Page 35 of A Duchess Disciplined (Dukes of Dominance #1)
EPILOGUE
“I t is well past time for us to retire,” Elias said, gesturing for a hug.
Catherine grinned and embraced her brother. His familiar Albany cologne mingled with the scent of Negus and pine.
“Good night,” Catherine said.
“Good night.”
Dorothy, clad in a beautiful white gown embellished with embroidered leaves of holly and red ribbons, hugged her next. “Good night, kitty cat,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”
Catherine hugged her sister tightly. “Merry Christmas.”
It was the first holiday event she had hosted on the estate with William, an intimate Christmas party that would last three days. Her family had arrived on the first day, and it had been a marvelous time. There was joy, games, and laughter. It was almost like the old days, when it had just been her and her siblings. This was better, though. William and the girls had been welcome additions.
It was also very tiring, and as the clock neared midnight, Catherine was grateful to see that her siblings were ready to retire for the night. Hannah and Hester had already fallen asleep, and Bridget had looked tired for the past hour. Catherine had worried that Elias and his seemingly inexhaustible energy might never find sleep, though.
“I love you,” Dorothy said.
“I love you, too.”
Catherine smiled as the butler escorted her brother and sister to their rooms. The space, once cold and forbidding, had been transformed in anticipation of guests. The entire house was decked with holly and ivy in honor of the season.
A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, and Catherine laughed. She sank back into William’s warm embrace. Her back pressed against his broad, muscular chest. “Tired?” William asked.
“What makes you think that?” Catherine inquired.
“You keep yawning,” William replied, placing a light kiss at the base of her neck.
“I am not too terribly tired,” she said. “Just a little. Having my family here is quite different from how the house usually is.”
“Indeed,” William agreed. “Tell me, dearest. How good do you believe your family’s hearing is?”
Catherine laughed. “Behave yourself,” she said.
William’s chuckle reverberated through his chest. His lips brushed against the shell of her ear. “I can be quiet if you will be,” he murmured. “ You are the loud one, after all.”
She shivered in delight, and her toes curled in her slippers. Heat coiled in her core, as she tried to decide how tired she truly was. Her mind said that she needed to retire to bed, but her body seemed to have other thoughts on the matter. Catherine bent her knees suddenly, freeing herself of William’s embrace. She ducked beneath his arms and turned around, flashing a brilliant smile at him.
“Well, that was something!” he exclaimed with a cheerful laugh.
She grinned. “I appear to have escaped you.”
“So you have.”
Catherine winked. Then, she turned and ran, her slippers the faintest whisper against the stairs. He thundered behind her and swept her into his arms once again. She gasped and muffled a squeak of surprise as he lifted her off her feet.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. “Am I to assume that I will be retiring in your bedchamber tonight?”
“I think that is a safe assumption.”
Catherine pressed a kiss to his cheek, as William climbed the stairs. She marveled at his strength, for he never once faltered. Once they reached the top of the stairs, he opened the door to his bedchamber. He crossed the room and placed her on the bed. Her pulse quickened, and she shifted back over the bed. William went to the door and closed it behind him. Then, he returned to her.
Catherine grinned and stretched her arms above her head, something which she knew lifted her breasts and showed her chest off to its best effect. “I will do my best to be quiet,” Catherine said.
William’s eyes lit up with eagerness. “If you are not, I will have to gag you.”
The suggestion sent her blood racing. “Oh!” she gasped.
Maybe she ought to have been horrified, for she had never before heard of such a thing, but instead, a tingle of anticipation spread through her. William climbed into the bed and sat astride her waist. She saw already that his manhood was hard within his trousers. Catherine reached for him and stroked him through the fabric. He tipped his head back and groaned, and Catherine smiled. “Could I make you find pleasure just like that?” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied, catching her hand. “But I prefer to find my pleasure inside of you.”
She grinned, and he kissed her throat. Next, her chin. Finally, he found her lips. Catherine curled her fingers in his hair and kissed him, aware of the sounds they were causing. She did not think that her family would hear, but it was best to proceed with caution.
“I am glad that we will be sharing a bed tonight,” she said between kissing William.
“And why is that?”
“Because it is terribly cold outside.”
He chuckled and kissed her collarbone. “I will warm you up soon enough.”
And he did. They spent their night and much of the morning in bed together, kissing and caressing and pleasuring one another. When the sun rose, Catherine was still awake. She lay with her cheek pressed against William’s chest, while he stroked her hair with gentle and steady strokes.
“I love you,” she mumbled against his chest.
“I love you, too.”
“I want to wake up like this with you every morning,” Catherine said.
“You can.”
He kissed her forehead, and Catherine’s eyes grew heavy. Slowly, she closed them and rubbed her cheek against his chest. Everything was just perfect.
The End?