Jess Michaels (20 page)

J
ason Manning was three and he acted it as he raced across the sprawling country lawn toward his mother. He was crying out in a foreign language, speaking words of war and conquering.

Cassandra laughed as she watched her son take over the small village in his mind, then turned her attention back to her husband. They were sitting at a table on the terrace of their country estate in Bath, sharing breakfast.

Nathan grinned at his son and then reached out to touch her face. They had been away from England for nearly four years and she could see that being back was a pleasure for her husband, though their reasons for returning had been sad ones.

“At least you saw your father before he passed,” she said
quietly, lifting her hand to cover his. “I am glad you made your peace with him. It was far past time.”

“Yes,” Nathan agreed softly. “And my mother has been accepting, as have my sisters. My aunt has even spoken in favor of our marriage. The fact that they are planning a party as soon as the mourning period is over to welcome you into our family will speak volumes to the
ton
.”

“You mean the half who have not yet accepted me,” Cassandra said, keeping an eye on Jason.

He took a tumble down the hill, then righted himself, rubbed his elbow absently, and went immediately back to whatever race he was running in his mind. She admired that childlike ability to overcome little pains.

“Indeed,” Nathan said with a proud smile. “Years ago, I told you that Society would either view our marriage as a scandal or a fairytale. I think by running away to India, it actually buffered us from the scandal and created the fairytale.”

She shook her head. “
You
created the fairytale, love. I have been living the happily ever after ever since.”

As she spoke, she picked up a strawberry from her plate. Reaching out, she rubbed it against his lips before she let him take a bite. As his bright eyes dilated, her lower stomach clenched with familiar need. She knew what he liked, and she liked it just as much.

“Careful now, or we shall have to call on Mrs. Higgins to prepare Jason for his day and I shall have to take you upstairs,” he said quietly, before he pulled her close for a kiss.

She opened to him, tasting the fruit on his tongue, tast
ing the desire that made her shiver even after all these years. When they pulled apart, she couldn’t help but smile at him wickedly.

“I think we should do that. You see, I have something special for you upstairs in our chamber. A homecoming gift of sorts.”

She winked and his eyes went wide. She had never stopped making toys, but now he was her only customer. Her best customer.

“A toy?” he whispered, his fingers finding her thigh beneath the table and sliding up.

She gasped as he stroked her and nodded. “A toy.”

Pushing away from the table, he caught her hand and shouted, “Mrs. Higgins!”

As they hurried past the governess and into the house, Cassandra laughed. This future was the perfect one. And she couldn’t wait for every day after for the rest of her life.

Cover design by Mumtaz Mustafa

Cover photograph by Marcus Appelt/Arcangel Images