Sophy clung to his shoulders, her eyes widening as she adjusted to the new position. She braced herself as she felt his manhood brush her softness. She liked this position, she decided. It was exciting to be on top. "Yes, Julian. Oh, yes, please."
"Take as much or as little as you wish. Take it as quickly or as slowly as you wish. I am at your command."
An exuberant thrill coursed through Sophy as she realized that it was up to her to set the pace. She lowered herself carefully over his thrusting hardness, savoring the slow penetration. She heard his deep, muffled groan of desire and her hands tightened on his shoulders.
"Julian."
"You are so lovely in your passion," he whispered tightly. "Soft and flushed and so willing to give me everything." He covered her throat with damp, warm kisses as she continued to lower herself until he filled her completely.
Sophy waited a moment, letting her body accept him, feeling herself tightening around him. Then, cautiously at first, she began to move.
"Yes, my sweet lady. Oh, God, yes."
She felt Julian swelling within her, felt herself growing unbearably taut. She clutched at him, her nails raking his shoulders and her eyes closed with the delicious tension. She concentrated only on finding the perfect rhythm that would unleash the wild, soaring release. Nothing else mattered in that moment but the joy of taking her own pleasure while she pleasured Julian. She felt infinitely powerful, brimful of a woman's unique strength.
"Tell me of your love, sweetheart. Say the words." Julian's voice was soft and coaxing and urgent. "I need the words. It has been too long since you said them. You give me so much, little one, can you not give me a few simple words? I will treasure them forever."
A tight, hot tingling sensation began to uncoil within Sophy. She was beyond reason, beyond thought, beyond everything but her own emotions. The words he sought were ready on her lips.
"I love you," she whispered. "I love you with all my heart. Julian"
She convulsed softly around him, the small tremors of her climax rippling outward, sweeping her away on a golden tide. In the distance she heard Julian's answering growl of response, felt the sudden rigidity of the bunched muscles in his shoulders and, finally, the shattering power of his own release.
For a moment they hung suspended in a timeless realm where nothing could interfere with the pure intimacy of their union. And then, with a low, satisfied groan, Julian sprawled back onto the pillows, bringing Sophy down across his chest.
"Do not ever again think that I could possibly confuse you with Elizabeth," he said without opening his eyes. "With her there was no peace, no satisfaction and no joy to be found under any circumstances. Not even… never mind. It's no longer important. But believe me when I say she gave nothing of herself. She took everything and then demanded more. But you give yourself so completely, my sweet. It is a special kind of enchantment. I do not think you can even imagine how good it feels to be on the receiving end of your generosity."
It was the most he had ever said on the subject of his first wife. Sophy decided that she did not really want to hear any more. Julian was hers now. They were bound together. And if what she had begun to suspect this past week were true, she even now held a part of him within her.
Sophy stirred, crossed her arms on his chest and looked down at him. "I am sorry I threw the swan at you."
He opened one eye at that and then grinned up at her. "I am certain that in the years ahead there will be other times when you will be obliged to remind me that you do, indeed, possess a woman's temper."
Sophy widened her eyes innocently. "I would not want you to ever grow complacent, my lord."
"I am sure you will save me from such a fate." He laced his fingers through her hair and pulled her face close to his. He took her mouth in a brief, rough lass and then freed her. His eyes grew serious. "Now, then, madam, as we are both in a calmer state of mind, just as I predicted, it is time to conclude the discussion we began earlier."
A great deal of Sophy's languid pleasure vanished as reality returned in a rush. "Julian, there is nothing more to be said on the subject. I must continue with my inquiries."
"No," he said quite gently. "I cannot permit you to do so. It is far too dangerous."
"You cannot stop me."
"I can and I will. I have made my decision. You will return to Ravenwood tomorrow."
"I will not go back to Ravenwood! Shocked and furious, Sophy pushed herself away from him and scrambled to the edge of the bed to retrieve her clothing. Clutching her gown in both hands, she faced him warily. "You tried once before to banish me to the country, my lord. It was not a successful effort then and I warn you it will not be successful this time." Her voice rose. "Do you think I will surrender to your dictates just because of what transpires between us in bed?"
"No, although it would certainly make matters easier if you did."
The calm in his voice was far more alarming than his earlier anger had been. It occurred to Sophy that her husband was at his most dangerous not when he was in a temper but when he was in this mood. She shielded herself behind her clothing and watched him uneasily. "My honor demands that I complete my task. I intend to find and punish the man who caused Amelia's death. I thought you understood and accepted my feelings regarding honor, my lord. We had an agreement."
"I do not deny your feelings on the subject but there is a problem because your sense of honor puts you in conflict with my own. My honor demands that I protect you."
"I do not need your protection."
"If you believe that, then you are more hopelessly naive than I had thought. Sophy, what you are doing is extremely dangerous and I cannot allow you to continue. That is all there is to it. You will tell your maid to begin packing at once. I will finish my business here in town and join you as soon as possible at Ravenwood Abbey. It is time we went home. I am weary of the city."
"But I have barely begun my detecting work. And I am not at all weary of the city. In fact, I am learning to enjoy town life."
Julian smiled. "That I can well believe. Your influence is showing up in all the best ballrooms and drawing rooms, madam. You have become a leader of fashion. Quite an accomplishment for a female who was a disaster during her first season."
"Julian, do not try to put me off with flattery. This is a matter of the greatest importance to me."
"I realize that. Why else would I risk making such an unpopular decision on your behalf? Believe me, I am not looking forward to having more table ornaments hurled at my head."
"I will not go back to Hampshire, my lord, and that is final." Sophy faced him with stubborn determination.
He sighed. "Then I shall undoubtedly soon be obliged to keep an appointment of my own at Leighton Field."
Sophy was dumbfounded. "What are you saying, Julian?"
"That if you stay here in town, it is only a matter of time before I will find it necessary to defend your honor in the same way you once attempted to defend mine."
She shook her head in wild denial. "No, no, that is not true. How can you suggest such a thing? I would never do anything to make it necessary for you to call out another man. I have told you that. You said you believed me."
"You do not understand. It is not your word I would doubt, Sophy. It is the insult to you that I would be obliged to avenge. And make no mistake. If I allow you to play dangerous games with men like Utteridge and Varley and Ormiston, the insults will soon be made."