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“I am, aren’t I?” Her mouth swallowed him again.

Why did they always have to fight? Why did they always have to argue? Why was that the only way the two could be together? Despite how much Charlotte had enjoyed this last week, she wanted more from this marriage. She wanted the companionship they had experienced when she was trying her best not to anger him. She also wanted the love that came when they fought. Until now, it had been one or the other. But why couldn’t it be both?

And yes, maybe that was just Charlotte being greedy. But she also thought there was nothing wrong with that.

Charlotte took Henry in her mouth until she could feel him begin to throb, until he became so stiff that she could sense what was about to happen. She was reminded of this morning, the way he had treated her, and she smiled to herself as she released him, wondering how he might like being teased.

“What?” Henry started. “What are you doing?”

She grinned. “I think I hear someone at the door?”

Henry’s face dropped. “Don’t you dare.”

“Or what?” She cocked an eyebrow.

His eyes flashed, and he bared his teeth. “I think you know.”

Then, he moved to stand as if to take her, but Charlotte was too quick. She pushed him back down and climbed on top of him, hiking up her skirt so there could be no confusion as to what she was doing.

“I told you…” She started kissing down his neck as she gently lowered herself onto his girth. “You’ve been so good to me today. You deserve… deserve… you deserve all of it,” she moaned as she felt him slide inside of her.

For once, Henry didn’t fight her.

This time, he was happy to sit back as she rode him in the back of that carriage. Both hands held him by the hair. His hands gripped her around the waist. Up and down, she moved. Back and forth. Up and down. Back and forth. Rising slowly so she could feel him sliding out of her, and then pushing her hips back down. She was in control here. She was the one giving her husband pleasure. And dammit if she didn’t love it.

And from the way Henry groaned and moaned and growled beneath her, she got the feeling that he was of the same mind as she. Once again, it was shocking just how much married life seemed to suit her.

* * *

For the first time that week, Charlotte and Henry shared a bed without first succumbing to their sexual desires. Often, it would be Henry dragging her into bed, having his way with her, and then collapsing at the end because the two were thoroughly worn out. Tonight, there was none of that.

Too tired and worn out for such things but not willing to spend the night apart as they might once have done, they simply climbed into bed together and wrapped themselves around each other like vines climbing a tree. Comfortable and relaxed was how Charlotte felt. At peace.

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you…” Henry began, his tone soft, half asleep as he spoke.

“Hhmm?” she responded, feeling her eyelids grow heavy.

“In a few days’ time, I’ll be leaving for at least a day. Possibly two.”

“Oh?”

He groaned and somehow pulled her in even closer. “Trouble with my estates in the north. I won’t bore you with the details, but…” He let out a long yawn. “Some of my larger tenants require a face-to-face meeting. So, Oliver and I will be making the trip.”

“All right…” Charlotte forced her eyes open and studied her husband, who by now had his eyes closed as he settled in and slowly drifted off to sleep. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Think nothing of it,” he said sleepily.

That was surprising. That Henry might think to tell Charlotte that he would be leaving in a few days’ time. That he would think he needed to tell her. Until now, he’d never bothered with keeping her abreast of his movements—it was one of his rules. A rule he now seemed happy to break.

She watched him closely a moment more, unable to keep a smile from her lips as she wondered about the meaning of this. Maybe he was just in a good mood? Maybe he was simply being polite? Or maybe, just possibly, he was starting to see her as more than a wife of convenience?

Feeling her heart flutter at the thought, she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. Already half-asleep, Henry still managed a smile at her touch, and he buried his head in her shoulder.

Previously tired, suddenly, sleep was the last thing on Charlotte’s mind. Her heart raced in her chest, her cheeks hurt from the smile that spread across them, and while she told herself she didn’t know why this was—Why did she care when and where Henry went?—deep down, she was certain she knew the reason…

ChapterSeventeen

“Are you going to miss me?” Henry asked as he prepared to mount his horse.