Page 177 of Rogue of My Heart

God, he would never tire of hearing his name on her lips, especially when she was in the throes of passion. He rewarded her by licking the delicate peak with his tongue, before taking it into his mouth and suckling.

Her hips instantly lifted, a clear indication of what she wanted. If the throbbing between his own legs was any sign, he was also ready for the second round.

He grasped his cock, centering himself at her entrance. “Look at me, Alby.”

Her hazel eyes lifted slightly, but it was enough. He thrust into her in one smooth flex of his hips. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and urged him down to her mouth. He went willingly, kissing and teasing her until they were once again on the brink.

And when they convulsed together again, the moment was so complete and fulfilling that Chael pulled Albina into the crook of his arm in the aftermath, and soon fell asleep with her nestled against his chest.

Albina stretched in the morning sunlight that streamed in through the window. Muscles that she hadn’t used in quite some time ached, but she merely grinned at the pain. She reached out her arm, but her husband’s side of the bed was empty. She had to admit she was slightly disappointed, but she would just get dressed and go seek him out. In truth, she was almost giddy with the thought.

It was rather ironic, for considering how she had felt when she’d arrived at Beauley Hall more than a week ago, she hadn’t been sure how her homecoming would turn out, if she and Chael would even be able to remain in the same room without a terrible awkward silence between them. That first night certainly hadn’t gone well.

Now, she could only admit that her pleasant mood was because of him. After such a sizzling night together, she began to think that perhaps their marriage wasn’t doomed after all. A grin quickly spread across her face, for she realized she hadn’t felt so young and carefree in years. It was as if the excitement, that spark of new love was slowly returning. And she couldn’t be happier.

* * *

She returned to her chamber and rang for Helen, asking her to prepare a bath and requesting a bit of extra lavender to be added to the water.

Under the circumstances, she wanted to splurge a bit.

Afterward, Albina donned a yellow muslin. With a cheery smile on her face, and a decided spring to her step, she headed downstairs. Once she greeted Chael, she intended to speak with Mrs. Humphrey and ask what she could do to assist with the arrangements for St. John’s Eve. She was the mistress of this estate, after all. With less than two weeks to go, she didn’t intend to spend her days twirling her thumbs.

Although she had a good idea how she planned on spending her nights…

Of course, as her grin grew, the inspiration she needed to write was surely not far away. She was certainly feeling motivated this morning.

The sound of an angry male voice met her ears, and Albina paused in the middle of the stairs, her hand clutching the banister. The study door was slightly ajar, so she could hear enough to discern that the irritated growl belonged to Michael, but the other one she couldn’t quite place.

“…sent to Petranella at once.”

Petranella?

Albina tightened her grip on the railing until her knuckles turned white, as a snippet of her husband’s clipped conversation drifted to her ears.

She hesitated, thinking that she should just continue on her way, to leave him with his guest, but instead, she crept closer to the open door.

Her mother, if she were still alive, would be horrified to think that she was eavesdropping. “Nothing good ever came from it,” she would warn. And yet, Albina couldn’t tear herself away.

“Yes, my lord,” came the meek reply.

“Make sure that you wait for a reply. And for the love of God bring any further correspondence to the back door.” Albina winced at the furious tone in Michael’s voice. In all the years she’d known him, it wasn’t often that he got that angry. Whatever had happened, he wasn’t pleased. More than likely it was something to do with one of the tenants.

She started to back away from the door, feeling like an intruder, when his next words stopped her in her tracks.

“It’s imperative that my wife doesn’t find out about any of this, do you understand?”

Albina felt her heart drop into her stomach. She began to hear a terrible buzzing inside of her head, and was instantly nauseous. She didn’t wait to hear any more of their conversation.

* * *

At this point, she’d heard quite enough.

She spun away from the door, but instead of going to seek out the housekeeper, she rushed back up the stairs to her chamber.

She slammed the door shut behind her and leaned heavily against it.

Her entire body was shaking, her lungs expanding to the point of pain, but nothing mattered but those final condemning words that came from her husband’s own lips.