The Kiss of Love (The Book of Love 6)

by Meara Platt

  “Lord, you’re sweet.” He removed his boots and clothes, tossing them off with all haste and very little care.

  They didn’t walk so much as tumble onto their marriage bed, groping and kissing each other as they did so. Honey’s heart was pounding wildly. She clutched his shoulders, her fingers hungrily curling into his thick, corded muscles, her body straining toward his and rubbing against him as he settled over her, for she now understood the wonder of this passion she felt for him.

  He kissed her on the mouth with ravenous abandon, his kisses deep and probing. Then he moved lower to kiss her neck, her shoulder, and finally her breasts. First one, then the other. Teasing and suckling, his touch fiery and exquisite. He eased his hand lower to prepare her for his intimate entrance, but she was already hot and eager for him.

  Their joining was an untamed thing, urgent and intense. He was fully embedded in her, holding her in his arms in that absorbing, swallow-you-up way, as though he wanted to take her inside of him and etch the taste and touch of her skin in his memory forever.

  His movements were powerful and graceful, carrying her along on waves of fire.

  She studied his face, the beautiful, masculine artistry of it, the fine angles, and chiseled features. His eyes gleamed like dark, fiery emeralds. His body was a finely honed work of art as well, exquisitely hard and muscled.

  She felt the same volcanic build she’d experienced the first time, the same divine pressure mounting and fire in her blood. He knew just how to arouse sensations hidden deep within her, sensations that could only be awakened by his touch. “Tom,” she cried softly as a thousand bursts of pleasure coursed through her body all at once.

  He must have been holding himself back, seeking to pleasure her before he took his own, for she soon felt his shudders and the liquid throb and pulse of his release.

  She held him back when he eased out of her and attempted to draw away. “I love you.”

  “Blessed saints, I love you, too. Let me up, sweetheart, before I crush you.”

  “You aren’t hurting me. You feel so good against me.”

  “So do you.” He kissed her brow. “Let me hold you in my arms.”

  She edged closer as he stretched on his back and made room for her to burrow against his chest. His arm curled around her, and he began to stroke her lightly along her hip. “This is nice, Tom.”

  “Very.”

  “I like that we no longer have to hide from others, that we can be together whenever we want and for as long as we want. Do you think forever is long enough?”

  He chuckled. “Not nearly enough.”

  For Honey, the best part came with the morning sun, knowing she was waking to find Tom beside her. She was tucked in his arms, her back against his front. His body was hot, which served to keep her warm.

  She’d never managed to put on her nightgown. In truth, she had no idea where it had landed. The last she saw of it was last night at the foot of her bed, just before they’d gone at it like feral animals.

  She turned and placed her hand to his cheek, feeling the rough stubble of his face. His hair was slightly rumpled, but on him, it looked quite appealing. “Good morning, my lord.”

  “Morning, my lady. You’re as beautiful as a sunrise.” He shifted her under him and made love to her again, this time slowly and with an aching tenderness that made her love him all the more.

  It was almost noon by the time they finally rose from their bed and readied themselves for the day. Of course, no one required or expected them to leave the earl’s quarters, but in this, she and Tom were of a similar nature, unable to laze about all day in bed.

  Her clothes had been moved into the adjoining bedchamber that served as her quarters now that she was countess. But this was more for the sake of her lady’s maid and his valet in completing their duties. It wouldn’t do for Mary, her new maid, to be dressing her while Tom strutted around half-dressed. Nor could she traipse around in her nightgown while Merrick was attending to Tom.

  However, the nights were for her and Tom to share in the one bed. Neither of them wished to sleep apart. Ever.

  “Shall we look in on your mother?” she asked after they’d gone downstairs and taken a light repast. But she immediately saw he was reluctant. “I’ll run up and see her,” she said. “I’ll send for you if there’s any change in her condition. She’s well settled here and diligently cared for. We can take a few days to enjoy our newly wedded bliss. Shall we go out today?”

  He smiled at her. “I believe I owe you a dozen new gowns. How about I take you to your modiste, and afterward, we can take a ride in the park or go wherever else you’d like.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Lady Wycke was sleeping when Honey entered her quarters. “How is she doing today, Dora?”

  “Oh, my lady. Not very well. She’s hardly opened her eyes. She hasn’t touched her breakfast.”

  Honey frowned. “Does she have a fever?”

  “No, my lady,” said one of the attendants her uncle had sent over after examining Lady Wycke the other day. Her name was Alice, and the other attendant was Frances. They were sisters in their mid-thirties, with a gentle manner about them.

  “His lordship and I will be out for a few hours. We’ll look in on her when we return.”

  “She may do better in the afternoon,” Frances said. “I’m sure she will.”

  Honey returned downstairs and found Tom seated behind his desk in his study. He was looking over some documents but set them aside and cast her a tense smile when she walked in. “How is she?”

  “Sleeping. She’s in good hands. Shall we go for our ride?”

  “Yes, I’m eager to get out. But shopping first.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Only three gowns were damaged this past weekend. Madame de Bressard knows my size and has the fabrics and patterns. I need only send word to have her duplicate them.”

  “You’ll need a new wardrobe now that we’re married and you are my countess. Those charming gowns you wore as a debutante—”

  “Won’t do now that I am no longer innocent?”

  Laughing, he rose and took her in his arms. “Don’t put words in my mouth. Can a husband not spoil the wife he adores?”

  “Well, put that way. Yes, he may. It will make Madame de Bressard very happy.”

  “And you, love?”

  She kissed him. “You are what makes me happy.”

  “Well, that tears it. Now you shall have me completely wrapped around your little finger. I’ll be worse than any of those besotted husbands I used to mock.”

  “Poor you. How the mighty have fallen.” She kissed him again and put her arm in his. “Come on, let’s go.”

  They stopped first at her modiste and spent a good hour selecting a dozen new gowns and matching accessories for her. “Would you mind if we stopped at some of the men’s shops next?” she asked, thinking only to check on the supply of the colognes and soaps she regularly sold the London merchants.

  But this was a discussion they’d neglected in the midst of their courtship and hasty marriage. “Tom, we haven’t spoken of my role in my family’s perfume business. Belle and I have been more involved in it these past few years. And now with my father’s injured leg and the nastiness that went on at our Oxford shops this past summer, he needs our help more than ever.”

  He frowned. “We’ll need to talk about this. But this conversation is better held among the four of us. You, me, Belle, and Finn. It is also something to be discussed with your parents. We’d planned on visiting them soon anyway. Oxford is not so far. We can go up any time.”

  She nodded. “Yes, we ought to make plans for it after we talk to Belle and Finn. He’s had her write down the formulas for all our fragrances and will keep them locked away for safekeeping. They’re quite valuable, the lifeblood of our business. I think my parents can take care of stocking our Oxford shops. We have three so far, but honestly, the town cannot support more than that. We were thinking of expanding into London, no
longer merely supplying other shops, but opening our own.”

  “Let’s discuss it with Finn and your sister. He’s the financial wizard. I’m sure he and Belle have spoken of this already.”

  “I think we must also invite my cousin, Rose, and her husband, Julian.”

  “The viscount?”

  She nodded. “Do you know him? He seems to have no problem having his wife run a thriving business. In truth, I would love to know how she manages her responsibilities as a mother to their children, a viscountess, devoted wife, and a businesswoman. Would you mind if we had them over for supper tomorrow night as well?”

  “I think it’s an excellent idea.”

  “We ought to have spoken of this before we married. I don’t know why I didn’t pursue it when you first proposed to me. Perhaps because I wanted you more than anything in the world. I love what I do, but I love you more. If I were forced to give up something, it would not be you.”

  He grunted. “I felt the same. I wanted you and knew we’d work the rest of it out. The one thing I could not compromise on was marrying you. Would you mind waiting a couple more days before stopping in at the men’s shops? Also, our marriage isn’t common knowledge yet. The announcement hasn’t come out yet in the papers.”

  “Oh, yes. We ought to put it in soon.” She glanced at him. “You’re frowning.”

  “I haven’t done it because of my mother’s situation. Her health is in a dreadful decline. I’m not keen on having a constant stream of visitors through our house, which is what will certainly happen once the news is out.”

  “I am shocked that Lady Withnall hasn’t found out yet and spread the gossip. Is she losing her touch? Getting soft in her old age?”

  “I’m sure she knows. Nothing gets past her, but she and my mother were friends. If London’s most prolific gossip has kept quiet about us, it is likely out of respect for her. Well, Lord Forster’s ball is coming up soon. Everyone will know we’ve married as soon as his major-domo announces us. We’ll be the talk of the party.”

  “Unless some other hapless bachelor happens to be caught with a sweet, young innocent in his arms. Then our news will immediately be forgotten for the latest scandal.”

  He chuckled. “Good, I’ve never liked being the center of everyone’s attention. I look forward to being ignored and forgotten now that I am no longer a target for every matchmaking mother.”

  “Hopefully, no longer a target for Lady Sarah and her venom,” she added, uncertain why the horrid debutante came into her mind at this moment. But she gave a little shiver, as though an ill wind had just shot through her despite the pleasantness of the day.

  Tom appeared not to have felt it. “I cannot imagine why she should still care. I would not play along with her game. She ought to have gotten the hint by now that I will have nothing to do with her and her toady friends.”

  “You’re right, of course.” But why did this ill wind continue to whip around her? “Tom, let’s go home.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Honey greeted Rose and her husband, Julian Emory, whose official title was Viscount Chalmers, as they arrived for their quiet dinner party. Belle and Finn arrived shortly afterward. After exchanging pleasantries, they all sat down to dine.

  Julian raised a glass in toast. “To the newlyweds,” he said, his gaze on all four of them since Belle and Finn had only been married a month. “I wish you as happy as Rose and I.”

  They all cheered.

  “You wanted to discuss your business,” Rose said, opening the conversation they were all eager to have. “Striking the right balance is most important. Having husbands who don’t feel threatened by your working and don’t care what society thinks of it is crucial.”

  Honey looked at Tom, and her heart melted.

  Intelligent eyes.

  That’s what she’d noticed about him right away. He was clever and confident and had wanted a wife who could keep up with him and not be a mere bauble on his arm.

  He winked back at her.

  She knew this discussion would go well.

  “Decide what aspects of your business can only be done by you,” Rose continued, “and choose wisely in delegating the rest.”

  “You also must be realistic in the ways your business can grow,” Julian added. “Rose and I quickly realized we could not open our own shops or else we’d be forced to constantly travel all over England to oversee them. We have one factory with a shop attached to it near my estate and one warehouse in London. Our vendors come to us either at the warehouse or factory to purchase Rose’s wares.”

  The discussion continued from the soup course, a simple leek soup, to their main courses, which consisted of smoked trout and apricot-glazed venison.

  “It helps to have trusted family members to assist in overseeing not only the financial aspects but the design, manufacture, and distribution,” Rose said between bites of trout. “There always seems to be pilfering going on, especially in the warehouse.”

  Julian set down his glass of wine and continued where Rose had left off. “We do our best to keep it to a minimum, but having someone in charge of security is a must. For this reason, we built our own factory. Easier to protect Rose’s designs before they come out each season.”

  Rose grunted in disgust. “You’d be surprised how cutthroat this dinnerware business can be. Everyone is out to steal my newest glassware and dinnerware patterns. I’m sure it will be the same for your fragrances. I understand you had some nasty business in Oxford.”

  Belle nodded. “Yes, quite nasty. But Finn brought those horrid men to justice.”

  Finn laughed. “I needed the help of an entire regiment of soldiers. I hardly did it on my own.”

  Belle smiled at him. “You were brilliant.”

  “Says my completely impartial and obviously doting wife,” Finn remarked, tossing her a steamy gaze.

  The hour was late by the time the dinner party ended. After locking up the house for the night, Honey walked upstairs with Tom, liking the way he held her hand as they headed to their bedchamber. This seemed to be turning into a nightly ritual, closing up the house and then climbing the stairs together on their way to bed.

  “It was a good discussion, don’t you think?” she asked him.

  “Yes, love. A very helpful one.” When they reached the landing, she considered stopping in to see how Lady Wycke was doing but decided to put it off until the morning. Sadly, nothing had changed in the last three days. If anything, Tom’s mother seemed to be retreating further and further into herself, no longer speaking or recognizing anyone.

  Tom noticed the direction of her glance. “No, not tonight.”

  She reached up and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”

  He cast her a wicked grin. “Care to prove it?”

  “You are incorrigible but also irresistible. Very well, you may have unimpeded access to my body. In turn, I shall cling to you all night.” She shook her head, suddenly not feeling so cheerful. “I’ve had these odd feelings these past few days, as though someone is watching me.”

  She sighed and tried to shake off the thought. “Who would bother? The villains who tried to take over our Oxford shops are all in prison or confined elsewhere, pending their trials. I can’t think of anyone else who’d care.”

  Tom frowned. “You are the most precious thing to me, Honey. Surely, you know this. How long precisely have you felt this?”

  “The past three days.”

  “Finn mentioned a Bow Street runner he’d brought with him to Oxford.”

  “Homer Barrow. Yes, he’s very good.”

  “I’ll engage his services, have him follow you discreetly for the next week. If someone is watching you, he’ll tell us who it is.”

  He surprised her by lifting her in his arms to carry her into their bedchamber. “There is another possible explanation for your unsettled feeling.”

  “What?”

  “Do you think it’s possible you are already with child? Lord knows, I haven’t kept
my hands off you, behaving like a rutting boar each night.”

  She shook her head and laughed. “First of all, your hands are not the problem. It’s that other part of you that seems to like me very much. But I think it’s too early for me to tell if I’m carrying your little viscount. In any event, it isn’t my stomach that is feeling queasy. What I feel is more of a chill running up my spine.”

  He set her down on the bed and sat beside her. “Love, you must tell me right away if that feeling comes upon you again.”

  “I will.”

  He caressed her cheek. “And as for our nightly interludes, it doesn’t matter that we’re married. You can always tell me no. I won’t be angry or ever force you.”

  “Perhaps that will happen when I’m the size of a whale and about to give birth. But I think we’re perfect for now. Ask, and ye shall receive.’ She smiled at him. “Come to bed, my love. My body is already aching for yours.”

  Their coupling was particularly sweet, but she sensed Tom was worried for her, and it made their joining all the more poignant. She worried that she’d added to his burdens by giving him yet another thing to fret about. However, it was the right decision.

  Likely, it was nothing.

  But if there was someone following her, she wanted Tom to put in place whatever was needed to protect her.

  It was as much for his sake as for hers.

  He loved her.

  To have her injured would tear his heart to pieces.

  That realization was brought home later the following day when she’d gone to visit his mother’s bedchamber. She sat by her bed and took her hand. “Lady Wycke, how are you today?”

  She was met with that same blank stare.

  “His lordship was in here earlier today,” Dora said with a sad shake of her head. “She’s been like this too long now. She hardly eats. She won’t move out of bed. She no longer speaks, not even to his lordship.”

  “I’ll talk to my uncle about it when he comes by to see her.” She nodded to Dora and Alice, who was serving as attendant for this day shift. “Thank you for keeping her as comfortable as possible.”