A Honeymoon Masquerade (4 page)

Her head swam and the room seemed to tilt and spin. Gripping the edge of the table, she held on as he withdrew from one passage and invaded the other, quickening his strokes. He grasped her hips and lifted her, taking her feet from the floor. He thrust hard and fast, pounding against her and invading the far reaches of her body, stoking her to life once again. Her lips parted on a silent scream as a third assault came over her so swiftly she hardly realized what was happening before her sheath contracted around him, triggering another series of spasms.

“Ah, Maggie,” he groaned, thrusting into her one last time. “I love you.”

With one last grunt, he fell against her, his seed filling her in a hot rush. Crushing her against him, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his face against her shoulder.

They lay that way together, half on the table, their breaths racing and mingling together in the quiet ballroom. His chest heaved against her back, then began to slow as he caught his breath. Her eyelids drooped sleepily, and her body became weightless as the afterglow that inevitably followed being with the man she loved washed over her.

Straightening, Camden withdrew from her, then grasped her shoulders and urged her to join him. She turned to face him, finding an expression of fierce devotion and love upon his face. His mouth claimed hers in a tender assault, his fingers gentle on her face, sliding back into her hair. He caressed her scalp while his tongue mated with hers, their breaths mingling and exchanging as the kiss dragged on and on. Her legs became weak, but he caught her up, lifting her before striding toward the nearest chair and lowering them both into it.

Situating her across his lap, he claimed her lips once more in a kiss that seemed to go on and on, an expression of his happiness and vulnerability a moment after they’d tread on new ground in their intimate life. She understood the feeling well; just then she didn’t think she’d ever felt more connected to him, more loved by him.

“Thank you,” he murmured, once they’d pulled apart. “You did not have to allow me to do that.”

Running a hand through his hair, she found the ribbons tying his mask in place. Releasing them, she pulled it away and revealed his face.

“I told you, I trust you,” she replied as he reciprocated, taking her mask away and laying it beside his on the table. “I knew you would not let me down.”

He grinned, leaning his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. “The day I let you down is the day I give you permission to shoot me in the head. I want nothing more than for you to be happy.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rested her head against his shoulder. “Happy? If I were any happier, they’d lock me up in Bedlam. No one would ever believe a person could be so delirious with joy.”

He held her close and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. “They’d have to take me as well. And I wouldn’t care, because then I’d never be away from you. You are mine, Maggie, and I am yours.”

Smiling, she placed a kiss on his shoulder. “Always.”

Part Three: The Curtain Call

Margaret awoke the following morning with a jolt, excitement filling her entire being.

Today would be the day. Camden could no longer keep secrets from her concerning their wedding trip. Time spent alone with the man who’d stolen her heart—a rare opportunity. Even since their marriage, his duties in the House of Lords and to his estates had taken up much of his time. This trip would be just the thing they needed—a time for two newfound lovers to explore one another and grow even deeper in love.

As if such a thing could be possible.

Jumping from the bed, she stifled an excited laugh. It wouldn’t do for the servants to hear her chuckling like a madwoman for what they might perceive as no reason at all.

Finding the bed beside her empty, she searched for her dressing gown and went in search of Camden. The door to her dressing room sat ajar, and within her maid prepared her travelling clothes. Bidding the maid good morning, she crossed to the door separating her dressing room from his, detecting the murmur of his voice on the other side.

Knocking, she waited patiently for him to open the door, and found him in the company of his valet.

“That’ll be all,” he said, dismissing his man with a wave of one hand.

He was again the perfect picture of a duke in his dove grey morning coat and white linen. His eyes brimmed with secrets as their gazes met, reminding her of the pleasure they’d shared the night before. Her cheeks burned, and her pulse raced as he came close, that gaze going wicked and traveling over her body incased in the silk robe.

“Good morning, duchess,” he murmured, reaching out to grasp her shoulders. “I trust you slept well.”

She laughed. “You know very well that I slept like a baby. Thanks to you.”

He raised one dark eyebrow and pursed his lips. “You’re glowing. Shall I take credit for that as well?”

“No,” she teased. “That is my natural beauty, and has nothing to do with you.”

Chuckling, he drew her closer and kissed her, his tongue skimming her lower lip. “Minx. Are you ready to leave?”

“Are you ready to tell me where we’re going?”

Guiding her toward a navy blue chaise lounge in the corner of the dressing room, he gestured for her to sit. Lowering himself beside her, he took one of her hands in both of his. He raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

“I apologize for the secrecy, but I wanted to give you a gift—something to make up for the hell I put you through before I proposed.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

He sighed, shaking his head. “I should have come to my senses sooner. I should have known from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were the one. Instead, I put you through weeks of uncertainty while I wrestled with my own selfishness and insecurities. I wanted to make that up to you.”

Her heart wrenched at the sincerity she found in his stare. He truly felt as if he’d owed her something. Reaching up, she took his face in her hands.

“My love, you have nothing to apologize for. You’ve given me love, your name, and so much more. I wanted one night with you, and was rewarded with a lifetime instead. I am the most fortunate woman in the world.”

“I’m the fortunate one,” he insisted. “I want this to be a wedding trip you will never forget. We will dine in open-air cafes, attend operas, and explore ancient ruins and art museums. We’ll frolic at Carnival, eat decadent foods and stay at the most beautiful and luxurious hotels. I’ll take you to St. Peter’s, the Colosseum, and the Spanish steps.”

Her jaw dropped as his words brought to mind her cousin’s stories of his Grand Tour on the continent.

“Oh, Camden! We’re going to Italy?”

He nodded, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I got to explore Venice, Naples, and Rome during my Grand Tour, and I know you’d love it. Since women don’t get to experience the tour, I thought I could give you a piece of that. We can enjoy those cities together.”

Throwing her arms around him she gave in to the tears filling her eyes, letting them spill over her cheeks.

“You are the most wonderful man. I cannot believe you’d go through all this trouble for me.”

“Don’t you understand?” he said, pulling back and meeting her gaze. “When it comes to you, there is nothing I wouldn’t do. I want you to be happy, and I want our life together to be rich and full of excitement. I want to give you the world, Maggie.”

“The world? What a gift. And what shall I give you in return? You haven’t given me much to offer.”

He nuzzled her nose with his and chuckled. “Then give me the only thing left you have to give. Your heart. Love me, Maggie.”

Her throat constricted and hot tears stung her eyes. Beneath the refined veneer of the duke—one of the most powerful men in England—lay a man whose sole desire was to be loved. She’d never realized it in all her months of pining for him, but any fool who looked close enough could see it. That she could be the one to give him that seemed a far greater gift than anything he place in her hands.

“I already do,” she replied. “With all my heart.”

He reached up to swipe her tears away with his fingertip.

“Now, enough of that. Italy awaits us, duchess. Shall we?”

A smile curved her mouth as she became transported to a night, months ago, when he’d extended an invitation to her—one night of sin. Accepting it had pushed her toward a journey that had ended in the happiest of ways. Glancing down at the outstretched hand, she recognized the opportunity for yet another grand adventure. Last night proved just the beginning—there could be many more first to be had for them.

Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, and accepted his offer yet again.

Did you enjoy this exclusive look into Camden and Maggie’s happily-ever-after? Be sure to look out for emails from me in the future concerning new Scandalous Ballroom Encounters books. In the meantime, check out the ones that are already available.

xoxo,

Victoria

      
Book 2 in the Scandalous Ballroom Encounters series

Find it at Amazon, and read FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

After being turned down by the woman he loves at the end of the season, the wife hunt continues for Sheridan Cranfield. When Cecily Montgomery catches his eye, he knows that his feelings for her are far deeper than they could have ever been for the woman who broke his heart.
Winning her heart will not present a problem … conquering her body, however, will prove another challenge altogether.
A true gentlemen, Sheridan was taught that a man must treat his wife with the utmost respect in the bedchamber, and only slake his most salacious desires with his mistress. While he dreams day and night of the wicked things he wants to do to her, his reticence holds him back … resulting in a dissatisfied bedmate.
Cecily adores her husband, but wishes she knew how to draw him out of his shell. Beneath his polite and refined demeanor, she sees the true Sheridan—a man with the potential to utterly master her body and fulfill her every fantasy.
Enter Madame Petra, a skilled courtesan known by the ton for tutoring couples in how to please one another. With her help, can Cecily coax her husband into unleashing the seductive sexual being simmering just beneath the surface? Or will their monotonous bedroom life doom them to an amiable, but lackluster future?

Sexy heroes … sassy heroines … electrifying erotic romance.

Victoria Vale has written over two dozen Romance and Young Adult novels under various pseudonyms. As a lover of erotic romance, she enjoys nothing more than a sexy hero paired with a sassy heroine, flavored with a dash of spice and lots of heat. A wife and mother of three, she enjoys reading (of course), cooking, sewing … and other activities that aren’t appropriate for inclusion in a biography.

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