Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

W armth filled Michael’s heart as he watched Belle sleeping in his bed. Had she missed him? Even after everything he’d done?

He noticed torn pieces of paper scattered over the floor across the room and went to investigate. As he picked up the remnants of the letter, he slowly began to understand what it was, even if he could only read a few words at a time. It was the last thing that Isaac had been protecting her from. The letter she had sent that had prompted him to leave America in the first place. He had known it must exist. It wasn't as if Isaac just hopped on a boat on a whim. It would be easy enough to piece it back together and read exactly what it said, but he’d seen enough words like horrible, arrogant, prisoner, and beast, to get the gist of it. It didn’t even hurt his feelings, really. The way she’d felt in the early days of their marriage was no secret. He’d made too many mistakes to count, and her feelings were warranted. He gathered the scraps into a pile on the table and returned to sit on the side of the bed. He may have gone about it all wrong, but marrying her was definitely not a mistake. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Gently, he brushed a few strands of dark hair from her face. As she opened her eyes, a smile shone there, even before one grew on her rosy lips. How could she possibly be happy to see him?

“Good morning, Belle.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

He hopped over her and laid himself down beside her resting an arm over her body, breathing in her sweet scent. “I’m glad you’re glad.” She turned to face him so they could look into one another’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, Belle. I’ve been a fool and a brute and a coward.”

She pressed a finger over his lips to stop him talking. “It’s my turn to speak and your turn to listen, Michael. So much of this could have been prevented if you had just listened to me.” She touched her fingertips to the bruise on his cheek and he winced slightly, surprised by the pain. “Do I need to make you undress and turn in a circle so I can inspect the rest of your body for bruises?”

Michael chuckled. “I was only good for a few punches, so there won’t be very many.” She didn’t laugh with him, or even smile.

“It isn’t funny, Michael.”

“Does it bother you? The boxing, I mean?”

“No.” She huffed frustratedly, threw back the blankets, and got out of the bed. She pulled the sleeves of her nightgown back down to her wrists and turned to face him, hands on her hips. God, she was beautiful, even when she was angry. Much of her dark hair had escaped its plait and hung around her face, framing it in tantalizing chaos.

“Stop looking at me like that, Michael. I’m trying to have a serious conversation and you’re looking at me as if I were a lollipop you’re longing desperately to lick.” Her cheeks instantly flushed as she realized the unintentional innuendo in her remark and the corners of her mouth turned up just a bit.

“You don’t want to be licked?” he teased.

Her shoulders dropped and she shook her head, but a small smile played about her lips. “Stop.”

He rolled off the other side of the bed and raised his hands in a truce. “No more. I promise I’ll behave myself and listen.”

She covered herself with his robe. It wrapped nearly twice around her and dragged the floor, but there was something adorable about the picture. Not to mention, her own robe was draped over the back of the chair, but she’d chosen his anyway, just as she’d chosen to sleep in his bed while he was away. Perhaps, in some ways, she was choosing him, without him even realizing it.

Without a word, Michael walked over and sat in a chair. He was going to try his best to just stay quiet and listen. Apparently, that was something he didn’t do very well. From now on, he would try to do better.

Belle seated herself in the other chair, her eyes flicked to the pile of torn paper. She didn’t say anything about it, but it seemed to take the wind out of her sails, so he prompted her to continue from where he’d interrupted her. “If it’s not the boxing you dislike, then what is it, Belle?”

“You abandoned me, Michael. Again.” His heart ached at the sadness that filled her eyes. He wanted to apologize, to beg her forgiveness and swear to never do it again, but for probably the first time in his life, he stayed silent and simply nodded so she would continue.

“Every time something upsets you, you just leave. Leave me to deal with whatever it is on my own. It isn’t fair, Michael.”

He sat forward in the chair, but as he opened his mouth to apologize, she held up a hand. “It’s my turn to speak, remember?”

Michael closed his mouth and nodded once more.

“I feel like I will always have to walk on eggshells to make sure I don’t cause you to get upset and leave me.”

“I wasn’t upset with you, Belle.” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. “I was upset with myself.”

“No.” Belle got to her feet and stood over him, pointing resolutely. “You were angry at me. So angry, in fact, that you very nearly did something you would never have forgiven yourself for.”

“But I?—”

“Michael!” she shouted over the top of him. “My turn to speak.”

Why was it so hard for him to stay quiet? He sat back in the seat and nodded his compliance.

“Let me retell the events how I understand them now that I’ve had plenty of time to think about everything. Then you can respond. Fair?”

He nodded again.

“Somehow you found the note from Isaac and immediately assumed that it was a note from my lover. It’s understandable that you came to that conclusion, but if you had given me a chance, I could have explained. But instead, once you were satisfied I wasn’t physically harmed, you immediately ignored my words, took my begging as confirmation that he was actually my lover, and in your jealous rage, beat him half to death.” Michael lowered his gaze to his lap, shame filling his belly. She wasn’t wrong, about any of it.

“Then,” Belle continued. “You brought me up here and sat there, in that very chair, and demanded I remove my clothes. I assumed you were going to spank me, but instead, you brought me the most incredible pleasure I’ve ever experienced. But you’d only done it to prove to me that you were a superior lover.” His shame grew with every word she spoke. “When I tried to argue the point, once again you wouldn’t listen, and instead you decided to simply stake your claim over my body.”

Michael’s hands balled themselves into fists on the arms of the chair. “I’m so sorry, Belle,” he whispered quietly.

“Which, by the way,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You had every right to as my husband.”

“No.” He slammed his fists against the chair, unable to keep quiet any longer. “Don’t excuse my behavior. Being your husband does not justify what I did. I was a brute and I hurt you.”

“But that’s just it, Michael. You didn’t hurt me. Not physically, anyway.”

“Well, I very nearly did, and that’s bad enough.”

“But when I asked you to stop, you did, without a moment’s hesitation. Just like you promised me. Remember?”

“You shouldn’t have had to tell me to stop.”

She lowered herself to her knees before him and took his hands in hers, forcing him to unclench his fists.

“You need to stop protecting me from you, Michael. I know, without a doubt, that you will never hurt me. Now you just need to know that for yourself. If you need some evidence of it just ask yourself why you didn’t spank me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I created this whole mess. I disrespected you in front of the servants and your friends. By all the evidence presented to you, I had been unfaithful. You were seething with anger. When we came up here, I assumed I was in for a severe spanking, but you didn’t do that. You had even threatened to, but you didn’t. Why?”

He rested his palm softly against her cheek. “I was angry. I will never, ever spank you while I’m angry. I might hurt you.” He let out a long sigh as he realized the words he’d just spoken. Perhaps she was right.

“And that’s why you need to start trusting yourself. You’re a good man, Michael. The only things that actually hurt me were when you beat Isaac, and when you left me here to run off and punish yourself.” She brushed her fingertips over the bruise on his face again. “And I’m afraid I can’t trust that you won’t leave me every time anything ever gets difficult.”

Michael patted his leg, and she climbed up onto his lap. He pulled her soft body against his chest and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t promise to never do that again, but I promise I will try to do better.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.” Her head nodded against his shoulder.

“Are you sure I’ve never hurt you, Belle?”

“I’m sure.”

“I worried I may have been a little bit harsh the night of the ball.”

He felt her lips turn up against his neck. “I’ll tell you a secret,” she whispered in his ear. “I liked every second of it.”

“Promise me you’ll tell me if I’m ever too rough. If I ever do anything you don’t enjoy or don’t want, you can always tell me to stop.”

“I promise.” The tip of her tongue seared a path all the way up his neck before she drew his earlobe into her mouth. A shiver ran through his entire body. “I think you might owe me a spanking, though.”

“Do I?” He reached down and untied the sash of his robe and pushed the fabric apart, settling his hand on her waist. “Were you naughty while I was away?” He brushed his thumb across her nipple, and she sucked in a breath.

“Well, I did bully Ash into letting me go down and see Isaac, even though you didn’t want me to.”

“That was naughty.” Michael squeezed the other nipple before rolling it between his thumb and finger causing her to squirm on his lap. “You’d better hike up that nightie and lay yourself over my knee.”

A mischievous smile graced her lips as she stood up and wriggled out of his robe, dropping it into a heap at her feet. Her nipples stood out against her cotton nightgown and through the thin fabric he could just see the shadow of dark curls at the juncture of her thighs. She didn’t move, so Michael grabbed her wrist and tugged her down across his lap with a squeal.

“You know what happens if I have to repeat myself.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He reached down and grabbed the hem of her nightgown and pulled it to her waist. Seeing the milky white swells of her bottom made him throb with need. He delivered two quick smacks that were immediately rewarded with a moan. God, it was like she was made for him. Unable to resist, he plunged a finger between her thighs where her scorching wetness welcomed him. Belle eagerly parted her legs to grant him better access.

“Oh, you are a naughty girl, wet and ready for me already,” he growled, bringing his hand down twice more on each cheek, the fair skin growing pinker with each stroke.

“On your feet,” he barked. “And get that nightgown off.”

“Yes, my lord,” she said breathlessly as she hurried to obey.

As Belle pulled the gown over her head, Michael's eyes immediately went to the blue discoloration that marred her hip. He pulled her close and pressed his lips gently to the injury. “Does it hurt?”

She shook her head.

He turned her and pressed an open-mouth kiss to her pinkened backside. “And how about here?”

She groaned quietly. “Perhaps you should check the other side as well.”

Michael chuckled softly against her skin and happily obliged. God, she was delectable. Her skin was smooth and soft beneath his lips. After covering both sides of her bottom with countless kisses, he slid his tongue along her hip, slowly turning her body until her breasts were within striking distance for him. Squeezing her bottom in both hands, he pulled her closer, drawing her hardened nipple deep into his mouth. One day, he would taste every inch of her, but it was hard not to get distracted or carried away. Her hands gripped the back of his head, holding him tightly in place, her body jerking with each flick of his tongue. Her fingers fluttered down and clumsily tried to open his trousers.

“Please, Michael. I want you inside of me.” Her voice was shaking with need.

“I won’t argue with that.” He moved her hands while he hastily opened his trousers, then lifted his hips and she yanked them down to bunch at his ankles. Without a moment’s hesitation she climbed on his lap. He gripped her lush bottom as she slowly lowered herself down onto him with an approving moan.

Michael opened his mouth, and with a delighted smile, she offered up her breast for him to feast upon. He greedily suckled as she rode him.

“Now I want to see you do it.” He said, his breaths growing more rapid with each stroke of her body around his.

“Do what?”

“Tease these eager nipples.” He flicked one with his tongue.

When she didn’t immediately comply, he slapped her backside. “You’d better do as you’re told, little miss.”

One hand wrapped around her breast, massaging roughly. “Yes, my lord.”

Good God, that nearly sent him over the edge. He thrust his hips up to meet her and she rode him hard as she flicked first one nipple and then both, with her fingertips. Watching her bring herself pleasure was intoxicating, and his own pleasure roared through him.

“Yes, Michael. Yes.” She chanted the words as she hurtled toward her climax. Her whole body began to shake. The pressure of his own impending release climbed, and he closed his eyes, holding himself off for just a few moments longer. She was so close now. Finally, she threw her head back in ecstasy as her pleasure surged. He let himself go and joined her in paradise as her body contracted around him, drawing every last ounce of pleasure from him.

She collapsed against him, their chests moving in synchrony as they fought to catch their breath.

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and patted her bottom. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Mmm, perhaps.” She trailed her fingertip along his jawline to his lips where he licked it before kissing it lightly. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t still owe me a repeat of the magical things you did yesterday.”

“Oh, there will be many repeats of that, love.”

“Good, but next time, I want you naked. No more of this.” She tugged lightly on his lapel, and he chuckled.

“Done.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him. “Unfortunately, we can’t spend all day in bed, or I’d repeat it right now. Well, after a few minutes to recover, anyway.”

“Who says we can’t stay in bed all day?”

“I was hoping we could return to London with the others, but if you’d rather we stay here…”

She pushed herself upright, a radiant smile on her face. “Really? You’re going to take me with you?”

“I thought we might give it a trial run for a bit and see how you like living there. Would you like that?”

“Yes, please!”

Her eager happiness warmed his heart. “Get up and get dressed. I need your input on some decisions, and I definitely can’t have that conversation while you’re naked.”