Page 43 of The Lady and the Lion (Victorian Outcasts #9)
forty
W hen Samuel woke up with Vivienne in his arms, his first thought was surprise. No nightmares had bothered him. No waking up, sweating and shaking. No palpitations.
Maybe knowing the police were after Dr. Tucker had calmed his inner demons. Or maybe Vivienne was the best cure.
But it was morning. He’d slept soundly through the night without waking up.
She stirred. “Good morning.”
It was indeed.
“You slept for a long time.” She stretched out her arms over her head. “I don’t want to do anything today. Absolutely nothing. Just being with you.”
“It sounds lovely. But I do have something else in mind.” He kissed her neck.
She giggled and moved out of his reach. “Not so quickly.”
“Why not?” He kissed her neck again.
She left the bed with surprising speed for someone who had just woken up. “They say lions are fierce predators.”
He propped himself up on an elbow. “I can confirm it.”
“I want you to prove it.”
He shot forwards and seized her wrist. She cried out and slipped her arm out of his grip, like an eel. The sound of her laughter echoed off the wall of their bedroom.
She ran out of his reach. “Is that all you can do? The powerful, rich Mr. Lyon, the king of gold, isn’t as scary as people say.”
He pushed aside the covers, needing freedom of movement to catch his wife. She gave out a delighted squeal when he tossed the quilt off the bed. Then she was running again. He chased her, inhaling the scent left by her perfume. She opened the door to his bedroom and hid behind his escritoire.
“You’re so slow—Ah!” She jolted when he made a dash for her across the writing table.
He barely brushed her wrist before she slipped away with expertise.
She went to the water closet, which meant she would lose the game. There was nowhere to go from there.
She stepped around the bathtub, using it as a barrier between them. “It’s not fair. I can’t escape from here.”
He stopped at the door and stretched out an arm towards the other room. “You’re free to go before I chase you again.”
She narrowed her eyes but inched towards the door. “You are going to let me go? Really?”
He nodded, giving her a perfect gentleman’s bow.
She kept her gaze on him while brushing past him. “I have to say you’re tamer than I—” The rest of her sentence ended with a squeal as he grabbed her. “You cheated!”
He did, but so what?
He asked for her forgiveness by kissing that spot on her neck that made her tremble. She didn’t sag against him as he hoped.
“You aren’t going to conquer me so easily. This trick won’t work.”
He ought to be more persuasive then.
He pushed down the front of her nightgown with one hand. She didn’t help him but didn’t stop him either. When he fully removed the nightgown, she remained uncooperative, but her breathing sped up and a lovely flush coloured her skin. He tossed the nightgown away, maybe with too much strength.
But the result was the spectacular view of her breasts. He kneaded them until she finally sagged against him with a sigh. Her rosy nipples hardened to taut peaks after he rolled them. He kissed her neck and grazed her earlobe.
She ran her hands over his chest, stealing kisses with him. Between kisses and touches, they were both panting. And somehow, they made it to the bed without breaking the kiss.
When he lay back, she straddled him, beautiful and fearsome like a goddess.
She stroked his jaw and neck while rolling her hips. He clenched his fists when she lowered herself over him.
If he had a voice, he would shout her name. He let her choose the rhythm, holding her hips to help her. She sped up, and he gritted his teeth at the ridiculous amount of pleasure coursing through him.
They found their releases together, her voice speaking for both of them.
As much as he loved making love with her, his most favourite moment was when she curled up next to him and he hugged her, and all his fears were finally silenced.