only this—” she placed her palm across his heart, “—and this,” she finished, using her other hand to cup him intimately as a devilish grin flitted across her lips.
Laughing, Traverson gathered her in his arms and pulled her forward until she was sitting comfortably in his lap. Nuzzling the curve of her collarbone where he knew her to be the most sensitive, he whispered, “I believe that can be arranged, Lady Gates. First, however, I have some news to share with you.”
“You do?” Josephine started to trail her fingers along Traverson’s thigh, but he caught her hand and, raising it to his lips, delivered a kiss upon each knuckle.
“I do,” he said firmly. “First thing in the morning all of your things are being moved from this house.”
“They are?” she said, stiffening slightly with alarm.
“They are. We will be starting a new life, in a new house. One I purchased just this evening, in fact. A lovely brownstone on the corner of Higgins Street and Reynard Avenue.”
“A new home and a new husband,” Josephine murmured, relaxing into him. She recognized the address, of course. It belonged to the house that sat right next to Catherine and Marcus’. “What else could a woman possibly wish for?”
“You are quite spoiled,” Traverson said gravely.
“Yes, well, best you figure that out now,” Josephine said with a haughty toss of her head. “And let it be known that I expect presents at least once a month. Oh, and Traverson, dear?”
“Mmm?” he said, finding himself distracted by her nightgown which had slipped to reveal one bare shoulder.
“Do you think I might get another one of those beetle pins? They really are quite dear.”
“I shall shower you in beetle pins,” he promised before with a playful growl he rolled her beneath him, taking care to cushion her head beneath his arm, and Josephine, for the first time in her life, said the three words she had been waiting to say to that one special man who would steal her heart.
“I love you.”
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