Page 30 of Duke with a Deception
“What other reasons?” she asked teasingly.
He gave her a heated look. “I’m sure you can think of some, angel.”
“I do believe I could.” Verity couldn’t resist breaking the surface of the water with her toes and wiggling them at him. “PoorMamanwould swoon if she knew how wicked my husband is.”
“Which is why we must never tell her.” He caught her big toe and gave it a teasing tug. “Allow her to maintain her delusion that her son-in-law is a proper gentleman and perfectly polite pillar of ducal elegance.”
“I didn’t say she thought you were proper.” Verity grinned. “Or a gentleman.”
“Ha.” He caught her ankle and pulled her toward him. “I had every intention of being on my best behavior, you know, but you bring out the beast in me. All my plans of being a gentleman died a swift death the moment I saw you waiting for me, naked in my bed.”
“I suppose that was badly done of me,” she conceded without a hint of remorse.
Whilst she had been initially uncertain of his reception to her presence in his room, he had subsequently proven to her just how pleased he’d been by her boldness. He was so caring and considerate, her husband. Truly, he and her brother were the best men she had ever known. How had she managed to be so fortunate as to have them both in her life?
“I fear I shall expect similar boldness every night,” King cautioned with mock severity.
She settled atop his lap, her arms looping about his neck. “Why, Your Grace, are you suggesting that I await you in your bed each night?”
“Now that you mention it, I think I shall have to make that a requirement from this moment forward.” He kissed her swiftly, tasting of strawberry.
The water sloshed around them and nearly cascaded over the tub onto the breakfast tray he’d positioned on a table nearby. Happiness bubbled up within her. It was as if her love was a champagne bottle and the cork had been unleashed, and now it was simply overflowing joyously, too spirited to be contained in a flute.
She felt him stirring and knew an answering longing deep within, even if she was still a bit sore. She wanted him with an abandon that surprised her but refused to be checked. How had she ever managed to wait two months for their engagement to end? She could never endure such a lengthy amount of time without him again, she was sure.
When he ended the kiss, her heart was pounding and a familiar languor stole over her. She clung to him, near enough that she could further examine the complexities hidden in his irises. The cinnamon, gold, and bronze melded into deeper browns. His lashes were far too long for a man, but his stern, slashing brows made up for that. He looked serious and ducal and seductive all at once.
And he was hers.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked, his voice a deep and pleasant rumble she could happily listen to always.
Was she smiling? Belatedly, she realized that yes, indeed, she was.
“You,” she said.
“And why me?”
“Because you are my husband and I love you and you make me exceedingly happy.” It was a mouthful but true, every word.
“Do I make you happy?”
“Need you ask? I’ve just said that you do.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Very clearly, I must. I am desirous of all praise you see fit to give me. Provide a poor, humble soul with examples, if you please.”
What an interesting, complicated man he was. Verity hadn’t thought a rake of his extensive experience would be so hungry for praise.
She kissed him, then withdrew. “You married me, for one thing.”
“Hardly a chore.”
“And you showed me that what happens between husband and wife in truth is far more wondrous than anything I read in books,” she added.
“Mmm.” He lowered his face to her throat, inhaling first and then lightly nipping her as if he couldn’t get enough and simply had to take a bite. “I’m gratified to know you think so. What else?”
“You fed me breakfast.”
He nuzzled her throat. “You need your strength so I can continue showing you the joys of the marriage bed. Thoroughly and often.”
