Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(116)
“Why? What has changed your feelings?”
She collapsed back upon the bed, staring up at the ceiling, but her hand found his again and clenched it tight. “It will sound strange, but it was Temple. I am still not ready to talk about what happened. It was not as dreadful as you might fear, but it changed me.”
“What? I do not understand.” He wondered if she’d yet heard that Temple had apparently fallen down a flight of stairs the day before and broken both his legs and four fingers on one hand. One would have thought the poor man had been beaten within an inch of his life if one had not known better. A curl of satisfaction formed in Stephan’s belly. And the man was taking up commission with the army in India as soon as he was healed, a most strange thing for an earl to do. Stephan could only hope he was not grinning too broadly.
“Am I telling you the secrets of my heart and you grin like a fool?” Bliss asked, her pique clear.
“I am sorry. A passing thought of your beauty. Tell me what happened with Temple that made you decide to take a chance.”
“I had already decided to take it, I think. I had already said yes, but when I suddenly found myself faced with fear and horror I realized I didn’t want to have missed things. I wanted joy, and if I had to take risks to find joy, then I would take risks. I make it sound far simpler than it was. I didn’t have a sudden epiphany and reach deep understanding, but over these last days, slowly, softly, it has come to me. I want love. I want a family. I want you. And if the only way to have those things is to accept that someday I may lose them, then I will have to accept that—even if I am not quite sure that I like it.”
Yes, that was his Bliss. She had not actually said she loved him, but he knew both that she did and that someday the words would come. “I am glad.” He squeezed her fingers.
She rolled on her side and stared at him. “I am glad too.”
He grinned at her.
“Don’t look so smug. There are still many questions I have if we are to do this thing, this marriage.”
“Yes? You know your wish is my command,” he replied.
“Oh, don’t give me that. I know very well who it is in this bed that does the commanding. You’ve made that very clear.”
He was glad she understood that. “So what questions do you have, my love, my wife?”
“Well, first, how many times a night can we do that? And is it always the same? Always that good? And now that we’ve done that do you still want to do the other things? I have to confess I rather enjoyed taking you into my mouth and watching how you reacted to my every touch and stroke. What about the wax? I am not altogether sure I want to do that again, but I am not altogether sure that I don’t. Could I pour it on you? How would your cock react? Have you done that before? And what of spanking? Is it only for punishment or could we do it other times as well? And what about Madame Rouge’s? Will we go there again? Can I watch again? I have to admit that…”
Duldon let his eyes drift closed, just for a moment. He did love his Bliss, love his wife. He doubted it would have been possible to choose better. He knew a smug smile was spreading across his face as he listened to her—and let his fantasies free. She did have the most glorious imagination. He could hardly wait to begin answering her questions.
He squeezed her hand tight and then drew it beneath the sheet he’d drawn up over their hips.
Her voice quieted as she felt just what was waiting there. It was time to begin answering the first of her questions.