“Good,” he growled. He took a moment to lavish her breasts with kisses, nips, and licks that hardened her nipples into points and left her arching and panting against him. She could feel the tension in his body as she dug her fingertips into his shoulders. He was deliciously hot and hard as he pressed his cock against her when he returned to kissing her mouth. “But I still say we should use this,” he went on as though their conversation had never flagged, holding up the French letter he still had in his hand.
“Whatever for?” she asked, aching for him to get on with things.
“For one, I’ll last longer,” he said with a grin. “For another, the longer we put off starting a family, the more we can enjoy this.” He raked her naked and overheated body with a quick glance before meeting her eyes mischievously.
“Use the letter,” she panted, giddy with excitement.
He unwrapped it and slid it on, then wasted no time in thrusting into her. Lenore gasped and moaned at the pleasure of it all, bearing into him and meeting his thrusts enthusiastically. It felt so absolutely perfect to be one with him, to feel him filling and stretching her, that the tell-tale coil of impending orgasm built in her so fast she knew she wouldn’t be able to control it. It almost felt as though they’d skipped half of the things that made making love so enjoyable, but she didn’t care. Phin was inside of her, every danger they had faced was behind them, and they would have the rest of their lives to give each other pleasure and make each other’s lives as perfect as possible.
She burst into orgasm with a loud cry, holding nothing back as her body tightened around Phin. She gave into it, arching against him and digging her nails into his flesh. He hissed a curse that was so scandalous it nearly made her laugh, and thrust harder. In spite of his promise that he’d be able to last longer, his body tensed and a cry ripped from him moments later as he came with what she suspected was enough force to fire a cannon.
It was absolute bliss, but not nearly as wonderful as the sated calm that settled over both of them as they collapsed together, tangled and gasping for breath. The urgency of everything they felt for each other evaporated into a deep, all-encompassing love. Phin pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply until even that took too much effort. Then they simply lay in each other’s arms, overheated, but happy beyond measure.
“Who would have thought things would turn out this way for me?” Lenore asked with a happy sigh, stroking Phin’s side with her fingertips. “I’ve found the best man in the world, and we’re going to live happily ever after.”
“We most certainly are,” he agreed in a tired voice. “And we’re going to scandalize all of London as we do it.”
“Good,” Lenore said with a laugh. “London needs a little scandalizing.”
“And we’re just the couple to do it.”
He leaned in for one more kiss, his arms circling her. Lenore smiled, even as her eyes fluttered closed and exhaustion overcame her. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d been happier, and she had a feeling only blissful times awaited the two of them.
Epilogue
Twin scandals hit London in mid-November, barely a month after news of Scotland Yard arresting one Bartholomew Swan and extraditing him back to America to face multiple charges of murder hit the presses. A new issue of Nocturne suddenly found its way into the hands of every scandal-seeking member of London society. In its pages was a deliciously sordid tale of an American heiress escaping the clutches of her murderous husband and falling into the arms of her handsome, bespectacled savior. The descriptions of their adventures in bed were the most vivid and enthusiastic work of the as-yet-unknown author to date, though several readers noticed a slight shift in the author’s style, as though two people had penned the erotic tales instead of just one.
Lady Hamilton refused to comment when asked why she had dropped her effort to uncover and prosecute Nocturne’s author. She did, however, grin and gloat and whisper to anyone who would listen to her that she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who the popular journal’s author was. Her knowledge provided her with invitations to every social event in town and made her the must-have guest at every party. Which was decidedly convenient when it came time for her to announce the engagement of Lady Agnes to Lord Compton.
The second scandal that rocked London in November was the sudden wedding between Miss Lenore Garrett and Mr. Phineas Mercer. They were at the altar in a private ceremony involving only their closest friends before the month was halfway done. The sudden transference in Miss Garrett’s affections away from a titled peer like Frederick Herrington and onto a virtual nobody was astounding. But at the same time, it was understandable that an earl of Herrington’s standing couldn’t possibly marry a divorced American, no matter how much money she brought with her. What surprised people was that Miss Garrett and Lord Herrington seemed to remain fast friends. There were even rumors—albeit unproven—that Lord Herrington had given Miss Garrett away at her exceedingly exclusive wedding ceremony.
“Let them come to whatever conclusions about the arrangements they want,” Lenore laughed as she and Phin sipped champagne with their friends at the reception Reese held for their small group after the wedding. “Society is so boring when no one has anything to gossip about.”
“I think I would prefer boring to being the center of gossip,” Lady Beatrice Lichfield said, her eyes wide with wonder as she gave her congratulations to Lenore and Phin.
“It’s far more fun than I ever would have imagined,” Lenore told her with a wink. “I highly recommend being the talk of the town.” She sent a teasing grin to Phin, who stood by her side, holding her hand and looking as though he’d won the blue ribbon at a derby.
“I don’t care if people gossip about me or not,” he said with a shrug. “As long as I have my wife by my side always.”
“That’s a lie if ever I’ve heard one.” Lionel butted into the conversation, stepping up to Phin’s side, looking as fashionable and mysterious as ever. “You’ve always loved it when people talked about you.”
“Yes, but they’ve spent all this time talking about me without knowing it’s me they’re talking about,” Phin told him.
“Oh?” Lady Beatrice blinked in confusion. “How is that possible?”
Lenore, Phin, and Lionel all exchanged looks. “Perhaps it’s best you didn’t know,” Lenore said, unable to hide her grin.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Lady Beatrice agreed with a sigh. “Harrison is always saying that innocence is bliss.” Her voice dropped at the end of her sentence and she glanced across the room to where her beau, Lord Harrison Manfred, was laughing at something with Lord John Darrow.
It was all Lenore could do not to grin at the wistful look in Lady Beatrice’s eyes. “Don’t worry,” she said, patting Lady Beatrice’s arm. “Your turn will come soon enough. I wager you’ll be engaged by Christmas.”
“I certainly hope so,” Lady Beatrice said before wandering over to join Lord Harrison.
“Don’t worry,” Phin echoed Lenore’s words of comfort, turning to his brother with a wink. “I’m sure you’ll be engaged by Christmas as well.”