“It took me a while, but yes, I see it now. I seeyounow, more perfectly than ever.”
She couldn’t breathe for fear this moment would vanish. “And what do you see?”
“The only woman who can match me word for word and deed for deed. The only woman who understands what it’s like to lose family at a young age and yet has managed not to be damaged by it. And certainly the only woman I ever want to share a bed with.” He brushed a kiss to her lips. “For as long as we both shall live.”
That vow was enough to have her pulling him back for a more thorough kiss, which went on quite a while.
Then he broke it off to ask, in his usual peremptory tone, “Well? What’s your answer, minx?”
The scoundrel was so sure of her. She would cure him of that. Touching a finger to her chin, she said coyly, “I don’t know. I still haven’t had my debut. It’s possible I might find a better husband there.”
“No,” he said firmly. “I won’t allow it.”
“The debut? Or my finding a better husband?”
His eyes gleamed at her. “You can have all the debuts you want. But you accepted my marriage proposal once, and I will hold you to it.”
“That’s not a very persuasive argument,” she teased.
“Perhaps not. But this is.”
He kissed her again, only this time he also hoisted her up and carried her over to the ancient oak trunk where they’d kissed the first time.
“Your Grace!” she cried in mock disapproval. “Do you mean to ravish me?”
“If you don’t ravish me first,” he said roughly. “I won’t mind if that’s your preference.”
“Women can’t ravish.” They couldn’t, could they?
“Of course they can.” Setting her down by the fallen tree, he sat down on it and tugged her toward him.
“Grey!” she cried, thoroughly scandalized now that she realized he was serious about the ravishment. “It’s one thing to kiss in public, but to dothat. . . What if someone comes by?”
“When have we ever seen anyone come by on this path?” He arranged her cloak back over her shoulders until only the tie at the top showed in front. “Sheridan and the constable are sure to take the road in a carriage.”
“Just our luck they will decide—Grey!”
He’d lifted her skirts and was sliding his hands up under them to cup her bare bottom. “Yes?”
She squirmed a little. “You are very naughty to ravish me in the outdoors.”
“Nonsense. You’re going to ravishme. And I’m going to let you.” Grinning up at her, he unbuttoned his greatcoat with one hand while the other slipped up between her legs to fondle her, silkily and much too briefly.
“Hold these,” he said, shoving her bunched-up skirts into her hands.
Like a fool, she did. She expected to feel embarrassed and painfully exposed with her entire bottom half laid bare for his perusal, but instead his gaze on her down there excited her.
While still staring at her exposed thighs and privates, he spread the bottom of his coat out over the tree trunk. As she stood shivering in anticipation, he unbuttoned the fall of his trousers and drawers and shimmied them down past his hips so he could sit on his coattails, allowing his rather prominent erection to push through into the air.
This time she got a good look at the impudent thing thrust up at her as if inviting her to envelop it. Tomountit.Ohhh. Sothatwas what he meant about having her ravish him.
When her gaze flew to his, she found him watching her face with a wicked glint in his eyes that sent a hot thrill straight through her. He slid one booted foot between her legs, then used his knee to open her. Once she realized what he was about, she parted her legs willingly.
This time when he reached back for her bottom, it was to pull her astride him so that her knees were planted on his open coat, and she was hovering over his aroused member. As she let go of her skirts to catch his shoulders for balance, he smoothed his hands up her thighs and said, “Ravish me, my love.”
Delighted by the delicious prospect of being in charge, she let him guide her until she could slide down on him. “Whatever Your Grace wishes.”
“Ah . . . my sweet Beatrice . . . this isprecisely. . . what I wish.”
