hand had looked before.
“Generous man.”
“We used to come here every summer for weeks at a time, and in the fall, too, when I wasn’t going to law school.” She looked up at the darkening sky streaked with wide bands of sunset purple and pink. “Now I’ll spend my summers working in a law office.”
Robert smiled. “It won’t be long before we’re spending our summer weekends in Newport with the likes of the Vanderbilts and the Astors.” His eyes glimmered with grandiose dreams. “Perhaps we’ll even own a Newport mansion ourselves.”
She leaned over and brushed his lips with her own. “That’s not important. Being together is what matters.”
“You’re right.” He stopped, took her face in his hands, and kissed her, his soft, sensual lips insistent and arousing.
She pulled away. “Let’s go back to the house.”
The bedroom on the second floor faced the ocean, with two windows wide open to draw the cool summer sea breeze inside, the muffled sound of waves slapping against wet sand, and the occasional mournful cry of a sea gull wheeling overhead.
Honor stood by the windows, waiting for her husband in the fading rose light. Even though she and Robert hadn’t discussed children, she had taken her precautions with one of the anti-conception devices, then unpinned her hair and dressed in a white silk peignoir that felt cool against her warm, expectant skin. She shivered as a sudden gust of wind blew in, billowing both the curtains and her nightgown out like sails.
Robert emerged from his dressing room and stood entranced in the doorway. Honor, usually concealed by high collars, leg-o’-mutton sleeves, and skirts hanging past her ankles, a corset protecting her from questing fingers like armor, now looked enticingly unfettered, so light she could float away. Still unaware of his presence, she stood in profile, her hair as glossy as glass tumbling down over her shoulders in a soft black cloud. The breeze fluttered the frivolous blue satin ribbons on her lace-trimmed nightdress and pressed the light material against her naked body.
Robert felt the familiar stirring and tightening at the silhouette of full, upturned breasts, flat belly, and long thighs. He imagined himself imprisoned and squeezed breathless between those strong legs. He had so much to teach her.
“You’re all mine now.”
Honor started at the sound of Robert’s deep, resonant voice, and turned to find her husband standing in the doorway, watching her out of glittering eyes. He wore nothing underneath his hunter-green silk dressing gown.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly, as if he could read her mind. He walked over to the maple bed and extended his hand.
“I’m not.” The physical act of crossing the room bolstered her courage, and she placed her trusting hand in his. She lowered her gaze and blushed. “Well, perhaps just a little. I’ve never—”
“You know I would never hurt you,” he whispered, lifting her chin and looking into the bottomless depths of her eyes.
“I know.”
He tangled his fingers in her hair and rained soft kisses on her forehead, her eyebrows, her closed eyelids, the tip of her nose, and finally settled on her mouth, where he tormented her parted lips with tender nibbles that left Honor’s head spinning.
“You are so beautiful,” he said in a hushed, almost reverent tone, “and I can’t believe you’re mine.” He drew her down to sit on the edge of the bed and undid the tiny white pearl buttons running down the front of her nightgown.
He looked down at her bare breasts, his eyes darkening at the splendid sight. Priscilla had been as big as a cow, always trying to smother him. “You are perfect.”
To Honor’s surprise, he knelt at her feet while she still sat on the edge of the bed. He reached up to fill his hands with her breasts, his touch both hot silk and fire. Honor closed her eyes, her head fell back, and a groan inadvertently escaped her.
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