Harrison tried to reply. He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly until some semblance of awareness returned to him.
“If that was a proposal, it was quite lacking,” he teased her, grasping the nape of her neck and dragging her closer.
“Do you think you can do better?” she rubbed her nose against his.
“Katherine Elizabeth Smith,” he said her full name, his gaze roaming her beautiful face. “Will you allow me the pleasure of standing beside you as your equal and your husband for as long as we live?”
He waited for her answer, his leg bouncing up and down, hands sweating.
Kat leaned forward, holding him captive with her gaze the way she’d always done since the moment they’d met.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said, pressing her lips to his, her hand cupping his cheek. “I can’t think of anything better than spending forever as your wife.”
Harrison stood with her in his arms, never taking his lips away from hers. As he walked them through the quiet townhouse, he couldn’t think of a more perfect Christmas gift than the woman in his arms.
As Harrison laid Kat on his bed, his long body hovering over hers, their fingers entwined, he couldn’t help but remember all the years they’d spent apart. It didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was that she was his and he was hers.
“Our forever begins now,” he whispered before he pressed his lips to hers.
EPILOGUE
LONDON, 1828
Kitty shouted in ecstasy, her fingers gripping at her husband’s shoulders with one leg in the air as Harrison supported her weight against the wall of their bed chambers. They were both gloriously naked, however they’d just never made it to the four-poster black bed.
Pulling Harrison in for a kiss, Kitty enjoyed the rare minutes they were together. With two children, an earldom and the running of Pleasure House, it was difficult for Kitty and Harrison to spend quality time together. They often would steal moments like the one they were currently in, unless they were staying at Pleasure House.
The years had been filled with a balance between life in society and life at Pleasure House. Though society still gave her the rare cold shoulder at times, like most things in her life, Kitty had maneuvered through the ton effortlessly, winning over prominent members.
The ease with which she now hosted teas, balls and the rare charity functions always amused her when she thought of her hesitation to marry Harrison. Kitty had thought her independence would be lost, but being his wife had given her power. Power in knowing that she was loved and cherished, that her children would always have a loving father, no matter their choices in life.
Harrison swiveled his hips, his hard member hitting the perfect spot, putting an end to her musings. “Harrison!” she called out wantonly, loving every second of being connected to him.
He nipped at her bottom lip, pulling it with his teeth. “Quiet, love, or we’ll be discovered,” he whispered against her lips.
Taking her by the hand, he lifted hers over her head, holding her in place, his other firmly supporting her weight as his thrusts increased.
Her sore breasts bounced with the force of their movement. Kitty’s rounded abdomen was not yet a hinderance, but soon all would know that she was with child again.
“Right there!” she cried out, her core squeezing his cock.
“Fuck, Kat,” he groaned, emptying inside of her, his body tight.
Dragging his lips to hers, she plunged her tongue in his mouth as her body relaxed from her own release.
“I love you,” she reminded him, in case he’d forgotten since the last time she’d told him.
Gently placing her leg down, Harrison stepped back. “I’m glad, since I’ve been completely in love with you since I was a boy.” He pressed his lips against hers for a brief kiss. “We didn’t make it to the bed this time,” he teased.
She hit his bare shoulder, laughing at him as she searched around for her discarded chemise. They had run away from their two insistent children the moment Nanny captured their attentions with a book on animals that live in Africa.
Once her discarded garment was located, Kitty slipped it on, loving the way her husband’s gaze lingered on her naked body. Even after seven years of being married, their ardor for each other had not waned.
Three tiny knocks rang through the earl’s chambers at Hendershot House. “Mama, Papa are you in there?” Their daughter, Adelaide, called from the other side of the door.
At five years old, she was an opinionated, somewhat bossy miniature version of Kitty, but with loose red curls that hung down her back and bright green eyes like her father.
They had decided to wait to have more children, needing to establish their marriage first. Pleasure House was also in disarray after Pierre’s brief ownership. It had taken Kitty several months to rehire staff and to fill the coffers again. It was still astounding to Kitty how much money Pierre had actually spent in his four days of ownership. Her gift with accounting and running a business had saved both Pleasure House and the Hendershot earldom.
