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Reuben began unbuttoning his sleeves with a raised brow. “I did not know you were a fan of libraries.”

Angel gave him a playful pout. “I have some rather fond memories in libraries now,” she said slowly, sitting up and straightening her gown. She leaned toward his broad, handsome face and gave him a peck on the cheek. She drew away, shivering.

“Lord!” she exclaimed. “You’re like a block of ice!”

He stood. “I’ll make a fire.”

Angel watched as her new husband gathered kindling and struck a match. Her brother’s castle – whilegorgeous –was dreadfully chilly. He couldn’t afford extra servants right now.

“It was so good of Theo to let us honeymoon at his castle,” Angel said, reaching behind her head to pull out a pin. A lock of dark hair fell across her shoulder. “Especially while he has so much to deal with at present.”

“I wanted to honeymoon in Rome. It would have been a lot warmer.”

“I know.” Angel stood from the bed and wrapped her arms around him. “But I didn’t want to stray far from my family.”She gave him another kiss on the cheek. “I have come to rather appreciate them of late.”

“Well, I appreciate your brother not objecting to our marriage.” Reuben successfully lit the fire while Angel continued drawing pins from her hair. He glanced over to her. “After all, it seems a certain duke had been angling for your hand.”

She watched him as he removed his jacket, his muscles rippling under his white shirt. “There was little to object about, and as I said before, I had no interest in the duke.” She gave him a mischievous smile when he looked at her. “Not after I set eyes on you.”

The area between her legs ached. They’d consummated their marriage only two nights ago… but she wanted the thrill of it again. After all her pins had been set aside, she rose from the bed and wandered over to her husband, who had seated himself in an armchair and opened a book.

She gently lowered the book from his face with the tip of her finger. “Undress with me,” she said in a low, soft voice.

His blue eyes sharpened as they scanned her loose hair that she’d deliberately let trail over her stays and chemise.

“All right,” he grunted, setting the book aside. Angel turned, and he loosened the ties of her chemise. He began to undo her corset, but she gently placed a hand on his and guided it downwards, between her legs.

“I want to feel you,” she breathed.

Reuben’s other hand moved up. His fingers gently traced the curve of her breast. He lowered his mouth, pressing his warm lips against the base of her neck. She shuddered with anticipation.

She turned, catching his mouth with hers. She pushed him back into the armchair, devouring him with her kisses, her hands wandering underneath his shirt to feel his bare chest. Hegroaned softly and quickly undid the rest of her corset. It fell away, and her breasts spilled forward, finally free.

Reuben lifted her up as he stood, making his way to the bed. He lowered her onto the mattress and admired her figure, splayed about pleasantly against the white sheets. Lowering himself over her, he pulled away her chemise until her right breast was exposed, her nipple hard from the cold.

Giving her a last appreciative glance, he fastened his mouth on her breast, his tongue swirling in dizzying circles around her nipple.

Angel sighed, arching her back with pleasure. His breath tickled her chest, making the hair on her skin rise. He moved his hand to her left breast, squeezing and rubbing it gently. His tongue flicked her nipple, eliciting soft moans from her. She quickly became wet with anticipation.

He switched to her other breast, and as he did so, his right hand moved down, searching under her garment. He grasped her thigh, then moved his warm hand up… up…

Angel gasped as his fingers found their way between her legs, stroking the area between them. He slowly dipped two fingers inside of her, then pulled them out halfway… then plunged them back in.

Galvanized, she arched her back and inhaled sharply. She burned—oh God she burned—with desire as he continued fingering her, setting a steady and infuriatingly slow pace.

His mouth left her breast to explore her neck, his breathing heavy, then he nipped her ear, and her insides clenched from the thrill of it. “Reuben…” she moaned. “When are you going to do it?”

“Patience,” he murmured. He kissed her cheek, her forehead, her hair. His fingers continued to plunge deeper inside her with each thrust.

Angel twisted, craving sweet release. “Please,” she said. “I need you inside me.”

Still masterfully fingering her, he used his other hand to undo his breeches.

Angel’s eyes widened. His cock, enlarged and thick, fell out of his placket. She whimpered with the need to have him.

“Shh,” Reuben said, giving her a deep kiss. “I’ll give you what you want. But first…” He removed his shirt, his defined chest glowing in the firelight.

Then, briefly extracting his fingers, he helped her completely remove her clothing.