The door had only just shut behind them when Marcus spun her around and captured her lips with his. Rain instinctively wound her arms around his neck to bury her hands in the hair at the back of his head as a rush of excitement crashed over her. His hand travelled along her shoulder, pushing her dress down with it, before his mouth followed the same path, trailing ardent kisses.

"We must take care," he mumbled against her skin. "I do not wish to risk making your wound worse again."

Part of her wanted to say not to worry. She loved it when he kissed her with his full passion, like he had the previous night, but she also didn't particularly want to faint again.

"That sounds dreadfully boring," she complained.

He lifted his head and the smile playing on his lips made her insides flutter to life. "I believe I should be able to keep it from being boring."

Lifting her chin in challenge, she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his neck just below the ear. "Prove it," she whispered.

She gasped as he growled and lifted her in one swift motion, her legs wrapping around his waist as he pushed her against the door. Night air nipped at her skin as her skirts rode up her thighs to make space for him between them. Something hard pressed against her heated core, and even through the fabric of his trousers, the touch sent a jolt of electricity through her. Marcus's mouth returned to hers, kissing her deeply, his tongue mimicking the movements of his hips as he ground against her. The friction stoked the fire inside her to a blazing inferno, and she could not get enough. Enough of him against her. Enough of the heady scent of sandalwood mixed with ink.

His hands buried in her hair, picking out the pins and dropping them to the floor. Each brief clatter when a pin hit the floor accentuated by another roll of his hips. As the last fell, he pulled back slightly to watch his handiwork; her long hair falling down her shoulders.

"I always loved your hair," he admitted as one of his hands cupped her nape. "So soft."

Gathering her hair, he wrapped it around his hand and tugged gently, encouraging her to tilt her head back. Leaning down, he dragged his lips over her neck, sending shivers of excitement through her. She moaned as he found an especially sensitive spot. He nibbled and sucked, kissed and teased until she moved restlessly against him. This wasn't nearly enough.

"Marcus..."

He lifted his head again, his eyes hooded as he gazed down at her.

"I... I want more than this." As she voiced her wish, she could feel her cheeks heat. No one could accuse her of being shy, but she wasn't usually quite this forward. Especially not in these things. Her sister-in-law had told her a lot about what one might expect from the marriage bed before her wedding to Marcus, but it was one thing to know about something in theory, and another entirely to consider doing them in practice.

For a moment he did nothing but stare at her, then he nodded and before she had time to react, he carried her across the room to the bed and sat her down on it. When he didn't follow, but remained at the foot of the bed, she scooted backwards as she watched him tug at his cravat. Leaning back against the pillows, she smiled as he pulled the fabric from his neck. He shrugged out of his coat and threw it on a chair. When he began working on the buttons of his shirt, her throat suddenly felt dry. As if he could sense her reaction, he looked up and his hazel eyes met hers as his movements slowed down. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Am I the only one getting undressed?" He pulled the shirt over his head, and she swallowed as she saw the broad expanse of his bare chest again. The scar coming across his shoulder did little to detract from how incredibly good looking he was. Taut muscles played under his skin as he kicked off his shoes and pulled his stockings off.

"I..." She swallowed. "You will have to help me. I cannot reach the buttons on the back."

He moved onto the bed, wearing only his trousers. She was rather grateful he kept them on, as she was definitely too shy to see that part of him yet. Would it be as large as the rest of him? Her cheeks heated at the indecent thought and her eyes guiltily drifted to the area she thought of before quickly coming back to rest on Marcus's face as he moved up the bed to her. If he had noticed her eyes wandering, he made no mention of it.

"Turn around," he mumbled, and she quickly did as he asked.

Staring at the wall, she felt the bed shift as Marcus moved closer. His hands came up to unbutton her dress, his fingers grazing her skin as he did so, and the simple touch was enough to make her whole being tingle in anticipation. As he slipped the last button out of its loop, he moved his hands up and caressed the slope of her shoulders, pushing the dress and chemise down her arms. She felt his breath against her skin a moment before his lips pressed against the spot below her ear.

Once her arms were free of the dress and chemise, Marcus's hands returned to her shoulders, caressing gently as he continued placing soft kisses along her neck. She leaned back against him, enjoying his solid form behind her. His hands slid around her to rest on her ribs for a moment before moving up to untie the laces of her stays which kept the chemise from joining the dress at her waist. She almost forgot to breathe as he finished and pushed the garments down, freeing her chest to the balmy summer air.

He hesitated as the bandage covering her wound became visible. Worried that he might change his mind—might be too fearful to continue—she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Don't stop," she said, her voice more breathless than she had expected.

"Rain..." His hands lingered at her waist, not quite touching her. "I do not wish to hurt you. Again," he added wryly.

Leaning closer, she touched her mouth to the feverishly hot skin of his shoulder. "Then let me explore you," she mumbled against him.

Silence. He didn't move a muscle, then he finally exhaled. "Fine."

She had to hide her smile against his clavicle at his quick surrender. It was rather empowering to realise she could so easily get him to do as she wished.

"Lie down," she instructed, pleased to see him immediately follow her order. He had shared her bed the previous night, but watching his large form take up so much space in it was an odd feeling. With his dark hair mussed from her fingers and his jaw darkening with a day's stubble, he looked a lot less like the ever-proper Duke of Winterbourne and more like the beast he had compared himself with. A very handsome beast.

The candlelight cast flickering shadows over his chest, showing the expanse of muscles in sharp relief. His chest was broad, his stomach flat, and a line of dark hair began below his belly button, disappearing under the top of his trousers. Again, her gaze drifted down to the part of him still hidden to her. It was difficult to see anything behind the black fabric, which was probably for the best.

Moving closer to him, she placed her hands on his chest and trailed the contours of the dips and ridges of his torso and midriff. As she reached the abdomen, she could feel his muscles tensing underneath her fingertips and when she traced the waist of his trousers, he almost appeared to stop breathing. Biting her lower lip, she debated how daring she truly was. Cautiously, she allowed her hand to dip lower, gliding over the dark cloth of his trousers. She could feel his hardness against the palm of her hand. Following its rigid length, she couldn't help but throw a glance at Marcus's face. His eyes were shut, and he almost looked as if he was in pain. Her hand immediately stilled.

"Marcus?"

"Yes?" He almost sounded pained, too.

Suddenly, she felt terrible. Had she hurt him somehow? Pulling her hand back, she rubbed it with her other one. "Have I... Have I done something wrong?"

A sharp exhale escaped him as he let out a quick chuckle. "No, darling. Your touch is... Adequate."

She frowned. "Adequate?"

Opening his eyes, he smiled at her. "I jest. You know how desperately I want you. Any touch from you is torture. In a good way!" he added quickly as her face fell.

She huffed. "I cannot believe this is the moment you decide you have a sense of humour."

His hazel eyes met hers, the mirth replaced by dark desire. "Take that dress off and straddle me."

The dark command sent a burst of anticipation through her, and with a dry throat, Rain wriggled out of her dress and threw it on the floor. Wearing nothing but her stockings, she should have felt vulnerable, but the way Marcus's eyes drank in the sight of her expelled any shyness. Hesitantly, she straddled his waist. His large hands came up to grasp her hips and gently pushed her a little further down. A gasp escaped her as she realised why when he rolled his hips, his hardness nudging against her.

"You can move any way you want," Marcus said, his voice hoarse. "I am yours to use."

"Oh." Her face must be beet red by now, but curiosity spurred her on and she wriggled her hips slightly. Pleasure shot through her as their bodies fit together perfectly. "Oh!"

"Just like that, darling." His hands on her hips helped guide her as she found the best angles, the heat gathering as she moved against his hard length.

When he withdrew his hands from her hips and palmed her breasts, she exhaled as a warm current moved through her at his touch, languid heat filling her as he massaged and kneaded gently. Her every limb was hot and heavy, her breath coming in short breaths as pleasure built higher and higher with every grind of her hips. Was this what lovemaking was like? If it was, she rather liked it. Though she wanted the release she couldn't quite seem to grasp.

"Marcus..." His name was a plea on her lips. "Please..."

He groaned, and a moment later his mouth crashed into hers as he sat up, with her still straddling his waist, and his hand buried in her hair. The kiss was hot and passionate, his tongue stroking deeply as he embraced her, pulling her close as his hips pushed against her. The fire inside ignited further, going from a steady flame to a blazing inferno as Marcus's hands and lips devoured her. His palms dragged over her back as his mouth travelled down to capture a nipple, sending wildfire coursing through her body.

With his lips not leaving her breast as he continued licking, kissing and sucking, he flipped her over on her back, half-covering her with his body. His hand moved over her stomach and down her abdomen towards her heated core. When his knuckles brushed against her dark curls, she almost lost her courage, but anticipation and curiosity won, and when his hand settled between her thighs and began caressing, any hesitation was long forgotten. She moaned as his touch brought her higher, stoking the feverish fire hotter.

His mouth returned to hers to capture the next moan as one of his long fingers pushed into her molten heat, stroking and petting as he kept kissing her, keeping up a steady rhythm and pushing her even further into the burning inferno of need. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she shifted underneath him, wanting more, wanting him closer still. He played her body expertly, his movements gentle for a man his size, his every touch careful and deliberate with only one intent. Her pleasure.

Her body burned. If she didn't reach completion soon, she might burn to a crisp. Every limb was on fire. Every nerve in her body pulled taut. His thumb rubbed against her most sensitive spot, and the world exploded in bright light as she came apart underneath him. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her as his touch guided her through the orgasm until she was utterly spent.

After a final kiss, Marcus pulled her into his arms and held her close. He placed another kiss on the top of her head.

"Glorious," he mumbled against her hair. "Absolutely glorious."

Feeling warm and satisfied, not unlike how she imagined a cat languishing in sunshine felt, Rain nestled into him, loving having him so close. "I wouldn't mind doing that again," she admitted shyly.

"Me neither. Watching you was..." His arms tightened slightly for a brief moment. "It was amazing."

"What of you?" She tilted her head so she could see his face. His eyes were closed, but he didn't look fully relaxed, a faint line visible between his brows.

"Do not worry about me."

"But... Did you—?"

"No." A slight smile played on his lips. "But that is by choice. I do not trust myself near you. I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it."

"Right." Her eyes drifted down to his chin. Ten kisses. No consummation of their marriage. Which was for the better. She knew that. She just wasn't sure it was what she wanted any longer. But she had two more kisses to decide. Two more kisses to choose both of their fates.

~~~~~~