The vivid picture of Edward Pembroke’s hands caressing Caroline’s trembling body was enough to make him positively green with jealousy.
“Did he touch you?” The question came out harsher than he intended, laced with possessive fury. Caroline's head snapped up, her eyes widening with shock and a flicker of indignation.
“No! Sebastian, of course not. It wasn't... it wasn't like that.” But there was something in her voice, a slight tremor of uncertainty, that made Sebastian's gut clench with suspicion.
“Then tell me what it was like,” he ground out, struggling to keep his temper in check. “Because from where I'm standing, it looks like another man was attempting to seduce my wife in my own damn house!”
“Sebastian, please,” Caroline entreated, rising to her feet and laying a placating hand on his arm. “I told you, it was nothingimproper. I made it very clear to Edward that I'm your wife now, that whatever feelings he may have harbored in the past need to be put aside. He's just... he's having a difficult time accepting it, that's all.”
Sebastian clenched his jaw, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he fought to rein in his temper. He wanted to believe Caroline, to trust in her fidelity and good judgment. But the nagging voice of doubt and insecurity whispered in his ear, reminding him that their marriage was not one of love or passion, but of duty and salvaged reputations.
“We'll discuss this later,” he said brusquely, stepping back from Caroline's touch with a pang of regret. “Perhaps after dinner.”
Caroline pressed her lips together, a flicker of hurt and frustration passing over her lovely features before she nodded stiffly. “Of course, husband.”
He could see the blatant confusion in her wide eyes, and he knew of course why it was there. Their previous evening–and this morning–had been perfect, only for him to now let his anger at Pembroke’s presence destroy the tenderness that had settled between them.
Dinner was a tense, silent affair, the only sounds the clink of silverware against fine china and the occasional clearing of throats. Sebastian brooded over his plate, his appetite nonexistent as he replayed the scene from the drawing roomover and over in his mind. The way Edward had looked at Caroline, the hushed, urgent tenor of their conversation... It made his skin crawl with jealousy and a possessive rage he hardly recognized in himself.
Caroline, for her part, kept her eyes downcast, picking listlessly at her food. She seemed smaller somehow, withdrawn into herself in a way that made Sebastian's chest ache. He hated seeing her like this, hated the distance and discord that had sprung up between them so suddenly.
As the last course was cleared away, Sebastian stood abruptly, the screech of his chair against the floor making Caroline flinch. “We shall speak in my study,” he bit out, his tone brooking no argument. “Now.”
She followed him wordlessly, her skirts swishing softly against the rich carpet as they made their way down the dimly lit hall. As soon as the door closed behind them, Sebastian rounded on her, his eyes blazing with barely contained emotion.
“Tell me the truth, Caroline,” he demanded, his voice low and rough. “What did Pembroke say to you? Please. Please do not lie to me.” His eyes bore into hers, searching for any hint of deception or hesitation.
Caroline held his gaze steadily, her chin lifting a fraction in defiance. “He said that he was in love with me,” she admitted quietly. “That seeing us together was difficult for him, knowingthat our marriage was not one of love or choice. He insinuated that you would find your pleasure elsewhere, with women of...experience.”
Sebastian felt as if she had struck him, the air leaving his lungs in a sharp rush. “And?” he ground out. “What did you say?”
“I told him he was wrong,” Caroline whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I told him that whatever his feelings, I was your wife now. That he needed to respect that, respect me and the vows I made.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears, pleading for him to understand. “I swear to you, Sebastian, on all that I hold dear... I did not encourage his advances. I never would.”
He stared at her for a long, tense moment, his heart hammering against his ribs. Then, slowly, he reached out and cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing tenderly over the delicate arch of her cheekbones.
“I believe you,” he murmured. Then, slowly, reverently, he lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips in a kiss that began soft and sweet but quickly turned hungry and demanding.
Caroline met him passion for passion, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed her body flush against his, soft curves melding to hard planes. Sebastian groaned into her mouth, his hands skimming down her back to pull her closer, need pulsing hot and heavy in his veins.
“I want you,” he rasped against her lips. “I need you, Caroline.” His mouth trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down the slender column of her throat, teeth grazing her pulse point and making her gasp.
“Then take me,” she breathed, tilting her head back in invitation. “I'm yours, Sebastian. Only yours.”
***
He wasted no time. Instead, he pressed a hard, open-mouthed kiss against her waiting lips, his tongue meeting hers in a fervent duel. Caroline gasped when she felt him growing hard against her and his hand moved to gather her skirts, lifting it to give him access to the silkiness of her thighs.
Sebastian groaned when his hand moved to cup the warmth of her center and she let out a wanton gasp at the contact.
“Please, Sebastian,” she whispered, her voice low and desperate. “Please, I need more.”
Sebastian obliged almost instantly, slipping a finger into her warmth.
A soft, needy moan left her lips and she threw her head backwards as he pressed into her, his lips once more meeting the soft skin on her neck, his teeth scraping softly against her.
“Caroline,” he whispered softly, his voice low against her ear. “Touch me.”
Her heart beat wildly in her chest when she looked up at him and moved her hand to his hardness.
