Chapter 28

Married

" Y ou are my wife now, my lady. It is only right that we share intimacy," Victor whispered against Briana’s ear as he gently brushed his lips against her skin.

Briana took a deep breath, trying not to shudder.

"Intimacy? What is that, my lord?"

"Well, when a man and woman are married, it is only fitting they make love and share their bodies." He kissed a delicate trail down to her shoulders, still watching her in the mirror's reflection. Then he continued, "And perhaps a wife would not mind exposing herself to her husband, and vice versa," he said, undoing the ties at the top of her bodice.

Victor began the real onslaught of sensations as he captured her lips while his hands unraveled her wedding dress until it pooled on the floor, exposing her inner garments to his gaze. Her bare shoulders and the curvaceous swirl at the top of her breasts caught his attention.

His eyes were intense as he paused, watching her in the mirror. Their gazes met.

"Damn, you are exquisite."

Briana blushed and lifted her hand to cover herself, but Victor stopped her and said, "Uh uh, not a chance. I have you in my grasp finally."

"But you’re cross with me for taking on another dangerous client."

"Whatever gave you that impression, my dearest wife?" he asked as his fingers deftly slipped down the front of her bodice revealing a bared breast. Briana gasped but had no time to react because his mouth was upon her, suckling a taut bud and firmly holding her in place. Her legs felt weak. “Danger only heightens the pleasure,” he said.

Then she felt his skilled hands pull down the other side until she was topless and completely bared to his view.

Victor's eyes darkened as he gazed at her perfect peaks, more than enough to fill his palms. He moved in to lavish attention on her twin as his hands kneaded her gently.

Briana threw her head back in ecstasy from the feel of his wet, hot tongue flicking her taut nipple repeatedly, lapping and suckling as if he could not get enough. He switched from one to the other, groaning each time and whispering terms of endearment.

Then his lips were upon hers, drinking her in, savoring her sweetness, stealing her breath away. Briana could not help but wrap her arms about his bare shoulders. His skin was hot to her touch.

What followed was a hurried removal of her undergarments leaving her completely exposed to his view.

Victor took a step back, panting for air and trying to calm his nerves. He had never wanted a woman as much as the one before him. But he tried to steady the rapid beating of his heart. To think he had almost lost her months ago due to sheer stupidity.

Then his hands went to his trousers, and he began to undo them. Briana stared at him with desire shining in her eyes. She gently reached across to touch his waist and help him.

It almost unmanned him, but he let her have her own moment of blissful exploration. Together they removed his garments until the proof of his arousal stood long, thick, and proud, completely exposed.

Briana gasped as it sprang forth, and she saw the entirety of her husband as his eyes roamed her body as well.

Her gaze remained on the part of him she was in awe about as it jutted against his belly.

"Do not keep looking at me so, or you will end up roughly tupped on the floor."

She snapped out of her heady gaze and watched as he reached for himself and stroked several times.

"I still cannot believe that will fit, even though it did before."

"On the contrary, my beauty, not only will it fit, but you will find even greater pleasure this time."

She gulped when he lunged for her and began a slow exploration.

She timidly touched him, and he lurched and hissed.

Meanwhile, Victor gently caressed her breast as his hand slid lower to caress the pearl between her thighs. He found what he was searching for and caressed her relentlessly.

Then he kissed her mouth. They were locked in an intimate embrace when Briana felt herself being lifted and gently placed on the bed. Victor followed her down and continued his ministrations over her body. Before long, his eyes, lips, mouth, and tongue followed pathways and contours along her skin, causing her to burn with fever.

In return, she stroked him gently and continuously as they engaged in something truly wicked. Until they were both moaning and gasping. Victor brought her to completion with his hand and tongue. When she cried out and shuddered, only then did Victor move over her and place his hips between her thighs.

He found his mark and, staring gently into her eyes, slowly thrust into her slick heat. Briana was amazed at the depth of longing in his gaze and the depth of feeling in hers. She felt the invasion of something thick and hard making its way inside, spurring her on to a feeling of euphoria. There was no pain this time, only pure pleasure. He withdrew then flicked his hips and surged inside again. She moaned with pleasure as he pounded into her relentlessly, allowing her no quarter other than to open wide and relax into the rhythm. He never took his gaze off her.

"That's it, beauty, that's it. Open for me, my darling, take all of me. You have all of me."

Briana shouted, "Yes!" then found her pacing and that crescendo building again. She joined him, fully participating and glorying in the feel, the friction of their bodies moving as one. She matched him with vigor, gripping him tight, her nails digging into his skin as she partook of the journey with equal passion. Her eyes were wide open. Meanwhile, he hovered above her, relentless in his conquering. Then she felt it coming, a second orgasm, except this time with her husband firmly planted inside.

Victor could feel himself ready to explode. He could not hold back any longer. He furiously rubbed her pearl until he felt his wife contract around him and grip him so hard. Her entire body stiffened, and she opened her mouth in a silent cry of her own climax. He shouted out loud because she gripped him so hard as he pounded inside, his nerve endings raw and his sensitive tip experiencing the most blissful euphoria ever. He pumped twice, then stiffened as he exploded inside her. Shuddering, Briana milked him completely. It was the most sexually satisfying experience of his life.

Victor buried his face in her neck and rode them to vigorous completion, groaning and slamming his lips over hers. He wanted to devour her and savor the moment—the exquisite feel of being deep inside his wife when he came. No barriers, no sheaths. Nothing he had ever experienced before. The most intimate and loving act between a man and wife. His wife.

As he emptied himself of passion's fire, he felt the moment Briana peaked and then slowly became pliant in his arms. Her eyes were glazed and shining with ecstasy, and he knew in that moment he had fallen—utterly and devastatingly fallen in love all over again.

He kissed her then, gently, and enjoyed her willing response. They lay in sated bliss for some time, catching their breath, kissing and caressing one another, murmuring sweet nothings. Victor gloried in the sentiment. Gloried in being here with his wife. He did not have to fake pleasure; instead, it was the most satisfying coupling he had ever experienced, bar none. Soon they fell into a deep sleep, cocooned in the knowledge that they had consummated their marriage for good.

The Cambridge Curse

"IT'S THE CAMbrIDGE curse," Edward said.

"What's that, Father?" Lucas asked.

"Well, it's long known that when a Cambridge man falls in love, it is forever. Not only that, but he will feel an overwhelming need to remain close to the woman he loves. Nothing else matters more than securing her affections and building a life together. He will become unreasonably overprotective and oftentimes overbearing."

"And you think that is why I cannot stop stalking my own wife?" Victor asked.

"Precisely," Edward replied.

Lucas said, "That's ridiculous. I've never heard of it before."

"Well, son, every generation of Cambridge men has scoffed at the notion. But it appears to be true. Look back on our history —my parents had a love match, and so did my grandparents. So too my uncles and their wives."

Victor replied, "Surely that is mere coincidence. Otherwise, we would have heard of it before."

Edward said, "It is little known, until it is known."

"What does that mean?" Lucas asked.

"I chose not to tell any of you about it until you were ready to hear it. My father did the same with me, as his father did with him."

"Why?" Victor asked.

"So you would have the freedom to decide love's fate for yourselves, without some bizarre pressure of a curse hanging over your head. When I met your mother, I was smitten, and I could not wait to marry. Even tying her to me through a blasted wager so she could not leave. It was the most irrational sensation I had ever experienced—this need to be with one woman for the rest of my life and protect her against all perceived harm."

Lucas and Victor were quiet for a moment until Lucas asked, "Then why are you telling us now?"

"Because now, for the two of you, it is known. So there's no need to be secretive about it. You have both hopelessly fallen in love: Lucas with Caitlin and Victor with Briana."

"That is preposterous," Victor replied while pacing back and forth.

Edward said, "Lucas, tell me the moment you first fell in love with Caitlin."

Lucas thought a moment, then smiled. "I had been shot and was bleeding all over Dr. Barry's rug when Cait threatened to embroider her initials into my flesh. I knew then no other woman would do for me."

Edward chuckled. "What of you, Victor?"

Victor stilled and inhaled a sharp breath. He remembered it vividly. "The moment Briana climbed over the terrace balustrade, cursing like a sailor, skirts flying up in the air, I was smitten." He whipped his head up to look at his father, and his expression was one of awe and wonder because it was true.

Edward said, "I see it is finally sinking in. You've found your soul mate, just like Lucas found his. Just like I fell in love with your mother many years ago at a notorious gaming den. There is no reason to doubt your love or be fearful or jealous. Your instincts to protect are par for the course. These women are bound to you as strongly as you are bound to them. You need to relax a little and trust that love will always find a way."

For the first time since he had stepped into his father's study seeking advice, Victor felt at peace. His reaction to Briana was normal, and he needed to trust in their love.

"I can tell you both about the curse now because you already know it's true. However, all I ask is that it remains a secret from your brothers until their time comes."

Lucas and Victor slowly nodded as they were reeling at this bizarre news. In fact, as they thought more on it, for generations there were stories of the Cambridge men living happily married lives that most in the ton called 'love matches.'

"If you will both excuse me, I have a sudden need to see Caitlin and make sure she is not cooking up some harebrained scheme to investigate crimes with Briana," Lucas said and hastily quit the room.

Victor suddenly stood. "Father, I need to find Briana because I know for a fact if left unchecked, she will most certainly recruit Caitlin and half the women of the ton into investigating and apprehending villains!"

Edward just laughed and replied, "Godspeed, my sons!"