Read Online On A Cold Christmas Eve by Bethany M. Sefchick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bethany M. Sefchick
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Lucy earlier that because his mother had been from Italy, the Enwrights did things slightly differently at Overlook Hill than the rest of society did.
That included several large evergreen trees that were propped up in the corners of numerous rooms, each one decorated with handcrafted baubles and featured candles for lights. Adam had told her that many in society considered the tradition horribly pagan, but his Italian mother had always had a tree, borrowing the concept from a German family that had lived near hers in Genoa.
Now, as Lucy stood admiring the rather festive-looking tree, her arm linked with Adam's, she had to agree that the entire event, from the wedding to the breakfast, had gone much smoother than she had anticipated. "No, my lord..." she began but Adam held up a finger.
"It's Adam now, remember? I am your husband, even if it is only of a few minutes." There was no real chastisement in his voice she was pleased to note, but rather a playful tone that she found she liked immensely.
"Adam," she agreed, finally allowing herself to relax just a bit. For the first time since her father had died, Lucy felt a measure of safety and contentment. She was the Duchess of Enwright now, and that gave her protections she had not enjoyed in the past. "So what shall we do now?"
Truthfully, Adam wanted to sweep Lucy upstairs and into his bed, just as he had for the last two days, and it was nearly driving him mad. He wanted to run his hands along her lush curves and tangle his fingers in her hair to see if it really was as silky as it appeared. He knew she would be tight, as she was still untouched, but he didn't care. He wanted to lose himself between her thighs and teach her all of the pleasures of the flesh.
In the last few days he'd come to know Lucy rather well and everything he knew, he adored beyond any logical reason. From the way she could converse intelligently about nearly any subject, to her quick wit and humorous personality, he found himself becoming very enamored of his bride. It wasn't love, certainly, but it was an intense like, coupled with extreme desire, and, for the moment, he was content with that.
Adam knew that Lucy still considered herself beneath him, but he was certain that she would overcome that notion in time. In his heart, he knew he couldn't have chosen a more perfect bride if he would have searched the world over. He simply needed her to see that. Quite simply, she was the woman he had never thought he would find.
He also needed her to see that he wanted her in his bed. Badly. It had been quite some time since he'd been with a woman, but until this moment, he'd been content in his celibacy. No longer, especially not when he could have his wife in his bed within the hour.
However, he wouldn't. He hadn't courted Lucy properly, hadn't kissed her or allowed her to grow accustomed to his touch. In fact, this had all happened so suddenly that he hadn't even noticed that her eyes had a slightly green hue around the edges until he'd seen her in the stunning sapphire gown she'd worn for the wedding. No, he would bed Lucy in time. After all, there could be no children without it, but despite her time in India and the freedoms she'd enjoyed there, there was still much she didn't know about men. He would not rush her, though he did hope that by Twelfth Night, she would be sharing his bed regularly.
"I was thinking we should take a walk," he finally suggested, taking her hand. It was either that or risk ravishing her here in the hall, in full view of everyone, which wouldn't do at all. "I know the air is cold, but the rain has stopped, at least for now, and it would be a good time for it. I'll show you the estate in full later, but for now, I believe the gardens will suffice."
He was gratified when she took his arm and offered him a smile. "That would be lovely, Adam." He was even more gratified when she didn't make an attempt to pull away
That included several large evergreen trees that were propped up in the corners of numerous rooms, each one decorated with handcrafted baubles and featured candles for lights. Adam had told her that many in society considered the tradition horribly pagan, but his Italian mother had always had a tree, borrowing the concept from a German family that had lived near hers in Genoa.
Now, as Lucy stood admiring the rather festive-looking tree, her arm linked with Adam's, she had to agree that the entire event, from the wedding to the breakfast, had gone much smoother than she had anticipated. "No, my lord..." she began but Adam held up a finger.
"It's Adam now, remember? I am your husband, even if it is only of a few minutes." There was no real chastisement in his voice she was pleased to note, but rather a playful tone that she found she liked immensely.
"Adam," she agreed, finally allowing herself to relax just a bit. For the first time since her father had died, Lucy felt a measure of safety and contentment. She was the Duchess of Enwright now, and that gave her protections she had not enjoyed in the past. "So what shall we do now?"
Truthfully, Adam wanted to sweep Lucy upstairs and into his bed, just as he had for the last two days, and it was nearly driving him mad. He wanted to run his hands along her lush curves and tangle his fingers in her hair to see if it really was as silky as it appeared. He knew she would be tight, as she was still untouched, but he didn't care. He wanted to lose himself between her thighs and teach her all of the pleasures of the flesh.
In the last few days he'd come to know Lucy rather well and everything he knew, he adored beyond any logical reason. From the way she could converse intelligently about nearly any subject, to her quick wit and humorous personality, he found himself becoming very enamored of his bride. It wasn't love, certainly, but it was an intense like, coupled with extreme desire, and, for the moment, he was content with that.
Adam knew that Lucy still considered herself beneath him, but he was certain that she would overcome that notion in time. In his heart, he knew he couldn't have chosen a more perfect bride if he would have searched the world over. He simply needed her to see that. Quite simply, she was the woman he had never thought he would find.
He also needed her to see that he wanted her in his bed. Badly. It had been quite some time since he'd been with a woman, but until this moment, he'd been content in his celibacy. No longer, especially not when he could have his wife in his bed within the hour.
However, he wouldn't. He hadn't courted Lucy properly, hadn't kissed her or allowed her to grow accustomed to his touch. In fact, this had all happened so suddenly that he hadn't even noticed that her eyes had a slightly green hue around the edges until he'd seen her in the stunning sapphire gown she'd worn for the wedding. No, he would bed Lucy in time. After all, there could be no children without it, but despite her time in India and the freedoms she'd enjoyed there, there was still much she didn't know about men. He would not rush her, though he did hope that by Twelfth Night, she would be sharing his bed regularly.
"I was thinking we should take a walk," he finally suggested, taking her hand. It was either that or risk ravishing her here in the hall, in full view of everyone, which wouldn't do at all. "I know the air is cold, but the rain has stopped, at least for now, and it would be a good time for it. I'll show you the estate in full later, but for now, I believe the gardens will suffice."
He was gratified when she took his arm and offered him a smile. "That would be lovely, Adam." He was even more gratified when she didn't make an attempt to pull away
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