Page 40 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

L ia gazed into the mirror, pleased with what she saw. “Thank you, Esther. My hair has never looked better.”

“I’m so happy you like it, my lady. And thank you again for asking me to go with you, back to Traywick Manor. It’s a lovely place. I’m glad you’re marrying the viscount.”

She was happy. She was now the fifth of the ten cousins to wed.

When they had returned to Millvale last week, they had learned that Dru had wed the Earl of Martindale two months prior.

Dru had gone to visit Lucy after her wedding to the Marquess of Huntsberry, and she had fallen in love with one of Lucy’s neighbors.

Just as Lia had done.

The door flew open, Tia rushing in, followed by a more sedate Eden. Lia stood and faced her sister and sister-in-law.

“You look marvelous!” her twin proclaimed. “Rupert is going to fall all over himself when he sees you.”

“You do look lovely,” Eden said. “More importantly, you look happy.”

She reached for their hands and took them, squeezing. “I am wildly happy. I love Rupert so very much. It is wonderful because he loves me, too.”

Tia grew serious. “You have the love match you have always desired. By this time next year, you might even be a mother.” Tia embraced her, and all the love Lia had in her heart for her twin flooded her.

“Oh, I am going to miss you so much, Tia. Perhaps you can come to Crestbrook and find someone in the neighborhood to fall in love with.”

“I have already spent two months at Traywick Manor, and no one came close to drawing my attention. No, I will wait for the Season and all it will bring. I will eagerly meet the many bachelors in attendance. Ariadne is right, though. While going to the Season and attending all the wonderful events will be incredible, the most important thing is that it will be a time of year when you and I will reunite once more, along with our siblings and cousins.”

“You will have a start on being a mother with Celia to raise,” Eden commented. “What a precious child she is.”

Rupert and Lia had sat Celia down and told her of their plans to wed.

She had asked the little girl to call her Aunt Lia, and Celia had been more than ready to do so.

In truth, Lia would be the only mother the child ever knew, but she did not feel right being called Mama and taking the place of Celia’s birth mother.

Lia knew Celia would love and watch over any babes Lia had.

Mama entered the room and looked Lia over, nodding approvingly. “You make for a lovely bride, Cornelia. Come. It is time to go to the church.”

The four women went downstairs, where Val waited in the foyer for them. Her brother smiled widely upon catching sight of her.

“You make for a most beautiful bride, Lia,” he said, brushing his lips against her cheek.

“Thank you for everything, Val.”

Her brother had met with Rupert and Mr. Ousley, his solicitor.

They had gone over the marriage settlements, and copies had been made.

Val had presented a copy to Lia, telling her that her betrothed had made certain she and any children they had would be well cared for in the future.

While Lia knew she and Rupert would live a great distance from Val and Eden, she hoped each year when they came to the Season that Rupert and Val would grow to be friends.

Already, things were very friendly between them, which was a good sign of things to come.

Val escorted them outside and handed up each of them into the carriage. Lia held hands with Tia the entire way there, wondering what life would be like without seeing her twin daily. At least she and Rupert would attend Tia’s come-out Season, and she hoped her sister would find lasting love.

Mr. Clarke met them outside the church and told Lia that they could begin the ceremony whenever she was ready.

“Please start immediately,” she told the vicar. “I am ready to begin the next chapter of my life with my groom.”

Everyone gave her a final kiss and entered the church as Lia waited in the doorway.

She was a bit sad that Ariadne could not be present, but she was not willing to wait any longer to wed the love of her life.

She had already written to her older sister about her upcoming nuptials and promised that she and Rupert would be at the Season.

She could not wait to introduce him to the rest of her family and their spouses.

Mr. Clarke nodded at her, and Lia made her way down the aisle of the church.

Invitations had been issued quickly, and she saw many from the community seated in the pews.

But her gaze focused on that of her betrothed, and she moved toward him, seeing his encouraging smile.

He took her hand in his when she reached him, and the clergyman started to speak.

Suddenly, Lia felt a presence by her side and glanced down, seeing that Celia had left her seat and come to stand beside her.

She slipped her arm about the girl, and the ceremony continued, Lia and Rupert speaking their vows to one another and becoming husband and wife.

They returned to Millvale with all their guests. Mama and Eden had planned the wedding breakfast, and it came off flawlessly. Lia could not help but gaze down at the gold band on her ring finger.

Rupert leaned close, brushing his lips against her temple. “Do you feel the same as I do? That this is somehow a dream, and it might dissipate?”

“It is a dream come true,” she told him. “This ring, an eternal circle, is tangible proof of our love for one another.” Then she turned her gaze from the ring to her new husband. “But I know exactly what you mean. If this is a dream, then I hope never to awaken from it.”

They would remain at Millvale through Christmas since the holiday was a little more than two weeks away.

Eden had given them a suite of rooms in the east wing so that they would have some privacy as newlyweds.

They retreated there now after bidding goodbye to their guests, and Rupert said he would give her time to prepare herself for their wedding night.

He brushed a tender kiss against her lips, telling Lia that he would return in half an hour.

She rang for Esther, and the maid helped her from her wedding finery into a beautiful, filmy night rail which left little to the imagination.

The maid helped Lia place her dressing gown over it, and she tied the belt, hoping Rupert would not be disappointed in her tonight.

Mama had told her nothing about what was to come, so Lia’s trust was in her husband as to what she should do.

He returned to the bedchamber, wearing a banyan and trousers, padding barefoot along the carpet. Her mouth grew dry as she caught sight of his bare throat and a glimpse of his chest.

“Are you ready to begin a new adventure with me?” he asked.

She had not thought of marriage as an adventure, but it would be with this husband of hers.

Smiling, Lia took his hands. “Show me all I need to know, Husband.”

“First, I am going to show off my hair skills,” he said teasingly. “I have learned much from brushing and combing Celia’s hair. Come. Sit at the dressing table. ”

She did as he asked, and he undid the single braid she wore, brushing through her long tresses, his touch soothing.

“I love the shade of your hair. Such a rich auburn. I hope all our girls have hair this color.”

Their gazes met in the mirror, and she asked, “How many girls do you think we might have?”

“Oh, a good half-dozen would suit me. And we should toss in a boy or two. After all, I do need a son to pass down my title to.”

She rose, wrapping her hands around his neck. “You know how much I want children, and I believe you are going to be the most wonderful father. I see you with Celia. You have taken to fatherhood naturally.”

“I knew not a thing about children when I arrived at Crestbrook. Celia made it easy for me, though. She was so loving from the start.” His hands framed her face.

“I hope we are blessed with many children and that they will always be close to one another. We will raise them in love and show them just how important family is.”

Then his lips met hers, and the magic began.

They kissed for a long time, their kisses heated, desire shooting through her. He finally took a step back and slipped from his banyan, allowing her to see his broad, muscular chest. Fascinated by it, Lia placed her palms against it, moving them, watching the muscles jump.

“You are wonderfully made,” she complimented, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his chest. Feeling him shudder, she gazed up. “Do you like that?”

“Very much. I would like to do the same to you.”

She undid the knot of her belt and shrugged from the dressing gown. His eyes roamed her body.

“This is going to take further exploration,” he said, slowly grinning. “Remember, whatever we do between us is for us. If there is any time you are uncomfortable with anything, tell me so. And if you like something—ask for more. ”

“I will,” she promised.

Rupert removed her night rail and his trousers.

They stood before one another, gloriously naked.

The place between her legs pulsed. He stepped toward her, wrapping his arms about her, and Lia was pressed against his heated flesh.

They kissed, and then he led her to the bed.

Esther had turned it back for them, and he scooped her up, placing her gently against the pillows.

What followed were things Lia had never imagined.

Once they occurred, she could not imagine life without his touch.

His hands and lips explored every inch of her.

He spent a long time caressing each breast, causing hot desire to shoot through her.

He replaced his hands with lips and tongue.

He flicked his tongue over her nipple, and it pebbled in need.

Then he took her breast into his mouth, sucking hard, bringing a rush of need, causing her core again to pound.

His hands glided up and down her hips. Across her belly.

He kissed his way down her body, and she realized where his final destination would be.

It shocked her. Thrilled her. Consumed her.

He had her place her feet flat on the mattress, parting her legs before he feasted upon her.

His tongue lapped at her, slipping deep inside, caressing her in an intimate fashion which immediately brought them closer together emotionally.

Then something began building and spilled from her.

Her hips rose as wave after wave of pure pleasure engulfed her.

She heard cries and realized they came from her, and she called his name, again and again. With one last shudder, she grew limp.

Kissing his way back up her body, he reached her mouth and drank from it, again and again.

She took his face in her hands, saying, “I have not a clue what you just did, but it was the most wonderful thing ever.”

He grinned like a schoolboy. “Oh, there is much more to come, love.”

They kissed again, their bodies fevered, and Lia wanted more from him. She had never thought herself a greedy person, but her need drove her to possess all of him.

His fingers found the seam of her sex again, teasing it. “You are ready for me,” he said huskily.

“I will always be ready for you, my darling.”

She watched his shaft grow and stroked the length of it several times, listening to his groans as she did so.

“Enough,” he said. “I wish to be one with you, Wife.”

He touched the tip of his manhood against her core and then thrust quickly into her. She gave a small squeak of surprise.

“I will stay still a moment. Let you get used to me.”

He kissed her deeply and then began to slowly move.

She quickly caught on to the rhythm, her hips moving up to meet him, allowing him to drive deeper into her.

His hands clasped her hips, helping each of them to thrust harder.

The pace began to increase, finally becoming frenzied.

Again, that feeling built inside her, and it was as if an explosion occurred.

Lia clung to him as she shattered in his arms. He collapsed atop her, kissing her mouth. Her nose. Her eyelids and cheeks.

Then he rolled slightly, still within her, and they now faced one another, lying on their sides.

“I love you, Lia Cummings. I am mad with love for you.”

“Will it always be this wonderful?”

He looked at her with such tenderness in his eyes that it caused tears to mist in her own.

“I believe each time we make love together, it will be better than the times before. We will learn what pleases one another, and our love will grow deeper as the years pass.”

Rupert brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I am going to be one of those greedy men, Lia. I am going to want you every day. Even more than once a day.”

Her palm cradled his face, her thumb caressing his cheek. “I had always thought greed was something bad.” She smiled. “Now, I think being greedy in love is a good thing. Oh, Rupert. I am so full of joy right now. I do not know if I can be any happier than I am at this moment.”

“And I think this is just the tip of our happiness, love.”

Her new husband kissed her, and Lia believed in him. In her.

In them . . .