“Speak for yourself,” she said with a giggle. “I didn’t realize it was possible for anyone’s hair to stick so solidly to their head, and your eyes are rimmed with red.”
“Speaking of which, why aren’t your eyes equally suffering from the water? You ought to be careful. You might be accused of witchcraft. You’re certainly enchanting enough.”
Charlotte gasped again. “Charming and insulting all rolled into one. You are a cruel man at times, Alexander.”
I would love you even if you were a witch.
“Not at all,” he said instead. “Just imagine; I think all that andstillwish to spend time in your company!”
With a tut, Charlotte looked away, and the pair descended into companionable silence. As he looked over the empty river, the boat long out of sight, Alexander could feel her sitting next to him, sense her, her own body as tense and ready as his. It was as if her soul silently reached out and touched his, urging him to join her and become one. Become whole.
No. It was no longer about her wealth. It was about so much more than that. Now, it was about everything.
After a time, he felt her shiver next to him, and he cursed his lack of foresight. He turned to her. “You’re cold.”
She tilted her head and looked up at him, squinting against the sun. “No more than one would expect,” she said. “But the sun will soon warm me.”
“I shall go fetch the carriage, so you have somewhere to get dry.” Alexander made to get up, but Charlotte reached out and pulled him back down.
“No, don’t,” she said. “Please don’t leave me. I’m rather enjoying sitting here with you.”
“I can’t very well give you my tailcoat,” he said. “It’s as wet and cold as you are.”
“Then perhaps…” She paused and looked up at him through her lashes, coy and uncertain yet somehow forward. “Perhaps you would sit a little closer to me.”
“All right.” He shifted along the bank until their hips touched.
“And perhaps,” she said after another pause, “you could warm me by putting your arm around my shoulders.”
Shocked as he was, Alexander was equally excited by her boldness, and he didn’t hesitate in putting his arm around her. He clung onto her shoulder and pulled her body close into his. They remained still for what felt like forever, tense and unmoving, not looking at one another. They both knew what they wanted, and it was equally clear to Alexander that she wanted it as much as he did, and yet there was that pause, that hesitation.
It was painfully delicious, the anticipation swirling in his gut. He wanted her more than anyone, or anything before, and he knew she would allow him to take her, to have her. But how could he steal her innocence from her, for he was certain she remained a virgin. Had he not already damaged her enough.
But a mere kiss will do no harm.
As if they both came to the conclusion as the same time, they turned to one another. This time, there was no pause, no hesitation. There were only lips touching lips, hands diving around each other’s bodies, searching, urging, needing.
Charlotte allowed herself to fall backwards, tugging on his shirt as she went so that the pair of them ended up lying on the soft, dewy grass. Alexander hadn’t taken his lips off hers until he felt the ground against her back. He glanced around, suddenly worried that they would be caught. But there was no one but the birds in the trees, singing their joy at their union.
They were surrounded by large, bushy trees, the small clearing isolated from outside view. The only way anyone might happen upon them was via the river, and the river was empty.
Satisfied, Alexander bent his head to meet her waiting lips once more. They tasted sweet and hungry, and he flicked his tongue over them. She groaned in response, and the noise set his heart racing further. He so loved to pleasure her, to feel her throbbing body beneath him.
Climbing onto his knees, he towered over her, straddling her. He eyed her body as she lay there, patient and waiting with lustful eyes. Her chest heaved, the curve of her breast rising and falling against the tight line of the gown. Alexander licked his lips in anticipation. She was at once vulnerable and lascivious,genteel and wild, and there was nowhere in the world he would rather be, no one he would rather be with.
He held his hand out, wanting to caress her, but he paused, hovering above her.
“What is it?” she asked.
He didn’t know. He didn’t want to push her, though he suspected she wanted this as much as he. He didn’t want to rush, either. He wanted to savor every moment, every touch. He licked his lips again, unable to pull his eyes away from the mound of her breast. He lowered his hand, brushing the backs of his fingers over the curve before squeezing her gently.
Charlotte mewled like a puppy, throwing her head back in delight, and the sound made Alexander twitch with excitement. There was no holding himself back now. He couldn’t even if he wanted to.
He lowered his head once more, but instead of kissing her mouth, he ran his lips across her chest, the line of the gown and the rich, bare flesh above it. Heat radiated from her, and she squirmed beneath him. He wanted this, needed it, but he knew he shouldn’t. A woman as wonderful as Charlotte deserved so much more than this. So much more than him.
The river remained still but for their own capsized boat, and any rustling in the trees came from the animals. Alexanderpressed his lips together, making a decision, then slowly inched her skirt up until it was around her waist. He looked first at the tops of her stockings, so tempting, so alluring.
Then he moved his gaze up to her sex, and there he stopped. He wanted her, more than anything, and seeing her laying there so bold and bare before him stirred an animalistic hunger in him. He reached forward and stroked the soft, downy hair, looking always at her womanhood and not at her, gently parting her but not quite penetrating her. Not quite invading that most secret of spaces.
