Page 102 of The Duke's Wicked Widow
She was too smart not to see throughthatright away, so Fawkes distracted her by rolling her over and kissing her. Deep and thoroughly. When he lifted his head, her arms were around his neck and she was beaming.
“Mmm, a very happy Christmas morning.”
He couldn’t resist another kiss. “I have something for ye.”
“Wha—? You did not need to get me a gift, Fawkes!”
He rolled to the edge of the bed and reached for the table. “Well, this isnae wrapped, and honestly, it’s more of a gift forme, but I couldnae give it to ye later with Merida watching…”
Ellie didn’t hesitate one bit, but took the offered book from his hands as she sat up. “A Harlot’s Guide to the Forbidden and Delightful Arts? What is—oh my.” A flush climbed her neck—which he could see perfectly, due to the fact she wore no nightgown—as she flipped the pages eagerly. “Look at all of these—ohyes,” she chuckled, turning the book so he could see it. “The Clinging Vine. I seem to recall we both liked that one.”
Christ, when she got wicked like this, he didn’t think he could love her any more. “This book was written and illustrated centuries ago, but a new version gets printed every few years. I’ve had this one since university.”
“And these are all sexual positions?” Her dark eyes twinkled as she flipped the pages. “Have you tried them all?”
“No’ all of them,” he admitted. “But I want to. With ye.”
Ellie’s gaze jerked to his, and slowly the look of wonder in her eyes turned to joy. She tossed the book aside and wrapped her arms around his neck, tipping him back against the pillows.
“Promise, Fawkes?”
He remembered what she’d said about no one caring about her pleasure, and vowed then and there to bring her more pleasure than she could imagine.
“Happy Christmas, love,” he rasped.
Grinning, she lowered her lips to his, and his chest swelled with happiness.
* * *
“There!”declared Merida, plopping the last of the rolled dough onto the warm pan. “That’s the last cookie.Nowcan we go open presents, Mimi?”
The four of them—Merida, Ellie, Fawkes and “Mimi”—were in the warm kitchen, participating in what Estella insisted was her father’s tradition of baking gingerbread as a family. Well, Merida and the older woman were baking; Fawkes was lounging against the counter, and Ellie hadattemptedto help, but he snagged her as she passed by, and tucked her in front of him.
Now her back rested against his chest, his chin atop her head, and Estella smirked every time she glanced their way.
“Ye ken the rules, sprite,” Fawkes rumbled, above her. “Gingerbread first, then dinner, then we eat the fruits of our labor in front of the Yule log.”
“No log this year!” Merida declared, hopping down and grabbing for Mimi’s hand. “Iloveour Christmas tree!”
“New traditions are nice too,” the older woman said softly, glancing once at her son. “Now, let us leave the kitchen to Mrs. Clutterbuck and we will change for dinner.”
“I have to find Tramp,” Merida was explaining as she skipped from the warm kitchen. “I told him not to chew up my nice shoes, but I think he did anyhow. Can I wear my boots?”
As her questions faded, Fawkes bent to kiss Ellie’s temple. “Am I correct in assuming the smaller spoiled wench cannae manage her buttons by herself either?”
Ellie actually snorted—a sound which would have horrified her father, the tyrant—and elbowed him in the stomach. “It isnotmy fault I cannot manage to button my own frocks. They button up the back!”
“Hmm, and ye arenae that flexible I suppose.” He heaved a put-upon sigh. “Ye’ll tell yerself any lie to avoid admitting ye’re spoiled.”
“Spoiled!” She twisted in his arms, but he was already laughing, and there in the kitchen—as if Mrs. Clutterbuck and her daughter weren’t rushing around finishing up dinner preparations—Fawkes kissed her, long and deep.
She was sighing happily as she climbed the stairs to Merida’s bedroom.
Tramp had indeed found one of the little girl’s shoes, but Ellie determined it hadn’t been chewed too badly to be worn. She listened to Merida’s chatter—theories about the Teeth Mice knowing Father Christmas—with half an ear as she helped the girl get dressed, then stopped in her room to check her own reflection.
This morning, Fawkes had indeed helped her with the buttons on the back of her yellow gown. It was a cheerful color, one which always lifted her spirits. Sweet Sissy Clutterbuck was used to helping Estella in a maid’s capacity, but Ellie had done her best not to bother the young woman much and had managed a simple coiffure on her own.
Yes, she still looked quite acceptable, and merely took the time to tuck in a few loose strands of hair while studying her reflection. While she did so, the flash of gold on her finger caught her eye.
