Chapter 318: Chapter Three Hundred And Eighteen
Delaney turned away from the window. She walked back to the warm fireplace and sat down in the comfortable armchair again.
She picked up the explicit drawings one more time. She studied the ink lines carefully. She spent a long hour sitting in the room, staring at the papers, trying to memorize the strange instructions Ines had given her.
But as the grandfather clock in the corner chimed the late hour, Delaney realized something important.
She did not need a piece of paper to tell her how to love her husband. She did not need acrobatic instructions to feel pleasure. The intense, burning heat she felt whenever Rowan simply touched her hand or kissed her neck was completely natural. Their connection was not something that could be drawn in ink; it was something deeply felt in the very center of her heart.
Delaney looked at the papers. She shook her head slowly, a small smile touching her lips.
With a sudden, decisive movement, Delaney threw the crumpled papers directly into the open fireplace.
The bright orange flames instantly caught the edges of the paper. The ink curled and burned. Within a few short seconds, the scandalous drawings were completely turned into dark, floating ash.
Delaney sat perfectly still on the soft chair. She leaned her head back against the velvet cushion. She closed her eyes. She let out a very long, very slow, peaceful exhale.
She was so relaxed, she did not even hear the door of the bedroom open.
She did not know exactly when Rowan entered the room. His footsteps were incredibly quiet on the thick carpet.
Rowan walked slowly across the bedroom. He saw her sitting in the armchair, her eyes closed, looking peaceful in the warm firelight. A huge wave of adoration completely flooded his chest.
He walked up behind her chair. He stood perfectly still for a second, simply admiring the graceful slope of her neck and the dark, soft curls pinned to her head.
Rowan leaned his tall body forward. He lowered his head and pressed a very soft tender kiss on her cheek.
Delaney gasped softly. Her eyes snapped open instantly.
A sharp thrill shot straight down her spine. She knew the feeling of his lips perfectly. She tilted her head back against the chair and looked straight up.
She saw Rowan hovering closely over her. His face was upside down from her angle, but his eyes were shining with warmth.
He moved his face slightly and kissed her forehead.
"You aren’t asleep, my love?" Rowan asked softly, his deep voice a low, comforting rumble in the quiet room.
"No," Delaney smiled up at him, her hazel eyes heavy with affection. "I was waiting for you."
Rowan smiled. He stood up straight and walked around the side of the large armchair. He turned to completely stand directly in front of her.
He looked down at her sitting in the chair. His eyes slowly scanned her body.
"You didn’t even take off your clothes," Rowan observed gently, a small amused smile playing on his lips. "And you are still wearing your shoes."
Delaney blushed slightly. "The maid offered to help me, but I sent her away."
Rowan’s eyes darkened immediately. The amused smile faded, replaced by a look of desire.
"Good," Rowan whispered fiercely. "That is my absolute privilege."
Without saying another word, He did something completely shocking.
Rowan went down on his knees.
He knelt directly on the thick carpet in front of her armchair. It was a gesture of surrender and deep intimacy. A man of his incredible wealth and high rank bowed to absolutely no one except the crown, but he willingly knelt at his wife’s feet.
Delaney looked down at him. Her heart completely stopped beating for a second. She watched, entirely mesmerized, as his large, strong hands reached out toward her.
Rowan gently took hold of her right foot. His touch was incredibly light and careful. He slowly untied the small silk ribbons holding her soft leather day shoe in place. He slipped the shoe off her foot and placed it neatly on the carpet. He repeated the gentle action with her left foot.
After completely removing her shoes, Rowan did not stand up.
He kept his hands resting gently on her ankles. She was wearing delicate, sheer white silk stockings.
Rowan leaned his head forward. Right there, kneeling on the floor, he pressed a tender reverent kiss directly to the curve of her leg, his warm lips pressing softly against the smooth silk of her stocking.
Delaney let out a soft shaky breath. Her fingers tightly gripped the padded arms of the chair. The simple, loving gesture was incredibly intimate. It made her feel cherished beyond all reason.
Rowan slowly lifted his head. He looked up into her wide, waiting eyes.
He stood up from the floor. He stretched out his right hand toward her.
Delaney did not hesitate. She placed her hand securely onto his open palm. His fingers immediately closed around hers, strong and steady.
Rowan gently pulled her up from the armchair. He did not let go of her hand. He slowly led her across the quiet bedroom.
He walked her directly toward the tall, polished standing mirror that rested in the corner of the room.
They stopped right in front of the glass. Delaney stood facing the mirror. Rowan stepped very close, standing at her back.
The reflection in the mirror was completely beautiful. Delaney looked small, delicate, and glowing in her peach dress. Rowan stood tall, broad, and powerful behind her, his dark clothing creating a stark contrast against her light colors.
Rowan did not turn her around. He wanted her to watch.
He slowly lifted his hands. He brought them up to her head. With patience, Rowan began to carefully remove every single silver pin holding her hair in place. He pulled the pins out one by one, setting them silently onto the table beside the mirror.
As the last pin was removed, Delaney’s dark curls fell completely loose. The soft hair tumbled beautifully down her back.
Rowan gently buried his hands in her thick hair. He gathered the dark curls and slowly, carefully pushed all of her hair over her left shoulder, entirely exposing the long sensitive column of her neck and her back.
Next, his fingers moved to the sapphire necklace Ines had given her. He carefully unclasped the gold lock. He removed the precious jewelry and gently placed it onto the table, treating it with great respect.
Then, his hands moved down to the very top of her peach morning gown.
Rowan began to slowly unbutton her dress. His large fingers were surprisingly nimble as they worked the tiny fabric buttons loose, sliding down the center of her back.
Delaney stood perfectly still. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She watched his intense, focused face in the mirror. She watched his strong hands working slowly, undressing her entirely. The intense, burning heat in the room seemed to rise with every single button he undid.
Finally, the back of the dress was completely open.
Rowan gently grasped the edges of the fabric. He slowly pushed the dress off her shoulders.
The dress slid down her arms, fell past her waist, and pooled softly onto the carpet at her feet.
Delaney was left standing in only her very thin, sheer white cotton chemise and her white silk stockings. The light fabric clung softly to the curves of her body, completely illuminated by the golden firelight.
Delaney felt incredibly exposed. She looked at Rowan’s reflection in the mirror. She saw the dark hunger burning in his eyes.
She tried to find her voice, desperately trying to calm her racing heart. She spoke to him directly through their reflection in the mirror.
"You were quite busy today," Delaney whispered softly, her voice shaking just a tiny bit.
Rowan leaned his head forward. He pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss directly to the very back of her bare neck.
Delaney let out a soft helpless gasp at the sudden, burning contact.
"There was a lot of things to do," Rowan replied. His deep voice was a low, rough rumble directly against her skin. He kept his eyes completely locked onto her wide hazel eyes in the mirror. "A lot of tenants requested some things for their lands, and I needed to sort them out before the week ended."
"Have you had anything to eat?" Delaney asked, her voice breathy, deeply concerned for his health despite the highly intimate situation.
Rowan did not answer immediately.
He slowly raised his arms. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back until her soft body was pressed flush against the solid wall of his chest. He rested his chin gently on her bare shoulder, burying his nose directly into the curve of her neck.
He kept his intense, burning gaze firmly on the mirror, looking at their intimate reflection together.
He inhaled deeply, sniffing the scent of her hair and her warm skin.
"I am not hungry for food," Rowan whispered fiercely. His voice vibrated straight through her body.
He tightened his arms around her waist just a fraction more.
"I just want you."
