Chapter 21

B elle didn’t argue as Michael carried her up to his chambers. He sat down on the floor in front of the fire and just held her in his lap.

“You need to get warm.”

She simply nodded as he rocked her and soothed her with loving caresses.

“I’m sorry, Michael.”

He shook his head, but she needed him to know, to understand. She sat up and looked into his eyes.

“I was afraid. I am afraid, and I didn’t want you to worry. That’s why I told Isaac instead of you.”

“Belle, I’m your husband. I’m always going to worry. That’s my job. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell me.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her temple.

“Please don’t send him away, Michael. It wasn’t his fault.”

“I wasn’t really going to send him away, and I certainly won’t now. He drove himself to exhaustion looking for you.” He let out a long sigh. “Perhaps we can figure out a way that he can be both your bodyguard and your friend, at least in private. I obviously underestimated just how much you need his friendship.”

She threw her arms around him and crushed her lips to his. “I love you, Michael,” she said between kisses.

“And I love you. Will you marry me again tomorrow?”

She giggled as she overflowed with happiness. “Of course I will.”

His kiss was surprisingly gentle as his lips whispered over hers. It didn’t fail to excite her, however, and her nipples pressed firmly against the fabric of her chemise as warmth filled her belly. Slowly, they undressed one another, as if it was all part of a choreographed dance. They took their time, a kiss here, a caress there. This time, after removing the pins from her own hair, she reached up to pull on the cord that held Michael’s back, as well. His mane of golden hair settled around his shoulders, and she reveled in its silkiness as the strands flowed between her fingers.

Michael picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, setting her down gently. He brushed her hair back and framed her face with his strong hands, a loving smile on his lips as he gazed down at her.

Belle swallowed, her heart beating nervously inside her chest. It felt silly to be nervous after all the times they’d made love, but something felt special tonight. He loved her.

Slowly, his lips descended to meet hers. She quivered at the sweet tenderness as he gently nipped at her lips. He reached over and pulled back the covers.

“Let’s get under there where it’s warm, shall we?”

“Yes, please.” She scooted herself to the middle of the bed. Michael followed her and pulled the blankets over them. The warmth of his skin against hers was heavenly.

Michael’s thumb brushed gently over her lips before he traced a light path with his fingertip over her chin and down her throat. He zigzagged across her chest, barely teasing the top of each breast but never making contact with her aching nipples. His hand brushed along her sternum and around to rest at her waist.

“Are you teasing me, Michael?” Belle’s pulse raced as need spiraled through her.

His answering smile was devilish. “Am I going too slowly for you, love?”

“Yes.” She nodded insistently, her voice breathless.

Michael rolled on top of her and pinned her wrists above her head in one of his hands. The heat of his tongue slid along her jaw and around the shell of her ear making her shiver with a prickling chill. “Well, that’s too bad, my naughty girl,” he whispered. “I get to decide how fast we go this time.”

Belle’s whole body was an instrument filled with waiting, desperate for him to pluck every string and make her sing. Her nipples pressed themselves against his chest, begging for his touch.

Instead, Michael pressed a kiss to her nose. Her nose! Belle huffed with frustration.

“What is it, sweetheart? You don’t want me to kiss your nose?”

“No,” she said exasperatedly.

“Then where do you want me to kiss you?” His eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Here?” He brushed his lips over her cheek. Belle glared up at him. She could feel the evidence of his desire against her thighs and wiggled against him. Two could play at this game. A moan rumbled inside his chest and he crushed his lips against hers. He took her mouth with savage intensity, his tongue plunging between her lips, tangling with her own. And then his mouth was gone.

The wickedness had not left his gaze as it bored into her. “You can’t get your way that easily, little miss.” He pressed light, nipping kisses down her throat and across her collarbone, his teeth grazed over her shoulder sending a ripple of want through her body.

“Michael, please,” she begged. Her nipples were screaming out for his touch and her core ached to be filled by him.

“Since you asked so nicely.” He flicked his tongue across her nipple. A groan escaped her lips, and she wantonly pushed her chest out, pleading for more.

“Please, Michael. I’m going to burst with need soon.”

A deep chuckle shook his body. He was delighting in her agony.

“Tell me what you want, Belle.”

“I want you, Michael.” Her voice was a desperate plea.

“You have me, love. I’m right here. What do you want me to do?”

“I want—” For some reason, she struggled to say the words out loud, even though they were shouting inside her head.

“What do you want?”

Desperation won out over her bashfulness. “I want you to lick my nipples. Both of them.”

“Mmmm, gladly.” He dipped his head and teased her nipple, sending waves of needy pleasure through her body, pooling in her core. He was relentless and persisted until her entire body throbbed and shook with need.

Desperate to be filled by him, she spread her legs and arched her hips upward, silently begging him to take her.

“What is it you want, Belle?”

“Please Michael, I need you.”

“Need me how, love?”

“Inside of me. I need you inside of me.”

He pressed his tip against her entrance and pushed just inside. Her body hummed with anticipation, but he didn’t move.

“Like this?” he asked, an infuriating smile teasing his lips.

“Michael,” she whined.

“Words, Belle.”

“I want you to fill me, Michael. I want your entire length buried in my body.”

With a satisfied growl, he thrust into her, the impact moving her whole body. Pleasure exploded through her. “Don’t stop, Michael.”

He moved in and out of her with long, slow strokes, stoking the flames of her pleasure higher with each languid descent.

“Faster, Michael.” He gradually increased the speed of his movements. “That’s it. Just like that!” she called out.

“Your wish is my command,” he said through gritted teeth. His steady rhythm pushed her pleasure higher and higher with each stroke of his body in hers.

The intensity of the burgeoning sensations in her core was nearly overwhelming. Michael’s eyes were closed in concentration, his jaw clenched as his body began to tremble. Belle embraced the pleasure, and, knowing he would follow her, she let go and allowed herself to be consumed by the pleasure that burst through her.

“Oh God, Michael!” she shouted the words as delectable sensations pulsed through her body. With a roar, Michael’s body tensed over her, and he jerked as he slammed into her.

Letting her hands go, he collapsed beside her. After a long moment, when their breathing had slowed, he pulled her to face him. “That was your first lesson in learning to tell me what you want or need. I will continue with these lessons until you’re finally comfortable telling me anything and everything. Understood?”

“Mmmm. Yes, my lord.” She certainly wouldn’t say no to more lessons like that.

“Good, because I never again want to hear you telling someone else something you should be telling me.”

* * *

The following day, Michael watched in awe as Belle made her way down the aisle toward him, Isaac on one arm and Mrs. Ingram on the other. Her eyes were filled with love, and her smile was radiant. He’d asked Mr. Carlyle to come and perform a ceremony for them. It wasn’t a true wedding, of course. They’d already done that. This one was held in their ballroom rather than a church, and their vows weren’t conventional. They promised to love and choose one another for all of their remaining days.

Their love was almost palpable as they gazed into one another’s eyes and repeated their vows, surrounded by their closest friends. This was how their wedding always should have been. Gone was the trembling, frightened young woman, resigned to whatever horrible fate awaited her. When he pressed his lips to hers this time, they weren’t cold and motionless as they’d been on their wedding day. This time, they were warm and hungry, and when he stood, she grabbed his lapels and pulled him back down for more. Laughter erupted around them. It may have taken them a little while to get there, but this was exactly how it was always supposed to be.

* * *