The Devastation (Unexpected Circumstances #7)(28)

“She wanted you,” Alexandra said, “not just the title.”

“Then she wasted her life,” I said simply. “Even if I had not found you and fell in love with you, I would never have agreed to her as a wife.”

Alexandra ran her hand over my cheek, and her fingertips scratched at the stubble there.

“Not that I could have blamed her for wanting you,” my wife whispered. “You are quite the catch.”

“So you admit you only want me for me titles?” I said, teasing her.

“I am fairly certain there are more days I wished you did not carry such titles than days I was glad of them.”

“I would have to agree.”

I brought my lips slowly to hers as I tried to remember exactly how many days it had been since Branny had been born. Had it been enough time?

“Do you think…” I paused for a moment as she pressed her lips more firmly to my own, effectively silencing me until I could manage to separate us again. “Do you think you are…ready?”

“Yes,” she whispered huskily, “most definitely. But Branny is asleep in our bed, and I do not think I would feel right if we were to, um…”

Her cheeks turned crimson as she ducked her head against my shoulder.

“Not with him here,” she said, her voice still low.

I placed my finger under her chin and tilted her face to look at me.

“Now that you mention it,” I said as I tasted her lips again, “there is something I have been meaning to do for quite some time now.”

“What is that?” Alexandra asked.

I did not answer her but quickly found Samantha to watch over Little Branford as I took my wife’s hand and led her down the back staircase to the Great Hall. I checked around the room quickly, but as I suspected, it was completely empty at this time of night. Still, I would not wish to be interrupted, so I instructed Alexandra to stay where she was as I went to the doors and informed the guards that no one was to enter for any reason.

Returning quickly to my wife’s side, I reached for her hands and brought our bodies close together. I could see the slight confusion in her eyes as our bodies touched, but she still melted against me as I took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. I found all my favorite places with my hands—her arms, her shoulders, her breasts—and then came back up to cup her jaw once more. I brushed over her cheekbones with my thumbs as I finally broke our kiss and lowered my hands to lace my fingers with hers.

Alexandra licked her lips as we parted, and I gave her a half smile and a raise of my eyebrows. Her cheeks tinged red as her gaze dropped to the floor, and her fingers tightened around mine. Before she had a chance to say anything, I turned around, still holding on to Alexandra's hand, and sat down on the throne of Silverhelm. I raised my eyebrows at her again and gave her a big smile as I pulled her to stand between my knees.

“I told you I would take you here one day.”

“Branford…” Her voice trailed off as she looked over her shoulder.

“No one will disturb us.”

“I thought…I thought you were jesting,” she said quietly. She looked down to our joined hands. “We cannot…not here…”

I brought her hands up to my lips and placed tiny kisses against her knuckles. Then I took one of her hands in mine, pushed up the sleeve of her dress, and slowly kissed up her arm until I reached the crook of her elbow. I let my tongue dart out, tasting her skin as I listened for her breathing to increase.

It did.

I placed my hands on her lower back and brought her a little closer, then dipped down to bring my lips against the place where her navel was hidden by her dress. I kissed the spot and then ran my hands up her sides. My gaze finally met hers again as I covered her breasts with my hands and gently caressed them through the fabric.

“We can,” I said.

“Someone could come in.”

“They will not.”

“They could.”

I pulled her closer again and dropped my hands low enough to gather the ends of her skirts. I lifted them enough to touch her bare leg before her hands stilled me.

“Branford…if someone saw us…”

“Leave it on, then,” I suggested, determined to have my way with her. My fingers danced over the skin of her leg as she relented, and I worked my hands up the back of her calves and then to her thighs. She moaned softly in the back of her throat, and I knew there was no way she would deny me.

Alexandra tangled her fingers in my hair as I continued my pilgrimage up her legs. I finally reached the place I sought, and I could feel her warm, wet, and inviting flesh on my fingertips. As I touched the small bit of flesh at the top of her folds, I heard a sharp intake of breath. I looked at her quickly, making sure her change in tone was due to pleasure and not discomfort. Her eyes were closed, and her lips parted slightly as her chest rose and fell more rapidly with her breathing.

She was incredible.

I slid my fingers over her flesh, teasing and stroking her until I felt more moisture against my hand. I wrapped my other arm around her backside, pulled her close, and slowly inserted a finger inside of her. I rubbed against her rhythmically with my thumb—matching pace with the tiny movements of her hips until sweat appeared on her brow and she leaned hard against me.

“Please,” she whispered.