He’d been married a week, and Cooper realized that he faced two rather substantial problems. First, his wife vacillated between resembling a living flame in the bedroom and a cup of tepid tea the remainder of the time. She had at least ceased the verbal attacks, but she barely acknowledged his existence otherwise. Her sulky demeanor stirred every one of his more dominant instincts to life. But that was his second issue. He had married believing he could control his sexual preferences, but now reality was setting in.

Fear pulsed thickly through his veins as he considered what to do about his wife. What if she was appalled by the notion of his dominance? Emily was so clearly an independent woman, one who supported much of Wollstonecraft’s ideas, and who had so articulately expressed her dissatisfaction with the yoke of marriage, and the obviously dominant role that men held in general. How could someone who so fully believed in such notions accept his sexual need to dominate? His desire to spank her and tie her to his bed? And what peer did such things to his wife?

His logical side raised Stone as a prime example of a peer who shared his preferences. But beyond him, Cooper was unaware of any other couples who behaved in such a fashion. Unsure of what to do, and how to mitigate both his concerns, he had turned up on Stone’s doorstep in the early afternoon.

His friend had looked surprised by Cooper’s admission. “We have shared the same proclivities since our school days. How did you plan to deal with this once you married?”

“At some point, I anticipated a typical ton marriage, where my…uh…fidelity would not be an issue, allowing me to indulge my sexual needs away from the marriage bed.” Cooper shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “But when I realized I wanted to marry Emily, I determined to remain respectful of her position as my wife. I had hoped more ordinary intimacy would suffice.”

Stone sighed. “As I told you on your wedding day, you must not keep secrets from your wife. It will lead to no good. However, I do not think Lady Emily would take well to an unexpected immersion into your sexual desires. You will need to expose her to your needs slowly. Explore your desires together at a pace both of you can manage.”

Cooper understood, but then he had to find a way to get past her demeanor. “But how can I broach such a delicate topic when she barely speaks to me outside of the bedchamber? As soon as I touch her, she sizzles with desire and need. But anywhere else, she becomes aloof and so reserved, I find it nearly impossible to speak with her.”

Stone sat quietly for long, painful moments. “Start with the intimacy. The rest should work itself out as you build trust. And whatever you do, no more secrets.”

* * *

Cooper was eager to begin his wife’s introduction to sex as he enjoyed it. And while he adored being inside her, feeling her wrapped around him, the experience always felt as though something were missing. There was no mystery as to what the missing element was, and now he would be bringing it back into his world. Excitement surged below the hum of anticipation as he waited for Emily’s maid to leave.

He finally heard the door close in the room next to his. A niggling of doubt slipped through all his musings, and for the first time since talking to Stone that afternoon, he wavered. Would his wife balk at what he had planned?

Images flashed though his mind of her in various states of passion. She often responded to his demands, happily complied with his wishes, and melted under his firm touch. Tonight would be no different, simply more.

With that reminder fresh in his mind, and his shaft already growing hard behind the flap of his trousers and hidden under his robe, he opened the door between their chambers, where Emily stood near the fire, brushing out her hair.

“Cooper. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” She continued stroking the bristles over the long, gleaming strands of her golden-brown mane.

“I saw no reason to sit alone in my chamber.” He walked over and sat in one of the chairs near the fire.

She bit her lip but turned back toward the fire, then added a few more strokes to her regimen. He watched her strong arms complete each long pull through her locks with a firm, steady hand. Then she set the brush aside and turned to face him. “Shall we retire to the bed?”

“Not quite yet.” He took a deep breath and prepared to move forward with his plan. He held out his hand. “Would you join me here?”

She did not move a muscle. “There? On the chair?”

He patted his knee with his other hand. “I wish to speak with you, and I enjoy having you close to me.”

She eyed him warily. “Why?”

He sighed. “We are married. I cannot undo what I did that night, and I am not sure that I would, since it meant protecting you.”

“I could easily have managed the situation. I had no jewelry on me that was not my own, and no magistrate would have taken the word of a known criminal over that of a lady.” She crossed her arms, stubborn as ever.

“Be that as it may, I miss my lady hellion—in and out of the bedroom.” He hoped his plea might work. If not, he was toying with the notion of spanking her and teaching her that her refusal to engage in their marriage was unacceptable.

“Perhaps you should have thought of that before you ruined her?” She let one brow rise arrogantly.

Cooper squashed the growl that threatened to rumble from his chest. “Perhaps, but what’s done is done. Will you punish me forever?”

Emily released a long, slow breath. “I do not wish to. But I do not know how to let go of this anger. How to forgive you and move on.”

“Perhaps I can help you with that?” He edged forward in his chair. “Come here, wife.”

This time, she moved toward him, one slow step at a time, until she stood within arm’s reach. “What are you plotting, husband?”

He reached out and planted one big hand on the curve of her hip, drawing her between his legs. “Merely attempting to stay one step ahead of my hellion.” He offered her a grin.

As she stood before him, her cotton nightgown draping over her curves and the fire kissing them with heat and light, Cooper bent his head until his forehead rested against her stomach. He wrapped his arms about her hips, placing his hands on the upper swells of her bottom. “I know I have hurt you beyond measure with my actions. And while I abhor the notion of having done so, please know I did so out of a desire to protect you. To care for you.”

A small gasp escaped her as she laid her hands on the top of his head.

“As your husband, I will always see to your welfare—even at the detriment of my own. And I hope that we may find equal footing in this marriage as partners and lovers.” He placed a kiss on her cotton-covered stomach and then tilted his head back up to look at her. “Can you find it in your tender heart to forgive me?”

She looked down at him, her eyes welling with unshed tears. “I believe I can.”

He reached up and bent her over until their lips met in a tender kiss. Upon separating, he leaned back in his chair. “Now, my sweet hellion. Take off that nightgown.”

She stood there a moment and blinked at him.

“Come now, you enjoy how I touch you. How I make you feel in our bed. Why the hesitation?” Curiosity pushed him as his desire for her grew with the tenseness of the moment.

“I cannot explain it.” Her cheeks colored in the low firelight.

He inclined his head. “Very well, then. I shall make it an order. Do as I say, or there will be repercussions.”

“What kind of repercussions?” she asked softly.

Cooper couldn’t hide his smile. “Do as I ask, or I shall paddle your bottom until it is warm and pink.”

She inhaled sharply, but then eyed him once more. “You would enjoy spanking me?”

He nodded. “Very much so, though only if you also enjoyed it.”

“I see.” Emily stood there unmoving.

He watched her, nervously waiting to see what she would do…or not do. This could be the moment that determined his future. Would he continue in marital purgatory, never to indulge his desire to own the woman in his bed mind, body, and soul? Or would his wife follow him into the sexual heaven he believed they could discover together?

A gleam of defiance lit her hazel eyes, making the green seem to grow more intense. “I suppose we shall find out soon if I enjoy it or not.”

Confused for a moment, he hesitated, but then demanded again, “The nightgown, Emily.”

“I think not, husband.” Her little chin tilted up slightly, as though she had firmed her resolve to head down this path.

Curious to see if she was truly choosing to explore this with him, he grunted. “Go to the bed and bend over the mattress.”

When his wife did as he bid her, his jaw nearly unhinged even as his cock rose to full attention. His apology had been unplanned, a spewing of his sorrow at having hurt her. But it seemed to have been the very salve she needed to allow them to move past her fury. Of course, he knew all was not perfect, but perhaps they could move forward.

He stood, divested himself of his robe, and went to the bed where his wife lay half on the mattress and half off. Bending over, he grabbed the hem of the nightgown and pulled it up until her bare arse was exposed. He reached down and caressed the left globe of her backside with a gentle touch and relished the sharp inhale of surprise that sounded from where she lay.

He placed one hand on her lower back. “My lady hellion, if we are to get on, you will need to learn to do as I say—”

She jerked up as if to stand. “Cooper—”

“—in the bedroom.” He left his hand on her lower back, refusing to allow her to move.

Smoothing his hand over the other side of her bottom, he pulled back and landed the first swat. Careful not to smack her too hard, he repeated the motion on her left cheek. Then he kept going, letting each successive slap land a bit heavier until he heard her breath hitch. He paused and gently rubbed over her warming backside.

Emily moaned and pushed against his touch.

His cock ached as he let his fingers stroke lower until he found the lips of her pussy. Stroking over them, he marveled at how wet his wife had become while he’d spanked her. Drawing his hand back and ignoring another groan from her, he smacked her bottom two more times. This time, he allowed his hand to land heavily, causing her skin to glow pink in the dimness of the room.

Overwhelmed with the need to reward his hellion with all the pleasure he could give her, but equally desperate to push deep inside her, he nudged her thighs a bit wider and spread her soaked center open. After dropping his trousers and freeing his cock, he followed that desperate need and drove into her before he pulled back out. He shoved his length in again before withdrawing and allowing the delicious friction to push him to the edge. Already so close, he reached around and used his thumb to caress her little nub, which had grown swollen and distended.

Emily whimpered and pushed back into his next stroke. “Oh, God.”

Yes. She was close. So close to giving him all that he wanted. “Come for me, Emily. Come for me and scream my name,” he demanded, even as he drove his shaft inside her, coaxing her to explode.

And then she did as he asked. With another swipe of her clit and push of his cock, she moaned loudly. Her body convulsed with spasms, gripping his length as her orgasm slammed into her. “Cooper! Yes!”

Satisfaction pulsed through him as she ground against him, shaking with the ferocity of her release. He continued stroking into her body, shuttling in and out in a steady rhythm that quickly launched him into his own shuddering climax. With his balls drawing tight and his toes curling, he rode the wave of intense pleasure even as Emily’s pussy continued to grip and release him.

Both breathing heavily, with her slumped beneath him, he withdrew and then kissed her backside. Pushing her nightgown farther up her back, he followed behind with nibbling kisses.

After pressing one last kiss between her shoulder blades, he helped her pull the bundle of material over her head. Then he helped her crawl fully onto the bed, where he tucked in beside her, letting his body snuggle next to hers.

As she returned to the present, he leaned over and kissed her fully. Their tongues twined as he savored this unguarded moment between them. He drew away from her after a few heartbeats. “Are you well, wife?”

“Yes.” She sighed her response more than spoke it, but he understood.

He reached up and traced the outer edge of her areola with a fingertip, watching as her nipple tightened in reaction to the further stimulation. “There is more pleasure to come. Are you prepared for that?”

She shivered, yet looked up at him with eyes that glowed. “Please. Make me feel good.”

And he did until the wee hours of the morning crept in and threatened to pull back the cover of darkness. Satisfaction that he had said what needed to be said with his body, if not words, settled in his chest. That spark of hope had him looking forward to how their marriage might shift, not to mention relishing the upcoming opportunities to show his wife the many ways one could derive pleasure.