Page 11 of Forever and a Duke (The Bridewell Sisters #1)

CHAPTER 10

T hree days later

Lily breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into her bedchamber after dinner.

The guests would begin descending on Rosemere tomorrow, and she’d done all she could to prepare events, meals, and activities befitting a visit to a ducal estate.

She was tired to the bone, but also deeply grateful to Rosemere’s staff. They had pulled together beautifully to help her. Some of the arrangements had already been underway before the wedding because the dowager and Griffin had previously agreed upon the house party. In the end, Lily was grateful for that early planning and for the dowager’s knowledge and assistance.

The lady felt a bit like an adversary at times, and yet this afternoon she’d praised Lily for what she’d been able to accomplish in the last few days.

Griffin had been wonderful too. He possessed no arrogance about his title or position and had dug in to help, particularly with the conservatory. Lily was eager to revive it before the party, and he’d helped arrange freshly purchased potted plants from a local nursery. Ivy, Daphne, and the twins all pitched in by planting flowers in the raised beds too.

But for two nights in a row she’d dropped into bed so exhausted that she hadn’t ventured through the connecting door again. Part of her wanted Griffin to be the one to knock from his side the next time.

After those moments together in the folly, when he’d showed her the drawings he’d made of her, she thought he might. But he hadn’t. Though he had once told her that he would wait until she was ready.

This evening, she decided she wouldn’t wait any longer.

She wanted to be with him in every way. As busy as she’d been, there hadn’t been an hour that she hadn’t thought of Griffin. And each day, he’d sought her out throughout the day, sneaking kisses when no one else was about. Or he’d simply spend time at her side, helping or chatting with her about how her sisters were settling in or the upcoming house party. With his time, attention, and bone-melting kisses, he’d showed her that she meant a great deal to him, that this practical marriage could be one of mutual regard too.

Tonight, however, Lily wanted to fully give herself to him.

She strode into her dressing room, where she’d filled the enormous claw-footed tub with warm water. The modern plumbing at Rosemere was a wonder. The twins were fascinated by the magic of turning on a tap and having hot water. Even Ivy was agog.

As Lily slipped off her robe, she picked one of the scented soaps set out for her use. The lilac one was her favorite, and she fetched it before stepping into the tub.

The moment she sunk into the deliciously soothing heat of the bath, she heard footsteps in her bedchamber and guessed it was her maid, Nell, who’d come with them from Briarfield. She usually set out her night rail and offered to comb Lily’s hair before bed.

“That looks quite good,” a low masculine voice opined.

Lily’s eyes flew open and she turned to find Griffin watching her from the threshold, one broad shoulder propped against the doorframe.

“It’s warm and lovely,” she readily admitted.

She raised her arms to cover herself, though she was mostly covered by soapy water. Then she lowered her arms and sat up a bit straighter. There was something terribly tantalizing about shedding her shyness and being bold when they were alone together.

“You should join me, Your Grace.”

“Temptress.” He laughed in a low, sensual rumble—so deep she felt it in her own belly.

Then he strode over and settled on the wooden frame that enclosed the porcelain bath. “I think…” he said, taking up a small clean cloth folded neatly at the tub’s edge, “that I’d rather help.”

Lily licked her lips and watched as he dipped the cloth into the soapy, floral-scented water, then used it to stroke along her shoulders. Down her arms. Across her breasts, causing her nipples to peak almost painfully. Then he slowed his movements as he dipped the cloth down her stomach.

He’d been looking attentively at her body as he washed her, but now he locked his gaze on hers, released the cloth, and stroked his fingers along her thighs.

“I was going to—” she started just as he ducked his head toward hers to kiss her.

“Going to what?” he asked, his lips but a few inches from hers, his fingers still whispering over her upper thighs.

“Come to you through the connecting door tonight,” she rasped as she arched her hips, eager to feel his fingers where she wanted them most.

“Were you indeed?” He tipped his head questioningly. “Is it all right that I strode through this time?”

“Of course. I’ve been waiting for you to. Griffin, I don’t want to wait anymore.” She leaned forward. “Must we wait?”

“Absolutely not.” He shook his head and a slow smile lit his handsome face.

Lily raised the cloth and set it aside, then she reached for his shoulders, bracing herself as she stood.

Griffin swallowed hard and looked awestruck. “My Aphrodite.”

Lily laughed, then ran her damp fingers through the thick, dark gold locks of his hair. “Your Aphrodite needs that towel over there.”

He got to his feet, retrieved it, and then came back, holding the large swath of fabric up for her to step into. Lily dried herself as he watched hungrily. She found she loved having him watch her that way, as if he found her beautiful, desirable, as if he was entranced with her. It was a heady feeling.

As soon as she’d finished, she hesitated a moment and then set the towel aside. She felt her cheeks begin to flame, but she’d decided on boldness tonight.

“Lily,” he breathed and stepped closer. “You steal my breath.”

“Will you take me to bed with you tonight?” She reached up and unfastened the first button of his shirt. “I don’t want to be apart from you.”

Uncertainty crept into her tone and her heart. She knew he desired her, felt it in each glance, each touch, each dizzying kiss, but this was also so new. As familiar as his presence was to her, the intimacy they’d begun to share was different. In all the best ways.

More , her heart seemed to say.

He cupped her cheek, sweeping his thumb along the edge of her mouth. “I think of you constantly, of the next time I get to touch you, hold you. Do not ever doubt that I want you.”

Lily wrapped her arms around his neck, let him take her weight. He thrilled her by bending to take her lips in a searing kiss, then lifting her into his arms.

“If that wasn’t clear enough,” he told her with a devilish grin, “the answer is yes.”

Griffin carried her with a look she’d never seen on his face—something between triumph and tension.

When they reached his grand four-poster bed, he lowered her gently, as if she was precious. But the way he looked at her was full of hunger. He licked his lips as he stood next to the bed, sweeping his hooded gaze over her bare skin and unbuttoning his shirt.

She watched as the fabric parted, revealing more and more of his muscled chest and the dusting of dark blonde hair. Her mouth watered when he worked the fly of his trousers loose, toed off his boots, and then pushed the fabric off until every inch of him was revealed to her.

Lily’s breath escaped in quick, hot gusts as she took him in. He might be the artist, but she wished to etch this memory on her mind.

Goodness, he was gorgeous from head to toe.

“I want to touch you,” she said, her voice sounding different to her own ears. Low and husky. Wanton.

She stretched out a hand to run her fingers over the cut of muscle at his hip, then down to shape the hard, thick length of him with her hand.

He closed his eyes. Bit his lip. And then, as she continued to explore the tip of his hard silken shaft, he moaned.

“Lily—”

“I love the feel of you,” she murmured. “I’m always aching to touch you, to feel your hands on me.”

At that, he climbed onto the bed, arching over her, his hands braced at her sides to support his weight. Then, with maddening slowness, he settled himself between her thighs. “I’m yours to touch,” he said on a low rasp. “Just as you’re mine.”

A tremor jolted through Griffin as he reached down to stroke his fingers through Lily’s damp curls.

The same desire he felt burned in her eyes, a bright blue spark of need and heat. But there was more. No one had ever looked at him with such trust, and it rattled through him, shaking parts of him loose.

This moment mattered because she mattered, and he wanted to make it good for her. He took her lips, and she immediately dragged a hand through his hair, making a delicious shiver chase down his spine.

Lifting his head as he stroked his hand up the length of her body, he took his time, lazily tracing a circle around one nipple as he bent to suckle the other. She bucked against him and slid a hand down his back.

“We can take this slow.” He murmured the words against her belly as he kissed and licked her warm skin.

“No.”

Griffin stilled and looked up at her. She tugged at his shoulder, and he arched above her again, their lips inches apart. “What is it?”

“I don’t want to go slow.” She lifted her hips toward him, even as she said the words, and his cock slid against her. She gasped and arched to repeat the stroke again. “I feel as if I’ll go mad if I can’t have you.”

“You have me, sweetheart.” He lifted his hips and rocked against her again, slipping toward that connection with her that every part of him ached for.

“You know what I mean.” She bit her lip, even lowered her gaze a moment before looking at him boldly. “All of you.”

“Tell me.” He’d promised himself he’d take this slow and make this perfect for her. But her boldness fired his blood. “How do you want me, Lily?”

“Inside me,” she whispered. “Please.”

It was the please that did it, smashing through all the restraint he’d intended, all the perfection he’d wanted to give to her. In that moment, it was just him, an imperfect man with his heart in his throat as he thrust inside the woman who was precious to him.

He hesitated when she gasped as he filled her.

But then she reached a hand down to grip his hip, as if to urge him on.

“Please—”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

She shook her head, scattering golden strands of damp hair across the pillow. “You won’t. It’s simple physics.”

Griffin chuckled at that and dipped his head, kissing her neck as he filled her to the hilt.

He relished her moan as he began to move, then the sweet breathy gasp each time he thrust into her again. She lifted her head to take his lips, and she kissed him as if she could not get enough of the taste of him.

The scrape of her nails as she gripped his back urged him into a fiercer rhythm. When she bent her knees, planting her feet on either side of his thighs, he angled his hips to stroke deeper, to drive into her faster.

Lily’s body tensed against his as she arched back and stared up at him wild-eyed.

“Oh, Griffin.” She watched him as she began shudder, then her lashes fluttered and her breath caught in her throat as he felt the pulse of her release. It was the single most beautiful thing he’d ever seen as Lily found her pleasure. The way she threw her head back, her bee-stung lips parted, her eyes glittering when she opened them again—bright with a contented glow.

Lily gripped his neck and kissed him, stroking her tongue against his as his own release rushed through him, more powerful than any he’d ever known, pulling him under.

When he could think again and somehow move, though he felt boneless, he settled next to her. She immediately turned and tucked herself against him. As extraordinary as making love to her had been, holding her after those moments was something else entirely.

Contentment settled over him, and nothing else seemed to matter as much as keeping her next to him.

He told himself he should take her back to her bedchamber. With his dreams and restlessness throughout the night, he’d keep her from restful slumber. His nightmares would remind her that he’d been there that night with Leo.

But she settled one slim leg over his, wrapped her arm around his chest, and tucked her head against his shoulder. Soon, her breathing settled into a slow, comforting rhythm.

She was lilac-scented heaven in his arms, so he told himself he could doze for a few minutes. Half an hour at most. Then he’d carry her back to her own bed.

Griffin closed his eyes as he stroked his fingers through the satiny waves of Lily’s hair. He breathed differently, drawing air in more deeply, as if some weight had been lifted from his chest.

When he felt sleep threatening, he forced his eyes open. But Lily was snugged against him, sleeping peacefully. He could not bring himself to wake her.

If his usual night terrors took hold, then he’d take her to her chamber.