Page 22 of Regency in Color

She nipped his ear with her teeth. “I’m a quick study.”

He shuddered. “No!” He held her away again. “We will do this the honorable way even if it kills me. I will apply for a special license tomorrow.”

“If we must.” Juliana pouted playfully. It was a heady power to affect him so. “Let us return before Lady Roxburrow becomes suspicious and searches for me.”

“Excellent idea.”

Colin leapt to his feet, then helped Juliana up. She dusted the specks of dirt and grass from her dress. He held out his arm, which she gladly accepted.

As they began to walk, fireworks exploded in the sky above. Juliana looked up and marveled at the beautiful rainbow of colors decorating the night. It was a rather perfect ending to the moment.

Suddenly, Colin stilled. His entire body stiffened, and his muscles drew taught.

Juliana examined his form but could find nothing wrong. “Is something the matter?”

He didn’t answer. She placed a hand over his heart. It thudded furiously. Pearls of sweat formed on his forehead. Another round of fireworks exploded in the sky. His body jerked.

Understanding dawned on her. He had mentioned not wanting to come tonight because of the battle reenactment. The sound of the fireworks must resembled cannon fire, and this was some sort of reaction to it.

Juliana’s heart both shattered and swelled with a new surge of love. He came tonight, knowing the possible suffering that awaited him.

She wrapped him in a hug and lowered his head to rest on her shoulder. She ran her hand over his back in a soothing motion. “You’re safe. You’re with me. Juliana. I won’t let anything harm you.”

His arms slowly came up and latched onto her. His fingers dug into her dress until the pressure was almost painful, but she didn’t complain. She held him in her arms, repeating the words of comfort.

“You’re safe. I won’t let anything harm you. I love you.”

They stood like that until a few minutes after the fireworks ended. Finally, his body relaxed.

“Thank you. I—” he began.

Juliana placed a finger to his lips. “I love you. All of you. That is all that needs to be said.”

Colin took her hand once more and placed a kiss against the back of it. They walked back toward the festivities, both lost in their love and gratitude for the other. Colin was the love of her life. The man who needed her as much as she needed him.

The day of their marriage couldn’t come soon enough.

***

Colin’s heart flipped over, standing in front of his wife. He lifted his hand to watch the gold band on his left ring finger gleam in the candlelight. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, anticipating what was to come next.

Juliana wrapped her arms around his neck, a shadow of hesitation in each movement. She kissed him softly at first, but soon passion flowed from her lips with the fierceness of a woman who knew what she wanted and had come to claim it. Gone was the innocent, self-conscious girl he’d courted long ago.

Colin kissed her back, trying to convey all the remorse, guilt, and promise of change in his heart. He held her tight against his body, savoring every second of the moment. She felt so good in his arms.

Their hands roamed over each other, exploring, remembering, and learning more about each other’s bodies. Her lips were as soft as he remembered. Her kisses still fierce, yet more mature. More confident. She slid her hands into his hair, then yanked on the stands, causing a slight burning in his scalp.

Bloody hell!

She was driving him mad.

Too soon for his liking, Juliana broke the kiss. She placed her hands on his chest, blocking his efforts when he tried to capture her lips again. “I’m not sure what to do next.”

The corner of Colin’s lip curled into a sensual grin. “I’ll teach you.”

He took a small step back. He didn’t want too much space between them. Having her so close was like regaining a piece of his soul he hadn’t known he’d lost. He’d be damned if he let anything come between them again.

Slowly, sensually, he began unbuttoning his shirt, exposing his naked chest one unhurried inch at a time. She watched him. He spread his legs wider, feeling like a king under her sensual admiring stare. Her eyes narrowed with the hungry delight of a predator observing their prey. A knowing grin spread across his lips. So, she liked what he had to offer?