“I am beginning to understand,” she replied with complete honesty. She knew Rayne loved her with the same fire and passion that coursed through her soul.
Even so, Madeline pursed her mouth provocatively as she looped her arm around his neck. “But I think I need much more convincing, husband. Why don’t you show me again?”
Her seductive challenge made Rayne laugh softly and lower his head to claim her lips. “I will, love, gladly. Just as soon as I recover my strength from our last devastating bout of lovemaking.”
Epilogue
I miss you deeply, Maman, but I know you would be happy for me now that I have found the other half of my heart.
London, November 1817
Rayne woke slowly to the mingled sensations of pleasure and contentment. Pleasure, because he had spent much of the rainy afternoon making love to his wife before falling asleep from satiation and exhaustion. Contentment, because they were celebrating the midwife’s prediction that Madeline was to have his child.
She lay spooned in his arms now, still dozing peacefully. The rain had stopped, leaving their London bedchamber filled with a hushed peace.
Carefully, Rayne slid his hand over Madeline’s naked belly, savoring the feel of her lush, warm body. Marveling at the thought of his seed growing inside her.
Easing away slightly, he raised himself up on one elbow, the better to see her. There was an added glow about her, he noted, admiring how fine and clear her skin was.
How could he have ever thought her plain? Rayne wondered. When had he started to think of her as beautiful? Possibly from the very beginning. Yet her beauty was more than skin deep. Madeline intrigued him, excited him, touched him, stirred him.
And in the past weeks since acknowledging their love for each other, Rayne had made it a point to show her by deeds and not merely pretty words just how lovely she was to him, how much she meant to him.
He was determined to vanquish all her doubts. Madeline was still new to love, though, and so had needed frequent reassurances. In their marriage bed, however, she displayed a flourishing confidence, slipping into the role of enchanting seductress with instinctive mastery.
Her passion was a wondrous gift, yet it was her passionate spirit that had grabbed him by the heart. His need for her was growing more powerful by the day.
Lifting his hand, Rayne brushed an errant tress back from her face, his fingers lingering on her soft, silken skin. He’d found an unexpected treasure in Madeline, without question. She was a vibrant, dynamic woman who took life by the throat. She had lured him into reaching out for love again, warming the cold places inside his heart and filling up the
empty places in his soul. He couldn’t fathom now how he’d ever thought he could live without her.
He loved her dearly, fiercely.
His tender caress eventually had the desired effect, for Madeline stirred awake. Looking sleep-tousled and warm and oh, so desirable, she turned slowly to gaze up at him.
As if sharing his thoughts, she gave him a languid, sated smile that was pure love.
Rayne felt his heart jolt in his chest. He wanted to see that beautiful smile every day of his life, wanted her laughter lighting up his days.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she murmured huskily. “I hold you to blame, my handsome husband. Your virility devastates mere ordinary females such as I.”
Laughing lightly, he touched his fingertips to her lips, loving the joy reflected in her face. “There is nothing whatsoever ordinary about you, darling. And you are even more to blame for us falling asleep. You obliterated my senses this afternoon. I may never recover.”
When her smile turned brilliantly sensual, Rayne gave in to his aching hunger and drove his fingers deep into her hair to bring her face close to his. In the instant before he claimed her lips, he saw her lustrous eyes grow smoky and hot.
For a long, pleasurable moment, Madeline yielded to his lush invitation … but then she pressed her palms against his naked chest and compelled him to break off his kiss.
“Rayne … Will Stokes should be arriving soon, have you forgotten your engagement?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“It would be scandalous to be caught lazing abed all afternoon.”
“He will understand.”
“Seriously, Rayne….”
He capitulated with a final, lingering kiss. “Very well, if you insist.”