The Duke's Perfect Wife
“Hart.”
“Shh.”
Hart smoothed her hair, and she felt his lips, the enticing brush of hair that was his new beard. He did nothing with her bound hands, only held the end of the cloth. Eleanor’s wrists were pressed against her chest, Hart behind her and surrounding her.
Another cry escaped her lips. Hart responded with a groan, not immune to what he was doing.
“My sweet El. How does that feel?”
“Beautiful. You are beautiful. Oh, Hart, I don’t think I can stand this!”
“Yes, you can.” Hart licked her ear, the beard again tickling her. “You can stand it, my beautiful Scottish lassie. You are strong, like your kin who pushed the Sassenach soldier off th’ roof.”
Eleanor laughed, and the movement moved sweet bliss through her. Even Hart’s jests were calculated to bring out the finest feelings.
Passion and pleasure, bodies hot where they joined. Hart held her thus for a long time, moving very little. He simply filled her, giving her the joy of feeling him inside her, of being one with him.
Hart’s lips at her ear. “Do you want more?”
“Yes. Yes, please, Hart.”
Eleanor heard the begging words come from her mouth, but she could not stop them. Hart chuckled, the vibration of his body wonderful.
Eleanor found herself rocking forward to her hands and knees, Hart never coming out of her. He surrounded her with arms and legs, releasing the cravat enough so that she could brace herself on the bed. But he held her, never letting her fall, never letting her go.
Their bodies grew slick with sweat, droplets trickling between Eleanor’s br**sts to be caught by the cravat. Where Hart joined with her was nothing but heat.
“My El,” he groaned. “Don’t ever leave me again. Do you understand me? I need you.”
Eleanor shook her head. “No. I’ll stay. Always, always, Hart.”
“I won’t let you go. Not Fenians, not my stupid pride, not my past will get between us. I’m finished.”
She wasn’t sure exactly what he was talking about, but she loved his words rumbling over her. “Good. Good.”
“You and me, El. We’re meant to be. And the world can go hang.”
“Yes, Hart. Yes.”
“El, lass, ye are so beautiful.” His Highland Scots erased every bit of English schooling pounded into him. “Stay w’ me forever.”
“Yes. Oh, Hart, I love you.”
Without realizing he’d moved her, Eleanor found herself flat on her belly, Hart positioning her hands so that they stretched out in front of her. He was on top of her, the full weight and length of him on her body, still joined with her. She couldn’t go on with this, and at the same time, she couldn’t get enough of it. Hart had to stop—no, he had to never stop.
His words trailed into groans. His loving rubbed her against the coverlet beneath her, the friction of that driving her wild. She was trapped beneath him, and yet, the fire of him inside her made her feel powerful. She could do anything, anything, because Hart shared with her his strength.
The moment of joy went on, Hart finally surrendering to his. He shuddered, his skin damp, his breath warming her. “My El,” he said as he kissed and kissed her. “My sweet, wicked lass.”
He slid out of her and rolled her over, stretching on top of her and loosening her hands.
“Are you all right?”
Eleanor nodded, breathless. “Perfectly fine, my dear Hart. That was…” She grinned. “Perfectly fine.”
Hart unwound the strip of linen from her and let it flutter to the coverlet. He lowered his head to the pillows beside her. “Thank you.”
He had given her that beautiful pleasure, and he was thanking her? “What for?”
“The gift of your trust.”
She shrugged, pretending indifference. “You are not so bad.”
The sinful twinkle returned to his eyes. “Oh, no? I will have to convince you otherwise.”
Eleanor touched the linen strip. “Is this the kind of thing you like to do?”
“Part of it.”
“There’s more?”
His wide smile sent a hot shiver through her. “Much more, El. Much, much more.”
“And you will teach me all of it?”
Hart’s eyes flickered as he considered. He brushed a warm lover’s kiss over her lips. “Yes.”
Another shiver, excitement deepening. “I look forward to it.”
He lost his smile, a frown pinching his brows. “When I thought I’d lost you… When all I could see was the explosion and you disappearing behind it…”
He was shaking. Eleanor cupped his face, smoothing her thumb through the beard she was beginning to like. “Don’t think on it. We came through, both of us safe. Thanks to Ian.”
“Ian, yes. He’s lived through terrible things, and he deserves… so much.”
“Don’t worry. He’s happy now. He has Beth and his children. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“I know. Thank God for Beth.” Hart caught her wrist, kissed it. “And thank God for you. I love you, El. I can never explain how much I love you.”
His heart was in his voice, the gruff tones he used only when emotion got the better of him. That happened so rarely that Eleanor treasured it.
“I love you too, Hart. Forever.”
Hart nodded. “Forever, El.” He let out his breath, body shuddering as he relaxed beside her. He pulled a crumpled quilt over their bodies, and Eleanor snuggled down with him in the comfortable nest. The room grew quiet, peaceful.