Page 96 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
She took another bite of her own to give herself a moment to think. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” He flashed her a grin. “She deserves to know that women can have dreams of their own. Too many people tell them they can’t. That finding a husband is the most important thing they’ll ever accomplish, and maybe some women are happy with that, but I’m glad you’re showing her that she doesn’t have to be.”
Amelia’s heart expanded. “How are you so incredible?”
When she’d married, she’d expected him to tolerate herwriting at best. She’d been fully prepared to face derision, but this unwavering support was more than she could ever have hoped for.
She leaned over the basket and kissed him. He tasted of berries and the outdoors. She closed her eyes and melted as he cupped her face and deepened the kiss.
She dropped her scone. Where, she wasn’t quite sure. Andrew tossed his toward the pond, and the birds flocked around it. Then he heaved her over the basket and onto his lap. She tilted her head back, and her tongue met his. Breath eased between her lips.
His fingers tangled in her hair, and he tugged, angling her head to give him better access to her mouth. She clutched his chest, reveling in the strength concealed by his coat and shirtsleeves. They continued to kiss, slow and languid, almost drugging.
He broke free. “Wait.”
“What is it?” she asked breathlessly.
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “I don’t expect anything from you just because I brought you out on a picnic. You don’t have to do this to make things even between us. I know how you think.”
She snorted. Perhaps he knew a little of how she thought, but clearly not enough if he believed she was going along with this for his benefit. In truth, she had no hope of resisting him and had simply given up trying.
“I want to,” she told him.
Kissing like this, in broad daylight in the outdoors, gave her a strange kind of thrill. It was the sort of behavior she’d expect from a mistress, not a wife, and perhaps she wanted to give Miss Giles a little healthy competition.
She and Andrew may not have agreed to be faithful as part of their contract, but now that she knew exactly how much he meant to her, she wouldn’t let him go without a fight. She may not have experience or beauty on her side, butshe had all the time in the world to win him over. Miss Giles, on the other hand, did not.
“Really?” One side of his mouth hitched up, his expression turning wicked. “You aren’t worried about being out in the open?”
“You said we’re alone here.” She kissed him. “I know you’ll take care of me.”
“Damn right I will.” He peppered her face with kisses. “No one gets to see your gorgeous body except for me.”
Heat rushed to her core. Surely his possessiveness was a good sign.
“Lie back,” he murmured against her skin. “Let me make you feel nice.”
She stiffened. “No.”
“No?” He drew back, frowning. “Sorry, did I misunderstand—”
“No.” Her cheeks were absolutely blazing now. “I want you to lie down. There’s something I’ve been wanting to try.”
“Oh.” He sounded intrigued, but he lay back on the blanket without any fuss.
She crawled over him and sat back on her haunches. There was absolutely no way to do this without making at least a bit of a mess. She shifted the basket aside and cleared their teacups out of the way, then gazed down at him.
He smiled lazily up at her. “I’m at your mercy, my lady.”
“I like the sound of that.” If he was at her mercy, then he wouldn’t be anywhere near the smirking Miss Giles.
Unfortunately, the burst of courage that had driven her earlier words was waning. She hesitated, suddenly unsure whether she was about to make a fool of herself.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured.
“Nothing. I’m just….” She sighed, exasperated with herself. “I’m nervous. What if you don’t like it?”
He chuckled. “I assure you that I will like almost anything you do to me, and if I don’t, I’ll tell you so.”
