiled back. "I never want you to stop."

His handsome face was staring back at her, his dark eyes drinking in the sight of her. That was her husband. That was the man who risked his life to prove that he was worthy of her love. That was the man who would do anything for her. The thought made her feel weak and wild at the same time.

She was desperate to finally belong to him, fully and completely. She slid her legs even further apart, allowing him easier access to herself. A new rush of tenderness washed over her. She never thought that she could love him more, but she did. With each passing moment, there was more love for this man. His lips were kissing hers, claiming her, and all she could do was give in.

That was when he gently slid into her, and it changed everything. She was no longer her own. She was his. And that was how she would remain for the rest of their lives.

Her mind was a blank. There was nothing but a searing sensation of pain that lasted just a single moment, then pleasure with him lodged in her. She felt him throbbing inside. Or perhaps that was her? She couldn't tell, because now they were one.

Her body took over, clinging to him, keeping him close, making sure not to touch his sides in a way that might cause him pain or discomfort. But she could see that his desire mirrored her own. He thrust again and again, claiming her deeper with each thrust. Dominic was all she could think of. There was nothing and no one else in her mind. He jerked his body against hers, deeper, as she cupped his face, kissing him fervently.

He kissed her again and again until her mind exploded into a million little stars that spread throughout her body, filling her with a tingling sensation of warmth. She tensed, then relaxed. Then tensed up again, only to relax one more time. She had come undone, and she knew what that was.

Sensing her release, he followed suit. She clutched at him, keeping him close, feeling him spend inside of her as he groaned. He rolled by her side a moment later, pulling her into an embrace and still breathing heavily. She had no idea when she fell asleep, listening to the steady thumping of his heart which belonged to her. All she knew was that, when she opened her eyes in the middle of the night, he was still there, by her side, and she knew that was where he would remain forever.