Chapter 307: Chapter Three Hundred And Seven
Rowan leaned his head down and crashed his lips directly onto hers.
It was not a gentle, polite kiss like the one they had shared in the church. It was entirely fierce, deeply passionate, and completely overwhelming. All the tension of the long week, all the careful, strict rules of society, and all the waiting completely vanished in a single, sudden burst of heat.
Rowan raised his large hands. He gripped her waist firmly through the thin, soft white cotton of her nightgown. He pulled her flush against his solid body.
Delaney let out a soft, surprised sigh that melted instantly into a quiet moan directly against his mouth.
She did not pull away. She completely welcomed him. She raised her own hands quickly. She grabbed the dark lapels of his coat, holding onto him exactly as if he were the only solid thing in the entire world. She kissed him back with equal, burning hunger.
Rowan did not break the deep kiss. Instead, he did something more.
With smooth, effortless strength, Rowan wrapped one strong arm completely around her back and placed his other arm firmly behind her knees. He lifted her straight up off the floor, his hands grabbing the flesh of her bottoms through the thin nightwear.
Delaney gasped softly against his lips as her bare feet left the thick carpet. She clung tightly to his broad shoulders, completely trusting him.
Rowan carried her easily across the quiet, warm room. He walked directly toward the massive, four-poster bed that sat in the very center of the master bedroom. The bed was covered in blankets and soft white pillows.
He reached the edge of the bed and very gently laid her down onto the soft mattress.
He followed her down immediately, resting his weight carefully on his arms so he did not crush her. He broke the kiss on her lips, but he did not stop kissing her.
Rowan trailed his hot, open mouth across her soft cheek. He kissed the sharp curve of her jawline. He moved lower, pressing deep, warm kisses to the highly sensitive skin of her neck. He breathed in the sweet, faint scent of the white roses she had carried all day.
Delaney felt her head spin. A wonderful, sudden warmth spread completely through her entire body. She closed her eyes halfway, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly.
"Rowan," Delaney whispered softly. Her voice trembled with innocent pleasure.
He kissed the very base of her throat, right where her pulse was beating frantically.
Delaney suddenly moved her hands. She quickly covered her own mouth with her small fingers. She bit down gently on her own hand to completely muffle the soft, happy sighs escaping her lips.
Her mind suddenly flashed back to the reality of their surroundings.
"Rowan, wait," Delaney spoke. Her voice was incredibly breathless, muffled slightly behind her hands. Her hazel eyes were wide. "The guests... the guests are still downstairs in the ballroom."
She looked nervously toward the door of the bedroom.
"The music has stopped for a moment," Delaney whispered frantically. "The house is quiet. They will hear us, Rowan."
Rowan completely stopped his movements. He lifted his head slowly from her neck.
He looked down at her flushed, beautiful face. His eyes were incredibly dark with undeniable desire, but a highly amused wicked smile touched the corners of his mouth.
He reached out his hands. He gently grasped her wrists. He slowly, carefully pulled her hands away from her mouth. He pinned her hands softly to the white pillows above her head, holding them there with absolutely no force, only gentle affection.
"Let them hear," Rowan said. His voice was a low, rough, deep gruff that sent a fresh shiver straight down her spine.
He leaned his face very close to hers, his eyes completely locking with hers.
"I want them to know exactly how much I adore you, how much I want you," Rowan whispered intensely. "Let them know that the Duke of Ford is entirely captivated by his Duchess."
Delaney blushed a deep, beautiful shade of red. She felt completely, entirely cherished.
Rowan smiled softly, releasing her wrists. He slowly dragged his fingertips down the sides of her face, pushing her dark curls away from her warm cheeks.
"Besides," Rowan added, his tone turning playful and teasing. "It seems I am completely failing at my duties as a husband."
Delaney frowned slightly in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Rowan explained, his eyes sparkling brightly in the candlelight, "that I am clearly not doing a very good job of making you forget the outside world, if you still remember quite well that we have guests downstairs."
Delaney let out a soft laugh. The sudden panic completely left her chest.
Rowan did not laugh. He looked at her with completely seriousness. He wanted her entire attention. He wanted her to forget the lords, the ladies, the ton, absolutely everyone and everything . He wanted her to only think about him.
Rowan pushed himself up. He stood completely up from the soft bed.
He stood right beside the mattress. The bright, warm light from the crackling fireplace illuminated his tall, broad frame. His eyes never left hers for a single second.
Slowly, Rowan reached up to his neck.
He untied the crisp white cravat that Harrison the valet had spent twenty minutes arranging that morning. He pulled the long white linen loose and tossed it carelessly onto a nearby chair.
Next, he reached for the brass buttons of his coat. He unbuttoned it smoothly. He shrugged his broad shoulders, sliding the coat off his arms. He dropped the expensive wool coat directly onto the floor, completely ignoring the rules of caring for fine clothing.
Delaney lay perfectly still on the bed, propped up slightly on her elbows. Her breath caught in her throat.
Rowan reached for the small buttons of his white waistcoat and his fine linen shirt. He unbuttoned them slowly, one by one. He pulled the shirt completely over his head and tossed it away.
