Epilogue

EPILOGUE

One Month Later

“God’s wounds!” Susanna hurried into Anthony’s studio so fast that as she flung the door shut, she ended up falling against it, leaning on it.

“Good morning to you too.” Anthony laughed deeply as he looked up from the painting he was working on. Susanna smiled the moment she saw him. There was something about being in Anthony’s presence that lightened her mood, even when she was stressed as she was today.

“Between your mother and my aunt, I feel as if the world is going mad!” She strode forward, walking into the studio as Anthony lowered his paintbrush.

“Their preparations for the wedding making life a little difficult?” Anthony teased.

“That is an understatement.”

“Now you know why I decided to stay out of it,” Anthony whispered with great mischief.

“You were smart; I was not.” Susanna shook her head at herself as she rounded the canvas, eager to see what he had been working on. “At the modiste, they poked and prodded me so many times to ensure the gown fitted; I swear I am covered in bruises…” She trailed off as she caught sight of the painting. “Well, now I understand why the curtains are pulled closed.”

There was but a slip of light filtering between the curtains, revealing what was on the canvas. It was the painting of Susanna when she was bare, laying on the chaise lounge in the studio. Around Anthony there were a few other sketches he had drawn of Susanna, clearly intended to help him finish the composition.

“Did that help to distract you?” Anthony said softly.

“You can say that.”

“Then let me give you another distraction.” Anthony moved in front of the canvas, blocking the sight for now. “Something, that will bring you relief.”

“Relief?” Susanna said quizzically, curious at his choice of words.

“I heard from my solicitor this morning,” Anthony began slowly. “The trial for the Earl of Keats was completed yesterday.”

“And?” Susanna stepped forward, eager to have the news. Ever since Donald had been caught by Anthony and the constables, she had known huge relief, yet a fear had lingered like a pain in her gut. It was a fear that Donald could come back again and insist on a marriage once more.

“He was found guilty of abduction and has been sentenced to transportation.”

“Transportation?” The word stunned Susanna for a minute. She stood there, dumbfounded, and chewed on her lip.

The Donald she had thought she knew was kind and gentle. That boy she had considered her best friend seemed lost to her now. The thought of that same boy being transported across the world felt wrong until she remembered the man he had become.

He is no longer the Donald that I knew.

“So… he cannot come back?”

“You will never have to see him again, Susanna.” Anthony’s words were soft as he took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back. It was such a gentle touch that Susanna was filled with relief. For the first time in a month, she felt that fear vanish, and her gut no longer hurt.

“We are free,” she said with relief, her smile broadening.

“Indeed, we are. So, how about we continue with that first distraction?” Anthony stepped back and gestured to the canvas in front of him. “You see, I am having a little trouble in finishing the painting.”

“Oh? Do you need a little help?” Susanna playfully reached for the nearest paintbrush and went near the canvas.

“Oh no!” Anthony caught her around the waist, pulling her away from the canvas. The brush ended up between them, getting paint all over Susanna’s gown. “You may spoil the composition.”

“You have spoiled my gown!”

“Do you truly mind?”

“Not in the slightest.” In emphasis, Susanna dabbed more paint on her gown, making Anthony laugh even more. As he tipped his head back, indulging in that laughter, Susanna couldn’t help admiring him.

When they had first met, he had hidden such temptations to laughter but not anymore. Laughter was a part of life now.

I can hardly believe how far we have come.

“How can I help then?” Susanna asked as Anthony controlled his mirth.

“Well, drawings can only go so far.” He nodded his head at the preparatory drawings, his voice deepening. “I am in need of the real model.”

“Oh, you should have asked sooner!” Susanna stepped back and dropped the paintbrush into a nearby pot before reaching for her gown. “Care to help me?”

Within seconds, the shawl and her gown were gone. The corset was quickly dropped to the floor along with her shoes and her stockings. As Susanna moved toward the chaise longue, wearing nothing but her chemise, she could feel eyes upon her. Perching on the very edge of the seat, she looked back to Anthony, finding his eyes were wandering all over her. Slowly, she removed the chemise, lifting it over her head and then dropping it to the back of the chair.

When Anthony’s hand didn’t move closer to the canvas with the paintbrush hovering in the air, Susanna felt a heat spread through her. They had barely had chance to be alone since their betrothal had been announced, but at last, they were now. Judging by Anthony’s gaze, he longed for the same thing she yearned for too.

“You are not painting,” she whispered.

“I’m distracted,” he explained with that paintbrush still high in the air. “I’m thinking of other things.”

“Nothing to do with painting?”

“Not at all,” he said playfully with a deep laugh.

“Anthony…”

“Yes?”

“Is the door locked?” she asked. It seemed to be the only encouragement Anthony needed. He dropped the paintbrush and moved to the door, locking it tight before moving to her side.

Susanna reached up toward him, her hands curling around his waistcoat and pulling him down toward her.

“Perhaps we could leave the painting for another time?” she murmured as his lips began to trace a path across her cheek and down her neck. He mumbled something in agreement, but with his lips against her skin, she couldn’t discern the words. When he found a sweet spot at the top of her collarbone, spending some time there playfully nipping her, she arched back on the chaise longue, pulling him down with her.

“We’ll have to be quiet,” Anthony said softly as he began to trace a path down her body. He lingered with his lips on the valley between her breasts before devoting his entire attention to just one of her breasts, playing with her areole.

“Oh…” Susanna gasped than latched a hand over her lips, knowing he was right. It was daylight, and though his mother and her aunt were in a distant part of the house sharing tea, they couldn’t risk the chance of what they were doing being overheard by the staff.

“Quiet,” Anthony whispered again before making his attentions even more amorous. Susanna had to growl against the covering of her hand before he travelled south.

With Susanna leaning against the back rest of the chaise longue, Anthony kneeled between her legs, taking her knees with soft hands and spreading her wide. Susanna could feel a wetness pooling between her legs as he lowered himself down, kissing her core.

Flinging her head back, Susanna gasped at the sensation. The pleasure was just as she had remembered it, perhaps even greater now she knew there was no barrier to them sharing such a thing.

Within a few weeks, we will be married!

He grew bolder with his touches, setting deep kisses to her core. When Susanna began to writhe with that pleasure, Anthony sat up, prompting her to whimper from the loss of touch.

“Susanna… I…” Anthony was breathless as he stared down at her, his cheeks reddened. “I do not want to stop.”

“Then don’t.” Susanna knew what he was asking, even without him having to say the words. In emphasis, she reached up and began to undo his waistcoat.

It is time we shared ourselves completely!

After his waistcoat was gone, the cravat and shirt quickly followed then his trousers. As before, Susanna’s eyes widened at his sheer length. She wondered briefly how he was possibly supposed to fit before he angled himself against her.

Susanna’s knees were wide, ready for him, as he nudged her entrance, hovering there.

“Are you certain?” he asked as breathless as she was.

“Please, Anthony,” she begged, reaching up toward him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down toward her for a kiss.

That kiss was instantly deep, his tongue taking her own. Susanna was so lost in that pleasure that she was distracted, unprepared for the moment he entered her.

The suddenness of the pain startled her, prompting her to moan into his lips though the sound was muffled. One of his hands traced her hip and the top of her thigh, gently. It was a comforting touch as he stilled their bodies together, clearly giving her time to adjust.

What amazed Susanna was how quickly the pain passed, and what was more, how a need began to develop deep in her abdomen, wanting more of this. When she rocked herself against him, experimentally, he growled into their kiss then parted his lips from her.

With one of Anthony’s hands firmly on the chaise longue beneath Susanna, he set up a rhythm, pleasuring her with his own body. As their gazes connected, not once parting, Susanna felt a thrill begin to coil inside of her.

It wasn’t just from the touch, though that was a thrill in itself, but from the knowledge of what they were sharing together. This was their moment to be alone and to show each other what they felt.

Susanna’s legs soon quivered around Anthony’s hips as he continued to pleasure her, gripping the chair harder and harder beneath her. Soon, he had to release her thigh with his other hand, holding onto the chair completely as he quickened the rhythm of their lovemaking. That adjustment, seeing the way Anthony was breathless, red in the cheeks, devoted to pleasuring her, sent Susanna near her edge.

It was much greater than the spiraling excitement she had felt before. This time, there was an intensity to it. Without warning, she felt her body clamp down on Anthony’s as she was catapulted to that edge of her peak.

Anthony must have sensed it, for he placed his lips to hers, muffling her cries of pleasure. Her body quivered and shook with her hands on his biceps, clinging to him. A few seconds later, Anthony bucked against her one last time before the sensation changed for Susanna. He moaned into their kiss one last time, clearly reaching his peak too.

They stayed there, frozen, their lips parting as they both stared at each other, breathless.

“I…” Susanna tried to speak between panting breaths. “I did not know it would feel like that.”

“Incredible?” Anthony asked with a soft laugh. It vibrated through their connection, making Susanna writhe a little in pleasure. “Oh, do not move like that, Susanna, or I will never be able to tear myself away from this position with you.” She laughed at his words, covering her mouth.

Slowly, Anthony pulled her hand away from her mouth and kissed her again. Unlike their last kiss, this one was gentle, just a press of lips together.

“If that is what is in store for a marriage, something tells me it will be a very happy one indeed,” Anthony whispered to her before placing more kisses to her neck.

“I quite agree.” Susanna sighed with the words and ran her fingers over his back. “What about your painting? Do you not want to finish it? I thought you liked your routine to paint every day.”

“To hell with routine,” Anthony murmured and moved his lips to hover over hers another time. “I’ve found a new way of life now.”

Susanna laughed, thrilled, as he kissed her again.

The End?