Page 52 of Reforming the Rakish Marquess

“You’ve never kissed a woman before?” she asked. She suspected it might have been the case, but it warmed her heart to have it confirmed.

“Never,” he said. “It was a rule. Kissing is far too intimate. It might have led to feelings, and I didn’t want that.”

She contemplated what he just said, wondering if that meant he had the same feelings for her she had for him. If him kissing her meant that he was open to allowing such feelings to grow. He had already been through enough for one evening, and she wouldn’t press him to declare such a thing when she was supposed to be helping him get some rest. Her questions could wait.

“Well, you are quite good at it,” she said, pressing her lips against his again. She couldn’t resist but to get another taste of his lips and the hint of brandy that lingered on his breath.

They held each other and kissed for several moments. That time, she slipped her tongue against his and took control of the kiss. He groaned, and she smirked against his lips. He broke the kiss again.

“Weren’t we going to attempt to sleep, my dear?” he asked.

She sighed. He was right, of course. She wanted him to be intimate with her because it’s what they both desired, not because he needed to escape the pain of his past. Hopefully, because he felt something more for her than friendship or lust.

She turned again so that her back was to him, reducing the temptation to keep kissing him. But the position of her backside against his front only reminded her of when he entered her from behind, and she worried that sleep wouldn’t come easy for her.

“Goodnight, Juliana,” he said, kissing the back of her head.

She held his hand that was wrapped around her waist.

“Goodnight, Jude.”

*

The rays from the sun caused Juliana to awaken. She was still in the same position, nestled in Jude’s arms, and he was fast asleep. She would lie in that very spot all day if it meant that he got a decent night’s rest.

Coping with such trauma from his childhood, and then not finding the comfort of sleep and much-needed rest, is hard on the body and soul. No wonder he believed himself to be broken.

Her heart still hurt for him, burdened by the belief that he had carried for years—that he was undeserving of love or affection. It was clear his father never loved him, and he never met his mother. Jude had never been loved. Until now, she thought. She would love him with such a vengeance that it might almost make up for the love he never received in his youth.

His breath was still slow and even, and she shifted so she faced him. With the sun out of her face, she let the pace of his breathing lull her back to sleep.

In what felt like only a few moments later, but could have very well been hours by how bright the room had become, she woke from a knock at her door.

Bonnie’s voice called out from the other side. “Are you ready to dress, miss? It’s getting rather late in the morning.”

Jude stirred next to her.

“Come back in an hour, Bonnie, and I shall be ready then,” she said, loud enough so Bonnie could hear her through the door. Good thing she had locked it, or Bonnie would have come right in. Drummond surely already knew that Jude was in her chamber, but he was unlikely to tell the rest of the servants. He had always been quite loyal, and not one prone to gossip.

“Of course, my lady,” Bonnie returned.

Jude leaned forward and kissed her with a quick brush of the lips.

“Not a bad way to wake up,” he said, offering her a lopsided grin, his gorgeous dimples making her heart catch.

“I don’t think you stirred at all last night,” Juliana said. “I would have woken up if you had.”

“That was one of the better nights of sleep I’ve had, maybe in my entire life. Thank you for listening, or for making me talk, rather. I feel freer than I have in a very long while. Perhaps as long as I can recall.”

She cupped his cheek with her hand and initiated a light kiss.

“No thanks needed. You deserve happiness, Jude.”

“So do you,” he said, running his hands along her hip.

“I don’t intend to settle for anything but complete happiness,” she said, smiling at him with all the love she could show him by her expression, without saying the words. What he shared last night and the healing he needed must remain the focus. There would be time later for talk of love and forevers. That could come later, when he was ready to believe that he could love and be loved so deeply in return. Her complete happiness was with Jude.

“I should leave,” he said. “We never sent for Carter, so I guess I must wear my coat from last night, which we left in the kitchen. We didn’t plan this out well, did we?”