He groaned with satisfaction as she squirmed and moaned in his grip. Ian looked up at his bride. Her back was arched and her full, heaving breasts pointed upward, the muscles of her firm belly flexing beautifully with her movements. She was as exquisite as a goddess of lust, and as she climaxed under his mouth, he knew he was closer to paradise.
He couldn’t take the time to remove his clothes, so hungry was he to take her. He unfastened his pants and plunged inside her, groaning in pleasure as her tight silken sheath closed around him. Angelica wrapped her arms and legs around him, her hips rocking against his powerful thrusts. This is paradise, he thought a second before his ecstasy peaked and he exploded.
“That was magnificent,” she panted.
A wave of tenderness washed over Ian as he watched his bride dress. Her passion and boundless curiosity for life had awakened him. Before Angelica had come into his life, he’d only been half alive. Careful, he admonished himself. If he weren’t cautious, he may find himself in love with her.
Nineteen
The chef completely outdid himself for the evening meal, serving the duke and duchess salmon poached in herbs and swimming in a light butter sauce, creamy potato-leek soup, and rich, stuffed game birds. All was complemented with exquisitely sweet ratafia.
Angelica moaned with delight as she savored a spoonful of blackberries drenched in sweet cream. She opened her eyes to see Ian watching her with undisguised hunger.
“I am sorry, Your Grace,” she said with a blush. “I forgot myself. I wish you could better enjoy this exquisite meal.”
His silver eyes glittered. “Your delight in it pleases me sufficiently. I see you had quite an appetite.” He raised a mischievous brow and lowered his voice. “I would endeavor to know why?”
“Ian!” she gasped, her face burning as she glanced around to be certain the servants were not near. “Are you determined to keep me covered in blushes?”
His lips curved in a seductive smile. “Mmm, blushes are all I would like you to be covered with.”
After their plates were cleared away, Angelica wiped her lips with her napkin. “Are we going to enjoy a quiet evening at home, Your Grace?” She tried to keep the anticipation from her voice at the thought of touching him again.
He frowned. “As delightful as that sounds, I am afraid we have an engagement that I have been putting off. I need to present you to my subordinates and receive their vows for your protection.”
Angelica leaped out of her seat with unladylike haste. “I get to meet more vampires? I will go fetch my cape!” Her pulse sped at the prospect of delving deeper into Ian’s world.
His frown deepened at her enthusiasm. “Keep your voice down.” He inclined his head toward the doorway. “There are other ears about.”
She nodded with a wink and said louder, “I would so love to pick some lilacs on our stroll, Your Grace.”
The butler met them in the foyer. “Will you be needing the carriage, Your Grace?”
“No, thank you, Burke,” Ian said as he donned his hat. “My wife and I would like to enjoy the spring air.” He grinned. “Aside from that, I do believe that Felton requires a little more rest from running my wife pell-mell across London.”
When they were out of earshot and on a street without gas lamps, Angelica asked, “How far are we going?”
Ian smiled secretively. “Oh, the meeting area is near the Tower of London.”
She gasped. “That is quite a long walk.” Her feet seemed to ache in protest.
He tipped her chin up and leaned down. “I never said we were going to walk,” he whispered against her lips, pulling her into his arms. “Hold on to me tightly.”
With a delighted sigh, she obeyed, savoring the feel of his hard form against her. Angelica’s belly flipped as they slowly rose into the air. She clung to him and fought to hold back a shriek. “You can fly?” she squeaked.
“It is a rare talent among my kind.” His voice rumbled against her chest. “Though I confess I do not care to do it often.”
“B-but what if someone sees us?” she asked, clinging to him tighter, unable to hide her worry.
Ian laughed. “It is not a strong instinct in human nature to look up. Besides, I highly doubt anyone could spy us in this thick fog. And I suppose if anyone did catch a glimpse, they would say nothing in fear of being thought ready for Bedlam.”
She peeked down the line of their bodies past their toes. They had risen much higher now. The city of London sprawled out below them, church spires rising from the fog and the light from the gas lamps twinkling like captive stars. The world below had turned into a fairy land right before her eyes, and her writer’s imagination longed to capture every second of this new and incredible experience.
They touched down behind a ramshackle stone building that resembled a church. She nearly sighed in disappointment that the flight was over until she remembered that she would be meeting all of London’s vampires… Ian’s vampires.