Will watched as Emilia slept, her breathing steady and deep. Trying not to rouse her, he took the liberty of picking the pins from her hair. He could only imagine that they were digging into her scalp, and he didn't wish for her to be uncomfortable.

Emilia's comfort was the most important thing to Will now.

Once her golden hair was fanned out against the clean white linens, Will threw a pair of loose trousers on before laying on the bed next to her. He draped an arm around her waist, reveling in the feeling of her body next to his.

Will's eyelids were also threatening to close, but he didn't want to miss any moment of this perfection. He wasn't sure how many minutes or hours had passed when his wife began to stir.

Finally, she twisted beneath his arm, looking up at him beneath her lashes. She was unknowing in the ways she tempted Will with the glance.

"There is a bath readied in your bedchamber. Does that interest you, darling?" When Will had noticed the signs of her waking a few minutes ago, he had rung for a servant to prepare it.

Emilia nodded, and Will scooped her up again, blanket and all.

"I can walk, Will!" she protested, and for some reason, it made Will's heart swell.

"Just indulge me," Will murmured with a small smile. He pushed through the door that adjoined the two bedchambers and carried Emilia to the sparkling tub with its steaming water.

She slid into it, sighing with contentment. Glancing up at him beneath her long lashes once more, she asked, "Are you joining me?"

Will chuckled. "Do you want me to?"

"Of course, I do."

Will gladly disposed of his trousers, throwing them across the room. "Lean forward," he said softly to Emilia, and she obeyed, leaving just enough room for him to slide behind her. The warm water sloshed around them as his legs slipped around hers.

As Emilia's head tilted back to lean against his chest, Will honestly couldn't feel any more content.

"I still feel bad for leaving our guests," she sighed.

Will smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Well, I do not. I am pleased with myself for making it through our ceremony without dragging you away, let alone breakfast. It is merely Leo and Weston and all the others. I am certain they are carrying on without us. They will see us tomorrow."

The entirety of their wedding party was staying the night at Rosecrest Manor, and they would continue to stay for the better part of the week.

"I shall wear a different dress tomorrow," Emilia said slyly. He could almost see the way her lips smirked as she said it.

"You had better," Will replied firmly. "If I am to behave myself with you this week, you need to wear spinster attire."

Emilia shook her head, likely in exasperation, and said, "Thank you for not ripping my wedding gown like you did with my other one."

Will threw his head against the back of the tub and groaned. "You have no idea how hard it was for me to resist. But taking you while you wore it was not a bad second option."

It was the understatement of the year. Watching Emilia come undone before him in the mirror, her breasts falling from her gown, her hair sticking to the light sweat on her brow as he thrust into her repeatedly...Will would never forget it.

Emilia shivered a little at his words. Will ran his fingers over her bare shoulder, causing droplets of water to cascade onto the tops of her breasts and disappear into the water. She was quiet, and Will took advantage of the opportunity.

"I was wondering," Will began. "Where would you like to live?"

"What do you mean?"

"Would you prefer to live in the country, here at Rosecrest? Or would you like to live in London? Of course, we will buy a new home in London either way."

"We will?" Emilia questioned, sounding surprised.

Will had no desire to stay in his London home any longer. It was a host of bad memories and things that belonged only to his parents. He wanted to create a place that was only for him and Emilia, away from his past. And so he told her so.

"I want a new home with you, Emilia. The townhouse isn't the best family home, anyway."

He snuck his arm around Emilia's midsection, running a hand over her smooth skin, loving the feel of it beneath the sudsy water. He imagined Emilia pregnant with his child, and his chest constricted.

"Do you wish for children soon?" she asked carefully. It was as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.

"With you? God, yes. I wish for anything that will make you happy."

Will thought he could hear the smile in her voice as she said, "You make me happy, Will. But also...children. Children would make me happy, too."

Will chuckled. "Well, we should be able to arrange that. I would be more than happy to oblige in the process of making them."

"Will!" She flicked some water at him playfully and laughed. Will couldn't help but draw her tighter against his chest. His hands began to wander her body beneath the water, enjoying the silky sensation. Emilia didn't seem to mind, but she squirmed slightly beneath his touch.

"You did not answer my question," Will murmured, circling the skin on her leg with his thumb.

"You are distracting me," Emilia protested.

"You might as well get used to it," Will pointed out lightly.

"I hope I never do," she murmured before asking, "What was your question again?"

"Where do you wish to live?"

Emilia sat, twirling her finger through the water and the dissipating suds. Finally, she said, "I truly think I should be happy in either place. For a long time, it felt like living in the country was an exile for me after I was ruined. And I never really felt like I belonged in London. But I do not feel that way about either place anymore. I do not care. As long as I am with you."

"And our future children," Will added with a smile.

Emilia chuckled, her shoulders shaking against his chest. "Of course. Them too."

A thought struck Will. "Emilia? How many is...them?"

"Oh, I do not know," Emilia contemplated. "How does six or seven children sound?"

"Oh dear God, help me," Will muttered, his heart jumping at the idea.

But he could feel Emilia vibrating with laughter beneath his hands, and soon she said, "I only tease. But I would like more than one child."

"You know how I feel when you tease me, Emilia," Will whispered darkly in her ear.

He felt the sharp intake of her breath as he slipped out of the tub. Without him to support her back, Emilia fell further into the water with a yelp. When she reemerged, she cried, "Excuse you!"

Will let his gaze wander over her in the tub, the water caressing her bare body, her smooth skin. But he only indulged momentarily. He was naked, too, after all.

Within seconds, Will was scooping Emilia up and carrying her to the large four-poster bed in the middle of the bedchamber.

"You will get everything all wet!" Emilia shrieked as he tossed her into the sheets before covering her body with his own.

"That is why we have two beds," Will answered, his voice gravely in her ear. He took to running light kisses down along her jawline. God, he simply couldn't get enough of her. His lips found hers and slowly teased them. Will forced himself to kiss her luxuriously, deliberately slow.

Earlier, Will had claimed her with their passionate interlude. And now, he was going to make love to her.

Emilia was already arching beneath him, eager for more. Her fingers were running up and down his back in the most sensuous massage he had ever received. But Will was relentless. He captured her mouth over and over again until they were both breathless. Eventually, he broke away to begin to trail his lips down her neck, licking away the droplets of water that had been lingering there.

She arched even more, offering everything to him.

And Will wanted it all.

His hands molded themselves to her breasts, squeezing gently as his lips continued their gradual descent to meet his hands.

"Will," Emilia exclaimed, groaning impatiently. Will only smirked against her warm skin, which was still emanating the heat of their bath.

But apparently, Emilia wasn't going to wait any longer. Startling Will, she pushed firmly against his chest, forcing him to flip off of her and onto his back. Before he knew what was happening, Emilia was straddling his waist, pinning him to the bed.

And Will had thought that it wasn't possible for him to desire her anymore. How wrong he was. His breathing stopped as his eyes roved her body.

"Two can play that game, my dear," she said in a husky voice. Will's eyes traveled to her beautiful face, and he saw the sly grin there. She bent down, kissing him as he had just done to her. She mimicked his movements, kissing down his neck as her hands explored his chest.

Suddenly, Emilia sat up and glanced down at his pulsing erection before wrapping her hand firmly around him. He nearly jolted off the bed.

"Emilia," Will exclaimed with a strangled gasp. He grabbed her wrists, and she gave him a shocked look. "I want you too badly for that."

Her uncertain expression transformed into something softer, warmer.

"I love you, Will," she said.

Will shook his head, not knowing the words that could truly express how he felt. So he threw her back on the bed and showed her exactly how much he loved her. And while they lost themselves within each other, he whispered to her all the reasons he loved her. Will worshipped his wife until she was sleeping soundly in the bed, tangled amongst the damp sheets. And then he carried her back to the adjoining room, where the sheets were clean and dry, and tucked her into them.

Will pulled her close, molding her to him. He never wanted to let her go. Will couldn't even imagine what his life would have been like if he had never met Emilia. Before he knew her, he was only a shell of a man.

And now, he was whole.