Obviously satisfied by slamming doors, he gave her his full attention now, kneeling in front of the chair as he drained another bottle. Then he crawled, as a predator before her, growling as he untied her belt with his teeth and dragged her beneath him. She laughed and he smiled, then he gave her a look that indisputably took her breath away.

They enjoyed a night as never before. A night in fact that they would never speak of. They stayed awake for hours, laughing, dancing, and drinking in between the most incredible sex they had to date.

It took them five hours to find their release, and every inch of their chamber was subjected to explicit carnal knowledge. Their demands were implicit, and they used not only their own hands but also each other’s. Gwen ran shrieking from Greylen’s clutches so many times she finally lost count of how often he wrestled her beneath him. By the time they lay exhausted by the fire, they were covered with marks of love, bruises, and scratches.

They awoke hours later, holding their heads, knowing smiles given and returned.

“I’ll be useless today, wife.”

“We have to run, Greylen. It’s the only thing that will help,” she croaked, her throat sore from screaming and laughing so much.

“You are so incredibly, terribly, terribly daft.” He groaned, closing his eyes again.

“So I’ve been told,” she muttered as she stood.

“Good God, Gwendolyn,” he cried. “Are you in pain?”

“No, just my head,” she assured him before looking down. “Greylen!” Her arms and thighs were covered with bruises and there were marks all over her body where he’d feasted on her skin. She looked at him now, the scratches on his shoulders, arms, and thighs, and he, too, was covered with red marks. From her own display of feasting.

They walked to the bathing chamber together, shaking their heads as they looked in the mirror.

“Mother will have my head, wife. I beg you, cover yourself completely till you’ve healed.”

“Anything, Greylen,” she replied, using the words he so often told her last night.

They finally dressed, dreading the run before them, but knowing it would clear their heads. They held hands as Greylen opened the door, both of them gasping when Gavin turned instantly. The look on his face so murderous, it shocked them.

“What took you five hours to find,” he hissed, holding up his hand, “five!”—he waved his fingers before them—“will take me but three seconds when I reach the privacy of my chamber.”

He turned, stiff strides taking him down the hallway. Greylen and Gwen remained expressionless as he walked away. They looked at each other at the same time, wide eyed as they covered their mouths. They were laughing as they fell to the floor in each other’s arms.

Chapter 21