Taste of Desire

chapter Twenty



Marguerite turned over in the bed, the solid weight of her husband beside her. He had insisted on carrying her up to bed when Lady Smythe-Burke left. She had tried to discuss all the matters before them, but he had insisted she needed a nap. She had been about to discuss his skills at listening again when he had indicated she was not to nap alone.

Ahh, well, she stretched. They might need to work together on his listening, but his other skills might help tip the balance on in his favor.

He rolled over and opened one eye. Catching her watching him he opened the other. “Are we ready to move on or do I need to listen some more?” He ran a hand up her thigh.

She shivered and tried to pull back. He wrapped the other hand about her waist pulling her towards him. “I listen better when you’re close.” He started to lay kisses along her neck.

“In that case I do have one question.” Marguerite worked her own hand between them, causing him to moan. “I have been reviewing events carefully trying to address whether you have lied to me.”

Tristan tensed, but kept kissing her. “And?” he whispered against her neck.

“On that now infamous first night you also mentioned a mistress who threatened to cause a scandal if you did not marry her. At this point I assume it is not Violet we speak of. What became of this mistress?”

Had her husband’s ears turned red? He mumbled something and slipped his lips down to her breast. His other hand slid further up her thigh. She gritted her teeth trying not to respond. She could feel quivers of excitement flying across her belly. “I want an answer I can hear.”

Tristan sucked hard on her nipple, once, but when she refused to give in. He lifted his head. “I may have exaggerated that one. She did exist, but I am afraid I’d left her weeks before. I did not take well to blackmail.”

“So you did lie?” Marguerite squirmed under his continued onslaught. It was growing hard to breathe, much less speak.

“Can’t we just call it an exaggeration? I assure you I never meant to lie.” He attacked the other breast.

“Exaggeration? I might be able to go with that. You do have other redeeming characteristics,” she panted. “Of course, I would expect some kind of recompense for my patience.” She drew her hand up stroking him fully. His whole body jerked.

“Something like this?” His fingers delved deep into her, centering on that all-important feminine bundle of nerves.

“I – I – I was thinking of something with words.”

He stopped all movement and raised his head to stare deep into her eyes. “Something, like ‘I love you, Marguerite. I love you with all my heart and soul.”

She lifted her hips beneath him, until they lay almost joined. “Yes, I think that will do very well.”

He moved again, and again, and they spoke no more words.