Matt’s relief was palpable. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she turned her head so that his mouth glanced off her cheek instead.
“I have to leave for just a little while,” he said when he pulled back. “I need to finalize all the arrangements for our departure and make sure your needs will be met for the entire trip. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Is there anything I can bring you?”
She shook her head and he rose but before he walked away, he stroked a hand over her hair. “I’ll do anything to make you smile again, Savvie.”
Before she could respond, he turned and walked quietly from the room, leaving her to stare out the window as it snowed.
Dash walked into the bedroom he shared with Tess without turning on a light. He had been gone for ten days and he’d missed his wife. He hated the knowledge. It made him crazy. He shouldn’t miss a woman who had deceived him so ruthlessly, but he had.
He woke in the night, reaching for her body and she was not there. He had dreamed about her and ached for the release he found in her sweet flesh. That, at least, he would no longer deny himself.
He reasoned that he had to make her pregnant so his control of his family’s company would be assured. Which meant he had to make love to her. Besides sleeping in separate beds was not an option. His mother and sister would notice and his pride would take another lashing.
He’d told himself that was why he called her so frequently when he was gone. It would look odd if he called his mother more frequently than his wife and he had no intention of telling his family how he had been blackmailed into marriage.
He stripped off his clothes and climbed into the bed. His wife’s small body was wrapped around a pillow. She looked so damn innocent, completely incapable of the duplicity he knew she harbored within her. She also looked desirable like no other woman did to him now.
He caressed her in a way he had learned aroused her and she moaned his name in her sleep. A shaft of pain went through him. At least she had been honest about that.
She did want him.
He pulled the pillow from her arms and kissed her in one movement. Her lips responded even though her body remained limp from sleep. He tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth and she opened her mouth. She tasted so sweet, it was impossible to keep reminding himself that she was his enemy.
Right now, she was just his wife. He slid the thin strap of her nightgown off her shoulder, exposing one pouting breast. Caressing the velvet flesh of her nipple with his palm, he nuzzled her neck, taking in the scent of wildflowers that he associated so completely with her.
The soft bud below his palm hardened and she moaned. His body responded predictably. It had been almost two weeks since he had lost himself in the sweetness of her body. Thirteen days too long. He ached with hunger for her, with the need to feel her naked skin against him.
She did not wake up as he carefully removed her gown. He laid down beside her again, pulling her body into full contact with his. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to revel in the sensation of holding her again. Something he could not have done if she was awake.
He let his hand trail down her body, brushing tender buds that taunted him with remembered sweetness. He lightly touched the soft curls at the apex of her thighs and she stirred.
Her breathing changed and he knew she was waking up.
Tess swirled to consciousness, unsure whether she was awake or still dreaming.
Dash was kissing her, touching her.
She’d dreamed about it so much that she was sure at first it was just another realistic flight of her subconscious and she did not want to wake up to the reality of her marriage and Dash’s absence. She fought her return to consciousness, but it was if his voice was whispering in her ear, telling her he wanted her.
Then his hand made a path between her legs, penetrating moist folds with intimate caresses and she realized she was awake; Dash was with her; and they were making love.
“You’re home,” she whispered, her vocal cords thick with sleep.
“Yes. I am here, honey” he replied.
Had he said honey? Or was that part of the dream that had meshed with reality? His mouth trailed down her neck, nibbling her skin and making her shiver.
She whispered his name, clutching at his shoulders. “I’m glad you’re home.” She said.
His fingers did something magical to her feminine flesh.
“I missed you,” she panted, her defenses obliterated by his touch and her disorientation in coming awake to it.
“I missed this also,” he said in a husky voice that sent shivers of need rippling through her.
He wanted her again. Relief mixed with her growing passion in a volatile combination that had her moving restlessly under him, spreading her legs in an age-old invitation. “I want you.”
He groaned his approval and took her nipple into his mouth, but he did not move to join their bodies together. He tortured her with bliss, touching her body in ways he knew drove her crazy with desire.
“Please, Dash. Now.” She arched toward him. “Be with me. Please.”
He made a sound that sounded as tortured as she felt and joined their bodies with one passionate thrust. Tender flesh stretched to capacity, but she did not murmur a complaint. She wanted this very thing. Needed it.
He cried out and then began to move, his body surrounding her, filling her, completing her.
Afterward, he rolled over so she was on top of him, but they were still connected. He was still partially aroused inside her and little jolts of pleasure shot through her every time he moved.
She nuzzled into his neck and kissed wherever her lips landed. “You’re not mad at me anymore.” She said.
Instead of answering, he gripped her hips and started moving her on his rapidly hardening flesh. Soon, she lost all desire to talk as sensual hunger took over.
This time they reached the pinnacle of pleasure together and their cries of satisfaction mingled in the air around them. When they were finished, he pulled her into his body and fell asleep before she could get answers to the many questions roiling in her mind.