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She frowned before looking away.

“What is it?” He pressed his finger to her chin, compelling her to look at him again.

Her eyes turned to his abdomen once again. “Why did you… withdraw?” Her cheeks heated.

Richard laughed and cuddled her closer to him. “Sometimes I forget that you’re not as experienced as you seem.”

She raised a questioning brow.

Richard caressed her cheek with his finger. “You still blush,” he whispered. “As for why I withdrew…” He took a deep breath. “I wasn’t certain if you were amenable to me finishing inside you. And by that, I mean the possibility of having children. We never spoke of it.”

She moved so that she was lying on top of him now, her hands on his chest, her chin against her hands. “Oh. I assumed… Well, you need heirs. I assumed you wouldn’t ask me.”

Now it was Richard’s turn to raise his brow. “I would never force you to have children, Jo. I am a viscount. But I have brothers. I understand that pulling out is not a long-term solution, but there are other ways we can prevent pregnancy. If that’s what you want.”

“You’d do that for me?” Her brows were furrowed, her lips in a pout.

Richard smiled. “I’d do anything for you, darling. I would hope you’d know this by now.”

Her frown didn’t clear up. On the contrary, it was getting deeper.

“Do you?” Richard asked softly. “Want children, that is.”

Her facial expression didn’t change one bit. He’d give all his riches to know what she was thinking right now.

“I always wanted children,” she said faintly. “A family.” She shook her head, then a smile finally blessed her lips. “And I definitely want that with you. But perhaps not right away. I don’t know what to do with my career yet. I haven’t decided. It is all so uncertain. I want to have a family with you. Just let me deal with my acting life first. I don’t want to abruptly leave my friends behind. Nor do I want to leave that world without the possibility of coming back.”

Richard nodded thoughtfully. “You know that I can use my influence to make it easier for you.”

“I know,” she said with a smile. “But let me do this on my own. Please?”

“You do not ever have to plead with me, my love.” He kissed her lips. “I am your willing slave.”

Chapter 24

Jo woke up early in the morning, as was her custom. And that was the only thing that felt routine about her day.

This wasn’t the first day she had woken up in Richard’s bed. But the last two days and nights had blended together as they spent most of it in his chamber. They didn’t even leave the room for meals, preferring to feast inside so they wouldn’t need to dress.

They’d picked a Saturday for their wedding day exactly for that purpose. So that they could spend two days enjoying each other’s company and not worrying about anything.

But Monday came and with it all the worries. She whimpered and burrowed farther into the bed.

A hand snaked around her and then Richard pulled her closer to his chest. His hand stroked her breasts as his cock pressed against her buttocks.

“Not now, darling,” she mumbled. “I need to get to the theater.”

“Just a quick one,” he whispered against her shoulder and then kissed her there, while his cock moved to prod at her center.

“I shall be late,” she moaned as she widened her legs to let him in.

He pushed his length against her feminine lips, grinding himself against her, enticing her to yield to him.

As if he needed to.

The moment his cock touched her skin, she was already wet and ready for him. There was no need for seduction. She was already seduced.

Richard’s hand moved lower to the juncture between her legs and started playing with her swollen nub as he entered her in one swift thrust. He kept rocking against her, his wicked fingers swirling around her nub.