Chapter 10

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”

Aristotle

Gwen was not sure what to do. It would appear her new husband had abandoned her, having left hours earlier. It was time to prepare for dinner, but she had envisioned that they would retire to her room earlier. In her azure gown.

Should she change for dinner, or keep her wedding gown on?

They were frivolous thoughts in lieu of the panic building in the pit of her stomach since Aidan had left so hurriedly. Gwen was growing more certain that he regretted their marriage, which was all the more painful to consider now that she had met all his relations.

She had enjoyed her afternoon with little Ethan and the adults. Usually, she spent time with the older people in society, the young women being rather spiteful toward her while the disinterest of the younger gentlemen had led to few conversations over the years.

Keeping company with intelligent men and women of an age with her, Gwen had become hopeful for the future. It seemed a whole new world was opening up. She anticipated future engagements with his extended family while she and Aidan started a new chapter of their own.

Gwen closed her wardrobe. She had been staring into it for several minutes and still not reached a decision.

“He hates being married to me.”

“Nonsense!” Octavia retorted quickly, but there was a note of hesitation in her tone. “He … just had … something … important to do … someone important to see.”

Buttercup whined in agreement, sitting at Octavia’s heels and her brown eyes contemplating Gwen with interest.

“On our wedding day?”

Octavia turned away, clearly at a loss. The dog remained seated, her gaze never leaving Gwen, who shifted around the room restlessly to pick up items and then place them back where she found them. Buttercup watched on, her little head cocked to one side, but she made no remarks about the agitated behavior of her new mistress.

“Should I change for dinner?”

“Perhaps I should bring up a tray?”

Gwen nodded. Her father had already stated he would not be available for dinner, so she would be eating alone at the dining table, while she worried about Aidan’s continued absence, if she went downstairs. An unappealing prospect.

Octavia left, and Gwen went to sit at the window. Picking up her copy of The Odyssey, she attempted to focus on Homer’s epic poem before tossing the book back on the side table. Buttercup followed her to settle heavily upon her slippered feet as if to remark that Gwen needed to calm herself.

Have I made a mistake?

It was disheartening to think such thoughts within hours of their vows. It would have been nice if it had taken several days for the first doubts to set in.

Gwen drummed her fingers on the plump stuffing of her favorite armchair. Sitting here provided a view of the garden, with the Thames twinkling beyond the lawn. It might be her father’s only remaining property, but it was a beauty, an oasis within London that she would miss when she and Aidan moved to their new home.

The indigo wingback seat had once belonged to her mother, and she planned to take it with her because of the comfort it brought her to remember the times they had spent together.

Mama would tell me to buck up and take action.

But how? She did not even know where Aidan was. And noblewomen did not run about Town, left to their own devices.

Although …

She was married. That meant she had more freedoms like that horrible Milly. Perhaps it was time to storm some clubs and find her missing groom?

Gwen gently slipped her feet from under the resting Buttercup and stood up, resolved to take some sort of action. For years she had retreated into her library, away from the unwarranted aggression that had begun in school, but this was her chance to have a babe of her own. To build a life.

She strode toward the door, resolute that she would wait no longer. Aidan needed to do his duty and then he could have all the regrets he desired once she was increasing.

Whipping open the door, she let out a shriek when she found Aidan facing her on the other side. He stood with no boots or stockings, merely his buckskin breeches, a shirt, and his coat. Even his waistcoat was missing. The tanned column of his throat exposed, and his large naked feet upon the floor, were shocking to behold.

Clapping a hand over her hammering heart, Gwen clung to the door.

“Where have you been?” The cry was out before she could sort out her thoughts at his sudden appearance.

“Thinking about you.”

Her brows drew together. It was tempting to believe his words, but that did not make sense, did it?

“What does that mean—that you were thinking of me?”

Aidan drew a deep breath. “I was considering the honor of joining you in your bed.”

The very air in her lungs froze as his eyes dropped to her lips with a sweep of deep brown lashes. He lowered his voice, speaking in a deep and pleasurable tone like a fine wine sweetened with a drop of honey. “O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!”

A low growl emitted from the region of her ankles. Both she and Aidan looked down, startled.

“You have a dog,” he said in a surprised tone.

“Buttercup. I rescued her from a halfpenny showman last week after I saw him kick her in the ribs.”

He arched an eyebrow in response, staring down at the bristling canine at her feet. “She has thoughts about me entering your room.”

It was true. Buttercup had her teeth bared and was growling from the back of her throat.

“I think she wishes to protect you.”

Gwen smiled at Buttercup’s antics, musing that animals were much simpler than humans. “I am afraid you have to leave now, girl.” Gwen leaned over to take hold of Buttercup and gently sweep the dog out into the hall. When she looked up, Aidan’s eyes were back on her.

Gwen’s breath quickened to huffing pants as her blood heated in response to the naked desire on Aidan’s face. His recital of A Midsummer Night’s Dream had been intoxicating, and she had never dreamed of hearing such exquisite words directed toward her.

Gwen licked her lips, noticing how his gaze followed the movement and he, too, became flushed and his breathing frayed. A muscled arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his long, hard body before he drove them into her room.

Reaching behind him, Aidan groped around for the edge of the door, his gaze never leaving her face as he shut it firmly behind him and his lips descended. Gwen’s lids fell shut as she tilted her chin up to meet his kiss.

When their mouths made contact, it was as electric as rubbing silk over a glass rod, their lips fusing together as if finally finding their purpose. To join, to become one, to … rip each other’s clothes from their bodies.

Even as their tongues tangled together, Gwen distantly realized that there were no longer any barriers. Their previous kisses had been muted compared to the fire that was now blazing between them, with the knowledge that they were finally alone and there was no longer any reason to hold back their passions.

Growling caused them to raise their heads and look about. Buttercup had apparently re-entered the room before the door had been shut. A silly oversight to not have closed it right away, Gwen supposed.

Aidan huffed impatiently, turning to open the door. Gwen quickly dropped down and pushed the bristling Buttercup out the door, holding the dog with a firm hand while Aidan carefully closed it once more, until only a small gap remained. She pulled her hand back in, which was followed by a decisive click.

A short, rough bark sounded from the other side, followed by scampering paws to announce the little dog’s departure from the family hall.

Gwen stood up, quickly returning to passion as her hands came up to fumble with Aidan’s lapels. Desperate to finally place her hands upon his broad chest with only thin linen to defend him from her exploration, she tugged at his wool coat.

“Citrus,” he mumbled, before sliding his lips across her cheek. Reaching the side of her face, he drew on her earlobe to suckle. Sensation burst in every direction as Gwen’s head dropped back, and she moaned in agonized pleasure as his tongue gently circled and his teeth nipped.

“Faith!” she cried out, bucking against him when he slid his lips down her neck to lick at the throbbing pulse at the base of her throat.

Gwen yanked at his obstinate coat, which immediately got stuck over his arms. Aidan gave a husky laugh, shaking the garment off so it fell to the floor. Reaching up, she spread her trembling hands across the chest that had invaded her dreams since their moonlight interlude.

Aidan’s lips came back up to meet hers, his hand cupping the back of her head as he leaned in to sip deeply. He was a ravenous beast, exploring her mouth thoroughly while his free hand swept down her body to cup a buttock. He pulled her firmly against his body, revealing the rigid length in the region of his falls pressing against her mound. Heat rose in flames from her core to engulf her belly, and she pressed ever closer.

Gwen vaguely registered a keening sound, like a wild animal in distress, before realizing it was her! She was moaning like a wounded beast, but even as the thought entered her head, it was gone. Wiped away by Aidan, reaching down to hoist her into his strong arms without the slightest sign of strain. Their lips never parted as he strode across the room to deposit her on the bed and climb in beside her, leaning over so that their mouths remained consumed in the manner of starving men presented with a feast.

When Aidan finally lifted his head to gaze down at her with chocolate brown eyes glazed with passion, his face revealed his raw ardor and Gwen was brought back to the magic of their first meeting on the terrace. When reality had departed and the dream of two people, perfectly matched, awed by the beauty of the night, had discovered momentous synchronism. As if the very words of Aristotle had echoed down the ages to materialize in the form of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

She and Aidan, somehow one within the grand infinite universe. The very gods had swung the hands of fate to bring them together as they were meant to be.

Aidan pulled away before taking hold of the hem of his shirt to yank it off and throw it aside. Gwen watched in fascination, lifting a hand to trace over the strong musculature of his chest and brush through the crisp curling of hair dusting his bronzed skin. Her gaze came back to meet his, and she marveled at how beautiful and empowered her new husband made her feel with his admiring glances and the sweet poetry that he recited so well.

“You are so utterly beautiful, Gwen Abbott,” he breathed, groaning as her hand brushed ever lower to follow the trail of hair arrowing down to his buckskins. Closing his eyes in exquisite agony, he reached up to take the errant hand in his own.

When he reopened his lids, his blazing brown irises found her, and Gwen quite lost the will to draw air into her lungs.

“It is my turn, sweetheart.”

His head lowered to trail kisses down her neck to the top of her bodice, his tongue lapping at her exposed skin. His arms came round her, and she felt him fumbling with the buttons. Curling her arms around his neck, she rose up to assist him, and soon he was tugging the gown off. Gwen lifted her hips, brushing against him as he pulled the gown down over her legs and sent it sliding to the floor. Bearing back to lean on his haunches, kneeling beside her, Aidan swept burning eyes over her before extending a hand to run it over her stays.

“It will be easier to undress me if I am on top,” she whispered hoarsely.

Aidan shut his eyes, licking his lips. “Yes,” he said, taking hold of her and making her yelp in surprise when he suddenly rolled, pulling her along with him until their positions were reversed.

It was decadent and delicious. Her body layered over his so she could feel every indent and curve of his muscles, his thighs, and … the evidence of his interest. Biting her lip, Gwen lowered her knees on either side of his powerful thighs to straddle him before slowly rising up. Her intimate muscles clenched as her melting core made contact with his erection through his breeches. He watched her from his new position, his hands running over her flared hips and up to cup her breasts through the stays.

Aidan swallowed, riveted, as Gwen reached behind her to loosen the tapes. She looked down to see what had caught his attention so and realized her breasts were pushed forward and up. Feeling like Venus rising from the waves, she slowly peeled the stays from her bosom, turning her torso to flick them to the floor.

Her groom groaned loudly, his eyes focused on the jutting points of her nipples now visible through the linen of her shift. Gwen briefly toyed with shyness before reaching a decision to revel in her power as a desirable woman. His rigid length between her legs, his falls scraping against her pulsing center, brooked no argument regarding his interest. Aidan wanted her.

Her!

Gwen, Gwen the Spotted Giraffe had an intelligent and handsome gentleman splayed out beneath her with lust in his eyes.

Aidan’s hands came back down on her hips, languidly sliding up over her belly to come to a rest again below her unbound breasts. They stared at each other for several heart-pounding seconds.

“Take down your hair, Venus.”

Gwen raised her shaking hands, pulling out her pins and throwing them toward the floor. Aidan watched as she unfurled her locks, draping them over both shoulders while never breaking eye contact.

He sighed deeply, then finally shifted up to caress her rounded breasts with his hot palms. Aidan kneaded gently, his eyes remaining fixed on hers with flags of color across his cheeks and a heaving chest, before brushing his thumbs over the turgid tips.

Gwen threw her head back, and she exhaled in a guttural moan, overcome by the revelations of making love. Beneath her, Aidan rocked his hips, brushing against her slickened pearl at the apex of her slit which cascaded overwhelming waves of pleasure in chaotic abandon.

Being forcedto listen to lessons on carnal relations from Trafford had been torturous. The conversation, on one hand, made him exceptionally ill at ease. On the other hand, the thought of sharing the experiences Trafford had described with Gwen—to be in her bed over her, underneath her, or behind her—was the most alluring notion he could conceive of.

Feeling her lithe form bucking in his lap, observing her arousal as he gently stroked her hardened nipples, Aidan could not be sure he could complete this task successfully. He was raging heat and fractured breathing, harder than he had ever been, and desperate to join with the incredible woman who seemed to be unaware that she was riding him in her excitement.

If he had any hope of bringing her to completion before him, he had to change their positions quickly. Aidan dropped his hands to grab hold of her thin shift, sitting up so he could peel it off her body. Soon Gwen was naked before his eyes, and he greedily took in the sight of her tawny nipples, turning his head to take one into his mouth. Gwen bucked even harder, rubbing against him in a manner that almost made him spend. Grabbing one of her hips, he stilled her motion as he swirled the areola and flicked the nipple once more. Gwen surged forward, pushing her breast against him while tugging on his head.

Aidan realized he could not restrain himself in this position any longer, despite the precaution he had taken before entering Gwen’s room. An embarrassing preliminary activity to secure his stamina for the coming exertions that had involved intimate thoughts of his bride naked in his bed. Reality far exceeded his imagination.

His arm banded around her waist, and he gently lowered her back, turning to lick the other pleading nipple as he pulled back onto his knees and lowered her down onto the counterpane.

Once he had her on her back, the fire in his loins banked just a little. Enough to trail down her belly until his mouth was hovering over her mound. He caressed a shaved cheek over the silky red curls that shielded her from his gaze, breathing in the scent of her salty sweetness before extending his tongue to sweep over her slit and find the nub that controlled her pleasure.

A loud wail ensued, and Aidan chuckled and winced simultaneously. If Smythe or his servants entered the family hall, they would quickly depart when they overheard the loud antics in Gwen’s bedroom.

Doing his best not to hear Trafford’s voice instructing him as he carried out the suggested methods, Aidan swirled his tongue over Gwen’s swollen pearl, flicking and sweeping rhythmically while she keened and moaned, her legs open in invitation as he invaded her most private region with determined lapping.

Her breathing grew more and more labored, her hips moving urgently on the bed until, finally, she wailed loudly once more and stiffened with her hips thrust up toward his questing mouth.

Like the tide gently receding from the shore, she relaxed, falling back onto the bed as her panting slowed. Aidan pulled away, stumbling onto the floor to work the buttons of his buckskins. On the bed, Gwen turned her head and languidly opened her eyes to watch him. Her eyes focused on the straining against his falls, curiosity in her expression.

Aidan finally got the breeches undone, pushing them and his small clothes over his hips to reveal his hardened cock. Gwen’s eyes widened, and she began to reach out a hand, but Aidan drew back in mild alarm. He needed to finish this, and if she touched him …

He stepped out of the pool of garments, returning to lower himself over her flushed body and quickly overcome at the softness of her creamy skin against him. The golden freckles he had dreamed about spread in every direction, and he wished he had the patience to trace every one with his mouth, but his need to join with her was all he could think about.

“This might hurt, sweetheart.”

Her eyes were a vivid blue when she nodded. “I know.”

Aidan took his length in hand, carefully guiding himself to her honeyed entrance, slick with arousal from his ministrations, and he found himself headily proud of his achievement. That he had brought her mindless, keening pleasure. However he completed this, he had succeeded in bringing his Venus to the peaks of pleasure.

Gwen was a passionate woman, highly responsive to his prior kisses and to his inexperienced efforts, which was profoundly gratifying. Trafford had assured him that bringing her to her peak before completing the deed would ease what was to follow, and Aidan hoped he was right because he hated the thought of causing her pain.

Pushing forward, he invaded her quivering channel as Gwen gasped and shut her eyes tightly, seating himself all the way inside her before coming to a complete stop.

Lands! Stopping was the hardest thing he had ever done! Feeling her wrapped tightly around him, at once soft and tight, hot and wet, he wanted to thrust decisively and find his pleasure. He had never experienced such a euphoria, finally making love to a woman but being forced to remain still.

Aidan was a hot-blooded male. He had always been interested in females, but he had never been able to bring himself to take advantage of any of the women he had encountered in the past. It should mean something, and women were vulnerable within their society. The idea of paying coin had been abhorrent, the concept of keeping a mistress despicable. He could not father bastard children with a woman he claimed to have affection for, as did many men of their set. And if he cared for a woman, he could not, of course, take advantage of her or ruin her. The only honorable option had been to wait until he found a true mate, and then wed her. Something which had been far from his mind until the night he had laid eyes on Gwen.

When meeting her later on the terrace and discovering that her ravishing exterior was nothing to the sharp intellect beneath, Aidan had been utterly captivated. He knew he had found the woman he wanted to marry and bed, even as circumstances forced their union along.

Beneath him—around him—Gwen relaxed, and Aidan needed no further encouragement. He gently withdrew and thrust forward, wanting to throw his head back and howl at the wonder of making love to the magnificent woman who had agreed to be his wife. The urge to thrust wildly had to be beaten back with an iron will.

Beneath him, Gwen moaned as she gyrated her hips and her eyes flickered open. “I need you” was all she said before her eyes closed once more.

Aidan groaned and thrust, and when she did not complain but moaned in unison, it was all the invitation Aidan needed. He surged in and out, harder than he had ever been, rushing to the peak of intense ecstasy. Gwen moaned again, raking her fingernails over his back and gyrating her hips urgently against him as they both sought their final pleasure.

So it was that Gwen wailed once more, just as Aidan hit his peak and spent inside her in a flood of heat, holding himself above her as he discovered the purest ecstasy. When the ability to process thought returned, he rolled over, so that Gwen lay draped over him and they both sought their breath.

As his pulse returned to normal, Aidan contemplated the hell that he was in. He had married the most engrossing woman he had ever encountered, but there was a distinct possibility that he would soon break the very worst of news to her and shatter her world.

It was imperative that he forge a strong connection with her so he might assist her with her future troubles when the time came to do so.

After Aidan had foundthe washbasin and cleaned both of them, Gwen rested in the crook of his arm with her head against his chest. She listened in amazed satisfaction at the beat of his heart, while her husband toyed with locks of her hair.

It was the only time they made love that night, Aidan insisting they needed to be restrained for her first time.

Eventually he rose to find a dinner tray waiting outside the door, and Gwen had watched him walk across the room with an unfamiliar sense of proprietorship, observing his muscular buttocks as he made his way.

They were married! For the rest of her days, she would have this man.

When Aidan rejoined her in bed, feeding her bits of fruit from the tray, he quoted random bits of poetry. Lines about admiration and beauty from an array of great writers, and Gwen listened in avid awe.

Aidan was clever, admiring, and complimentary. She had never received such attentions from a gentleman before, and several times through the pursuant hours, she wanted to pinch herself to ensure it was not all a lovely dream. But the idea of waking up to her old life was too painful to consider, so she never attempted the pinch.

Gwen wanted this with Aidan. She wanted to be the center of his world and hear his adoring words spoken in his deep voice. To forge a partnership, to share their darkest secrets, and to provide mutual solace in their future troubles. To touch him and kiss him as they did several times, and to fall asleep in his arms.

As sleep stole over her like the arrival of the night once the sun has set, Gwen moved closer to him, wrapping an arm around his naked waist and mumbling the words that had been circling her mind since she had found him at her door.

“I love you,” she said as she fell into a deep sleep.