Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The next morning, Caroline stirred first, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she burrowed deeper into the solid warmth of her husband's embrace. Sebastian's arms tightened around her instinctively, even in sleep, as if he loathed to let her slip away.

Her eyes fluttered open and she leaned in impulsively to press a feather-light kiss to his slightly parted lips, tracing the chiseled line of his jaw with a gentle finger. Sebastian stirred at her touch, his eyes blinking open and a lazy grin spreading across his face as he focused on her.

"Good morning, wife," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep and intimate with desire. "If this is the sight I get to wake up to every day, I may never leave this bed."

Caroline laughed softly, swatting at his chest in playful admonishment. "Tempting as that may be, husband, I have other plans for you today."

Sebastian quirked a brow, a glint of mischief dancing in his green eyes. "Oh? Do tell."

She sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist and baring the creamy expanse of her skin and the soft roundness of her breasts to his appreciative gaze. "Well, as you have no pressing business to attend to today, I thought perhaps we could spend some time out of doors. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, take in the beauty of nature."

Sebastian's hands skimmed up her bare arms, pulling her closer. "I can think of a few natural beauties I'd like to take in," he murmured suggestively, nuzzling into the crook of her neck and moving his hands to cup her breasts.

Caroline's breath hitched, heat pooling low in her belly at his touch. Without truly thinking about it, she swung a leg over his lap to straddle him, her wetness pressing against the hardness of his thigh. Sebastian groaned and he reached out to cup her hips, his eyes darkened with lust.

"If you have other plans for me," he managed to get out, "I am afraid you should not have done this."

Caroline smiled down at him, enjoying the sudden rush of power she felt at his desperate need to be with her. She rolled her hips slightly and groaned at the sensation, suddenly wanting more—her plans of a walk in the garden dissipating.

"The garden," she whispered, her voice loaded with need, "will be there when we are done."

Sebastian nodded heavily and made a move to flip them over, but she shook her head firmly. "No," she indicated, and he frowned, though he dropped his hands to his side at once. "Please… let me."

Sebastian remained motionless, save for a tilt of his head and a raise of his brows. Caroline flashed him an enchanting smile before straddling him, her hips lifted while her hand slowly started rubbing his hardening member.

Then she sank down on him slowly and Sebastian let out a loud expletive, followed by a drawn-out groan as she started moving her hips back and forth. His eyes were fixed to her bouncing breasts and his hands moved just a bit to steady her rocking hips.

Caroline bit back a moan as she looked down at him, his entire body at her mercy for a change. This thought sent a rush of euphoria through her, and she moved her hips even faster, falling forward a bit and pressing her hands against his warm chest for balance. Sebastian moved his hands quickly, cupping a breast in each as she steadied herself and continued her movements, gyrating eagerly and groaning at the sensation of his hands on her breasts and his hips pressing against her thighs.

"Lean…" Sebastian whispered, pressing her up slightly. "Lean back."

Caroline nodded and did as he said, pressing her hands around his thighs as she leaned back. His hands moved down from her breasts to her hips, lifting her from his hardness before pressing her down quickly—the sensation shooting through her like a bolt of lightning. He barely gave her time to register what had happened before lifting her hips up again and slamming them back down on him, lifting his own hips slightly to meet her.

"God, Sebastian," she cried desperately as he repeated the motion for a third time, warmth pooling in the pit of her belly. Then she fell forward again and in a swift motion he flipped them over, his hips meeting hers in a desperate rhythm. Caroline let out a long moan when she felt herself clench around him, and she pressed her head back against the pillow as the euphoric release washed over her.

Sebastian fell forward not long after, careful not to crush her—settling for landing face-down next to her on the bed, his one hand moving to cup her buttocks. He glanced up at her with a mischievous grin.

"Well," he whispered almost sounding tired, "I would not mind more of that today."

Caroline laughed softly, though her heart raced at the thought. "Later," she mumbled, pressing a kiss to his waiting lips. "First, a walk through the gardens."

With a dramatic sigh of resignation, Sebastian flopped back against the pillows. "As My Lady commands," he conceded, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

They dressed quickly, trading teasing touches and stolen kisses as they made their way out into the sprawling gardens of the estate. Caroline took Sebastian's hand, leading him down winding paths lined with meticulously manicured hedges and riotous bursts of color from the well-tended flowerbeds.

She chattered excitedly as they walked, pointing out her favorite blooms and flashing him delighted grins when he made soft, encouraging remarks. Sebastian listened attentively, marveling at the carefree joy that seemed to radiate from his young wife in the pleasant surroundings.

They came to a stop beside a babbling fountain, the gentle splash of the water mingling with the chirping of birds and the distant hum of honeybees. Caroline kicked off her shoes, lifting her skirts slightly as she perched on the edge of the fountain, dipping her toes into the cool, clear water. The fountain was hidden in a corner of the garden, the trees and tall rose bushes hiding them from view.

Sebastian watched her, a soft smile playing about his lips, before settling down beside her and draping an arm around her shoulders. "This is nice," he admitted, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I can't remember the last time I took a moment to just... be. To appreciate the simple beauty of a perfect day with my lovely wife by my side."

Caroline leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder with a contented sigh. "We could make it more perfect," she whispered daringly and Sebastian lifted a brow when she pressed her body against his and offered her lips to him.

Their lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss, and Caroline sighed when Sebastian wrapped his arms around her. Never before had she thought it possible to be so desperate for a man, so eager to be satiated and belong to him in every manner.

"If you keep kissing me like that," Sebastian let out at last, his voice husky, "I may have to take you back to the bedchamber immediately."

Caroline's face lit up at this and she trailed her hands over his abdomen under the material of his shirt. "I am glad it does not seem an impossible task to convince you to share my bed tonight," she said, though her cheeks flushed at the shameless words. Sebastian smiled down at her and pressed a hand against her cheek.

"I am a lucky man," he whispered, "to call you my wife."

Caroline merely flashed him a satisfied grin and took his hand in her own, before she led him through the rest of the garden.

"I was thinking we could have a picnic today," she asserted, then lowered her lids. "Though I must admit that my appetite is not quite what I expected it to be. There are far better things to do than eat."

Sebastian looked down at her with a satisfied smirk and their lips met in another quick kiss. "Food first," he whispered before leading her back to the manor.

Caroline saw the unfamiliar horse tethered in the drive as they approached the house and a confused frown marred her brow as she looked up at her husband.

"Were you expecting someone, Sebastian?" she asked, glancing up at him uncertainly.

Before he could respond, the door flew open, revealing a tall, rakishly handsome man with laughing eyes and an air of irreverent charm. "Bas!" the stranger exclaimed, striding forward and clasping Sebastian in a back-slapping embrace. "Took you long enough, old boy. I've been waiting in your house for hours. Where on earth have you been?"

Sebastian laughed, returning the embrace with equal enthusiasm. "Nate! What the devil are you doing here? Did we have plans I'd forgotten about?

The man, Nathaniel, grinned unrepentantly. "We did not, but I knew you weren't working today and I thought you may want to spend some time with your dear best friend." His eyes now moved to Caroline and he wiggled his brows as he took in her disheveled appearance. "Do not tell me that this lovely creature is your wife."

Sebastian stepped back, taking Caroline's hand and drawing her forward. "Nathaniel, allow me to introduce my wife, Lady Caroline Casterbridge. Caroline, this rascal is Lord Nathaniel Wellington—the friend I'd told you about."

Nathaniel sketched a courtly bow, a roguish smile playing about his lips as he took Caroline's hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. "Enchanted, My Lady. I must say, Bas, you never told me how fetching your wife was. A real beauty, she is."

Caroline felt a flush rise to her cheeks at Nathaniel's bold appraisal, a frisson of unease skittering down her spine at the slightly too-knowing gleam in his eye. There was something unsettling about him, a sense of danger and unpredictability lurking beneath the polished veneer of charm. His gaze was a little too direct and the knowing grin that played about his lips made her uncomfortable.

"I have to say, Bas, I was uncertain about what the wife would look like seeing as how you married, but look at her!"

A deep blush rose to Caroline's cheeks and she snapped her head to Sebastian, who merely laughed. It was awfully improper to talk about the reason for their marriage in such a callous way, even for her who was never overly proper!

Sebastian, however, seemed oblivious to her discomfort, grinning brightly at his friend.

"Come in, come in," he urged, ushering Nathaniel into the house. "I had no idea you were planning on visiting. Caroline, darling, would you mind terribly if I absconded with Nate for a bit? We have quite a lot to talk about."

Caroline forced a smile to her lips, tamping down the irrational surge of unease and jealousy that rose in her throat. "Of course not," she demurred. "You two enjoy yourselves. I have some errands to attend to in town anyway. Shall I expect you for dinner?"

"Absolutely," Nathaniel cut in smoothly before Sebastian could respond. "You must allow me to impose upon your hospitality a bit longer, Lady Caroline. I'm simply famished and I must admit that I am quite curious to get to know the woman who managed to put a wedding band around Bas's finger."

Caroline inclined her head politely, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. "We would be delighted to have you, Lord Wellington."

She was not overly fond of the manner in which the man looked at her, or the way he made it sound like she had planned her marriage to Sebastian all along. To have him now drag her husband away while she'd intended on spending the day with him was adding insult to injury.

With a final, slightly strained smile, she took her leave, grabbing her pelisse and reticule as she slipped out the door. She had been planning to call upon Beatrice today anyway, hoping that with a bit of time and distance, her sister might be more receptive to mending the fractures in their relationship.